“Thank the heavens for that. Patrice, fetch her a new cloak.” He spared a glance for the guard’s body as it was carried past him, but only that. No hint of emotion entered his eyes aside from maybe a flare of irritation.
Alora hurriedly wiped her cheeks. “Has the driver awakened?”
“Yes, yes, he has. Specter wolves. It’s as I’ve said, the swath of forest separating Opulence and Enver is treacherous. I’ve the signage for good reason.”
Few workers remained behind, already attentive to cleaning the stones and removing the branch from the lever. A sight which Merridon observed for a moment before his arm snaked around her shoulders.
“Tell me what’s happened. Tell me everything.” When he turned them both, they were face to face with the stone wolves.
A warning rippled through her. Alora cleared her throat and fidgeted, scrounging for time, but the hand on her was unyielding. He wouldn’t allow her to go without his answers.
“They came upon us on the lane. One at first, then two. We raced for the gate. The driver was knocked unconscious when we halted, and I rushed to close the wolves out from the grounds, but the guard must have fallen to them. I tried to reach the lever when the wolves surrounded me. I’d given up on being saved when they becamethis.”
Truth and lies and many holes. Alora tried to be conscious of how quickly she breathed but didn’t know how good a job she did. Merridon remained unmoved beside her, silent. Then all at once he released her. Contemplative, he stepped forward, enough that his hand came to rest on the wolf.
“Such a marvelous beast. And the largest I’ve seen. Do you know much about them, Miss Pennigrim?”
Breaths, Alora. Your godforsaken breaths!
“A little.”
“Ah. Well, you may or may not know then, that the largest of specter wolves, like these here before us, are only drawn to the most powerful of enchantments.”
“Like those that reside within Opulence.”
Merridon hummed a non-committal sound. “Also, they cannot see what is not enchanted.”
His son might be dying, and a guard is dead! And yet we’ve time for a lesson?
“The driver mentioned his gift.”
“Did he? How well and good.” Merridon’s pursed lips said differently. He moved to stroke the second stone creature. “It is strange, isn’t it? How their eyes appear.”
Alora nodded. “Like moons.”
“Quite right. And none can see them, unless they are enchanted themselves.”
It took longer than it should have for what Merridon said to sink in. When it did, she swung her gaze to his, and found him watching her, a look like triumph playing across his features. He waited, yearning for her to fold before him, and she could now see the resemblance that Ellie Turkens had mentioned. Between him and a powerful wolf.
He fed on Opulence. On all those locked inside. And he wanted her secrets.
Run away!screamed her instincts.
But she couldn’t. She had goals and dreams and friends to save.
“It’s better to see your attacker for what it is, I suppose. No conscience and a soul forged in greed.” She’d torn her gaze from Merridon before she spoke, choosing instead to imitate him, running her fingers along the stone wolf’s snout.
“Indeed.” The word seemed to edge around his teeth. She jumped when his voice suddenly rose between them, “Mister Macaw! Do bring these magnificent statues to the front doors. I’d like them situated at either side.”
The groundskeeper inclined his head in acknowledgment as he made his way toward them. Alora noticed he avoided her gaze, just as she noticed his hands were now empty.
To her, Marshall Merridon said, “Thank you, Miss Pennigrim, for your continued dedication in making Opulence beautiful. Ican scarcely wait for what else you have to show me.” Then he patted the wolf farewell and left her.
Chapter Twenty-Five
He knew. Because of course heknew.But—did it matter? What harm was it really, that he guessed she’d turned the beasts to stone?
Alora did not ask for help, nor did she get any, as she unloaded what trim remained from their frantic journey. It was just as well, being as how she needed to imagine nearly every piece whole again. Cracks and splinters abounded, and one piece was missing entirely. She knew the one and discreetly checked her measurements before bringing another into existence. What else could anyone have done?
