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He growled softly, but did not try to kiss me again. “Normally, I’d ask you to go for a run with me,” he said, nodding toward the woods that surrounded us in all directions. “There is little I’d like more, and I am certain it’d calm my wolf. That it isn’t a possibility for us right now only makes him more aggravated.”
I sighed, pressing my lips together. “Sorry,” I said. “I know it gets worse for you the closer the new moon gets.”
Fenris scowled. “Do not apologize for that,” he snapped, his nose wrinkling. “You didn’t do it to yourself. You have nothing to apologize for.”
No,I thought,but I did rush right into a trap, even though you warned me that’s exactly what it could be.
“Is there anything I can do to help you shift? I could use an alpha command to help draw your wolf out if you—”
“No,” I said, cutting him off. I didn’t really like to talk over other people, but I knew there was nothing he could do. Any attempts would just leave us both frustrated and tired—it was a total waste of energy and emotion. “Hey, how did your meeting go with the Order of the Stars? Any updates?”
Fenris made a face, wrinkling his nose. “The meeting was fine, but Piers approached me afterwards. There’ve been some…issues between some of the covens gathered here.”
“Really?” I’d spent most of my time darting between tents, checking in on Esme, making sure Lyka was still undercover as “Zeke,” helping Liana find a place where she was comfortable, visiting Walter and Morgan as they recovered, making sure Abi was doing okay after Grant’s death—and that was to say nothing of making time to see Fenris. I’d hardly seen hide nor hair of Cody, and had exchanged three words total with Piers and Gilbert. I barely had time to think in between. “What’s going on?”
Fenris shrugged. “Piers did not go into much more detail. At first, I was going to write it off as gossip, but Gilbert said he was the one who insisted Piers share with me at all.”
“I agree,” I said. If nothing else, it gave me a reason to check in on the witches and warlocks. “I’ll look into it…unless you wanted to?”
“I think you’re far better suited to this task than I am,” Fenris said playfully.
I smiled. “I’ll let you know what I find out.”
“Good.” He leaned in to kiss the top of my head before releasing me. “I think I will go check in withZeketo see how he’s faring.” Fenris gave me a pointed look.
“Well, if he needs anything, you know where to find me,” I said, giving Fenris one last smile before heading toward the tents belonging to the Thalassa coven.
I hadn’t walked far when the staring began. A part of me wanted to turn around and hurry back to the secluded corner I’d found with the bear shifters when someone called my name. I flinched, a spike of adrenaline surging through me.
I’d barely registered the voice by the time someone threw an arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. Only then did I recognize her.
“Hi, Abi,” I said, a smile winning out.
“Where’re you off to?” she asked, falling into step with me.
I nodded in the direction of the nearest coven. “I wanted to check in on the witches and warlocks here,” I said. “I’ve barely even seenyou. These people are going to be fighting beside us, you know? The least I could do is know their names.”
“I’ll come with you,” Abi announced. When I gave her a sideways look, she shrugged. “Look, I like vampires, but you can only hang around them for so long before things get morbid.”
“Well, yes. They’re already dead, Abi.” I shook my head. “Piers getting on your nerves?”
“Nah. Gilbert and Piers have been organizing vampires in the region as part of Fenris’s forces, which is great for Fenris, but a few of them have a tendency for thedramatique,as Piers wouldsay.” Abi rolled her eyes. “If they were all like Gilbert, it wouldn’t be so bad, but I need space!”
“Are they all talking about who’s the prettiest?” I asked, grinning.
“Oh, sometimes.” She grunted. “Other times, it’s which blood type tastes best—which is apparently worth arguing over—or how erainsert your choice herewas better than erathe vampire next to me prefersforchoose the silliest reason you can imagine.” Abi tossed up her hands. “Honestly, some of these guys make Piers look downright normal.”
That I had a hard time imagining. I snickered and bumped into my best friend playfully. “Well, we’ll see how that compares to grumpy witches. And warlocks,” I said. “Piers said things were getting tense, so I want to make sure it’s nothing too major.”
“Ugh,” Abi complained. “Does no one get the eclipse is, you know, important? And it’s only a few days away. It’s not like we’re cooped up here forever! Let’s act like adults here.”
She had a point, but I was certain that saying as much would make some folks mad, especially those with a few decades—or centuries—on me. “How’s Gilbert doing?” I asked instead. “I know a lot has gone on in the past few days, and he was pretty concerned about lingering effects…” At least with Sabine gone now, I hoped some of his fears were alleviated.
Abi frowned, looking at the path for a moment as we walked. “For a guy who’s been around several centuries, he feels everything so deeply. No matter how many times Piers or I insist it was Sabine who fucked up his brain, he still feelsguiltyabout the fact that he killed people.” She sighed and shook her head. “I think talking to us has helped, but it’s going to take a while.”
I pressed my lips together. “I mean, I can’t blame him for that. Not really.”
“No, me neither,” Abi said, then she chuckled. “Piers keeps tooting his own horn about killing Sabine himself. Normally, I’dbe annoyed—but I’m just glad that bitch is dead.” She paused. “Honestly, I think it would weird Gilbert out if his brother suddenly changed. Just one more thing to feel guilty about, you know? So, I guess I’m glad he’s still being the same old Piers in a way.”
