In spite of Galsek's defiant expression, his body was tense and his legs were quivering. He began to shake his head and looked down. It was a frantic refusal to himself, but he had utterly failed at trying to wriggle his way out of this situation any further.

"I was to have his boon..." Galsek spoke quietly, "It was meant to be easy enough. This clan was build on insufficient foundations for its current size. All I had to do was infiltrate, convince Harriet of this one deal that he offered, let her take power, and watch it all crumble like a castle in a bog." Galsek then looked up at Meesei with his eyes welling and shouted. "Why are you here!? Why did you have to arrive now!? We were so close!"

In Ahnasha's arms, Rhazii started to whine at the sudden noise. Fendros put his hand on Ahnasha's upper arm and looked at her. They might need to step out so Rhazii wouldn't disturb the interrogation.

Galsek let out a breath and hung his head again. Instead of breathing out completely, his chest nudged up and down and he began to laugh uncontrollably. "It's...heh...heheh...it's no matter now. Vile will find another way to bind you and swallow your souls. Once I'm out, I'll just have to find a way to get this disgusting animal out of my mind and body." He paused to laugh further, his voice grumbling menacingly as the tears started to run off the front of his chin, "Then I can take the little child you have..."

Fendros stopped at the door.

"If I give Vile the soul of a natural-born lycan, it will surely be enough to pay for my failures. They are incredibly strong souls after all!" Galsek threw his head back and laughed so hard it seemed as if he was trying to expel his lungs through his mouth. He had completely given up.

At this point, Fendros was so furious that clenching his fists until they hurt was all he could do to stop himself tearing Galsek's head from his shoulders. He felt his beast spirit rising involuntarily for the first time in weeks. The days travelling in the cold as well as being cooped up in the clan's mountain home during the investigation had not given him opportunity to hunt. Even though it had been many months since he joined the pack, his control still threatened to lapse at the weakest moments.

Janius and Sabine took notice and walked up to Fendros. "It's not worth it," Janius murmured, "easy now."

Galsek's laughing kept going, making it hard for Fendros to hear anything else.