“Whatever. You’re so much more than you seem or that you’re willing to understand.”
His words made her grow very still. She lifted her left hand and stared at it as she recalled their encounter with Gammet in the park. “You may be right. But if I’m blind to who I am, it’s because I still don’t want to be in Five Bridges. Intellectually, I know I can’t be anywhere else, but I’m still railing against it, at least in my spirit.”
“It takes time and you’ve had a more-than-typical rough beginning. It’s a shock for everyone having to adjust to analterlife. But most of us don’t find ourselves abducted by the dark queen of the witches then end up killing people to escape.”
But there was something worse, always worse. She added quietly, “And they don’t have the same queen kill their human husbands, either. I hope we find her, Braden.” She lifted her hand again. “I hope maybe together we can put Veyda on a pyre, only give her a slow burn that lasts a century to pay for all the people she’s tortured and killed.”
“I like the way you think. Ready to get back to work?”
“Yes, I am.”
~ ~ ~
Braden followed behind Maeve until they got out into the hall. “Hold up a second.” He glanced out at the double glass exit doors on north side of the Landing, opposite the emergency doors. The apartment complex was being built a hundred yards from where he stood. He knew the wolves worked on site.
Maybe because they’d challenged him, he felt compelled to speak with them alone, without Maeve.
“What is it? Your scent seems stronger to me right now, but different.”
He glanced at her. “Very much a wolf thing. I need to talk to the men, with your permission.”
“Of course. I have a couple of things I need to do anyway. Give me a telepathic shout when you come back.”
“Good deal.” He headed toward the double doors. A construction truck carrying framed windows drew up to the site. He saw Greg meet the driver.
Once outside to the left, there was a communal grass area and a couple of fire pits blazing. There had to be fifty people there with all fivealterspecies represented. And they were getting along. There were even some human rescues not yet ready to return to their world. Each had found a refuge in Maeve’s facility. What she’d accomplished was amazing.
He headed toward the growing apartment complex, aware that a spell kept everything cloaked and safe. The longer he was here, the more he seemed able to sense it, but like a physical barrier he could touch. The sensation gave him pause. Was it his imagination, or had his interactions with Maeve heightened his ability to navigate her witch’s world.
He found Greg issuing orders and sending more of his workers to different parts of the project.
When he was done, he turned to Braden and inclined his head. “What can I do for you, Alpha Braden?”
“How many of your men know how to fight?” It was almost a rhetorical question. All wolves battled.
But by the curve of Greg’s lips, Braden had his answer. Greg said, “We’ve been known to fire a weapon or use our teeth to take out a throat or two. What did you have in mind?”
Braden glanced around. He felt it in the air, but it seemed more like a witch sense than his wolf instincts. “We’ve got a situation coming up that might need some wolf brawn. You and your men game?”
“Time and place and about thirty seconds warning.”
“Everyone good in the air?” Levitation came with increased powers.
“Faster than most. I’ve been running drills.”
At that, Braden was surprised. “Why?”
Greg glanced around as well. “Something’s not right, like we’re being watched. I’ve been feeling it for weeks. When you showed up, having been ambushed in the Graveyard, that sensation intensified.”
“Well, Greg, we’re trying to connect with a witch that Veyda abducted.”
“You mean Kiara?”
“Yes, you know her?”
“She’s got alpha-mate capacity like Maeve. She’s been a good friend to Maeve as well. We were sickened to learn of the abduction. Elegance has a serious problem because of the dark covens.” He cleared his throat and lifted his chin. “I won’t mince words. We’ve been talking and we want you to stay. We’ll be your pack if you can let go of the one in Savage, I mean. I know it’s a lot to ask, but Maeve deserves someone like you and you could do some good here.”
He wouldn’t deny the thought hadn’t crossed his mind, especially after meeting her wolves. “She saved my life. I wouldn’t be alive except for her.”
