“I’m Aster Adalwulf. The Adalwulf Seeress. I claim sanctuary.”
Instantly, the rest of the wolves bristle. A hand movement from Sully I don’t catch, and behind him, a wolf I didn’t even notice before dashes off, probably to send a message.
Shit, we’re in it now.
They march us through the woods on foot. Sully leads the way, and his enforcers close ranks around us but make sure they don’t get too close. I keep my arm around Aster. She’s a bit glassy-eyed, and her steps are unsteady. Maybe she’s fighting a vision.
This whole thing sucks. I like Sully. And I have no doubt he’d slit both my throat and Aster’s if we make a wrong move. Any trust the Blackthroats had in me is gone. If I’m lucky, they won’t think I’m a traitor. I’m counting on them to be smart enough to hear us out.
Finally, the Blackthroat Mansion appears. It’s one of those Gilded Age mansions with multiple wings and a large circular driveway in front of the house. We leave the forest just as a helicopter is setting down on a helipad on the manicured lawn some distance from the house.
Two figures exit the helicopter. One is tall and broad-shouldered, hovering over the smaller figure. Brick and Madi. They’re quickly surrounded by the phalanx of enforcers waiting to escort them from the helipad to the house, but a minute later, Brick comes striding straight towards me.
I don’t need to catch his scent to see he’s spitting mad. What have you done? he signs with clumsy but forceful fingers. This time he remembers to raise his brows to ask the question. My nose twitches at the searing scent of his rage. His eyes glow amber.
I put my arm around Aster.
“This is the Adalwulf Seeress,” I say, hopefully loud enough that every wolf can hear. “She's claiming sanctuary.”
Brick looks like he’s about to blow steam from his nostrils like a dragon.
But then his head jerks to the right, as if someone’s called for him.
He half-turns, so I can only catch half of what he’s saying, but the first word is “Madi.” His hands fly out to signal her to stop. He doesn’t want her to get close.
Madi marches right up the hill to stand beside Brick, ignoring the guards crowding her.
What’s going on? she signs, looking at me. I bet Brick didn’t tell her anything about the situation. He knows Madi and I are friends.
I was hoping she’d be here, to get Brick to listen and smooth the way. For someone new to pack politics, she’s great at diplomacy and dealing with wolves.
We’re here because you’re in danger, I sign back. My statement is like a bomb threat, sending all the wolves around us into high alert. The guards around us close in.
Brick steps in front of Madi, his mouth open wide like he’s shouting. “Are you threatening my mate?”
Beside me, Aster winces but she raises her hands. No, she signs and puts a hand out like she's going to protect me. My wolf points out that she’s barely one hundred and fifteen pounds soaking wet, but she's trying to protect me. My mate is fearless.
The wolves around us are restless, ready for violence. We’re here to help you, I appeal to Madi. Someone's infiltrated your ranks. Someone close to your grandmother. She plans to poison you. My friend’s face goes pale, and her shoulders curl inward, her right hand going to her belly. She lets Brick maneuver her back a step, so he’s between us and his fragile human mate. He’s snarling something I can’t catch.
He’s too upset to listen, and now Madi is in shock.
At that moment, the sun breaks from behind the clouds. A sunbeam seems to spotlight Aster, shining on her white-blonde hair and face. She looks like she’s glowing, otherworldly. I can’t take my eyes off her.
The wolves around us go still.
“She wants to kill the heir,” Aster says, her lips moving slowly and clearly enough for me to follow. Her eyes have gone white. She's in the grip of a vision, speaking straight to Madi. “Your pup is in danger.”
Aster faints into my arms.
Aster
“How are you feeling?” Noah asks, as if we’re at a party, and I just had a dizzy spell, instead of blurting out a vision in front of my pack’s sworn enemies.
I still feel a little shaky but calm. “I’m good.” I drink more of the bottled water our captors, or hosts, offered us.
After all the terrible things I heard about the Blackthroats, I’m amazed we're not in a dungeon. We're in a room with no windows, but it’s pretty luxurious. The gleaming heart pine wood built-in bookshelves lining the walls makes the room into a mini library.
Noah drums his fingers on the table. When they searched us, they took Noah’s phone.
