COLLIN BLACK’S POV
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Collin sat stiff in the tent, the canvas walls still carrying the faint stench of blood from the battlefield. The heat from the brazier mixed with the sweet, almost cloying scent of the tea being poured into thin, white cups. Across from him, Mendez looked perfectly at ease, his armor half–unbuckled, his ck–and–red tunic stained in a way that told Collin it hadn’t been washed in days.
“Since your arrival had been unannounced, please forgive us for not being able to prepare something more… extravagant. It would take a few more days before we arrived in the north, and our supplies were running low. Sadly, we can only offer you something…cking.” Mendez said, smiling.
“This,” Mendez added, his voice smooth, “Is a tea considered a rarity from the west.” He lifted his own cup but didn’t drink yet. “Lord Cassian personally beheaded a witch to receive it. A gift from a western n leader, grateful for the… cleansing of theirnds.”
Collin’s fingers tightened slightly around the porcin cup. The tea’s steam curled upward, but his throat felt dry. Jason hadn’t touched his drink either.
Mendez leaned back, almostzily, but his eyes stayed on them. “They said this particr witch was clever. She cried for mercy until thest breath. Lord Cassian saw fit to make it quick… head gone with one strike. Others weren’t so lucky. Some were skinned while alive. Others burned. I hear the screams carry farther when you take your time with the fire.”
The corners of his mouth lifted faintly. “Lord Cassian hates witches, you know. Not just dislikes. Hates. He will obliterate them, and anyone foolish enough to ally with them.”
Collin felt the weight of the words press down. Jason’s jaw had tightened almost imperceptibly. The warning in Mendez’s tone wasn’t subtle, it was a de pressed against the table between them.
Mendez sipped the tea, letting the silence hang for a moment before continuing. “I admire him for that. Petty, some would say. I say thorough. If you strike an enemy, you don’t let them rebuild. You wipe them and their roots out.”
Collin kept his expression neutral, but the thought pressed in hard, Mendez knew. Or at least, he wanted them to believe he knew.
Jason cleared his throat. “Perhaps we should end the celebration here. There are still many
enemies to deal with.”
Mendez set his cup down with a soft clink and looked at him as if he’d just said something amusing. “What enemies?” He gave a small shake of his head. “Lord Cassian is already
<b>11:16 </b>Wed, Sep 10
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working on burning them all.”
Collin’s head snapped slightly toward him. “Burning them all?” He had mentioned this earlier. Was Cassian leading troops to chase the Demon Fangs? That would be foolish, he thought.
“Oh,” Mendez said, feigning surprise. “You must not have heard. Lord Cassian has a… special affinity for fire. He likes to burn things. Buildings, forests, people. Fire speaks to him, in a way.” He said it casually, as if talking about a man’s taste in wine. “This is something that we all admire.”
Collin didn’t respond. Inwardly, he cursed. Arsonist. Madman. The north’s Alpha wasn’t just cruel, he was obsessed. Obviously, he knew about Cassian’s habit of burning his enemies. He had read the reports before. But he couldn’t say it here, not with Mendez watching him like a wolf watching for the twitch of prey.
Mendez refilled their cups himself. “Drink,” he said. “It’s rare. And it would be rude to waste a gift bought with such effort.”
Collin lifted the cup to his lips and took a slow sip, the warmth sliding down his throat. Jason followed suit, though his eyes remained on Mendez the entire time.
“Ah, I almost forgot. This tea,” Mendez said after setting his own cup down. “Had been brewed by the best poisoners from the West. They say it has certain… short–term effects.” He leaned back, studying their faces. “One of which is the inability to heal. For a short time… of course. Because of this, many drink this tea before drinking alcoholic beverages. It makes them feel that burn from the beverage.”
Jason’s hand gave the faintest twitch, the porcin rattling softly against the saucer before he steadied it. His expression stayed controlled, but Collin noticed the muscle in his jaw tighten.
“Are you telling me,” Jason asked. “That you’ve just served us something that will stop us from healing? What is your meaning, Physician Mendez? Do you n to harm us?”
Mendez’s lips curved slightly as if amused by the question. “Meaning? Alpha Jason, you wound me. Aren’t we here <i>to </i>celebrate? Why speak of harm?” His gaze flicked between them. “Poison isn’t the style of the north. We are direct people. If we wish someone dead, we kill them ourselves. If we wanted to harm you…” His smile lingered. “…you would already be dead.”
Jason’s chair scraped back slightly. “Preposterous! How dare you threaten an Alpha?”
“Threaten?” Mendez chuckled, the sound low. “It’s not our habit to threaten anyone. We kill without warning. So let’s stop with this nonsense.”
Collin felt the heat of Jason’s anger, but he kept his own posture firm. They both knew the truth, fighting Cassian’s men here would be suicide. Even if Mendez was taunting them, killing two visiting Alphas in the middle of camp would be reckless. It wasn’t likely they would
actually follow through. That thought was enough to ease his own tension.
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“Enough,” Collin said finally, setting his cup back on the table. “We are here to celebrate, not to argue. We share the same enemy. Lord Cassian’s victory is our victory as well.” He gave Mendez a steady look. “Speaking of Lord Cassian… may we see him? My daughter was only just married to him, and I’ve heard they’re… getting along.”
Mendez’s chuckle was soft but edged. “The Princess is resting. However, before he left, Lord Cassian made it clear he was not to be disturbed.”
Jason’s eyes narrowed. “Left? Where?”
Mendez’s smile didn’t fade. “Didn’t I already tell you? Lord Cassian is dealing with the enemy.” He picked up his cup again. “Burning them all.”
Something cold twisted in Collin’s gut. His fingers stilled against the armrest. He didn’t know why, but a heavy unease settled over him, a feeling that whatever Cassian was burning, it wasn’t just enemy troops.
Luckily, before he even came in, he already sent Beta William and a few of their men back. Yes, Beta William would be there to protect the Luna and Celeste.
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