Callon slammed his palm on an end table, rattling mugs and, no doubt, nerves. “Enough. We’re not storming a kingdom on information that might be wrong. We need proof, we need a plan, and we need to not start a war with a kingdom that might not be guilty of what we’re accusing them of.”
Rafe stood, knocking his chair over. “Roan is practically family, Cal, and Maddie belongs to your female. If that’s not worth going to war, then what is?”
Bane, who rarely spoke, added, “If we wait, we could lose the element of surprise.”
Crowley’s voice was calm, but his eyes were sharp. “If you move before you have solid proof, you’ll fracture every alliance we have. Do you really want to be the match that lights that powder keg?”
Nox’s phone buzzed. He glanced at it, then walked out. Minutes later, he returned, screen in hand.
“Taras wants a word.” He clicked the video call on the TV. The Prime of Claws appeared, silver-haired and unamused, even in pajamas.
Taras’s gaze swept the room. “I see the entire troublemaking section is present. Tell me what’s going on, Callon. I’ve been waiting to hear from you, and you’ve been unusually silent.”
Callon bristled. He bowed his head briefly in a sign of respect. “We haven’t had any news until now.”
Taras cut him off. “Well then I suggest you get me filled in, so we can make a plan to get our shaman and his mate back.”
Nico did another recap of the situation, and then the room waited as the Prime of Kingdom of Claws made a decision. As Nico pointed out, Roan belonged to his kingdom and shaman or not, that meant something.
Finally he said, “Nox, if you’re in agreement, we gather a small group and go in stealth mode. After we get them out, we deal with the treachery of Silk and Chaos.”
Nox nodded. “I would do the same in your shoes. The safety of Roan and Maddie takes priority.”
“Finally,” Katy smiled and rubbed her hands together. “Someone has some sense.”
“Lola,” Taras said, his voice commanding, and Callon wanted to groan. He knew that tone all too well. “You are to come home and wait,” Taras continued. “We already allowed you to put yourself in harm's way when Katy was taken. We won’t allow it again."
Callon could feel the rage and indignation growing in his female. She looked at him as if she expected him to argue on her behalf, but she was mistaken. Callon would always fight to keep her safe. Even when it pissed her off. “He’s the prime,” he told her. “Even I have to obey him.”
Taras ended the call abruptly, obviously having nothing left to say, leaving a vacuum in the room.
“Well, he can’t tell me what to do,” Katy said, shoving her hands into her pockets and rocking back on her heels, looking quite proud of herself.
Callon almost laughed, but managed to hold it in.
Nox turned to look at Gage’s mate. “You belong to Gage, but make no mistake, you’re a member of the Kingdom of Fangs and are therefore under my rule.”
“Careful, Nox,” Gage said, his voice a deep guttural sound.
“Do you want her going?” Nox asked the dire wolf.
Gage glanced at Katy. The glare she sent him would have caused a lesser male to cower. “No,” Gage answered, not a hint of hesitation.
“I will sick Otto on you,” she threatened.
“You can do as you please in your relationship,” Nox said, obviously not worried about her attempt to bully her mate. “But, you willnotdo as you please when it comes to my orders. You will not accompany the males on this mission. If you disobey my orders, as your alpha, I will be forced to discipline you, and I will accept whatever wrath your mate deals out because of it.”
Bane whistled. “Damn, brave alpha.”
“That’swhyhe’s the alpha,” Rafe pointed out.
Katy’s voice was a low snarl. “So we just sit here and let Maddie rot?”
“Is that truly what you think of me?” Gage asked, his eyes glowing dangerously. “That I would let your friend be left behind? Did I leaveyoubehind? Did I leaveanyof those femalesin the hands of Azure? Because, ifthat’syour opinion of me, female, then we have a lot to discuss when this crisis is over.”
“And perhaps some couples counseling," Wyatt offered.
“Silence,” Callon growled at his packmate.
