36. Chapter Thirty-Six

Alvina's presence was like a strong wind, whipping through my mind as it found a space where it could fit. I saw memories flash as if I was reliving everything in reverse and forward at the same time.

"I know what a lie smells like,"Alvina whispered in my head. "Think of the moment the humans told you about Alpha Price. Concentrate on it. Right now, I'm on a magical ride through your memories, where I know you don't want me. You have…a very dangerous romantic life for the position you're in."

Shit. She knows about Heath.

Just like that, I went to the memory of my birthday, seeing him tell me how much he cared for me. My mind tried to go through the steps, showing how he fell in love with me, and I had barely noticed it until it was too late to come back from. I hadn't noticed until it was impossible to ignore. How he looked at me, the memories now colored in a different light, knowing where we were now. It also showed me how I fell for him, the steady rock, who had many of the same principles, always willing to fight for what was right, even if we disagreed, as we did with Gwen.

"Concentrate, Jacqueline. This isn't my business, and I won't tell anyone. Concentrate. The longer this takes, the more likely they are to think you are hiding something or something is wrong…Alpha Price, not Alpha Everson."

I concentrated on Alpha Price's name, thinking about the humans I caught. It was a strange way of going through my memories. It started with the first attack, then the warning on the door. After that, I tried to skip when I'd been sniped, but still had to relive it. We flowed through the hospital on fast forward as I tried so hard to get to the right point.

Why is this so hard?

"Minds and memories work in funny ways. You want me to know the truth. Your subconscious believes every step is important and is forcing us to walk through each step to the inevitable reveal. Yes, before you ask, I can hear your thoughts, every single one. I'm as much a part of your mind right now as you are."

Understanding, I let her see the theories as Heath and I tried to walk our way through the situation. I was able to shove Zuri out of the picture, not needing a third opinion. She was helpful, but my sister wasn't involved. The same was true for my conversations with my family about the BSA.

We finally reached the interrogations. Alvina already knew the smell of a lie, so she hummed in my head when the scent never came.

"The humans believe they tell the truth. This Sam Blake wanted to be healed and to be part of something great again. He was easy to manipulate by an Alpha, who could give him both of those things. He understands right and wrong, though, and eventually realized he had done something very wrong."

Yes.

"I will tell the others you speak the truth of your encounter with these humans and the truth you received. Now, for the second order of business, something I am, admittedly, very curious about."

Brin, the fae.

"Yes…I can feel his magic on you now. He made a space for it, and the gift has intertwined with your curse. Only he could possibly take it away from you. I don't know if I have the power to do it."

You're the Queen of the Fae.

"I'm the third to hold the title," she admitted. "My mother, Titania, was the first. My elder sister and the oldest daughter of Oberon and Titania was the second. There aren't many fae more powerful than me, and those who are…They're my family."

I don't like the sound of that.

"I don't either. Think of this Brin."

I took myself back to the motel and the moment I met Brin, the Irish fae who refused to tell me his clan.

"I remember his face, but he doesn't seem powerful," Alvina whispered, very apparent she was talking to herself.

I made it to the night of the full moon and his act of gift giving, feeling how uncomfortable I had been.

"No…it cannot be."

Who? What don't I know?

"He always did like cats. He would have considered it a small thing for one of his favorite species and a woman who needed help. My dear brother, Brion, always did like cats. That's his real name, so you understand how grand a gift you were given. King Brion of the fae, firstborn of Oberon and Titania, the first of the royal family, and the first of the Sidhe. Thank you for allowing me to see this memory. You've given me a great gift. I did not think I would ever discover what happened to him."

She left my mind, and I was left stumbling into the real world, falling against Hasan as she stood very still. My heart was pounding as her words echoed in my head.

I'll unpack this later. Don't have the time to be thinking about that.

