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“A royal carriage on a sled.”
“What does that even mean?” Spence asks, as confused as I’m.
“It means what I said. Instead of horses, they’ve strapped a carriage to these giant reindeer, and they’re galloping at speeds we had to race to get ahead of.”
“Who is coming?”
“We might be wrong.”
Because he seems frightened and shocked, I’m ready to blare an alarm whistle and get the entire village into battle formation. “Who is it?”
“The Kilseleian princess and some of the McMar clan. Namely, Lenox.”
I grind my jaw. “The fuck.” I rest my hands on my hips, look up, and close my eyes to give myself a quiet moment to think on what I’ll do about this visit. It’s a damn sticky situation, one I don’t need right now.
A McMar lycan hasn’t pawed Ott land this far up the Ott territory since…probably never. Certainly not since I can remember, and my father would have told us if they had. Hence, I’m thinking McMars have never gotten up here.
The males are waiting for instructions. “We collected a breeder from their den. We have a treaty, not to mention Lenox’s sister is somewhere in our part of the woodland. Isn’t she?”
Alex nods. “She runs with Gabe and his lot.”
“I thought she ran with you two.”
“Not anymore.”
I purse my lips. “How far is the McMar party?”
“By now, maybe in Corins.” Where the healer lives with the other Kilseleians.
I hate surprises, and I know Lenox hates them too. It’s a rare alpha male who enjoys surprises and spontaneous visits from another clan Alpha. I must decide whether my patrol will stop them and make them turn around or if we’ll let them pass.
The Kilseleian princess is arriving. Lenox must have a screw loose, or his feelings for his mate are impairing his judgment. My pregnant mate wouldn’t make this trip at all. I would lock her up somewhere remote and never let her out of my sight.
“Has anyone seen Dan?” I ask.
“Last seen in Corins,” Alex says.
“Doing what?”
He shrugs. “Don’t know, but them Kilseleians he’s talking to can’t be good news.”
“Why not?”
“They’re the ones Lenox never caught. The blood mages.”
“They’re after him, not us. Fuck.” I scrub my face. Lenox is passing Corins, and while they’re not ready for him now since the visit is unannounced, they’ll wait for him on his way down. Attacking Lenox’s convoy with his mate in it will most certainly start a war Lenox and I are trying to avoid. If anyone so much as startles his mate, he’ll begin killing. I can’t lose wolves over this.
“Damn McMars!” I snarl, then whistle and swirl my hand in the air to signal that I need every male for a quick meeting. My lycans hop off the roofs they’re repairing, walk out of the tavern or homes, and out of the thick forests. Once the clan gathers, I scale the shrine wall and perch on the roof. “The McMar delegation is arriving. All males are tasked with ensuring a peaceful visit.”
The males playfully boo. They’re teasing me.
“I’m not amused,” I snap. “Lenox is bringing his pregnant mate. Remain calm even if provoked. Nobody so much as look at her. We greet whoever else comes out of the carriage and hope they leave as fast as they came. On the way back”—I lock eyes with some of the males I know for a fact run with Dan and would take his side if there ever is a conflict between him and me—“the convoy has safe passage through our territory. Any male caught jeopardizing the peace treaty we have with our neighbors will spend the rest of his spans in a cage.” This is a fate worse than death. “Questions?”
“Did you say carriage?”
“Yeah, that’s what I said.”
“One carriage and two sleds loaded with trunks,” the patrol male says. “I spotted a royal Kilseleian trunk. The others, unsure.”
