House of Vultures - Maggie Claire (epub read online books .TXT) 📗

“Iris, listen to yourself!You are siding with a creature you’ve only known for a couple ofdays! How do you know she’s to be trusted? Isn’t it just aspossible that Siri is a deranged beast?”

“Will you go with me backto the Pith? Will you meet the Ddraigs and see for yourself?” Ishout, hurt by the fact that Wolf does not have faith in myjudgement. “If there are more like Siri says, then maybe they canhelp us protect our lands. These Ddraigs could be a game-changer,Cane! They could pull Cassé back to its former glory!”

“I will go with you, ofcourse. But I think we should be careful too. We know very littleabout them, and we should be careful with unfamiliar acquaintances.That’s all I meant.” Wolf pulls himself up to sitting on the couchjust out of my reach.

“Don’t you want to seeCassé as it used to be? Aren’t you tired of hiding behind a maskand living like an animal?” I mutter, wrapping my arms around myknees as I wait for his answer. Or are youreally the monster Siri and Condor want me to think youare?

Rather than answer my question, Wolfstands and walks toward the door. “We need to address our peopleformally. Let’s show them a united front as their leaders and speakto your Ddraig about this Carreglas.”

“Just like that?” Istruggle to believe that all the people outside will welcome me astheir second in command. Everything is moving so quickly that myhead is spinning in an effort to keep up.

Cane seems to feel my anxiety, hishand finding mine in a steady embrace. “I have waited a long timefor you, Iris. I will not let anyone stand in our way now.” There’san edge to his words that worries me, an almost painful grip in hisfingertips, and I find myself shuddering rather than feelingcomforted.

“How many people are outthere?” I worry at the thought all the furious eyes that will bewatching me, vying for a chance to take my place. No doubt thereare plenty in the pack that would kill to be Wolf’s beta. I’d muchrather be able to stay on this couch just as Iris and Cane,unaffected by the world outside our door.

“There are about onehundred or so that joined us from Lion’s House, and my pack alreadyhas one hundred fifty people. How many are bound to yourhouse?”

“About sixty-seven, Ithink. Most of them live in the edges of the forest. Hawk was muchmore of an elitist than the others,” I remark with alaugh.

“He was a good man,” Caneanswers grimly beside me. “I thought of him as one of my greatestallies. I was heartsick to hear of his death.”

“I loved him,” I answerlamely, the guilt of having taken his life still burning myinsides. “I am surprised you knew him so well.” Power players inCassé do not have the luxury of befriending one another. To do sois to show weakness and provide an opportunity for betrayal. Thethought of two major house leaders being on such intimate terms ismind-boggling to me.

“He was my father, Iris,”Cane replies, and I nearly tumble off the couch at therevelation.

“You knew he was yourrelative? Why did you never tell me before?” I gasp, a frigidnumbness creeping into my bones.

“I was nine when thehouses were formed. He pushed me to the House of Wolves because hethought it would be safer for us to separate. That way no familialconnection could ever be found between us. I did not have troubleearning my place, but I always kept in touch with myfather.”

“I didn’t know.” My eyesstare unblinking at the wall, my pulse dropping to an imperceptiblerhythm. Hawk, the leader that I had loved enough to put out of hismisery, was Cane’s father. How can I tellhim? Can I bearthe look of horror in his eyes when I announce that I murdered hisfather? I knowthat I need to divulge this information before we address thepeople. How can I ask him to forgiveme?

“Iris? What’s the matter?”Cane wraps a hand around my shoulder, gently shaking me from mydarkness. “You’ve gone white as a sheet! Is it really that shockingto you? So, I knew my father was leading your House. What’s the bigproblem?”

“I killed him, Cane. Ikilled Hawk.” I cannot bear to say the words “your father”aloud.

He drops his hands from my sideimmediately. His jaw tightens, a hard glint appearing in his eyes.“You just said that you loved him.”

“I did love him! I thoughtof Hawk as a father. He meant everything to me!”

“Then why would you killhim, Mynah?” Wolf demands angrily, his voice low.He used my masking name. I’m losing him,I realize as I launch into the story of Condorand Falcon’s treachery.

“Wolf, please—”

Before I can finish my plea, Canegrabs his mask, leaps out the door, and races through the groundslike a wild animal on the hunt. Wolf stops in front of the traitorbinds, slamming a fist into Condor’s face. Blisters from thesunburns on his skin break open upon impact.

“How could you be thatcruel, that blood thirsty, that you would attack our father likethat?” Wolf cries, pummeling Condor’s body mercilessly.

Our fatherresonates in my mind as I examine Condor anew. Itis difficult to see the resemblance with the feathered mask hidinghis features. Same eyes, same hair color,same mischievous quirk of his lips.

“Stop it, Wolf! He’s hadenough,” I demand, forcing my way between the furious leader andCondor. Fox and Jackal grab Wolf’s flailing arms before he can hurtme accidentally. They drag him away from the traitor binds, leavingme alone with Condor.

“Want to take a turnyourself, hmm?” Condor sneers, blood oozing around hismouth.

“I’m going to loosen yourmask,” I whisper, watching Condor cringe.

“So, you’d rather just letthe others finish me off?” Condor wheezes and coughs out hislaughter in choking sobs. “You know, there was a time when I wouldhave scoffed at the idea of you killing me. I mean, I know you hateme, but I never thought you could stomach murder.”

“Creeper’s death wasn’tmurder,” I mumble, trying to keep my chin from wobbling as theghost of that monster appears behind Condor. He leers at me, hishands reaching to stroke my hair.

“Vengeance is just a fancyname for the