carried across 84

84 Leverage 

Sera 

“I am not doing that for you,” my mother said. 

I shook my head. I expected this exact pushback. I had walked into this freezing guest room fully prepared to drop to my knees on the stone floor and beg her. I knew what was at stake. Fenris’s life was on the line. But there was a massive issue with bringing her into this mess. If she helped me, she would be completely aware of what we were about to do. We already had too many witnesses in that council chamber. The two guards. The healer. I was already trying to figure out how to manage their silence. Adding the Valdris Queen to the list of loose ends was dangerous. 

But for some reason, the gods had just dropped absolute leverage right into my lap. 

I knew for a fact that King Aldric was not aware of the affair between his wife and Lord Torin. I also knew that if Aldric ever found out, my mother would suffer greatly. He would not just banish her. He would publicly execute her for treason. 

I didn’t want to stoop that low. I didn’t want to actively use her infidelity against her. I hoped she would just be smart enough to agree, assuming I would keep quiet about what I just saw in exchange for her help. 

“I have seen you use it before,” I said to her. I kept my voice calm. “I watched you fix that noble child’s face in your study. I am certain you can do it, and I need you to help me right now.” 

Irina was quiet for a long moment. She pulled her silk dress tighter across her chest. 

“Whose face are you trying to change?” she asked. 

I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter for now.” 

“I am not going to help you if you aren’t willing to explain what I am supposed to do,” Irina said stubbornly, lifting her chin. 

“You will see who it is once you agree,” I pushed back. “And we do not have time for this argument. He is bleeding out on the floor right now.” 

Kael was still in that council room. He was choking on his own blood, and the pack healer was desperately trying to keep him alive. I didn’t know the exact rules of my mother’s witchcraft. I didn’t know if the ritual was something that needed to be done while the subject was still breathing. So, before I left the room, I had strictly ordered the healer to do absolutely everything to keep Kael from dying. 

Irina shook her head again. She looked away from me. “I stopped doing it a long time ago. I don’t do it anymore.” 

“I am sorry,” I pressed, stepping closer to her. “But you are going to have to pick the skill back up.” 

We went back and forth for several minutes. Irina made excuses. She complained about the risks. She made the entire process extremely annoying to maneuver. She was stalling, hoping I would just give up 

1/2 

+25 Bonus 

and walk away. 

The frustration rapidly boiled up in my chest. We were wasting time. 

I snapped. 

“Listen to me,” I said, my voice dropping into a hard, flat register. “If you do not comply with me right now, I will have the guards put you on a horse back to Valdris the next minute. I will send a raven ahead of you, and I will expose exactly what the Queen is doing with the King’s advisor. You know what Aldric will do to you when he finds out.” 

Irina froze. 

*** 

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