Chapter 191

Chapter 41: Theo We left the room and I led the way down the hall. The guards were still stationed outside the separate cells. I hadn’t allowed the prisoners to see each other, but I at least made sure they were relatively taken care of. It was one thing to deprive them of food, water, and sleep while questioning them. But torturing them when I didn’t have the time to deal with them wouldn’t allow them to break the command.

Besides, I didn’t want Avla to have to see them like that from the start. If she broke the command and it led to that at some point, so be it. But if she could get through this without having to break someone’s mind, I would be grateful. It wasn’t something that was taken lightly. Even with a rogue, someone who wasn’t tethered to your own subconscious, the feeling of asserting that kind of dominance and force leaves an impact I didn’t think she was ready for.

“This is the one I started questioning in Bonnerville,” I indicated. “I think Will spent a few moments with the other one while we were away. He’ll be here tomorrow to help if we need it.”

“We can start with the one you’re familiar with,” Ayla said. “We know for sure that he’s under the command, so he must know something that would warrant it.”

“Randy was telling me about this command,” Kingston said. “It still seems strange for them to be using it to keep information from us. It doesn’t really make sense.”

“That’s what I said,” Ayla agreed, shaking her head.

“It has probably worked incredibly well until now,” I replied. “There’s only one possible person who could break the command.

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O 15:47 Chapter 41: The 288 Vouchers person either didn’t exist or likely didn’t know what they were capable of. They would have been pretty confident their secrets were safe. Even if their men were captured, whatever they could get out of them wouldn’t lead back to the Waar Pak.”

“But if they really believed the Blessed One would appear, they would have known that this wouldn’t protect them for long,”

Kingston said. “And they know we’re aware they are looking for her.”

“Do they, though?‘ I asked. “They’ve been hunting Onyxcrown survivors for years. What’s to say their attacks on you were anything other than that? The only reason they were brought to our attention was because of Randy. He’s still feeding them false information.”

“We have to assume it’s the likelihood at this point,” Kingston said.

“Agreed.” I stated. I focused on Ayla, resting my hands on her arms. “I‘ Il be there the entire time if you need help. But you’re running this. We’ll follow your lead.”

We’d been practicing her commands together, and she was a natural now that she was getting the hang of it. But interrogation was more than just commands.

She nodded for the guard to open the cell and I followed her inside. The rogue had been chained to the chair again. However, the smell wasn’t nearly as bad as it had been the first time we’d met. The sour scent of a rogue still hung in the air, but he was at least clean. He had a curious but nervous expression as he watched Ayla take a seat in front of him. I took a position behind him while Kingston took a spot in the corner.

They stared at each other for a few minutes. The rogue started to fidget under the weight of our energy filling the cell. I could see Ayla’s mind ticking, her eyes a cool silver shining with intrigue. She was 27.34%

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15.48 Chapter 41: Theo 288 Vouchers strategizing. Working out how to get what we needed.

“What’s your name?” she finally asked.

He didn’t respond. But Ayla just waited. Eventually, Kingston moved to say something, but Ayla lifted her hand to stop him.

“I think a name is a good place to start a conversation,” Ayla said. “You give me yours and I’ll give you mine.”

The rogue looked up at her, considering her proposal.

“Denny,” he spoke.

“Thank you, Denny,” she replied. “I’m Ayla. I’m going to ask you some questions. I’m hoping you can answer them for me.”

Denny shifted uncomfortably in his chair but remained quiet.

“Why are you a rogue?” Ayla asked.

“What?” Denny responded in surprise.

“I was a rogue once,” she replied. “There’s a million reasons someone becomes a rogue. I’d like to know yours.”

Denny looked between me and Kingston in confusion. “My father was turned rogue when I was a kid for... causing my mother’s death. No one wanted to take me in. So, I went with him.”

“I’m sorry,” Ayla said genuinely. “That must have been really hard for you.”

He straightened in his chair. “It was better than an orphanage. At least as a rogue, I knew where I stood and could fight for what I needed. Instead of relying on someone to take pity on me.”

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15:48 Chapter 41: Theo 288 Vouchers “Like fighting our villagers?”

Denny turned his head, not looking at her. Ayla nodded slightly. She was reading him.

“What pack were you from?” Ayla asked, moving on for now.

“Shadow Claw,” he replied quietly.

“I see,” she said. “I’m familiar with their reputation. I had a rather unpleasant encounter with their last Alpha. I can understand feeling like you’re better off without a pack than with that one. And why you would want to get as far away as possible. Is that how you ended up near our border?”

“We move around a lot,” Denny said.

“You and your father?”

Denny shook his head. “Rogues in general. My old man died a long time ago.”

“I’m sorry,” Ayla said.

“Don’t be,” he said. “He deserved what he got.”

“What about Bonnerville?” Ayla asked. “Do you think they got what they deserved? Why did you attack them?”

Denny stilled. So far, Ayla had just been making conversation. But there was just a hint of her power behind the last question. He knew now that he had a choice to make. He could try to fight what was coming but he wouldn’t be able to or he could tell her what she –

–

wanted to know. Ayla had made some kind of decision about him. She was calm and collected. Like she knew what the outcome would be.

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Chapter 41 Theo Suddenly, Denny’s shoulders slumped. “We were ordered to.“