Lycan's Prey by Jessica Hall

Chapter 156

Her mother sighs heavily into the phone, a weariness in her voice that I haven’t heard before. “She lied, you know. I saw the reports. I heard what the council said, and Rhett told us you put a bounty out on her. He showed us the evidence.”

I clench my jaw, fighting the urge to snap back. “I know, and that wasn’t me,” I say, keeping my tone as calm as I can. “That was the council, hoping to find her location. But I am not the council; I just want her back.”

A pause. I hear her mother exhale again, a slight shudder in the sound that twists something in my chest. “And what will happen when you get her back?” she asks quietly.

My throat tightens, and I swallow hard. I can’t answer that. I have no clue. I don’t know if I can forgive her, not after what I‘ ve been through, but the thought of someone else hurting her because of her connection to me terrifies me. It’s a strange, bitter fear, one that lingers in the pit of my stomach. All I know is that she’s out there, and the longer I let myself imagine what could happen to her, the more it feels like something is clawing at my insides.

“I guess we’ll find out,” I murmur, then hang up before her mother can respond. I can’t make promises I might not keep, can’t pretend that I know what I’ll do when I finally see her. All I have is a burning need to know that she’s safe… and a darker urge, coiled and waiting, that might be impossible to control when I finally face her, but I know one thing for sure, and that is I won’t hurt her, not the way her mother is thinking, preferably not at all. But I won’t make promises when I don’t

||| O <

Chapter 156

know for sure.

1288 Vouchers

fixed ahead, his jaw set in that implacable way of his. I know he’s

idea gnaws at me, and I chew my lip, wondering if Rhett would really be that bold–or that stupid. And yet, it’s the only place I can think of unless he’s

Without a word, he presses down on the accelerator, the car lurching forward as the engine growls. The world outside the windows blurs, the night pressing in around us, dark and unforgiving. Streetlights flicker past, their harsh glow

the seat, and I open my eyes again, focusing

see her again. Will I feel relief? Anger? Will I break down and let the rage that’s been simmering for so long finally take over? I honestly don’t know. But

44.25%

<