Blood Promise (A SkinWalker Novel #4) (A DarkWorld SkinWalker Novel) by T.G. Ayer Read Free Book Online Page A

of the new law," Marsden continued, "all alphas in a relationship with, or married to, a non-walker will have their alpha statuses revoked forthwith."
    Forthwith? Who even said forthwith anymore?
    But Marsden wasn't done. "Alphas Odel, Gordon, and Gumble," he toned solemnly. "It is my sad duty to relieve you--"
    The noise of movement behind him drew Marsden's attention and he swung away from the seated alphas to glare at the crowd. Fae Marcia Gordon and human Elaine Gumble were on their feet and moving along their rows towards Mom and me.
    What was going on?
    "Point of order," Mom said clearly and took a step forward. "I believe what you're about to do is a violation of the law."
    He stared at her down his nose. "Really, human ? What do you know of our laws?"  
    "I know that under the new addendum it's illegal to relieve an alpha of his position if his wife is no longer with him. We"--she gestured to Marcia and Elaine--"are no longer with our husbands."
    "What?" A pallid man to begin with, Marsden managed to blanch a few shades whiter and his eyebrows hiked up as far as they could go. "What are you talking about?"
    Behind him, Dad, Gordon, and Gumble snapped their dropped jaws closed and tried to look as if this was old news.  
    "I am saying," said Mom, speaking very slowly, "that I am not with my husband. We've been separated for a good long while now. Everyone is well aware of that." Mom shrugged. "Not sure you can punish a man for his past before a law came into being? I don't believe so."  
    Marsden's color had turned from white to dangerously red. His gaze shifted to Gumble's wife. "Is this true, human?"
    A curvaceous woman with bright yellow hair and a face as round as an apple, Elaine could have played the role of Viking lady on any stage. She gave Marsden a coy smile, her eyes glowing dangerously despite her seductive expression.  
    "If you kept up to date with the welfare of your people," she said sweetly, "you'd be well aware that Jem and I have had a rocky relationship this last year. As a matter of fact, I moved out two weeks ago. Or did your underlings not tell you?"
    Wow, she was daring.
    Apparently Marsden hadn't been aware of the Gumble's rocky relationship. It was just as well Marsden had his back to the table because, judging by old Jem's expression, he hadn't been aware of it either.  
    Marsden, struggling to control his swiftly rising fury, moved his attention to Gordon's wife. "And you, fae?"
    Marcia stood very still beside Mom, her rapid pulse beating at the base of her neck. Then she laughed, a humorless, croaking sound.  
    "If you think marriage to that old goat is fun then think again. I'm with these girls. I'm better off with him as my alpha than as my husband. Thanks to your law I've finally been given the perfect opportunity to toss his wrinkled old ass out of my bed."  
    Someone snorted.
    A couple of people in the back row were unable to control their laughter, and around us a good few were struggling to hide their smiles. Even old Gumble himself couldn't stop the corner of his lip from curving before he sobered into alpha blankness.
    But I couldn't laugh. It wasn't simply my reaction to the sudden breakup of three alpha marriages that sobered me. It was knowing that Marcia, who exuded youth and beauty courtesy of her Fae genes, had been married 'the old goat' for decades. Now, because of Marsden and his ilk, she and Gordon would be denied their last years together. It was cruel.  
    "Enough!" Marsden snarled, and the laughter in the room died. He swung back to face the three almost-ex-alphas. "Is this true?"
    Together, as if choreographed by a master, each man gave him an arrogant, very alpha, inclination of the head.
    Our marriages. Our business. You're incompetent. Oh yeah, that nod said it all.
    Marsden stood still for another moment, but I could see his face. It was a strange shade of purple and he looked like he'd swallowed a bowlful of jalapeños.
    I hoped my parents, the Gumbles, and