Chapter 455: The Shape of Mercy

Two days ago

The pause was immediate.

Every movement in the hall stilled as Brynhild’s question settled into the open space between them.

"We all know what Holly did to Sophia," she repeated quietly. "What do you plan to do with her?"

Orion did not answer at once.

"So it’s true," he said. His voice was low. Careful. "What we heard." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Orion met his gaze.

"Was there any indication it was a lie?" Orion asked him.

Daniel paused as if in thought, then shook his head. "Actually, no."

"Holly left Sophia to die," Orion reminded them.

His voice was flat and purposely devoid of emotion.

"As far as I am concerned," he said, "Holly is no longer a member of this pack."

Daniel nodded slowly.

"I understand that," he said. "Truly. But even so—former or not—she still broke one of the oldest rules we have."

He looked at Orion directly as Orion spoke.

"No one leaves a member of the pack to die. That’s a rule we all abide by."

Caspian let out a slow breath through his nose.

"That’s not a rule," he muttered darkly. "That’s basic instinct. One would think that after what we suffered at the hands of the enclave, our members would be inclined to protect each other, especially in times of danger."

Orion’s gaze did not waver.

"And that," he said quietly, "is exactly why she is in the dungeons."

"I considered it a courtesy," Orion continued evenly. "Because she was once one of us."

The faint emphasis on was was unmistakable.

Orion’s eyes hardened. "And now she is not. And since she is no longer a member of this pack, I will treat her the same way we treat any threat to this pack. Especially ones who try or hold murderous intent towards our people. Ones who even attempt to get rid of a pack member themselves instead of trying to solve things amicably."

Caspian’s gaze flicked to Madam Tyler.

Daniel followed.

The exchange of looks between Caspian, Madam Tyler, and Daniel was brief—but weighted with the same unspoken question.

Madam Tyler straightened.

"Orion," she said carefully, "what exactly are you planning to do?"

Orion did not pretend to consider an answer.

"If I tell you," he replied calmly, "you will try to stop me."

Madam Tyler’s lips pressed together.

"And you believe I wouldn’t try to stop you either way?"

Orion inclined his head.

"You will try, that’s not a lie. But honestly, I doubt you will be able to," he told her.

The honesty of it struck harder than defiance would have.

Madam Tyler closed her eyes briefly.

When she opened them again, something weary lingered behind her gaze.

"Whatever you intend to do," she said quietly, "do not kill her."

The hall felt suddenly much smaller.

Orion held her eyes.

"I am not going to kill Holly."

The tension that had coiled in Madam Tyler’s shoulders released all at once.

A soft, almost imperceptible sound escaped her.

Mary scoffed.

"Personally," she said bluntly, "I think anyone who even thinks about killing a pack member should be killed themselves."

Madam Tyler turned toward her.

"Violence is never the answer, Mary."

She paused.

Just long enough for the others to look at her with raised eyebrows too.

"...Except when it comes to the enclave," she finished.

A few startled huffs of laughter broke through the edge of the moment.

Orion let out a quiet chuckle despite himself.

He looked back to Madam Tyler.

"I meant what I said," he told her again. "I’m not going to kill Holly."

Madam Tyler studied him for a second longer.

Then she nodded, seemingly accepting his words as final.

"That is enough for me," she said softly.

She gathered the edge of her cloak and turned toward the doors.

Caspian and Daniel were already moving again, their earlier tension bleeding into something dangerously close to celebration.

"We should still get that wine," Caspian said to Daniel under his breath, far too loudly.

Daniel grinned. "I’m sure I have some in my home. We can start the celebrations early before Ronan comes."

Caspian grinned. "I like the way you think, brother."

Madam Tyler shook her head faintly but did not stop them. Instead, she joined them.

"I’m surely invited to this celebration, right?" she asked them.

"Of course you are," Daniel and Caspian said at once, and they all laughed as they walked out of the hall.

Mary lingered, though. She adjusted the strap of her gloves.

"I need to get back to the forge," she said.

Then she looked at Orion.

"I still hope death is the judgment you give Holly. Even if you don’t plan to kill her."

Orion did not answer. He only stared at her, and Mary did not wait for an answer either. She turned and walked out of the hall.

The heavy doors shut behind her with a low, echoing thud.

Silence returned.

Lysander had not moved from his seat.

He was staring at Orion.

Openly.

With a deep frown carved into his face.

"What is it?" Orion asked him.

Lysander tilted his head slightly.

"I grew up with you," he said. "And I know when you’re telling the truth."

Orion’s brows lifted faintly. "I don’t lie, brother. You know I can’t."

"That is true. But you can say only part of the truth. You can withhold information," Lysander told him. "And that is what you did when you were speaking with Madam Tyler."

"You heard me," Orion said. "I won’t kill Holly. That wasn’t a lie."

Lysander nodded. "I know that. But I also suspect you have plans for Holly that are in line with death, or something close to it. But if it’s death, it wouldn’t be by your hands."

Orion did not deny it.

He merely tilted his head to one side. "How very observant of you, brother."

Lysander snorted.

Orion turned his head toward Brynhild.

She had been silent throughout the exchange.

"Are you up for some planning?" Orion asked her.

"Is this planning to punish Holly?" she asked Orion.

"Very much so," he told her.

The change in tone was subtle—but deliberate.

Brynhild smiled.

"I would be offended if you didn’t ask," she replied. "I’ll gladly work with you. I have a bone to pick with Holly after what she did to Sophia."

"Anyone," Orion said with a sharp smile, "who leaves a pack member to die deserves death themselves—and I may not be the one killing Holly, but I never said she wouldn’t suffer for what she did to Sophia."