Trifecta: Stone [Completed]

Chapter 22: Fearless

I woke on the eleven week anniversary of my curse in my wolf form in the grey bed in the annoyingly geometric rooms. Huddling under the covers, I thought about what everyone was probably doing back in the territories. I had been stuck in this apartment for ten days.

In my memory, everyone was going about their normal activities, but realistically I was sure their days were not even slightly peaceful. It was not conceit on my part, from what the eastern king had said he had intended to contact them. I frowned at the thought of what he had told me.

I would sooner die than have anything to do with Jordan, but maybe the eastern king did have some way he thought could force me to heel. I tried not to let my fear of his threats amplify the curse. He could try what he wanted, but I was well accustomed to fighting now and whatever he might try, he could not live in my head.

And even if he did curse me himself, that the magic was not controlled by him ultimately. I had fought past its fear and my fear once, and I could fight back guilt or whatever emotion that tyrant forced me to feel.

Because I understood it.

I was grim but determined under my haze of anxiety and I had no intention of giving in easily.

Ever since I had been returned to my little cage of an apartment I had been intermittently worried about my people and hopeful that they might be able to do something to get me out. I did not want that man to keep holding me over my people's heads as a threat.

Once I was gone... Well, what could be done once I was gone? Would we not then be in exactly the same place as we were right now with the eastern forces harassing us, or worse, completely crushing us in their jaws?

I still did not like it, but the problem with the eastern king needed to be dealt with in a final way. Maybe, just maybe, I could go for his throat. He definitely underestimated me. What if he summoned me again and I refused to return to my human form? What could they possibly do? Maybe they would give up and drag me before him in my wolf form. Maybe I could attack him.

Could I do it? Could I kill someone?

Serge, my father, my brother and Matthias had killed enemies in the heat of battle. Tabitha had been prepared to do so if necessary.

Never had I wanted to fight. The idea of hurting anyone made me feel sick, but in this case, this one exception, I could not help but see the good that it would do if I got a chance. If I did succeed, there was no hope that I would get away. It would be a kamikaze mission. I doubted that Jordan and the rest of the eastern wolves would let me live after such an attempt.

I did not want to die, but I did not want my family to be harmed. Maybe everything had happened for a reason, maybe it was so that I could hit a serious blow against our enemies. Or maybe I was deluding myself that I could be brave and ruthless enough to do that. Even now I was shaking under my covers in the fur of my wolf form. There probably wasn't much hope. Likely, I was deluding myself.

Someone came into my cage and my ears perked up against my will. I did not get up, if they wanted me they could drag me from my prison bed.

Dishes clanked around. I suppose I was about to be fed, like some poor animal trapped in a menagerie at the pleasure of a corrupt ruler. Like what I basically was.

The thought did not make me want to transform back though. The fake eastern king wanted me to be cooperative so I intended to do exactly the opposite of that. Staying as a wolf and shivering in bed seemed like the perfect way to show my recalcitrance at the moment.

"Elise," Pauline called.

I huffed and curled up more tightly around the pillow where I kept my ring when I was not wearing it. I had no interest in whatever she wanted from me, which was probably little more than to eat and shower in my human form. I was not going to do it. I bared my teeth in the direction of the wall even though she was in another room in the opposite direction.