Word Count: 1894

~Avia

Zire yawns, stretching his legs out across my bed spread.

I glare at him, but he remains unbothered, thumbing through a collection of papers he snatched off Isaiah's desk for me. I can't believe I've been ousted to the chair in the corner of the room so he can lounge on my bed comfortably. I would protest, but at this point, I'm not in a position to be telling him what to do, since it seems I'm relying on him now more than he is relying on me.

"Tell me about Mari," I muse, draping my legs over the arm of the chair as I contort myself to be as comfortable as possible.

"Never liked her," Zire doesn't even look up. "She doesn't talk to me ever, always right at her father's side."

I already know they aren't very fond of each other, but it seems Zire only really gets along with Isaiah and Cherry. Still, I get the sense he has a lot more to say, but is choosing not to as if it might avoid some more conflict. Perhaps Isaiah has told him to watch his tongue, which I'm sure he mentioned in regards to me as well.

"What do you know about the murders?" I question.

He glances up over the top of his papers, eyes narrowing. "What do you know about them?"

That's confirmation enough that they are actually happening, and that I'm not imagining all of this, that I'm not imagining Isaiah leaving the estate to meet with someone to talk about the murders.

"I'm aware that Isaiah knows something about them and is keeping it from me," I say testily, watching for Zire's reaction. He frowns, as if it's news to him. I'm assuming if Isaiah feels the need to sneak out, he hasn't told anyone about his exertions. "Which is where you come in, as the one employed to get information about him for me."

"Remind me why I allow you to refer to me as employed by you?" He drops the papers, stretching onto his stomach to look at me.

I smother my smile. It bothers him, so I keep saying it.

"No one I convene with will ever learn anything more about you than your name," I say. He doesn't need to know that a few of my close colleagues already know his name, but I've kept my word in keeping everything else from them.

"Alright..." Zire sighs, seemingly giving up on the dismissive angle. "The murders started happening about a year and a half ago, which was about when Isaiah brought me in to be his second-in-command. It was all wealthy families, ones with hands in pockets of land and influence in strong interests groups."

I lean forward, interested. "Go on..."

"No one has ever been connected to the murders, but as a consequence, people have been beefing up security. Accept Mari's family," he muses, raising a brow. I know exactly what he is insinuating.

"Interesting. You think her father is behind it?" I ask.

"He has a lot of control in those interest groups. And sometimes killing is far easier than turning an entire group against an individual," Zire says with a shrug.

I blink. Sometimes I get close to thinking everyone here isn't all that different from me, until I'm reminded quite abruptly that power allows them to get away with more than any commoner could. For them, killing is a better optio that actually confronting the issue reasonably. Being that I'm in front of Zire, and not Isaiah, I'm able to appear outwardly disgusted by that thought, as he knows I am no Noble's daughter.

"So...why isn't he arrested?" I demand.

"There's a careful, intricate web that keeps the power in this Pack. These influential people are fundamental to everything that occurs here, meaning Isaiah, with all his power, is only part of the power you and your rebellious groups hate so much," he explains. There is a surprising lack of judgment in his voice, considering his feelings about the rebellions. He clearly knows the structure if power is wrong.

My throat is dry, as I cast my look aside and out the window. "Isaiah is a bad man..."

Saying it doesn't taste right on my tongue. I used to think so ill of him, stay up at night plotting how I would eventually kill him for how he contributed to my parents death. And now, all those feelings have blown out of me like a gust of wind, leaving me empty and without purpose.

"Is that why you look at him like you're in love with him?" Zire asks pointedly, smirking.

I sit up taller, glowering at him. "You're in love with Cherry."

Now that Cherry lives here, Zire has basically turned into an entirely different person. He watches what he says, he's gracious and he is far less snarky and sarcastic. Both Isaiah and I have made note that he is clearly very fond of Cherry, even if the girl herself doesn't see it. Too bad that one the rebellions are done, their relationship won't stand a chance...

"Shh." Zire presses his finger to his lips, stoic all of a sudden. "You're digging into Isaiah's life, not mine."

Zire may be exactly what I need in more ways than I first expected. Cherry's family contributed to the unfavourable power dynamic in this Pack as much as any others do, which means if Zire and Cherry do fall in love, I can use that as a stepping stone into demolishing Cherry's family's power.

I just wish it didn't make me feel so sick to my stomach.

