AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“In addition to that. Be more specific.”
“I don’t know... ,” he began, but then trailed off, leaned closer.
“Do you see it?”
“I see something. A symbol? A logo?” He traced it with a fingertip. “It’s scratched in, by the creature that tried to rip off the shutter.” He paused, looked back at me. “They left a goddamn calling card. Do you know what it means?”
“Not yet. I’ve asked Petra to take a look. I assume it doesn’t mean anything to you? Nothing wolf related?”
“Such as?”
“I don’t know. Realm of Regal Canines?”
“Yes, you’ve cracked it. It stands for the Realm of Regal Canines.” His voice was as dry as toast.
“I knew it. I guess we can report to the elders now and go back to Chicago.”
“Theoretically,” he said. “But maybe first let’s go check with Georgia.”
***
She opened the door with a dish towel in her hands. “Right on time. Come in. Sit down. We’re just about to eat.”
We exchanged a glance and Connor shrugged, and we followed her into the dining room. The table had been set for four, but Traeger was the only other person in the room. Dinner was apparently a stack of butter-topped steaks, foil-wrapped baked potatoes, and a gorgeous baguette that would have been perfectly at home in Paris.
“Are you expecting company?” Connor asked.
“Yes,” she said. “You and Elisa.” She pulled out the chair at the head of the table. “I figured you’d be by. Family needs family in a crisis. And allies. I figure we’re both. Sit down, and let’s eat while it’s hot. Then we’ll talk.”
***
I’d barely eaten a thing since the bonfire, so the food was a warm welcome.
We were famished and ate in relative silence—three shifters and a vampire refueling with some pretty magnificent steaks and my well-kneaded bread. Maybe baking could be a hobby, after all.
“I owe you an apology,” Georgia pronounced when we’d stuffed ourselves silly.
“I don’t disagree,” Connor said, and Georgia’s mouth quirked.
“You’re a lot like your mother, you know. She also doesn’t suffer fools.”
“No, she doesn’t. But while I’ll agree you owe us an apology,I’m going to save you from making it. Let’s all just agree the situation is complicated.”
“I can agree to that,” Georgia said. “I’m sorry about Obsideo.”
“It exists for a reason,” Connor said. “And it’s done, so there’s no point in dwelling on it.” As if reminded of the weight of his magical bonds, Connor rolled his shoulders. “Did Cash agree to send out teams to search?”
“No,” Georgia said grimly. “He thinks that would be a waste of resources, and the clan needs to stay close to home, given the external threats against it.”
“Quintet of idiots,” I murmured, and Connor squeezed my hand in agreement.
“Fortunately,” she said, “I have my own allies, and I’ve sent out some teams. They won’t have the coverage we need—not given how large the area is, how deep the woods—but it’s better than nothing.
“I’d heard rumors about Loren having affairs, of course,” Georgia continued. “But he’s a shifter and single. I’d never heard anything about it being nonconsensual.” She reached out, put a hand on Traeger’s. “If that’s what happened to Paisley, I’m sorry for it. Very, very sorry.”
Traeger nodded, but looked away, grief and anger etching lines in his face that he was too young to bear.
“Connor says the spellseller told him Zane bought a rock,” Georgia said to him. “Do you buy that?”
