Chapter 84

Ansel woke up in a cold sweat.

There’s been a breach.

Henry’s stark warning came through mindlink.

Ansel jumped up. He grabbed a t-shirt he’d thrown over the back of a chair and pulled it on over his head.

Don’t come. It will make things worse. I’ll keep you updated.

He ignored Henry and was outside within seconds. Jeff was howling and pacing from inside him. He could see lights up ahead and hear shouts and cries.

He shifted into his wolf and raced toward the gate, where he could soon make out the skirmish between the protestors and his security.

Before he could reach the turmoil, he was flanked by Henry, who then turned to block him. Ansel growled and swiped him across the snout. Henry yelped.

Ansel pushed on. It was chaos up ahead. He stumbled when a huge weight crashed on top of him. Teeth sunk into his shoulders. Henry.

He tried to buck him off, but he was clamped onto Ansel with his fangs. Ansel swung around, throwing both him and Henry down on the ground, with Ansel colliding on top of him. Ansel shifted mid-air so he could better maneuver.

They were both belly-up, like two overturned beetles, but Henry had the hardest landing. Ansel was able to spin over and pin him. Henry shifted as well. He laid on the ground, helpless.

Ansel looked into Henry’s eyes. “Don’t underestimate me,” he said.

“I don’t,” Henry said, breathlessly.

“I can defend myself - my estate. I don’t need your protection,” he snarled. He started to run. The sound of a gun firing sliced through the air. Silver bullets, no doubt. In the momentary distraction, he was caught unawares by Henry, who jumped up and grabbed hold of Ansel’s hurt shoulder.

The move temporarily stunned him, as the pain of Henry gripping his nails into the jagged wound seized through his body.

Ansel yelled and turned, punching Henry in the face, and laying him flat. After a moment, Henry pulled his head up, coughing. His nose was bleeding profusely.

Ansel felt ashamed at the sight of his friend. He hesitated, but then he moved to head towards the gate, ready to jump into the fray.

Except, there didn’t seem to be much need for him now. His gammas were encircling the area in a tight formation, pushing the protestors back, and the group of trespassers looked to be apprehended.

“I told you,” said Henry.

Ansel faced him.

Henry was sitting up, trying to wipe away blood, but it was still gushing from his nose. He pulled up his shirt to wipe some away, and then pressed it to his nose, holding it there to soak up the steady stream.

Ansel watched as the color of the shirt changed to a bright red.

“I had it under control,’ Henry said. “I know how to command my men.”

“Your men?”

“I’m over them, aren’t I?”

“I put you in charge, yes,” Ansel said.

“And I was in charge,” Henry said, leaning forward, against his knees. “You had no reason to doubt me.”

Ansel blinked. “I didn’t doubt you.”

“You did or you wouldn’t have come out here.” Henry stood up slowly, still holding the shirt to his nose.

“Go tend to that,” Ansel said, and began to leave.

“You put yourself - and us - at risk, Ansel,” Henry said, following after him.

Ansel whipped around and growled. “You forget your place.”

“I’m not trying to get into a pissing contest with you,” Henry said.

“Then back down,” Ansel said, pointing a finger at Henry’s chest.

“Those people protesting are crazy! And they hate you,” Henry said, staring hard back at Ansel. “They want to seize on this moment. They’re ready to kill you, and burn this place to the ground.”

“You think that’s news to me? And you think I care? I eat death for breakfast. I smell it. I dream of it.”

“Just let me do my goddamn job,” Henry said. “Let all of us just do our jobs.”

“Henry, I don’t need a fucking bodyguard!”

“Yes, you do! Sir.” He took a breath. “Sorry, but you do. You can’t beat everyone off!”

“Watch me,” Ansel said, growling.

“You do realize the election is less than a month away now, and you’re losing?”

“Oh, well,” said Ansel. “You’re just full of shocking facts! No, I had no idea.”

“And the NBI found that document -“

“That someone planted!“ Ansel flashed back to being hauled over to re-interview with the NBI today, after they’d already scoured the estate this morning, and the hours he and his lawyer spent in the claustrophobic room, pleading the fifth.

“Yes,” said Henry. “And we have no idea who. So there’s someone walking around the manor sabotaging you. Oh yeah, and you’re supposed to be up at the crack of dawn to get ready for that interview -“

“Do I have ‘idiot’ written across my forehead, or what?”

“I’m making a point,’ Henry said, shouting. He ripped his shirt off over his head, so he could ball it up and keep it under his nose. “Let me handle the shit I can handle, so you can win the election - and maybe figure out how to not go to jail.”

“News flash!” Ansel gesticulated his hands wildly. “I’m - not - going - to - win, Henry. And my lawyer can figure out the other crap.”

“Not going to win? Then what the hell are we doing all of this for?” Henry was yelling so loud it disturbed a screech owl in a nearby tree. It took flight above them.

“Why did I get Zara over here to help you prep tomorrow,” he said. “Why did your lawyer approve that list of questions for the broadcast with Myers?” Henry’s eyes burned. “What the hell has any of this been for, if you’re just going to give up?”

Ansel paused. “I’m not giving up. But I have to get ready for what happens next.”

“And what’s that?”

“If Edwin is crowned, I’m on the chopping block - as are you, and anyone else connected to me.”

Henry seemed momentarily lost for words. “Then why the fuck aren’t in bed, so you can do your charming Ansel thing tomorrow at the interview, and win people over again?”

“Because I’m not going to cower away -“

“It’s not cowering! It’s having faith in me.”

Ansel shut his eyes for a moment to collect himself. “I made you my beta, because I do have faith in you. I have absolute trust. But,” he said. “Stay out of my way next time.” His voice came out in a deep snarl. “I don’t care what you think is in my best interest.”

Henry lowered his head. “I can’t promise that,” he said quietly.

“Then I won’t be half as nice next time.”

Henry seemed to take that in. For a moment, the only sound was the rustling leaves in the wind.

Henry stood straighter. “You’re a real pal,” he said.

“Maybe we’re not friends,” Ansel said.

“Not when it boils down to it,” Henry said.

“No. You work for me,” Ansel said. “Don’t forget it.”

“Trust me,” Henry said. “I won’t.”

Ansel looked at Henry’s swollen, blood-covered nose, and the claw marks across his face. He swallowed the guilty feeling again and left him, trudging his way through the dark and back to the manor.

He climbed back into bed, trying to wipe the whole thing from his brain.

He settled his mind on the one thing today that had gone right.

Letting her go.

Jeff stirred anxiously at the memory.

She doesn’t love me. She has never loved me.

Jeff didn’t believe him, but the heart doesn’t always know best. If it did, Ansel would be playing piano all day and eating ice cream for every meal. He’d laugh and cry with his friends and family.

And I’d never see them coming when they decide to turn on me.

The heart wanted to trust, but Ansel knew better. He’d known since he’d watched his mother die from poisoning. That event revealed the truth.

Everything that had happened after crystalized it - his father’s very conditional love, Edwin’s tricks, and secrets, and threats, Karin’s multiple betrayals, and the latest party surprise - a forged document, found in a trashcan by the NBI.

Like I’d be stupid enough to spell out a murder on paper.

Ansel tossed and turned, and when he finally fell asleep, he dreamt of the gun with the silver bullets.