No.
Not just on Thea, it was—
Surprise locked Callie in place.
Conall’s scent was a part of Thea’s scent. A mix of spice, earth, and something heady and sweet.
Thea’s scent mingled with her brother’s. Just like Callie’s mum’s and dad’s scents had become one.
No. Fucking. Way.
Her eyes flew to James but from his expression, he hadn’t picked up what she had.
“Your brother is alive.” Ashforth drew her attention and she tried to wipe the shock of the latest revelation off her face. “He attempted to betray me, but he’s still alive.”
“Betray you?” James asked.
Yes! Callie wanted to shout, her eyes darting to Thea in wonder. Because Ashforth was trying to take her brother’s true mate! Holy bloody Nora on a shit chute. Obviously, Callie’s feelings about Ashforth were true. The fucker had lied to them. And this was Conall’s mate.
Her brother had found his true mate.
Happiness and anger overwhelmed her as she realized … they were all now trapped with the enemy.
Bugger.
“He had no intention of handing over the woman who killed my wife. He was going to keep her to himself, use her abilities for his own purposes.”
“Bullshit,” Callie snapped.
“I echo that sentiment.” James pushed back from the table and rounded it to place a protective hand on Callie’s shoulder. “What the hell is going on here?”
“None of your concern.”
James continued to argue with the businessman, but Callie’s attention drew back to Thea. Her energy had stabilized, no longer a suffocating sensation against Callie’s chest, but there was a musky, coppery scent drifting toward them from the young woman.
Fear.
And that could only mean one thing.
Thea was awake. She knew Ashforth had her, and it terrified her.
Callie’s protective instincts flared. She couldn’t leave Conall’s mate to this arsehole.
“You’re free to leave,” Jasper said, stepping aside. “You’re no longer required to remain here.”
“Not without the cure for Callie,” James insisted. “You promised.”
“Conall didn’t live up to the bargain. Why should I?”
“Because we’ve sat in this castle like fucking prisoners for days and done everything you’ve asked. Give Callie the cure or face a war with Pack MacLennan.”
“Give her my blood.” A whisper from Thea.
Ashforth whipped around to stare at her, a kind of madness glazing his eyes. “Thea, you’re awake.”
Eyes the color of warm liquor stared at Callie, almost like she was afraid to look at Ashforth. Empathy echoed in Callie’s chest.
“Give her my blood,” Thea repeated softly as she slowly sat up.
“How—” Jasper nodded at two guards who stood over Thea. “The drug—”
“Doesn’t last so long anymore.” Thea held up her hands in a surrender gesture as she got to her feet. The guards instantly bound her wrists with metal handcuffs and agony flared across Thea’s face, her legs giving way.
She didn’t scream but dropped to the floor, teeth gritted as tears streamed down her cheeks.
“What are you doing to her?” Callie demanded, horrified.
“Iron,” Ashforth said. “Pure iron.”
Callie didn’t understand.
He smiled, a wicked, mad smile. “I’d leave if I were you.”
“No!” Thea bit out through the pain, her eyes blazing as she finally glared at Ashforth. “Give her my blood and I’ll play nice.”
Ashforth considered this and then nodded to a guard who disappeared out of the room. He strode slowly over to Thea and reached out to touch her cheek. She strained away from him with a snarl. “It’s true, then,” he whispered.
“What is going on?” James cut Callie a look.
She didn’t want to tell him if Ashforth didn’t know, but Thea was obviously determined to hold up to the bargain for Conall’s sake.
They couldn’t leave her.
Conall would never forgive her if she left his mate to this … brute.
And what was with the iron? Why did it hurt Thea so badly?
“Take the handcuffs off her,” Callie demanded. “It’s unnecessary.”
“Do I have your promise, Thea? I give the wolf your blood and you will submit to me.”
Thea jutted her chin out, her defiance in the face of her agony impressive. She was a warrior.
This pleased Callie beyond measure.
“I swear on Amanda’s grave I’ll play nice.”
Ashforth slapped her. Hard.
“Hey!” James shouted.
Callie’s nails bit into the arms of her wheelchair.
Thea merely smirked at Ashforth. “You can tell the entire world I killed her but we both know you got her killed. You put the bullet in her head. And you’ll never be able to lie to yourself about that.”
Another smack.
“Stop it!” Callie cried.
Thea laughed softly and then bared her teeth like a wolf at the billionaire. “You can’t hurt me anymore.”
Ashforth narrowed his eyes. “We’ll see about that, darling girl.” He nodded at the guards behind Thea and they bent to remove the handcuffs.
She hissed and slumped, bringing her arms forward. Her wrists were red, raw, and blistered like they’d been burnt.
“New scars to add to the collection,” Ashforth mused. “You’ll never be free of the marks I’ve made on your life.”
Thea didn’t answer this time, just stared at the wounds. Callie scowled. The woman was supposed to heal remarkably fast. That’s why her blood was a cure. But iron must be to Thea like silver was to a wolf.