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I chuckled and kicked off my soft pants. “Don’t worry gorgeous, I’m on it.”
Calling on my wolf, I shifted fast and quickly dug a small hole near the base of the ash tree. Cordelia dropped the stones into the waiting space with slight reluctance before I covered them over and scent marked the tree before shifting back into my human skin.
“Thank you,” she smiled ruefully as I pulled my clothes back on. “It feels wrong to just leave them here though.”
I tucked her under my arm as we headed back towards the others. “We’ll come back for them, sweetheart. They’re safer hidden.”
“I didn’t hear any screams, dude. Do you need some pointers?”
Linc’s shouted question ended in a grunt of protest as Briar smacked him around the back of the head. He looked at her indignantly as Spencer chuckled.
“Breakfast is ready,” Briar smiled innocently as we reached them, ignoring the guys completely.
Cor laughed. “Breakfast? We were only gone a few minutes.”
Briar smirked and threw a packet of dried meat strips into her lap. “This is why we brought supplies from the human realm, sis.”
Cordelia glanced at me and I gave a shrug. “We have time, we’re only a couple of hours walk away.”
She smiled wistfully as she opened the jerky. “We really were close, huh.”
“Almost like it was meant to be,” I replied with a wink that made her throw a strip at my face.
“Question,” announced Spencer, his expression friendly but concerned. “What exactly are we walking into?”
I shrugged ruefully. “I’m not sure. The Queen requested a meeting. So the full Queen’s guard will no doubt be there and ready to fight. From what I was told, Liam took every alpha and beta wolf with him, bar a few. I’d guess it’ll be pretty even in numbers.”
“Who stayed back?” Cor asked, the worry clear in her tone.
I reached over and squeezed her leg reassuringly. “Saffy and my parents stayed behind to watch out for me. The older wolves too, to protect the weaker and young ones. Plus Channing and his daughter will have stayed at South stones to guard the caves.”
She breathed a small sigh of relief before her gaze turned mischievous. “Harlow’s safe, huh? You must be so relieved that your little girlfriend isn’t in danger.”
I growled playfully, making a laugh bubble out of her. Sticking her tongue out at me, she turned back to the others and waved away their questioning looks.
“Spence is right, we need to think this through,” she said, serious now. “Even numbers doesn’t mean an even footing when one side has magic.”
Straightening her spine, she visibly steeled herself, making pride surge through me. My girl was stronger than anyone gave her credit for. I was certain the Queen had no idea what she was truly up against.
She looked up at me, determination burning in her eyes. “We need a plan.”
“Noah,” Cordelia whispered to grab my attention as we picked our way silently through the undergrowth.
We were close now, close enough to be noticed by anyone keeping watch, and bent low as we crept towards the meeting point. I glanced back and saw the strain on Cor’s face, stopping and turning to her with a questioning look.
“What’s up, sweetheart?” I breathed as she pressed close enough to hear me.
She eyed the trees around us warily, her hands fidgeting by her sides. “I have a really bad feeling.”
I stroked a thumb across her cheekbone, catching her eye and trying to reassure her through our bond. “We’ve got this. The plan is good.”
She gave me a pleading look. “Promise me something?”
I narrowed my eyes at her a little. “What?”
“Stay away from my mother,” she murmured, wrapping her hands around my neck and begging with her gaze. “No matter what. Stay back. Last time you didn’t listen, and she killed you.”
“Cor...” I began, but she cut me off.
