Book 3: The Ultimatum

Ainslee

“He wants me to what?” I ask, frowning at Zeke.

“Your father wants you to return to Longclaw. Abandon Rafe and Shadowglade and ‘come home,’ as he puts it,” he says. “He says if you do that, he will send Longclaw troops to fight in the war.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m married. We have a child!” I place my hand over my belly. “Two children!”

He shrugs helplessly. “You’re welcome to write him yourself and try to point that out. I already have once. He won’t budge.”

“Does he expect me to leave both my husband and my children behind?!” I gape, disbelieving.

“He said he will accept the ‘half-breeds.’” His lip curls at the term. “Percival says they prefer the term ‘hybrids.’ I’ve been trying to scrub my language clean.”

“But it would be such a wonderful opportunity for the children to grow up here among other hybrids,” I argue. “I can’t take them away from their father–and I can’t leave Rafe.”

“You’re right,” h