Kate Daniels 04.6 - Curran POV, Vol II

at my arm to steady me, but her leg gave way and we crashed together onto the couch. We were a long way from top form, but it would have to do. Together, even in our current state, were more than a match for any of my subjects. Well, as far as they knew.
    Almost as if she realized what I was thinking, Kate asked, "Are you sure you're ready for a Council meeting?"
    I turned to her, willing my face into a mask of determination and menace. "They better be ready for me."
    We had to make a show of strength. We could not continue to be seen as anything less than the Beast Lord and his Mate, undisputed masters of the Pack.
    It is the nature of our kind that we value power and violence above all else, ruthlessly exploiting any weakness. Authority must be exercised at all times or lost. My people did not have to love or even like me, but by God they would obey me. If they had forgotten why I was feared, I would remind them. If I had to kill a few as an example, then so be it.
    I made my way to the bathroom. I fell twice, but my strength was returning. The soup was kicking in. A couple of minutes later I was ready to make it down to the Council room on my own. On our way, Barabas, one of the Pack lawyers and one of B's favorite troublemakers, fell in behind us and kept pace.
    I stopped. "Barabas, have you come to challenge me too?" I knew even as I said it that the challenge from him was unlikely. Barabas was slightly crazy and could be insubordinate at times, but he was not stupid.
    His usual look of amusement evaporated, replaced by one of complete shock and disbelief. "No, my Lord, I am bound to the Consort."
    Apparently the entire place had gone to hell while I was asleep. I turned to Kate and waited for some sort of explanation.
    She shrugged. "I made a deal with B, and she gave him to me as a sort of adviser. I will tell you all about it later."
    I wasn't sure I wanted to know; B never did anything out of altruism alone. She wanted something. I dimly recalled Kate telling me about it, but the details escaped me. Had she assisted Kate in some way? A thought struck me. "Barabas, how many members of the Pack have challenged my mate while I slept?"
    He paused, clearly attempting to recall, finally he turned to Kate and asked, "Twenty-two?"
    She nodded silently.
    "How many alphas?"
    "Only the Jackals, my Lord. The others were rank and file, not even betas."
    "You killed the jackals?"
    She nodded.
    "Both?"
    She nodded.
    Barabas cleared his throat. "And she dared the rest of them to come and fight her. The dare wasn't accepted."
    Of course. You didn't get to be an alpha by being dumb. After the Jackals had been killed, the others had been content to let their subordinates wear her down. Mahon could have stopped it, but did not. He had never made a secret of his disapproval of Kate, but to stand by and allow her to be injured in my absence... he and I would speak of this later. Perhaps it was time for my adoptive father to retire.
    I would deal with the rest of the Council shortly. As we approached the door, I could hear them mumbling and whispering inside. Were they bored? Irritated? I could fix all of that. I took a deep breath, opened the door and roared at my subjects as if I had every intent of ending their lives in the next several seconds.
    The sudden silence was deafening. Oh yes, Daddy is home and he ain't happy. Playtime was over.

    *** *** ***
     
    As my alphas sat in stunned silence, I pulled out a chair for my mate and then seated myself at the head of the table. No one spoke. I scanned the faces seeking a challenge. Not one of them had the courage to meet my stare. They all knew that an example would have to be made and none were eager to be the first.
    I leaned forward and in as calm a tone as I could manage, demanded, "Explain yourselves."
    Silence.
    "I am waiting for one of you to tell me why you stood by and did nothing while my mate was assaulted on a daily basis."
    Finally Jim spoke. "I knew she would be okay. Curran, she had to prove that she belonged."
    "Yes," Mahon rumbled. "Nobody expected that she would be allowed to sit at your side without spilling some blood, my liege."
    Yeah, actually I kinda did. Last time I had checked I was in charge around here. It was time to gently remind them of that. My eyes were on fire and every one of them knew what that fire meant.
    I leaned forward and repeated, "Allowed?"
    I let it sink in.
    The realization of it hit them. They just told me what I was allowed to do. I