Page 174 of Maksym
“Why?”
“Sage admired his influence. Iron Valor is powerful.”
“And because Madelyn’s connection to him mattered.”
“Yes.”
“Mattered how?”
Loralee looked down.
The spell hummed.
“It made her valuable,” she whispered.
The word struck Maddie visibly. Nikolay’s hand found hers on the table, and this time I did not object to the movement. Let the Council see it. Let them contrast one man holding her hand in public with another pack calculating her value in private.
“Valuable to whom?” I asked.
“To Ironwood.”
“To Sage.”
Her throat worked. “Yes.”
“You also discussed Nikolay with her.”
“Yes.”
“What did you ask?”
“I asked if it was difficult. Being bound to a vampire.”
“Bound,” I repeated.
“I didn’t mean—”
The spell pressed.
Loralee’s voice broke. “I did mean it. I thought of it that way then.”
“As bondage?”
“As... as a mistake, maybe. Or a burden.”
“Did Madelyn agree?”
“No.”
“What did she say?”
Loralee wiped beneath one eye, smearing darkness along her cheek. “She said I didn’t have to understand it. She said it was hers.”
“The bond.”
“Yes.”
“Did she say Nikolay had hurt her?”
