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She gently pulled her hand from Kiara’s grasp.
“Maeve.” Kiara called after her. But her feet were already in motion.
She had to tell Braden the truth.
He had to know.
But before she told him, there was one more thing that needed to happen.
She went straight to her spellroom and got to work.
Chapter Ten
Braden stared at Greg. He didn’t quite believe what the wolf had asked him. He stood in the center of over thirty shifters, male and female, who lived in Maeve’s refuge. “You want me to stay in Elegance and create a pack of Landing wolves?”
“That’s what I’m saying, yes. As much as each of us would like to be back in Savage, we’re committed to supporting Maeve however we can. We’d all be dead but for her diligence in the Graveyard every night. Besides, we’ve gotten a taste for getting rid of dark coven witches and we think we might have a mission for our pack. What do you say?”
It was simple. “I have a pack waiting for me in Savage.”
Greg’s lips grew into a tight line. “Permission to speak freely?”
Braden nodded, though he steeled himself.
Greg’s nostrils elongated and flared. “You haven’t lived in Savage for a long time now. Seems to me, maybe you’ve already made a change. You just haven’t seen it for what it is. That, and we all think Maeve could use some grit like yours.”
“I agree with the last part, but not the first. I came to Elegance to get justice for my wife’s death. Once I have it, I’m committed to return. I’ve seen my wolves every month. They’re expecting me to resume my duties and I want to. I’m also now convinced Veyda’s my wife’s killer, so it’s only a matter of time before I draw my investigation to a close.
“Sorry, Greg.” He glanced around the group. “But my decision stands.”
For the first time, however, he wondered just how hard it would be to pry Maeve from the Landing. Whether she understood it or not, she’d established herself as a force in Elegance.
Greg, and his pack’s bond with her, was no small thing. He would have offered for them to join his Savage pack, but he already knew the answer. Maeve was it for these fur-bearers.
He thanked the wolves for their dedication and for their offer. Greg said he understood. The wolves nodded in accord.
He’d already turned to head back to the main building, when Maeve’s voice entered his head. I’m in my spellroom. I have something to tell you.
On my way.
His first reaction to hearing her telepathic voice involved a swell of affection and excitement. Maeve had wanted to spend some time alone with Kiara, though Braden had been reluctant to leave her side. Now that he’d committed to her, he didn’t want to be apart, especially not until he’d persuaded her to bond with him as his alpha-mate.
His second response, as he entered the main building and walked down the broad central hall, was that he knew something was wrong. Had Kiara told her things about Veyda that Maeve didn’t know? If so, this could be a good thing. But why was his woman so distressed?
He’d already decided Veyda needed to be hunted down and the truth forced from her. He’d seen Maeve in action. If she wasn’t already, she would soon become Veyda’s equal in power and ability. It was no wonder Veyda had tried to force her into her dark coven early on.
But why had Veyda want him dead?
As he approached Maeve’s apartment and harnessed his new warlock powers, suddenly the pieces fell into place. He’d been the instrument of bringing Maeve’s powers to the fore. Veyda must have tapped into the future enough to discover his role in Maeve’s life.
He located the protective spell outside Maeve’s apartment and this time crossed the boundary easily. As he descended the spiral steps, he felt something brush his shoulder. But when he turned to face the intruder, no one was there
He took a moment to reach out with what warlock senses he’d developed, yet he found nothing.
He grew very still. His cheekbones elongated as he sniffed the air. But all he scented was Maeve’s soft lemon and lavender fragrance.
He put his feet back in motion, crossed the living room then headed down the second curved stairwell.
By the time he reached the bottom, he knew something was terribly wrong.
