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“Yes.”
“He’s staying at theotherend of the hall from your and Searle’s room. We need to limit your wandering around the motel because of your scent.”
Not a problem. The less social interaction I needed to have, the better. That went for AmberHowl too.
“We’re waiting for the lobby to clear out. Searle will come get you when it’s safe and get you up to your room. You will stay there. Understood?”
“Yes.”
“We’re going to get this over with very quickly. The challenge will be tomorrow, in the morning. The Elder Council decided that since the deeds to land are in play,andone of the significant matters before us this yearis that land, settling this matter quickly is the best use of our time.”
A shiver ran over all my nerves. My fingers twitched as my silver scar ignited.
“If he dies, you and Searle willimmediatelyleave for the AmberHowl heart. I can’t have you here in that condition.”
Another numb nod, except for the burning silver wound that was the only thing that had any real feeling left. “But what about the vial? My mother’s scrolls?”
Both had been brought, although both were with Demetrius and Marcella.
“You aren’t required for either of those. Winter is dead, remember?”
Not yet, but pretty close.
“If Sterling wins, Searle will bring you back hereimmediately. You will wait in your room. You will not cheer. You will not run to him. Searlewilldrag you back here. It’s on you how much of a scene that will be.”
I eyed him from across the gulf of nothing and numbness. “There will be no scene.”
A grim smile from Demetrius. “There will be a scene. I just don’t wantyoufeeding into it. Sterling defeating Alan will cause enough of a commotion. Revealing you to still be alive? Explosive. I’ve explained to Sterling that if he wins, you will not be rushing the arena to celebrate with him. You will be escorted from the scene for your own safety. He will also be taken from the scene as soon as possible. All AmberHowl have been instructed that should Sterling win,exit the Meeting immediatelyin case it descends into chaos. We will regroup here.”
I would have asked if there was a plan beyond that, but it didn’t matter.
Demetrius waited for me to say something. When I didn’t, he sighed a paternal sigh. “Winter.”
“He’ll win, Demetrius, but he won’t get the prize he deserves or wants. I did what I did, and I can’t take that back.”
“You were in raging heat, Winter.”
“I could have hidden in the Archives.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” Demetrius said, “andnoneof it is your fault. What happened isn’t your fault.”
Wolves didn’t do open relationships. We didn’t do “arrangements.” We didn’t have “understandings.” Mates were mates, and our ability to comprehend beyond that was pretty limited.
What Sterling had told me in Seattle was beyond my ability to comprehend. He’d said it, and I believed he’d meant it when he’d said it. Or he’dwantedto mean it.
But nobody had any faith he’d actuallymeantit.
Behind Demetrius, Searle moved into view.
The motel roomsmelled faintly of mildew and old sheets. But it didn’t have bedbugs. So there was that. The curtains were drawn tight, and the television turned to the weather channel with the volume down low to provide some background noise. The hallway smelled of wolves and the lingering scent of Sterling.
“Summer.”
The fingers on my left hand twitched incessantly, and my muscles were tight and on the brink of trembling. “I’m composed.”
“Good.” His voice was his usual softness as he stared down at me. “Demetrius told you the plan?”
“Yes.”
