Chapter 325

SILVIA

I stared at him, understanding finally settling over me with sickening clarity.

This wasn't just about revenge. This wasn't even just about stopping Xenois's reforms.

This was about destroying him. About either forcing him to become the monster they claimed he'd always been, or breaking him by making him choose between his values and his family.

"You're going to kill me," I said quietly. "No matter what Xenois does, no matter how he responds—you're going to kill me anyway. Because my death will either radicalize him into becoming what you want everyone to fear, or it will break him completely and leave the pack vulnerable."

"Now you're...