by L. M. French
“Her.” Him calling her ‘it’ was seriously pissing me off, “What you meant to say is ‘her’ and no.”
“No?” Pike echoed.
“No.” My tone made no room for argument. “We’re not using her. Not for bait, not as a weapon, not at all. She stays here, under guard, until we have Sai’s body back and we neutralize Ivory and Ace.”
“So, you're just gonna ignore the fact that they're all after her? Ivory, the Timorii, fucking Ace,” he pounded his fist on the table, “The Din waltzed her through a fucking portal right under our noses and there wasn't a damn thing we could do about it. But sure,” he mocked, “we’ll throw a couple of clans around her and hope they do better than their fucking alpha.”
“Do I need to remind you how I became alpha?” Aggression rolled under my skin. “Cause I’d be pleased as fuck to give you a demonstration.”
“He’s not wrong,” Veda spoke from behind me her hand rubbed lightly at her neck where Myra had cut away her sentinel brand. Her fake sentinel brand.
Of course, she’d choose now to come out. Her hair was pulled up in a messy bun on her head while black cut off shorts left her legs bare from her thick, firm thighs to her tiny ankles tucked into her black boots. The white buttoned shirt she wore had wide sleeves that fell back across her forearms as she hugged herself.
“If you think I’m going to let you walk out of here and right into more danger you’ll find yourself locked in a runed room until this is over.” Turning I watched her reaction to the challenge I’d just laid out.
Ozias groaned and just shook his head. Jericho found something fascinating on the ceiling and Emerick watched on like he was witnessing his favorite train wreck.
She sputtered and turning a furious shade of red. “Let me? I - You – I don’t need permission, Bay. If I can help, I should. I would think you would understand duty.”
Is that what she thought? “Dying for the greater good can be noble, Veda, hell, sometimes it’s even necessary. But dying needlessly is always foolish,” I leaned down so we were nose to nose, “and I will never needlessly sacrifice you. I thought I made that clear last night.”
Emerick waded in likely sensing I was in no mood to deescalate the situation. “Veda, after yesterday do you think maybe you can see our side of things? You were attacked, kidnapped, beaten and stuffed like a freaky pinata.”
“I know. I was there.” Brittle didn't begin to describe her tone. Yesterday had shattered her and she hadn’t begun to pick up the pieces.
Somber energy filled the room as the rest went unsaid. She survived but there was a cost. And we were all paying it.
“I understand. Wherever I go someone dies.” Her gaze met mine full of sorrow and regret. “But I can't just hide. Pike is right, they'll still come for me and they’ll go through however many wolves they have to to get me. Don't make me live with that.”
Oz’s jaw clenched hard enough the grinding of his teeth was audible. He wanted her tucked away safe from this mess as badly as I did and who could blame him? My parents had been casualties of the war just like his own but no one had recreated their deaths the way Ivory had done with Veda. The reality of what could have happened to her was a stark memory for him.
She was right though. They were right as much as it chapped my ass to admit it. The Din had torn through us in that pasture.
Now, there were two options on the table. One, bury her in wolves and go hunt up Sai’s carcass and hope like hell the danger aimed itself in another direction, namely ours. Two, take her with us where she would definitely be in danger and hope we did a better job than last time.
Our choices were shit.
Reaching forward I dragged her body against mine. “You may not be a wolf but you go- you follow orders.”
Veda sighed relaxing against me, her softer curves sinking against the hard planes of my body. Some of those places getting harder than others...
“Bay?” The feminine voice did not belong to Veda and broke through the haze consuming me.
Veda startled and tried to step back.
Jet and Zar stood in the bedroom door with Jericho who had presumably let them in while I was distracted. Jet being Jet, absolutely lacking in decorum, continued. “So, you’re the half-breed.”
“Jet.” Zar shook his head. “Sorry for the interruption.”
“We are?” Jet asked.
“We are,” Zar stated firmly.
