Chapter 37 · I didn't know what they planned to do with it

"I didn't know what they planned to do with it."

"You still gave it to them."

"I was seventeen!"

The shout cracked through the chamber.

One of the pups began to cry.

Rayne flinched. His anger vanished so fast it left his face bare.

"Damn it," he whispered. "I didn't know."

"Neither did I. I only knew they wanted my children dead."

"Who told you that?"

"Cole."

His eyes sharpened. "He spoke to you?"

"He sent hunters after me. He put a price on the pups. He told me they were defective and that he'd cut them open to find out why they survived."

Rayne's fingers curled against the wall.

The stone cracked under his palm.

"He said that to you?"

"He said worse."

"What did you do?"

"I ran."

"You faked your death."

"I survived. There's a difference."

"And you came here because you thought Ironfang could protect them."

"I came here because your immunity laws are the only thing Cole can't buy."

His face twisted. "You used my camp."

"Yes."

"You used my soldiers."

"Yes."

"You used me."

The blade stayed at his throat, but my hand shook.

"I tried not to.