Chapter 9: Page 6

“Ma wants to report him, but I’m not certain how that’s possible unless Kiren gave more than one set of pills to Issie, or gave her a bottle with his name and finger prints on it.” Oben slammed his fist against the side of the window. “I feel so… I feel violated, Dewi. All I wanted to do was go for a run. I had been scared shitless yesterday, remembering how helpless we were when Renna was sick. I guess I should have stayed in and gotten drunk.”

“No, that’s blaming yourself. How many times have I gone running, needing to clear my head? We both have and we have every right to do so. This is our Grove, our home, and Kiren violated the sanctity of it.”

“What can we do about it? I don’t know if I could go before the Board or the Council and tell them what happened. It doesn’t matter how much I hated it, how little control I had, I participated.”

“You were forced to participate. He gave her something that would make it so no male could resist the urge to mate, no matter how much he might want to. Oben…” Dewi rubbed the back of his neck. “There is a counselor in the village. I don’t think it’d hurt to speak with him.”

“If you mean Zazzrah, he’s a puppy, barely out of University. What does he know about life?”

“I understand he became a counselor because he experienced sexual assault and wanted to help others. Especially those whose interest lean towards the same sex.”

“I’ll think about it. In the mean time, I’ll just ask The Mother to give Kiren the bright idea to step foot in Oak’s Holm. Not that ripping out Kiren’s throat will make things better, as you said, but it couldn’t hurt.”

“I’ve already contacted our cousins, Lenden and Ebret, put the idea out that they may have the perfect opportunity to challenge Kiren for control of Verde Hills in the very near future.”

Oben turned around, his eyes narrowed. “Do you think they’re ready?”

“I sure as hell hope so. If Kiren comes here, which he’s stupid enough to do, he’ll lose.” Dewi offered a vicious grin and knew Oben followed his line of thinking.

“If he loses here, then he’s wide open in Verde Hills.”

“Yes. If Lenden or Ebret can pull through, Verde Hills will once more belong to the Melodyhowls.”

“As it should.”

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