Ozias was reclined in an armchair watching us with a small smirk on his face. My eyes narrowed on the small everphial he rolled between his fingers when he waved it under his nose and winked. Cheeky motherfucker was reminding me he got there first.
Veda shifted against me brushing against my obvious erection and froze “Bay,” she hissed pulling away.
I moved my hands up to her waist to hold her still and put my mouth next to her ear. “Struggling is only going to make it harder.” I dropped a kiss on her neck and slid her to the side under my arm,
Now her blush was full body. Niiice.
I turned my attention to the Crows. “Why aren’t you still at Fulcrum?”
Zar stepped forward. Dark hair was braided off his face at the crown for battle and his posture was rigid. Something was wrong.
“The Horde wolf we captured is dead.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Veda
The room went wired.
Bay stepped forward releasing me.
“Repeat that.” That was not his nice guy voice.
“The horde wolf we held at Fulcrum is dead.” Had to hand it to him, this wolf didn’t flinch.
“How?”
The wolf flicked his gaze in my direction and no one missed it.
“Looks like he was set on fire.”
“There a reason you keep looking at her?” Oz was out of his chair and up in the Crow wolfs face before I could blink.
“Rumors going around.” Again, his eyes found mine.
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. Running like wildfire through the pack. Word is she’s torching people cause she's unstable.” Jet took a deep breath and stepped closer to Zar's side. Her move said, ‘we’re a unit’.
“Any reason besides rumors got you eyeing her in a way that makes me think you’re questioning my judgment?” Bay’s question suggested they need a very, very good reason.
“We had the exterior doors under guard.” Zar’s insinuation was lost on them.
“And?”
I cleared my throat and all eyes came to me. “He said exterior.” Zar stared at me over Oz’s shoulder, the distrust clear in his eyes. I squared my shoulders. “That means there’s an interior door wherever your prisoner was.”
Emerick cursed.
I nodded at the two Crow’s. “They think I used it to sneak in and murder the Horde.”
“Didn’t you?” Jet accused softly.
Bay seemed to triple in size with his anger. “And just when did the little sentinel manage to execute the Horde?”
The two wolves seemed to sense they had stepped in it. “The midnight rotation reported him alive. Dawn check in he was a pile of ash.”
Oz snapped his teeth crushing a candy loudly between his jaws. “Sweetheart, where were you between midnight and dawn?”
Blood rushed to my face. “In bed.”
Bay grinned evilly. “With whom?”
My look was baleful. “I forget.”
Emerick’s crack of laughter made me grit my teeth.
Oz moved out of the way when Bay stepped forward. The Daenali commander wore scary like a second skin. “I can see the question in your eyes so I assuage your curiosity.” He leaned forward. “She was in my bed last night. All night.”
“We meant no disrespect-” Jet began.
“You question my judgment and mean no disrespect?”
“No one knows what she is and she’s on pack lands. Sleeping with our Alpha.” She made it clear she knew we did more than sleep.
“Since when do you police my bed?�
�
Awkward didn’t begin to describe the events unfolding. “Maybe we should all-”
Emerick jumped up and wrapped a hand around my mouth and put his mouth to my ear. “Shhhh- they fucked up and now he has to fuck them up so it doesn’t happen again. Interrupting will just make it worse,” he whispered.
Emerick sat pulling me with him on the side of the bed to watch as Bay addressed the Crows. Jet had visibly shrunk away from Bay and Zar stood eerily still. “Commander-” he began.
“Does she look unstable to you Balthazar?”
His Adam's apple bobbed as swallowed. “No, Commander.”
“Would I endanger my pack with an unstable half-breed?”
“No, Commander.”
“Are either of you prepared to challenge me for my position as alpha?” he roared.
I shivered as the line between man and beast blurred, his voice rough as gravel to my ears.
Both wolves dropped their eyes to the floor. “No, alpha.”
“The sentinel is under the protection of the Daenali pack. Full stop. I don’t care if the gossip says she’s eating small children for breakfast.” He stepped closer. “Those are my orders as Commander of the Daenali. Do you still follow orders?”
