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“He could have been a member here.” Markus raised a finger. “That would link all of this together. I might even be able to get more info on him if so. We have archives of past and current members. I could search for Johnathon in the past member archives. It might be pointless, but it’s all electronic, so it shouldn’t take me long if I can get access.”
I leaned forward in my seat, intrigued about how all of that worked. “How would you get access?”
“Assuming my father’s home office hasn’t been ransacked, I should be able to find something there,” Markus said, but then he frowned. “I’d have to go by myself. I won’t cause my mother further harm by bringing all of you.”
Lia grabbed his hand and squeezed. “But you could bring me and maybe introducing your new mate would help her heart a little and give you a reason to be visiting again so soon.”
His eyes glistened, and he smiled softly at my new friend. “Of course. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that.”
With how mushy and lovey they were being, I was glad that Grayson and I hadn’t gotten along immediately. Hell, I wasn’t sure we were really getting along just yet, but at least we’d found common ground and the rejection threats seemed to be over. For now.
The front door opened without anyone knocking and in strode Ryder. His face was less twisted than before, but the faint pink scars there still put off plenty of “don’t fuck with me” vibes. Though, energy inside me didn’t feel the need to challenge him like I had experienced a few times with Grayson.
“Markus Del Reyes,” he said with an air of annoyance. “What are you doing in my faction without permission?”
Markus walked toward Ryder and held his hand out. “I’m not here to cause trouble. In fact, if you’ll let me stay, I’d like to help.”
Ryder snorted. “You’d like to help after your father was suspiciously killed and you never returned to take his place? Why the fuck should I believe you?”
“Because it wasn’t my place to return to,” he said, then he pointed at me. “But it is hers. Kinsley is my father’s oldest known living heir. She was drawn here, and she’d like to know more about what’s going on.”
Ryder raised a brow, then narrowed his gaze on me. “I thought there was something familiar about you. What could a princess like you want with Fire and Fluorite?”
I had no idea what came over me, but I was up and out of my seat within a half-second, then I was in Ryder’s personal space in the next half. My hand grabbed hold of his wrist, twisted his arm, and I used the leverage to put him on his ass. “I’m not a fucking princess.”
So much for not feeling the need to challenge him.
He stared up at me and chuckled. “Noted.”
I reached a hand down to help him back up, thankful he hadn’t taken my impulsive move the wrong way, but I was tired of people thinking of me as something that I wasn’t.
Ryder dusted himself off and shook his head. “All this time and nobody knew you existed. How is that possible?”
I shrugged. This guy didn’t need to know anything about me that didn’t pertain to this House. My past was my own and nothing more.
“I can only guess, but what good would that do?” I asked. “I’d rather know why nobody has stopped the chaos that has been going on in a House that, from what I’d grown up learning, was the most savage of the bunch?”
Ryder glowered and leaned against the wall in the living room we were all still gathered in. “That’s the problem. We’re wolf shifters. We’ve been taught from an early age that around here, it’s the strongest at the top and you never want to be at the bottom. Most of us who wish to see change—whether that be bad or good—are equal to each other. A wolf might win a fight today and then lose tomorrow when he’s challenged again. None of the factions that have been created with the House over the last few months have faced someone they fear enough to back down.”
“Why does it have to be fear?” I asked. “Can’t the people here just be happy if someone they can respect, and who wants to make a positive difference, shows up?”
“The last person who tried that ended up dead,” Ryder deadpanned. “And that’s the reason I haven’t stepped up more officially. I love my House and I will do whatever it takes to keep as many safe as I can, but I won’t lead only to end up like others. I have a son to consider. One that needs me more than ever.”
Well, fuckity fuck.
I hadn’t expected to hear that the last person who tried to make a difference had died. I also would have thought Markus might have shared that tidbit, but I guessed that was a story for another time.
“So, you’re saying if I decide to announce who I am in an attempt to lead, that unless I want to be a ruthless killer, I’ll likely end up dead sooner rather than later?” I asked, cutting to the chase because there was no other option I could see.
“Not exactly.” Ryder glanced at Grayson and then back at me. “Based on the aggression I can sense from him, you two are mated. Something this House hasn’t had in a long time is a leader who has a strong mate. The both of you together could probably make people piss their pants depending on the looks on your faces.”
I was going to take that as a compliment.
Grayson moved to stand next to me. “And what if we walked away right now?”
“Then I’d pretend I never saw you,” Ryder answered swiftly. “I don’t have time for games. While I’m thankful you brought my son back to me, you either want to be here, making a difference, or you can fuck right off to where you came from. The most important thing to me is keeping my family safe. Anything else is just white noise unless I decide otherwise.”
I glanced up at Grayson, and the tension in his jaw released. “Very well.” Then he met my gaze. “What do you want to do now?”
