“Mate!”
Giuliana dared to grip Romano’s bulging bicep, keeping him in place. When his gaze ripped to her, she nodded at the warriors around the bubble and the wolves at the ready.
Romano snarled but stayed put.
“I smell Heath.”
They all froze at Pasquale’s words. Romano recovered first. “What?”
“Heath’s scent is all around here. Giuliana, come.”
Giuliana stepped forward, already knowing what he needed. She plastered her back to his front, and his power wrapped around her. For the first time, Pasquale exposed himself, and Romano stepped back.
“What the fuck?”
“Just … wait a second,” Giuliana whispered.
The colors of scent surrounded her again, vibrant black to the wolves, a darker, gritty one spiked green for the Fae, and Kalinda was a bright rainbow. But she also saw something else, something that confused her.
The same corded scent she’d seen around the clearing that represented Heath was around the dais, prickly and shivering in a tight circle. Without thought, she reached out to Zahara and Romano. The wolf and witch doctor sucked in a breath.
“What is this?”
“Scent, Romano. As Pasquale sees it.”
Romano growled. “Heath … how is he—”
Kieran stepped forward. “Well met, Niamh. I have one demand, that is all.”
“What did you do to Heath? Do you think we’d let you go after you killed him and took my mate?”
Kieran sighed. “I wasn’t talking to you, dog. And as for your mate, she’s perfectly fine. Silva needed some … encouragement, and I ensured she got it. I gave her time to heal, doesn’t that count for something?”
Romano stepped forward, his muzzle flashing to sharp, white teeth. “Commendable enough for me to shorten your death just shy of too much blood and guts.”
“You say that as if you could reach me.”
Romano lunged forward, and the Fae behind Kieran sprang into action, pressing their spears into the bubble surrounding Kalinda and pointing them at her neck.
“No!” Silva roared.
“I was speaking. It’s rude to interrupt. Now, I’ll continue. I, Kieran of the Shadow, challenge you, Niamh Danaan of the Silver, to Osaltirhiem.”
Silva sucked in a deeper breath, breaking away from Giuliana’s hold. “All this for a duel?”
“All of this, and a duel to the death. It’s time for you to answer for all your crimes.”
Giuliana snorted. “Says the Unseelie who killed an innocent man.”
Kieran glared at Giuliana before he stepped forward. “I killed no one.”
Slowly, Kieran’s body shrank, thinning out to a lanky form Giuliana knew so well. Long limbs, black hair just around his ears, the same sarcasm filling his eyes. No longer were his ears pointed, and he had similar height, but none of the impression of a man.
No, he was a teenager with just the promise of what will be.
The scent tracer locked, straightening out, and Giuliana knew exactly who she was looking at before Pasquale said a word.
“Heath.”