Both Crow wolves exposed their necks in submission murmuring, “Yes, alpha.”
Watching as Bay cowed the two wolves, I couldn’t help but envy the casual dominance he held over them. The most I’d ever intimidated anything in my life was when I had the audacity to buy a potted plant for my apartment. The damn thing basically wilted on the way home in a clear attempt to avoid my ministrations.
I wanted to make someone quake in their boots.
“Send Hatter to me. The Crows will take up the search for Lennox and his wolves.” Zar and Jet bobbed their heads and turned to leave.
“And Zar,” They froze at the threshold. “Once this is settled be prepared to relocate to the fjord. You’ll take over watch for the Howlers.”
Zar's face tightened, obviously unhappy with the turn of events and he dragged Jet protesting from the room.
All eyes turned to me. “I didn’t do it.”
Emerick rubbed my back. “Aw, we know that, my little not-sentinel.”
Jericho shifted uncomfortably. “I’m not saying I disagree but who else could’ve gotten past our wolves?”
“Sailas but since he’s still on hiatus I assume he didn’t. The Din can portal.” Emerick offered.
Pike shook his head. “If the Din were responsible, it wouldn’t have gone unnoticed.”
“Ace.”
We all turned to Bay.
“If he can move like Sai, and we have to at least consider it, he could get in and out without raising suspicion.” His gaze landed on Pike and he seemed to come to some sort of conclusion. Pike nodded back in pure bro code manner.
In fact, they all nodded as if some general consensus had been reached and I felt my eye twitch in irritation. “Some of us aren’t tuned in to Daenali FM.”
Emerick threw his arm around my shoulder and squeezed. “The Commander was just reminding us of our duties and responsibilities.”
Someone knocked on the door rattling the frame. Bay simply glanced over his shoulder and it opened. Apparently, he was just going to opt-out of speaking out loud altogether.
Another wolf strolled in receiving nods from Pike and Jericho and an outright hug from Oz who clapped him hard on the back. “You made good time, Hatter.”
Hatter of the Howlers clan headed straight for me, for all the world like we were old friends. His leanly muscled frame was tucked neatly away under a short-sleeved dress shirt, linen pants, a burgundy vest, and matching bow tie. This interesting package was all held together with suspenders.
“Hel-lo,” he reached down and grabbed my hands and pulled me to my feet. Studying me top to toe with eyes the color of storm clouds he whipped my arm around forcing me to do a twirl or fight him for my arm.
“So, you’re what all the fuss is about?” He stepped back to take me in. “I thought you’d be taller.”
My eyes narrowed. “I’m meaner than I look.”
He sobered. “You’re going to have to be.”
Doing an abrupt about-face, he crossed his arms. “So, we’re going to storm the Shadows, are we?”
Everyone moved to gather in a semi-circle around Bay to hear exactly how we were going to do that.
Surprising me, Bay gestured to Pike to begin.
“The Shadows exist below the Timorii’s sanctum. It is the final resting place of the Order of Timorii and those they deem worthy.”
He meant pure. Po-tay-to, po-tah-to.
“It is not usually a place that would be guarded but we can assume if Sai’s body is there our good friend Grakel will have called out the calvary.”
Jericho frowned. “So, we’re going to do it? Kill the very last of their guard?”
Pike shoved a hand through his hair. “Timorii blood runs through everyone and everything in the territories. The guard themselves are as much mutts as the rest of us no matter what they’d like to believe.”
“There has to be a better way. If we bring three clans it will be war.”
Ozias shook his head. “It's already war brother. There's no going back from what’s been done.”
Phineas.
“Ivory and his mother crossed that line. Grakel is just-”
“Willing to hide Sai’s body and execute Veda?” Emerick was incredulous. “Is that all?”
“At least we’re all on the same page that's important,” Hatter quipped.
“Enough,” Bay thundered, “This is the only way to retrieve Sai’s body. If they choose war, we’ll give them war.”
