“You’re welcome.” Esme turns away. Her gaze snaps to her phone, and she brings it to her ear.
“Alpha!” A brilliant smile lights her face. “I knew you’d call.” She holds the phone away from her ear, wincing, like he’s yelling at her.
Her lips are blocked by the phone, so I can only partially read them, but Madi interprets again. Here’s my offer: the tiara in exchange for all the young virgins you plan to sacrifice tonight during the lunar eclipse. I have a better use for them.
Esme holds the phone away from her ear again. Five o’clock tonight at the gate to your property. Be there or be square. She gives another dramatic punch of her finger to end the call. “Done.” She grins at me. “What’s the endgame?”
You get the acolytes to safety while I free Aster, my mate, I sign.
“We just need some sleight of hand. Maybe we run a Maltese Falcon. Or a Bohemian Rhapsody.” Esme frowns.
I shake my head. I have a better plan, I sign.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Noah
I snarl at the searing pain of my fur and skin burning beneath a silver choke chain. My hackles are raised, shoulders hunched as Esme drags me forward on a leash. My paws skid in the soft earth. Saliva drips from my bared teeth as I growl. My vision blurs from the toxic proximity of the silver to my eyes.
I scent hordes of male Adawulfs and beneath it, the scent of a female. Not Aster, though.
The iron gates to the Adalwulf property swing open where fifty Adalwulf soldiers flank their alpha and the Warden in battle formation.
One young she-wolf dressed in a gossamer slip huddles behind the men.
My wolf is too debilitated from the silver assault to read lips, but I feel the blast of Aiden’s ragey energy as he confronts Esme. Something like, “...fuck are you?” He points at me. “And who is he?”
She yanks on the chain, dragging me up to heel. I snarl and toss my head, fighting the cruel lead. Esme beckons the acolyte forward. I catch her lips forming the word “others?”
Aiden snaps a hand out to grasp Esme’s throat, but instantly drops her, shaking his reddened palm.
Silver dust. That’s probably what’s smarting my eyes.
His soldiers lunge forward, but he holds a hand up to stop them, more wary now.
Esme’s unperturbed, shaking her head with a smirk. I blink hard to focus on her face, so I can follow the conversation. “Give me the girl.” She beckons the acolyte forward again.
“Give me the tiara.” Aiden shows his teeth.
Esme pulls it out from the pouch tied to her belt loop and drops it on her own head. “Girl first. Then you get your prize.”
The wolves shove the terrified girl forward.
Esme takes the tiara off and tosses it like she’s tossing a frisbee for a dog. A grouping of soldiers all lunge to catch it and pass it to the Warden, who examines it, then nods.
“I brought you another offering.” Esme pulls up on the leash, dragging me up on my paws to choke my breath. I wheeze, my eyes bulging.
Aiden looks at me with disdain. “He’s not mine.”
“No, but this is the wolf who marked your Seeress.” Her smile is maniacal.
The Warden and Aiden slo-mo turn as one to take me in.
I show my teeth and lunge at them, and Esme yanks me back. The silver choke-chain cuts into my flesh.
“What do you want?” Aiden asks.
I try to read her lips. “...gift to you. …show…faith. My coven seeks a partnership…your pack.”
