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If even Alice was worried enough to admit it, my anxiety wasn’t just me being over cautious. I hesitated. Why shouldn’t I change her orders? Technically I had at least as much authority over the shifter kin as Aarondid.
“You know what?” I said. “We’ve waited long enough. I want you to go looking for him. And if he has a problem with that when you find him, you can tell him to take it up withme.”
Alice blinked at me. “Really?”
“Absolutely. That’s a direct command from your dragonshifter.”
Her mouth stretched into a real grin. “Now I’mreallyglad we’ve got youback.”
We grabbed a couple bottles of wine somewhat at random so it’d look like we’d done more than just disappear. But when we emerged into the courtyard, it occurred to me that there were other orders given that I didn’t totally agree with. I wasn’t going to go against Nate’s authority—but I could try to temper his harshness with a gesture of myown.
I picked up a new plate and snatched a little of this and a little of that off the tables. The kin watching were probably speculating about a dragon shifter’s appetite. Let themwonder.
I carried the plate into the house and down the stairs into a different part of the basement. The part where we’d confronted the rogue just yesterday. I caught sight of Orion through the second window I glancedinto.
The former guard was hunched over on his bench, his head in his hands. My heartwrenched.
The guard on duty walked over. “Dragon shifter,” he said with a respectful bow. “What do youneed?”
I held up the plate. “I’d like to bring this in tohim.”
The guard paused. “I wasn’ttold—”
I fixed him with a firm stare. “I’m your alpha’s mate and dragon shifter. All I want to do is bring the prisoner a little dinner. He’s too drugged up to shift, isn’t he? He doesn’t look like he’s going to be anythreat.”
“Yes. Yes, he should be subdued. Myapologies.”
The guard pulled out a key and unlocked the door. I stepped insidetentatively.
Orion raised his head. The muskrat shifter’s eyes were glazed. A dribble of drool shone at the corner of his mouth. He was at least aware enough to notice it and swipe it away when the back of his hand when he sawme.
“Dragon shifter,” he said in a dazed voice. “What are you doinghere?”
“Bringing you some food from the celebration out there, since you’re not allowed to get it foryourself.”
I offered him the plate. He stared at the spread of food for a few seconds before he reached for it. Then he just set the plate in his lap. He gazed at the meal for a moment longer and then peered up at me,squinting.
“Why would you bring me this? What does it matter to you what I eat? I’m atraitor.”
I crouched down so my eyes were level with his where he sat on the bench. “I don’t think you are,” I said. “I don’t think you’d decided one way or the other yet. And I think that matters. I know how hard it is to figure out the right thing to do when you’re being pulled in different directions. What you choose in the end, that’s who youare.”
He wet his lips. His fingers clutched the edges of the plate. “Thank you,” he said hoarsely. I couldn’t tell if he meant the meal or the sentiment. Maybeboth.
My heart felt a little lighter as I headed back to the party. So naturally I had to run into West rightthen.
He paused in the hall as I stepped out of the stairwell. His eyes narrowed. “What were you doing down by the holdingcells?”
“Trying to make sure we don’t turn another kin into our enemy,” I said. “Is that all right withyou?”
He held my gaze for a moment. Then he sighed and turned away. “I just hope you know what you’re doing,Sparks.”
So did I. He had no idea how much Idid.
Chapter 8
Ren
Iwatchedthe last of the guests drift out of the courtyard, and a weight settled in mygut.
