“What’ll happen to that girl’s pack?” I asked. “Are you going to do anything?”
Viktor’s grey eyes narrowed. “I was not certain what we were dealing with until just now. I know these animals. I have seen many like them in my time. They keep just enough women to breed children but not so many as would rise up against them. Men like these find each other and form packs with evil intentions.”
I wondered how many jails cells were available. “Are you going to turn them over to the Council?”
He lifted his glass and swirled the wine. “Nyet. Wyatt, get as much information on these packmates as you can. I am certain that all have violated the law or were kicked out of other packs for nefarious reasons. Gather evidence to prove a conspiracy. I cannot take action unless I know this is what it looks like.”
“I’m on it,” he said, strutting out of the room. “Let me get those cookies first.”
Gem gripped the back of her chair. “What can I do?”
“Work with Wyatt. Some of these Shifters may be old and in one of your historical books.”
“And me?” Shepherd asked.
Viktor stood. “Polish your weapons.”
* * *
After takingMarelle back to Kira’s room, Blue changed into her red dress and walked to the back of the mansion. She didn’t feel like flying tonight—too much was on her mind. She breathed in the night air, the most wonderful scent in the world. After a short walk, she reached the part of the grass that sloped down and gave her the best view on a moonlit night. The mansion was a dark shadow looming behind her, the blue circular clock window in Claude’s room visible because he had all his candles lit. When she found a nice spot at the crest of the hill, she took a seat in the grass, her knees drawn up and her eyes on the stars.
Matteo appeared out of nowhere and sat to her left. “That dress is becoming on you.”
“How did you know I was out here?”
“Your scent calls to me.”
She snorted. “And what do I smell like?”
“Everyone has a different scent to a Chitah. Yours is like a spice. Cinnamon or something close to that.” He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, which Blue found a little creepy. Claude had never mentioned her personal scent, but maybe that was because it would be inappropriate.
“Are you cold, female? I have a coat in my tent.”
“Did you wash it in the pond?”
Matteo chuckled. “You forget I’m a man of the wild. The woods are my home. Are they not yours?”
“They were.”
He flicked his gaze down. “How is your leg?”
“Like new.”
“I’ve always envied Shifters for their gift of healing. Chitahs heal—just slower.”
“I work with a Chitah. He’s pretty tough.”
“Should I worry if he’s put his tongue on your wounds?”
She smiled. “Claude has put his tongue on almost everyone. You Chitahs are strange.”
“It’s a gift that comes in handy when healing superficial scrapes. Mothers can heal their young so they don’t grow up with scars.”
Blue looked away.
“My apologies.”
“Shifters admire scars. Just not so much on women,” she muttered.
