37. Riled Up

Sona hesitated to ask, “May I see them? My family?”
Eldor nodded. “If you visit, yes, and at your wedding. Which is when?”
The room looked at Taos. He was smiling lazily, leaning toward Sona with that same cocky male attitude that continued to try and get a rise out of Conri. “Three days after Moon Run.”
Conri scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Does one-upping me really make you feel more powerful, Redbone?”
“It’s just satisfying to ruffle your fur.”
“Enough, both of you,” Edom growled. “Leto. Any news?”
Rand was leaning back in his chair, drumming his fingers on the table. “My pack still struggles. I want to negotiate better trade. Our greens and fabrics are quality enough in return for gold and livestock.”
“Greens?” Sona repeated, ears perked.
“Herbs and things,” Rand said, eyeing her. “What use do you have for them?”
“I’m a healer.”
His brows rose. “A healer turned Luna. As well as an attendant turned Luna. How extraordinary. Redbone, I’m surprised you settled for an Omega-class outsider.”
Taos’ growl deep in his chest seemed to reverberate through the stone walls. Sona’s hand grabbed his still on her leg as if that could stop him from lashing out. The last thing any of them needed was someone to break out into a fight.
“Keep provoking me, Shaw, and I will show you the villain.”
“No,” Sona barked. “No villains. No provoking. Alpha, Taos will take your offer into consideration—”
“I didn’t say I wanted to trade with Redbone.”
The cold animosity in Rand’s voice took Sona aback.
“We already don’t,” he continued. “What do they offer anyway? What use does anyone have for bone jewelry? Being self-sufficient doesn’t make you any allies, does it, warmonger?”
Sona winced at Taos’ harsh, loud bark of laughter. Baring thick fangs, he asked Rand, “Warmonger? How terrible you paint me. Do you *want* war? Is that why you are provoking me? You want your city destroyed again? Like father, like son, hm?”
“Taos,” Sona warned, voice lost to Edom’s when he growled too. She squeezed his hands in hers and whispered, “Don’t lose control.”
“I’m completely in control, trinket. My temper has thicker skin than *this* bastard. He’s just a little wounded,” he simpered, pouting his lower lip under his incisors, “with some unresolved inner conflict. Have you tried to go to your moon goddess’ temple and pray for the will to forgive?”
Rand snarled and make to jerk to his feet, but both his Gamma and Luna dragged him back in his chair. Taos smirked. Sona scowled quietly at him, but before either of them could keep sneering, Eldor raised his voice to announce,
“To avoid being the next wolf to be the subject of ridicule, Goldwater will take its leave. Rand, I will send an emissary to discuss trade. Grayhide, congratulations on your endeavors and we will see you two days after Moon Run. Redbone,” he continued with a heavy sigh, “I’ll say it wasn’t pleasant to see or speak with you. However,” he added, looking at Sona and smiling, “I cannot wait to see you again, Mistress Mai, when you reunite with your family.”
Despite the tension, her returning smile was genuine. “You saved my life, Alpha, and my family’s. I cannot thank you enough.”
As Eldor made to exit with his entourage, he winked. “Repay me with wearing the adornments I send your way.”
Goodbyes were mumbled, and a moment later, three of the four Cardinal packs remained at a standoff. But Sona refused to let it go on longer than it had to.
She stood. “We will take our leave, too.”
“Things were just getting interesting,” Taos complained, slapping her flank. “I haven’t flaunted my beautiful future Luna enough.”
“You’ve demeaned her enough,” snapped Conri, jerking to his feet and helping Vallea out of her chair.
Rand was already walking toward the door. “I’ve had enough of this shit. Grayhide, I expect an emissary from you too. Mistress—Mai, was it? I speak only to you as a Luna: unless you personally have something valuable to trade, I will consider sharing a selection of herbs you may be interested in.”
She only offered a brisk nod before the door closed behind the Leto envoy.
Taos’ strong, protective arm looped around her waist, yanking her flush against him. “What do you say, trinket, wanna get out of here?” he asked loudly. “There is *nothing* more romantic than kissing at dawn. If you couldn’t tell, I had a few sips of spiced ale. No doubt my lips still—”
Sona almost cracked a smile, but she whirled when Conri barked, “Sona! May I speak to you outside? Privately.”
“Don’t leave me alone with him,” Vallea protested when Conri stormed toward her.
Taos released Sona. It startled her; he spent this much effort to get a rise out of her former mate, make him angry, and even protect her against him. So why would he let her be alone with him?
Because she wouldn’t let Taos prevent her from doing anything.
Sona followed Conri outside, chin held high, holding back another smile when Taos purred, “You have nothing to fear from me, little attendant. I’m just glad no one brought tea.”
Dawn wasn’t far off, but the field and hill were still draped in dark. The cool air caressed every exposed part of Sona, sending a ripple of chills down her limbs. There were no Epsilon guarding, but she could hear them around the back of the hall. “So what is it, Conri—Ugh!”
Conri slammed her back against the stone wall, mashing his lips to hers, palms on either side of her head to trap her in a cage of his arms. His tongue forced its way inside her mouth to kiss her harshly and deeply. Possessively.
Taos’ taunting had worked. He’d gotten under Conri’s skin so much that he finally broke.
And in this moment, bile rising in Sona’s throat, she realized it was the perfect opportunity to take revenge.