"Jacqueline, daughter of Hasan, speaks the truth. My formal recommendation is as stands. Bring the humans and have them verify what they said to her and verify the identity of Alpha Price or that someone was impersonating him." Alvina spoke while staring at me with wide eyes. "As for the other, her gift is of fae magic, not that of the moon cursed. I cannot remove it or alter it in any way, and it was a gift freely given with no bargain made." She sat down and became a statue. "It is unique to her, and therefore, there is no threat to the werewolves of more werecats getting this gift." She repeated nothing of what she had said to me. "It is not the sort of gift just any fae can give, so don't think about trying to convince others to give something similar to anyone else."

"Alvina, Queen of the fae and member of the Tribunal, has spoken," Hasan declared. "Your move, wolves."

"The humans can clear this up," Alvina said again. "Callahan?"

"I'm not bringing in humans to condemn my werewolves."

"Don't play favorites. I've executed fae for less than what he is accused of doing. Don't protect a potential murderer who won't submit himself to me. He might be a werewolf, but we made a deal eight hundred years ago—in the end, they all answer to the Tribunal. I'm willing to call the other members if this can't be resolved among us. We'll make an entire trial of it." She yawned. "But I'm tired of this. Jacky has been nothing but forthcoming, while your werewolf has hidden behind the pack, playing on the idea that his honor is perfect." Smiling, her teeth weren't human, not even close. They had been earlier, but now they were more like a shark's. "And no one has perfect honor."

"A duel of honor, then. A common fae tradition that would do well between a werecat and a werewolf," Price said loudly, stepping forward. "Silver blades, human forms, and no magic. Whoever wins will be the accepted truth of this matter. I'll put my life on the line for it."

No, you just found a way to kill me and get what you want anyway—the ability to walk away without any sort of repercussions.

Hasan and I looked at each other at the same moment.

"This is up to you," he said softly. "He's an older wolf, and you're a young werecat. On a full moon, I would have the fullest confidence in you, but…"

"In human form, we're more even, which makes it fair," I finished, nodding. I turned back to Price. "I'll also put my life on the line. A duel of honor, trial by combat…whatever you want to call it."

"Needless waste of life," Alvina muttered. "And it might not even give the truth."

"He's correct. It's a fae tradition and would suit nicely for the problem we have," Hasan said as he went to her. "I would ask a small favor. Two silver blades, if you will."

Alvina nodded and raised her hands. In a blink, each hand closed on a hilt. Both blades looked exactly the same, a matching set.

"Daggers," she decided. "If you're allowing me to set the terms. These are silver daggers worn at the waist of a fae guard. Traditionally used to fight off assassins in close quarters, every member of my guard has one made this way for their uniforms. They are not ceremonial and are kept very sharp. They have no magic on them, something each of you can verify with your noses."

Callahan crossed the room and grabbed the one offered to him without hesitation. Hasan took the other more slowly, and I saw the worry of a father as he picked up the weapon his daughter was about to fight with.

"The humans are a much better idea," Alpha Lewis muttered, shaking his head.

"Yeah, well, take that up with your other Alpha," I growled across the room. "He's the one who refuses to go with easier options. He really does want me dead."

Price glared at me.

"Once the duel of honor has begun, it cannot be stopped until one of two things happens," Alvina began as each ruler sniffed the blades, then handed them off. It was heavy in my hands. "The obvious is death. If someone dies, the duel is over. The other option is for a side to concede, admitting they were wrong, and allowing the other side to exact punishment or retribution. This can include death. Considering we're dealing with a werewolf and a werecat, I have a feeling someone is going to die, anyway." Alvina seemed annoyed. "This ritual was started by the men in my family, and I've always hated it. Alpha Price, it doesn't endear you to me that you mentioned it without understanding its history."

"I don't need your endearment," he growled, looking over the dagger Callahan gave him.

"Callahan, train your wolves better," Alvina said softly, a clear warning. "If another insults me, it'll be the last thing they say."

"I'll remind them to be respectful of the Tribunal, regardless of species."

