I thought about it. “At this point, probably. It was multiple herds that changed over months. Unless something drives them off their new paths, they’ll stick to those, which means we’ll need to adjust our hunting parties.”
“The coastline will be challenging, but we’ll just have to adapt.” Cade’s gaze drifted to the western side of the map. Unlike the southeastern coastline in the Moroi region, which was generally safe as long as you stayed close to the shore, the western shore of Velesian territory was quite dangerous. Reptilian sea monsters liked to bask on the rocks, and despite their aquatic nature, they were more than happy to hunt on land. And they were fast and vicious. Any hunting parties that ventured into that area would have to be careful to not get too close. We still had months before the herds returned to the mountains, but if I’d known about this sooner, I could have already prepared some options.
“Why are we just now hearing about this?” I frowned. “These reports are dated from months ago. Have you had them the whole time?”
“No.” Cade shook his head, eyes still on the map. “The west coast has also been inundated with predators. Not just the typical howlers and bears, but some new creatures we haven’t come across before. The packs have been preoccupied with shoring up their defenses.”
“New creatures?” I arched an eyebrow. “Any more information about what they are? Appearance? Behavior?”
Aside from my own curiosity, Drudonia would need to be informed. They’d been cataloging all the creatures from the bestiary books we’d found in some of the hidden rooms. It was a slow process because the books couldn’t be moved from the rooms thanks to whatever spell the Fae had placed on them, and there were only so many of us fluent in Seelie and even fewer in Unseelie. But there could be useful knowledge about these new monsters in those books, knowledge that could keep Velesians alive.
“I left the reports in . . .” Cade trailed off, his warm brown eyes cutting to me before looking away. “They are elsewhere at the moment. I’ll have them ready for you when you return, but they mentioned seeing large creatures that were a combination between a wolf and a bear with plated armor, plus some new type of insect monster, and something that they have no idea what it is other than it can fly. It’s taken out several scouts already.”
Frustration hit me. He was hiding something. I looked back at the map. All of Lunaria was deadly, but the worst of the monsters were in the mountains. Lucky for us, they normally stayed there. Whatever had been driving the deer out was doing the same to the predators. There was only one thing I knew that could do that: wraiths.
“Whatever Warrick is hunting, is it in that region?” I pointed to the spot on the map that seemed to be the focal point of all this.
“Warrick covers a lot of territory in his search,” Cade answered evasively, his expression carefully blank.
And there it was, that wall that would always exist between us. I knew when I’d asked the question that I wouldn’t get an answer. That was fine. I’d just have to get something out of the Seelie King.
I straightened and stepped away from the wall, my hands clasped in front of me. “Is there anything else?”
Cade turned from the map to face me. “No,” he said slowly, his eyes seeming to search mine. I matched his blank expression from earlier with one of my own, and the muscles along his jawline feathered.
“Then I’ll be off with Bastian,” I said evenly. “Please uphold your end of the bargain and keep Ryker here.”
“Rynn—” Cade started, but I was already walking out the door.
Chapter Eight
Rynn
“Still angry?” Bastian asked, amusement coating his words.
“No.” I yanked my shirt on, my movements jerky as I fastened a few of the buttons. After my conversation with Cade, I’d walked straight out the main gate of the stronghold and shifted into my wolf form. Bastian had found me a few minutes later with Ryker nowhere in sight. After a few teasing remarks about my morning mood, he’d sighed and shifted.
It was a two-day journey from the Alpha stronghold to the border of Narchis territory and then another day of travel to my pack.
We’d made good time to the outpost where we’d be spending the night, making it an hour before sunset. My mood hadn’t improved much on the journey here. When we hadn’t been focusing on avoiding roaming howler packs, I’d been attempting to process my hurt feelings over being lied to by the Alphas.
Bastian’s sculpted chest filled my field of vision, and I tilted my head back so I could glare at him.
He chuckled and started buttoning my shirt. “Normally I help people undress, but you seem continually thwarted by buttons and laces.”
I swatted his hands away. “Put a damn shirt on,” I hissed.
“Rynn, love.” Bastian’s lips curved into a sultry smirk. “Does me being shirtless make you uncomfortable?”
“Yes.” I dropped my gaze and looked his chest over. “My stomach gets a little queasy at the sight of your weird-looking abs, and I don’t want to ruin my appetite.”
Bastian blinked at me. “My abs are not weird looking.” He flexed, and muscles tightened across his stomach.
It was pure spite and rage that kept me from blushing, because moonsdamn it all, those were some stellar abs.
“There’s probably a healer in the outpost.” I shrugged. “Maybe they can check them out for you.”
“Just because you’re pissed at Ryker doesn’t mean you have to take it out on me.” He glared at me before stalking over to the shelf lining the wall and snatching a shirt from it. Almost all Velesian outposts were laid out the same way with a small building next to the main gate, where extra clothes were kept. We might not care about nudity, but it was cold when you weren’t covered in fur.