"And you didn't care that she was being beaten," I say tentatively.

He looks down at his papers again, although I note the way a prominent muscle in his jaw ticks. "Shh."

"It would be a shame, if Cherry's influential father happened to...go missing, right?" I say smoothly, watching his reaction carefully. If he doesn't take well to what I'm insinuating, I need to back away immediately. I've been careful not to spook him. If he thinks the rebellion is close to making a move, he will go to Isaiah and blow everything open. I need him to see this as a gesture of good will to him and Cherry, and not as a tactic.

And his feelings for Cherry may be conveniently getting in the way of his better judgment.

His eyes burn with a dark fire when he finally looks back up a t me. "Hmm, it would be."

"You know someone who could make that happen?" I ask, tilting my head. I know someone who could; Malin. She would be pleased if I returned with news that Isaiah's second-in-command is facilitating the death of one of this Pack's most prominent figures. But I want to see if Zire will take my bait first.

"I am that someone, V," he murmurs quietly.

I smother my smile. Isaiah won't know about this, which means more dangerous secrets between the two friends. This feels like pure evil, until I'm reminder of everything Malin has said to me...I'm only in this manor right now to do a job. If I can't do it, I need to leave.

"Oh, what are we missing in here?"

Both Zire and I flinch at the sound of Cherry's voice as she dips her head into the room, grinning. Zire shifts on my bed, brushing his hair back. Clearly Zire and I were discussing something important, by the way we both scramble to find our composure, although Cherry makes no notice of it, bouncing into the room.

However Isaiah, who comes in behind her, doesn't miss the tension. "Yes, what is going on?"

"Kenna, as we know, is my greatest friend aside from you, dear Alpha," Zire quips, turning to look at me. "Don't worry, I've assured him we are nothing more than friends, and I'm not threat to your virtue."

"Virtue?" I splutter.

"You are a Love Pack member, right? Aren't you meant to only engage in a relationship if it constitutes love," Cherry notes, sitting on the bed next to Zire, who tenses obviously. I would roll my eyes at his inability to compose himself around Cherry, but seeing him flustered brings me far too much joy. "Or mates."

She's not completely wrong, but as someone who has spent most of my childhood in the Passion Pack, I don't care for the values expected of Love Pack members. "Not everyone adheres to that."

Cherry looks between me and Isaiah, not bothering to hide what she is thinking. "Scandalous..."

"People say that here, passion is the driving force behind all relationships. That without it, what is the point?" Isaiah notes, leaning against the doorframe.

I'm only able to hold his gaze for a fleeting moment. I know he's right, and that he truly is the embodiment of passion, just by the way he looks at me with those eyes. I need to work on being so reactive around him if I'm going to criticise Zire for the exact same thing with Cherry.

"I don't think that's just a Passion Pack thing," I dismiss.

"As someone who has travelled, I'm going to say that Passion Pack members are especially passionate," Zire grins. He knows exactly what he is doing, and is getting too much pleasure for torturing me right back. "Right Isaiah?"

He's still looking at me when I glance up, dark hair brushing against his eyelashes."Right."

The silence that follows has me considering jumping from the window.

"That's my que to leave." Zire claps as he stands, making me flinch. He winks at me with those obsidian eyes that I've decided I hate. "Have a wonderful evening, Kenna."

Cherry gets up, following the second-in-command from the room."Wait for me, Zire."

Oh how I wish Isaiah would follow them, although he remains in his spot, waiting for Zire and Cherry to disappear down the hallway. He's been out all day, dressed up to speak to important people. Despite myself, I've grown to like the tailored jackets that hug his figure perfectly, although reveal nothing about what strength he is hiding beneath.

"My offer still stands," he murmurs, his voice entwined with sultry intent. "From the other night."

I'm so breathless it takes me awhile to answer. "And I'm still thinking about it."

I force enough innuendo in my tone that makes it clear to him that at any moment, I could accept his offer.

He backs away, dipping his head in acknowledgment, his smile suggesting he knows I won't be able to resist him for much longer.

❤️••❤️

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***

I have a brand new story called IMMORTAL PRINCE now available on Radish, and soon on Wattpad (:

"Tomorrow, we don't have to speak of this again." I hardly know what I'm asking. I just know I want whatever it is.

He watches me with an intensity that I know only he is capable of. "Put my hand where you want me to touch you."

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