“Olivia.”
He stood and pulled out a chair for me. The courtesy was an illusion, a way for him to get closer to me so he could decide if I had been appropriately punished for my small slip. I sat and waited. After a moment, he moved away.
“Were you sufficiently distracted from your thoughts today?”
“Yes, Father.”
“Good. Leave your sisters to me. I have several men searching for the fighter. I have no doubt they will find her before the dreamer and the rest do.”
I reached for my napkin to distract myself from thoughts of my incomplete letter. The Others moved around the room, outlining everything, so I could see the covered plate before me. After settling the napkin on my lap, I turned toward Blake. He was watching me, waiting for my acknowledgement.
“Of course they will. They were very close with Gabby.”
A growl escaped him at the reminder of just how close he’d been.
“Joshua is lucky he’s dead. I should have killed him myself for his incompetence with her.”
He reached across the table and lifted the lid off my plate. I inhaled deeply, showing my appreciation.
“Eat,” he said.
I picked up my fork and knife and carefully cut a small piece from the chicken breast on my plate as I considered his frustrated tone.
Blake had also entrenched himself in the human world, creating a network of contacts and playing the market to build an empire. It was through sheer luck that he’d found the provider. I knew very little about her, other than Blake had kept her isolated from me.
His mood had been high with both of us under his thumb, and everything had been going well until one of his spies had reported an Elder had found the locator, Gabby. Blake could do nothing while she’d lived with the Elder, fearing that he would give away his hand too early.
So, he’d planned and waited, putting the oldest half-breed he’d had in place. Joshua was supposed to make it possible for an Urbat to Claim Gabby. Instead, some unknown werewolf had shown up at Gabby’s residence, preventing all challengers from getting close to the girl.
Blake had lost the locator, who was his key to finding the two missing Judgements. Not only that, the provider had escaped just this spring. They had all been at the werewolf Compound just weeks ago when the dreamer had shown up and Claimed Joshua. From there, Blake’s plans had completely fallen apart. Except for me.
“You’re very quiet,” Blake said.
I swallowed my bite of peas and gave him a small smile.
“I’m lost in my thoughts and looking forward to returning to my room. The book,” I said, as if to clarify why.
“Ah, yes. I suppose you’ll need a new one soon. Do you have one in mind?”
“I have no particular title in mind, but I do like the suspenseful ones.”
“Very good. I’ll order something new for you.”
“Thank you, Father.”
We ate in silence for the rest of the meal. Blake didn’t believe in small talk. At least, not with me. My basic needs were met. My time suitably occupied. There was nothing more to say. As usual, he finished before I did. With food still on my plate, I set my fork aside and thanked him for the meal. He stood and pulled out my chair for me, extending manners as a well-practiced pretense, then walked me to my room.
I read for thirty minutes before I pulled the letter out from the drawer. With the help of the Others, I painstakingly continued to write the brief message to the fighter.
The grey mists around me slowed and brightened, and I looked up to see the Lady beside my desk. Where the Others were shades of grey, she was light, almost white.
Dear one, are you certain you want Slith to occupy one of the Urbat?
“He’ll be able to find her?” I asked softly.
Yes.
“Then this is worth the risk and the price.”
