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“That depends on where we’re going.” I leaned against Galen’s cage and crossed my arms over my chest.
“Bjorn has arranged for you to meet the princesses from the other clans. They’re participating in your coronation and wedding ceremonies.” Maria explained in a chipper tone as if I should have been excited about the upcoming festivities.
“Then the answer is no.” I bent down in front of the barred window on Galen’s cage. “Whatever happens, I want you to know that I love you.”
“I love you too, baby.”
Bolstered by his declaration of his feelings for me in front of two members of the Bone Clan, I steeled my spine, went back to my cage and crawled inside.
“I knew she’d be like this. Just like her mother.” Erin grumbled her complaints to Maria - the only person in the room remotely willing to listen.
“Flattery will get you nowhere, Erin.” I took advantage of the added legroom while the cage door was opened and scooted against the back wall, stretching my legs out in front of me.
“Maybe you should go, Talia.” Galen was quick to offer an explanation before I shot down his suggestion. “It can’t hurt to meet some of the pack members. We need information.”
“Do you see, Maria?” Erin huffed. “I mean, are you listening to this? She’s openly agreeing to be a spy for the Long Claw pack. We need to tell Bjorn about this immediately.”
“Erin.” Maria ground out her parents name. Are you familiar with the old adage, you can catch more flies with honey than-”
“If you’re asking me to be nice to this woman after everything she’s said and done in the short time she’s been here, my answer is going to be a resounding no.” Erin pulled a gray knit Bernie hat out of coat pocket and jammed it over her curly auburn hair.
“The feeling is mutual.” I crawled back out of my cage and rifled through the arctic gear they’d brought along for me.
I’d decided to take Galen’s advice and go with the women from the Bone clan in the hopes of unraveling the secrets of the Deofol pack and their role in the demon wolf god’s plan.
And potentially make some allies to aid me and Galen in our escape.
Because it was clear Erin would not be filling that role. She made her allegiance clear and was definitely on team Bjorn.
The jury was still out on Maria.
Out of the two of them, she seemed more concerned with winning over her clan’s heir. That gave me something to work with.
“How many princesses are there? Does each house have one?” I pinched the hem of the coat they provided together and zipped it up over my layers of warm clothing.
“Yes and no.” Maria chimed in with an explanation before her pack mate could come up with another snarky remark. Each pack has an heir, but the official title of princess is reserved for the demon wolf god’s chosen bride.”
Wonderful. I stood in the way of the other heirs’ ascension to full princess - a status I’d already made clear I wanted no part of.
So much for making friends.
I hated leaving Galen alone in the kennel. It felt like a betrayal, leaving him locked up while I roamed free. Or as free as a person could be with two chaperones. But it beat the four foot by three foot metal box I’d left him in.
Maria and Erin escorted me across the encampment from the kennel to a large arched building with an architectural style that mimicked an igloo.
“This is our meeting hall.” Maria opened the airlock and stepped inside the tunnel. “This is where we hold all of our community gatherings and ceremonies. It’s considered neutral ground.”
“Are there problems among the factions?” I stayed close to Maria, preferring her company to Erin’s, shadowed me and pulled up the rear.
“No more than your average pack.” Maria shed several layers until she was down to a pair of black, wool dress slacks and a black scoop-neck cashmere sweater.
The Long Claw pack was far from average - just like our problems.
“You have territory disputes here?” I asked, unable to hide my surprise that anyone would fight over what amounted to a massive ice skating rink with outbuildings.
I missed the grass that covered the fields and the woodland that surrounded Long Claw’s territory. I missed the sound of rural nightlife, like owls and crickets and even the bullfrogs croaking an evening chorus.
The Deofol territory was ice and snow in every direction. The only sounds to break the eerie quiet of their arctic environment were the generators and the sled dogs.
