He stops with the side of the small SUV almost pressed up against the brick of the small cottage in the heart of The Guild’s land. Yup, they were right back to where they started almost twelve hours ago.
Finn sighs beside him, and they both sit there quietly, letting the crazy day settle over them. Finn is the perfect companion for quiet contemplation (and for other things, too, obviously).
Long fingers trace his wrist and then slide underneath the cuff of his shirt over his pulse before coming to rest over his hand on the gear shift.
Leo is still clutching it, as if anticipating he’s going to have to reverse out of the lane and head back into battle.
Lying on his furry belly in the backseat, Rowan-wolf has his nose down on his paws. He hasn’t changed back since he’d been with Winnie and Ansel, adamantly ignoring Jay’s request as they’d separated for the drive to the last place in Florida Withers could track them.
Lauren’s contacts had run dry.
They’d been through every safe house in Clearwater except for the Island Estates place, which was a little too close for comfort to Carnell’s mansion on the beach.
Leo imagines him swooping down like a vulture to pick the remains of their unsuspecting bones. Unsurprisingly, his mother had been concerned for his mental health when he’d said as much out loud.
Her pause and uncharacteristically cautious inquiry about whether he was eating enough had made Leo’s mates titter with suppressed giggles.
And while he hadn’t said so to her, the answer to that question was: no, he hadn’t been eating enough.
But he’d placated her, relieved when Grayson had saved the day (and him).
The alpha had reassured her that he had a plan and produced the small piece of lined notebook paper with the phone number Ignatius had pressed into Grayson’s hand as they’d left The Guild in a hurry, promises of aid in whatever way his fellow Fire Affinity might need following their hasty exit.
Turns out the little cottage at the edge of the property was empty, and as long as they didn’t mind a tight fit, it was a roof over their heads and a port in the storm.
Leo sighs again, turning his palm over so he can squeeze Finn’s hand.
It’s the early hours of the morning, and there are lights on inside the cottage. He wonders if Rowan would move over andif he could just lie down where he is and let the thumping in his head subside.
“Come on. You can’t sleep out here.” Finn opens his door, and the rest of the pack is already standing uncertainly on the small walkway.
There’s a light rain already soaking them to the bone as they dawdle.
Gideon has an exhausted, dozing Luca in his arms like a baby koala, while Jay is being supported by Grayson on one side and Nix on the other. The five of them had driven from the hospital in the Buick to deal with the still-receding BBS and bruised hearts.
Poking his head back in the CR-V, Leo tries to succeed where better men had failed.
“Rowan, you gotta come out. I’m not leaving you in the car, and I can’t crack a window right now without wrecking the upholstery.”
Rowan still manages an epic side-eye when Leo opens the back door so he can jump out, clearly unhappy despite his compliance.
“Glad you see it my way.”
The front door of the stone cottage opens, revealing the Master of Novices—resplendent in a red felt fedora and what looks like a threadbare, plaid velvet dressing gown in purple and gold, flung hastily over his orange pajamas, which are covered in witches, cauldrons, and black cats. Seems Ignatius has a sense of humor that leans toward the ironic.
“Come in! Come in. So glad you called.”
The cottage is easily two hundred years old, possibly a groundskeeper’s home during The Guild’s earliest days. There is a big hearth with a burning fire, warming the small space.
If Leo had worried about where they all might bed down, he need not have been concerned, as there is a five-foot-high stackof mattresses that rivals the one fromThe Princess and the Peafairytale. There are also piles of clean clothing folded in baskets on the floor and a big pot of something delicious on the stove.
Seems their host has thought of everything.
After a few minor social niceties, Leo can fill his belly and be still for more than five minutes.
It falls to Grayson to make the introductions, and despite his still-pale face and obvious fatigue, he takes Jay’s hand to make the appropriate introductions.
“Jay, this is Master of Novices, Ignatius Parvolio. Sir, this is my Pack Alpha and mate, Jay Rhodes.”
