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There had to be someone else he could contact about the invisibility spell. “Who else do we know in Elegance? I don’t trust Neil. He used a spell when he shouldn’t have.”
“The man apologized. You’ve been an ass all this time.”
Grant’s temper caused lines of fur to rise on his cheeks.
Ryan didn’t back off. Instead, he got close and puffed up his chest. “You’re still an ass on this one. The pair of you were drunk as hell and nearly tore the White Flame apart. Make peace with Neil. He’s who you need at your back right now. You know it and I know it.”
The dominant wolf-part of Grant caused his snout to elongate and fur to show at his throat and along the backs of his hands and wrists. If a beta was going to challenge him like this, he had to answer.
“You need to back down. Now.”
The words, misshaped by his snout, sounded demonic.
But Ryan didn’t step back, didn’t lower his gaze. He did nothing to alter his challenging posture, not even when Grant started to growl.
Instead, Ryan smiled. “Yes, I know you want to rip my throat out, but I hope you don’t. Instead, use your brain and your instincts on this one. When you said Natalie was being watched by an invisible presence, I sensed you were right. I even thought Kryder might be behind it. But you need proof and Neil’s our best shot. I trust him and despite what you say, so do you.”
Grant felt the fear in Ryan. It was taking him a shitload of courage for the lesser wolf to stand up to him like this.
Grant stepped away from him and took deep breaths. Ryan had an annoying knack for being right ninety-nine percent of the time. He was also right about something else. Grant felt it as well. Every wolf instinct he possessed told him Neil was the one they needed in this situation.
“Shit.”
He heard Ryan’s heavy sigh of relief.
Grant paced and shook his head about a dozen times. Finally, he barked, “Will you set it up? I doubt he’d take my call.”
“Happy to.” Ryan pulled his phone from his jean’s pocket. Grant moved away several yards as Ryan began the peace talks.
The conversation was even on Ryan’s side but more than once, Ryan pulled his phone away from his ear. Grant could hear Neil shouting.
Finally, Grant knew he had to step in.
He took the phone. “Dammit, Neil, I need your help. I’ve got a fae who thinks she might have an alter shadowing her behind an Elegance spell. I don’t know any warlocks who have your level of power who could help figure this out. I’m not asking for myself, but for Natalie.”
“Natalie? Is she the futurist who also financially supports Kiara’s Revel refuge?”
“Yes.”
“I know her. I’m one of her clients.”
Grant felt his brows lift skyward. Another connection. Neil was one of the wealthiest men in Elegance and Natalie had no doubt helped get him there. Talk about a small world. “Will you help us then?”
A long pause ensued. “You’ll have to come here. Things are rough with this transition. And I’ll want an apology.”
Grant swallowed his temper and his pride. “Done.”
~ ~ ~
Natalie locked up her studio for the night and rose slowly into the air.
Dawn was still a few hours away. She had kept her futurist appointments well past midnight but had never been more bored. The only thing she wanted to do before retiring for her day’s sleep was to inquire about the fae, Talya, to see how she was doing.
Talya had been moved to Agnes’s high-security compound and would be well taken care of there.
Natalie flew to her home less than a half-mile away. She’d done well over the years with her futurism and had built a home on the canal. It was an upscale neighborhood and in recent years had seen an unwelcome increase in human tourist boats. Still, she loved her home and at well past two, the last of the tourists had gone home. Only the quiet sound of paddle boats belonging to alters could be heard disturbing the waters.
She landed as she often did in the backyard near the patio off the kitchen. A good part of her garden was shrouded with hedges to keep her privacy against the more recent tourist invasions. Many of her neighbors had done the same. When she wanted to enjoy the canal, she went for long walks on the canal-side paths usually after the crowds had returned to their U.S. homes.
