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4
AN INVITATION
SARIEL
Pack Olskin was strange—which made sense, considering Elias himself was a bit odd.
The giant of a man looked leagues more comfortable in his sweats and tees than he did in the suit he’d been wearing the first time I saw him, but there was still a general air of discomfort around him. Of course, it didn’t help that Jack was basically attached to his hip: bright, snooty, and generally emphasizing how quiet his partner was.
The irony of a hulking wolf shifter and a lithe witch together was not lost on me, either. The beanpole of a man looked more angelic than most angels I’d met, contrasting heavily against Elias’s broody persona.
The rest of them were equally odd, though. Ashe was never around, yet when he was around, he was always somehow in the know—what I’d overheard from his whispers to Elias was mostly his own pack’s gossip. Megara was friendly, but I’d caught her sneaking around different people's homes and peeking in windows. Iris had a morbid fascination with Atlan and Kiran, too; luckily, the hybrids were cordial enough not to traumatize the poor girl, but the way she stared at them unsettled even me. I could only imagine howtheyfelt.
Auren was at his wit’s end dealing with them, because the Resistance members that were already established with us were all particularly bothered by our new additions. Zuzanna, in particular, seemed antsy about it all, even though she was trying valiantly to hide it
That was why, when I spotted a few more unfamiliar faces roaming around, I went on the hunt for my brother.
He was sitting with Grel in the cafeteria when I found him, rubbing at his temples, apparently in heated discussions from the hissing whispers I heard—all of which quieted when I approached. I tried not to take it personally, breathing through my knee-jerk reaction to rage at the lack of trust my baby brother had in me.
“What's with all the new wolves?” I started, figuring it was easier just to ask my question and get on with it. “It’s like they’re multiplying.”
I was surprised when Auren actuallygroaned.
The man barely expressed emotion on a good day; his complete disregard for his public image right now let me know he was already sick of all our new friends roaming around, too.
“Elias sided with us publicly, so we’re offering sanctuary to his entire pack. Some of them had already turned up dead by the time the news broke.”
Grel was smirking to himself, shaking his head like a parent who was amused by his children's antics yet trying not to be.
“Which means someone among them is a snitch, and they’re probably here with us now,” I summarized, sneering at the thought.
We’d already had enough issues with our own leaks and misadventures. Taking on Pack Olskin was going to be stressful—never mind that it wasn'tjustthe wolves, but also their loved ones that were seeking asylum. Jack Loris had been very vocal about helping out the witches who would side with us as well, even though their numbers were few and far between.
Auren chuckled darkly. “Exactly.”
We shared a sigh at the thought, and I dropped into the chair between Grel and him. “At least the tides are turning in our favor.”
He nodded in agreement, twisting the paper from a straw wrapper around his fingers.
“There hasn’t been a vote or anything, but I think it's safe to say the general public sides with us. The Upper Council is too radical for the average person to get behind completely, and with the shitshow that is their war, everyone has started realizing that they’re just a bunch of assholes on a power trip. Elias throwing his weight behind us just gives us more credibility.”
That was a relief, at least. I was tired of running and hiding from the rest of the world just because my blood was mixed, and I knew I wasn't the only one feeling cooped up with all Auren’s (perfectly understandable) safety measures.
“He always was a public favorite,” Grel mused when Auren finished, picking at lint on the shoulder of his shirt. “It’s impressive how you’ve used this mayhem to your advantage.”
“Thank you,” Auren answered, managing to stifle a questioning lilt at the last second. I chuckled at him.
“Now, Sariel, on to the reason I’m here.” Grel looked at me seriously, and I heard Auren let out a sound of disapproval. “Michaelson and Lucia are getting married, and he’s asked you to be present. Knowing this, I thought it would be safe to assume he would also like Auren to come as well, so the invitation has been extended to both of you and your plus ones.”
“Mikey is gettingmarried?”
He nodded at my incredulous question, seemingly expecting that response.
“Indeed he is. Lucia was adamant that if the King and Queen wanted her child, the least they could do was officiate their wedding. Blossom agreed with the sentiment, so your brother will be Prince of the Free Kingdom before the end of next year.”
My stomach roiled at the thought of it, but I tried to breathe through it. The last thing I needed was to stress out Aria with this right now; she’d been focused on making sure that we felt safe and at home lately, and a reminder of the things we’d lost to get here would only set her back.
“Does he even want to get married?” I questioned. “Did anyone ask him?”