I cleared my throat. “Maybe not,” Bay’s look clearly said ‘shut up’ but I ignored him, “I carried Vaughn through a gate with me. If there's a gate in the Shadows we could sneak in that way.”
Bay was livid. “How did you do it?”
“Wha-?”
“How did you bring Vaughn with you?” His voice was dark silk and I knew he was about to make an example out of me.
“I don’t know.”
“So, you don’t really know if you could do it twice.” It wasn’t a question.
Jericho cut in. “Bay if she’s willing to try-”
Bay grabbed him by his throat and snarled. “Pike is going to tell you why this asinine idea would fail even if I was willing to send her in blind and with little to no protection.”
Pike spoke to me instead of Jericho. “The Shadows are below the sanctum, far below. They lie beyond the barrier like Auroras Pass.”
Disappointment swamped me. “Oh.”
Bay jerked Jericho closer. “If you can’t get behind this plan then stay behind with the Crows. This is the last pass you get from me. Do. You. Understand?”
Jer dropped his eyes. “Yes, alpha.”
Hatter clapped. “Well, alright. Let's plan a siege.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Veda
With no way of predicting what Ace would do next and a healthy fear of what breed could make a return if we waited, the clans were briefed on the plan to rescue Sai’s body from the priests. Jericho had left the meeting subdued and I couldn’t help but notice the resentment in his eyes as he passed me.
The Crows had made themselves scarce, their objective to locate the Vernon wolves as we headed to Sanctum with the Howlers and Berserkers.
Since my ability to take us through a gate was still largely, and loudly, debated, I had prepared myself for the road trip to the Shadows. To my surprise Pike had contacted the Amerai who’d given us passage through the Interstice.
The Interstice allowed the witches to travel great distances in a short amount of time like the gates sentinels accessed. However, the Interstice only had one origin point, the Assembly. From there, the Interstice could go anywhere but you always returned to the witch's territory under the watchful eyes of the Amerai.
This combined with the need for co
ven blood to access the Interstice ensured the Assembly didn’t find itself under attack from within.
We traveled east through the valley before reaching the mountain range that separated the shifter lands from the witches. The paved roads gave way to gravel and dirt and our smooth ride turned rough. Witches were not big fans of asphalt.
As we made our way along the winding trail two jeeps pulled out behind us. Our SUV traveled behind the other clans but it was safe to assume we were bracketed by our escorts. It was their way and I had the pleasure of their company more than once when executing my duties as mediator. I threw a wry grin at Pike who sat next to me in the middle seats.
“When was the last time this many Daenali were allowed past the range?”
“Almost a hundred years. Circe likes to her friends close and allies out of her business.”
I nodded to myself. I had only met the High Witch once and it was as brief as it was terrifying. It was made clear she could liquefy my brains without trying very hard if I didn’t mind my manners and be respectful of the land I was visiting. I had never shown so much love to trees in my life.
I studied Pike as he watched the scenery go by. “How hard is it going to be to find his body once we’re in?”
“With Veruca’s help, I’m hoping not long.” He nudged my shoulder with his. “Nervous?”
“Of waltzing into the belly of the beast?” I pffft’d. “Why would I be nervous?”
“You won’t be alone, seal-bearer.”
“I never start that way,” I whispered.
The vehicles began splitting off to park but I couldn't see past the jeeps to see where we were. I’d had dealings in their territory but they’d never allowed me near the Interstice. I had to admit a certain amount of curiosity rode me and I threw open my door to get a better look around.
The trees seemed to climb miles into the sky as they stood shoulder to shoulder around us. Foliage was dense between them and the sounds of creatures large and small filled the air. At least these trees didn’t eat people.
I followed Pike between the vehicles only to stop and gawk at the cavern ahead. The glow of crystals began just a few feet inside, a turquoise beacon glowing in a halo of color. Pike crowded close to my side as my feet carried me forward toward the energy that hummed through me drawing me closer to the cavern. Veruca stepped out in front of me, halting my journey.
