"Rogues attacked the Silver Fang," Emmett confirmed, his voice carrying that quiet authority that made even alphas listen. "Dante and I have been tracking them since yesterday."
"They're Hector's," Dante added, stepping forward. He'd stayed back, Maeve realized, letting her fight her own battle. Letting herwin. "Part of his attempt to undermine Maeve's authority."
Varric's expression darkened. "Is this true?"
Notched-ear spat blood and said nothing.
"The Silver Fang belongs to Maeve Cross." Freya's voice rang clear from the crowd as Kieran stood close behind her. "Has for nearly a decade. We all know it. We've all benefited from it."
"Damn right." Maeve's regular patrons began pushing forward—shifters, witches, fae, even humans who'd found their way through the Veil. "Best tavern in three counties."
"Saved my ass more than once," someone called out.
"Mine too."
"She's one of us."
The voices built, overlapping, until the alley echoed with support. Maeve's lioness purred despite the pain radiating from her shoulder. This.Thiswas why she'd fought so hard to keep the tavern running, to make it a place where everyone belonged.
Varric raised his hand, silencing the crowd. "The rogues will be detained until a full Council hearing." His gaze found Maeve, still in lion form, still bloody and defiant. "Maeve Cross, shift back. Your point is made."
She held his stare for another heartbeat, making sure he understood, making sureeveryoneunderstood that she wasn't yielding because she was told to. She was choosing to.
The shift back hurt worse than the initial transformation, her injured shoulder screaming as bones reformed. Dante was there instantly, draping his coat over her naked, shivering form before anyone else could move.
"You're bleeding," he murmured, his hands gentle as they supported her weight.
"I won." Her voice came out hoarse but steady.
His amber eyes blazed with something that looked like pride. "Never doubted it for a second, Cub."
Callum appeared with a blanket, wrapping it around her shoulders. "That," her cousin said with a fierce grin, "is the Maeve I remember."
Cora handed her a water bottle, her green eyes warm with approval. "Remind me never to piss you off."
Despite the pain, the destruction, the rogues being hauled away by Emmett and other Council guards, she laughed. It hurt, but gods, it feltgood.
"Silver Fang's closed," she announced to the lingering crowd, her voice carrying despite her exhaustion. "But not for long. And when it reopens, first round's on me."
The cheer that erupted made her lioness rumble with satisfaction.
Hollow Oak remembered who she was.
More importantly, so did she.
30
DANTE
The other cabin they found stank of rogue lions and desperation.
Dante crouched beside the overturned crate, studying the scattered papers while Callum checked the back room and Kieran prowled the perimeter outside. They'd found the hideout two miles beyond Hollow Oak's border, tucked into the woods where the Veil thinned to gossamer.
"Dante." Callum's voice carried from the doorway, tight with controlled fury. "You need to see this."
He straightened, crossing to where his old pride brother stood holding a crude map. Hollow Oak's town square had been marked with red ink, the Griddle and Grind circled, the Council Glade starred. But it was the date scrawled across the top that made his blood run cold.
Winter Solstice. Strike at gathering.
