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Marcella stepped around her mate. “Mates and where they are found is only one facet of a larger problem. Demetrius and I had this idea some years ago. To establish a new type of pack, very small, so minimal considerations when the Fifth Law clashes with the First. We want to transfer the Chronicler position, the Archives, and now this relic to this pack, which would have a seat—but not a voice—on the Council. We’ve proposed it to the Council as an experiment. They don’t want to consider it, so we’ve demanded a public presentation of facts tomorrow. Since you two are the wolves we want for the job, we need you to be in a pack. Go get SnowFang back. Or I suppose impose yourself on some other pack, but that would be a trifle counterproductive.”
I choked on shock and it was Sterling who said, “You wantWinterto be elevated to Chronicler.”
Demetrius grinned. “She’s the most obvious choice for it.”
Not that I especially wanted to be within fifty miles of that public presentation when the AmberHowl started telling the Council all the glorious dirt we’d dug up.
“There’s still the matter of the Mortcombe land holdings,” Sterling said dryly. “I doubt the Council is going to just give the Mortcombesmoreinfluence when they’re already upset about the land under their paws.”
“I think they are going to be more interested in who has control of the relic.”
Without a word, Henri stepped forward and presented us with the box.
The relic glowed a gorgeous summer-blue-green against the dark velvet.
I closed the box and looked away, momentarily seeing Searle above me. I shoved the box at Sterling before I threw up.
Marcella pointed back at the hotel. “They’re waiting out by the pool.”
My heart crashedagainst my ribs when we arrived at the pool through its crummy little gate.
“Winter!” Cye scrambled over the crummy, sun-faded pool chairs and tackled me with a hug. Jun lumbered behind him.
I clung, tightly, to Cye and rubbed my cheek on his chest while Jun squished both of us in his thick embrace.
“You’re sothin.” Cye mourned.
“We can fix that,” Jun said. He looked even bigger than the last time I’d seen him. Must have been additional chickenshakes.
“I’m fine.” I swore to myself I wasn’t going to cry, but someone was cutting onions. Behind them Burian lurked, uncertain, casting looks between Sterling and me. “Hi, Burian.”
“Hey.”
I tugged on Cye’s arms. He had on a t-shirt featuring a cat riding a surfboard over a wave of frosting. “You made those little cakes. The licorice ones with the snowflakes on top.”
“I did!” His eyes got huge. “What were they for? Demetrius didn’t say. I made him pay for them. I hope that’s okay.”
“Of course it’s okay,” Jun said gruffly.
I elbowed Jun in the gut. “Oh, you’re Alpha now?”
“That’s me.”
“Not for long.”
“What?”
Time to take SnowFang back. And since Sterling was beaten up, I was going to have to do it.
I punched Jun in the gut.
It was like punching a boulder.
Cye squeaked and bolted, while Junoof’dand was more startled than hurt. “What are you—”
I shot in, tackled him, and sent us both into the pool. He splashed, I swam under him, grabbed his back, wrapped my legs around his trunk and cranked his neck with my arms. I stretched my neck above water and held him under. He flailed and squirmed as we sank because Jun was solid cement muscle.
Isqueezed.