The room was cleared of furniture in a snap of Alvina's hands, the couches, tables, and chairs disappearing. Alpha Price and I stepped forward, glaring at each other.

"No, I won't be a party to this," Alpha Lewis said sharply, making everyone look at him in surprise. "I can't abide by this. Alpha Price has only ever spoken the truth, and Jacky Leon is a good soul who has proven she's willing to put her life on the line for anyone, regardless of species. I can't abide by this foolish behavior. I like a good fight as much as the rest of us, but this isn't a good fight. Even if we decide Price or Jacky is the winner, how does that make the truth clear? How? This just needlessly kills someone. I'm bringing the humans. They'll verify if they knew Alpha Price or not."

"No!" Price snarled.

"Why the fuck not?" Geoffrey asked, throwing up his hands. "Price, please explain to me—"

"Don't turn yourself into another traitor like Everson," Price growled.

"Watch your tone," Callahan warned. "Lewis is just as much an Alpha on this council as you are, and Everson is not the discussion today."

"He's always part of the discussion now that he's one of the most powerful wolves in the world. Him and her, his little buddy who can't even stay in line for her own family." Price pointed at me with the dagger. "The fact anyone here would entertain her theories and drag me here shows me none of you are fit to rule the werewolves. Werewolves first—that's what we used to believe. I'm going to take us back to that, and dealing with this is the first of a new future for our kind."

The room went utterly silent.

"Are you challenging me?" Callahan asked softly, stepping closer to Price.

"Not yet, not if you prove yourself worthy to rule our kind," Price countered.

Callahan looked at me, then back at his werewolf. He was the ruler of the werewolves, and it was apparent to everyone he was being held by the balls—caught between his responsibilities as a member of the Tribunal, his other Alphas, and Price's claims.

"Did you try to kill Jacky Leon?" he asked softly.

"I did not. I don't lie. Ever. I can't." Price was adamant, and there was no smell of a lie in the words, just as he had promised.

"Because you have magic that covers it, don't you?" Hasan asked from beside me. His words sent ripples through the room. "You are Talented. I was beginning to wonder if I was going mad. You are a liar. You lie all the time."

Alpha Price's eyes went wide.

"You…you don't know what you're talking about."

"Is that the truth, Price?" Callahan snarled.

Price took a step back, knowing he had been exposed.

"Grab him, wolves," Callahan commanded. "Alvina, will you go into his mind and find the truth against his will?"

"With pleasure," she purred, walking closer as the Alphas of the North American Werewolf Council grabbed their friend and forced him to his knees. Alvina was fast, grabbing hold of his head. Price screamed as his mind was violated and searched. She started to laugh, then pulled away.

"Oh, Hasan, you were always one of the smartest men I know. Such a useful ability, to lie without getting caught. He manipulates his scent." She stepped back. "And he's the one who told the human government Jacky's name. He purposefully used it when he knew they were in the room, knowing they were already curious about her. This was all a game to him, honed to a deadly edge by the hate in his heart." She smiled cruelly, those dangerous teeth showing through. "He had Liza killed, then killed the young werewolves, just as Jacky put together. Smell no lie, moon cursed."

"Jacqueline, kill him," my father ordered, his words cold. "You were his next victim. It's your right."

I walked across the room, vindicated as Price looked up in fear. His dagger was gone. He was unarmed, as all of us were when we entered the room.

He didn't try to run, knowing his scheme was over. I grabbed his hair and shoved the dagger into his throat, feeling the blood pour over my hands. I yanked it out and stabbed again in his chest, aiming for his black heart.

I didn't count how many times I stabbed him, but at that moment, I knew I hated him as much as he hated me. He had tried to destroy my life, everything I had been working toward, by revealing me. He had tried to kill me and destroy my family, as he had once before.

Hasan had to pull me off him, covered in his blood.

"Let's go home," he whispered. "Let's take you home. It's over. You did it, Jacky."