“It’s going to work.”
Jason leaned against the wall and fidgeted with his tie. He was too dressed up for this type of work, but Silas rarely saw Jason in jeans and a T-shirt. It wasn’t his style.
“You nervous, brother?” Silas asked.
“Actually, I was wondering…”
“Yeah?”
“How are you handling this? You lost a woman you once loved and the woman you were in love with all on the same day. And now this thing with Laina.”
“You’re wondering why I’m not collapsed on the floor in a puddle of my own tears.”
“It has crossed my mind.”
“Soleil and I were close once. I loved Meredith. Maybe I still love her, despite everything. But there’s something I love more.” He adjusted the satchel on his shoulder. “Our family, Jason. What would Dad say if I crumbled and left our sister in danger? And what kind of alpha would I be if I let the pack down?”
“He’d say you were human.”
Silas swatted a hand between them. “I’m not human. I’m a werewolf, and I’m the alpha. I’m not going to give Alex the satisfaction of knowing he got the best of me, even for a minute.”
“But shit, you’re only one wolf. Anyone else would be crushed. Sometimes we don’t choose these things.”
He paused, blinking at his brother. “It hurts. It does. But I can’t afford to feel it right now. Not yet. I will eventually.”
Jason’s hand landed on his shoulder. “I’ll be here when you do.”
The water was getting a little deep for Silas, his mood drifting toward self-pity, so he was relieved when the door opened, and Nickelova stood, fully dressed at the threshold.
“We’ll need a car,” she said. “I feel the amulet from a distance.”
“It’s not in the city?”
“No.”
“Let’s go.” Silas began to walk away.
“I can’t leave the room, Einstein,” Nickelova said.
Jason laughed. “Oh, that’s my fault. Grateful told me to…” He removed a red cloth from his pocket and scrubbed the threshold near her feet. He’d barely cleared a six-inch patch when she leapt over his head and bolted down the hall.
Silas squeezed the heart inside his bag.
“Ahhh.” Nickelova froze, arching her back as if she were in pain. Reluctantly, she limped back to his side.
“You will stay close to us, Nickelova,” Silas commanded. “You will not try to escape or call attention to yourself.”
Her eyes stared, empty and hateful toward the window.
“Come on. We’re wasting daylight.”
Silas keptan eye on Nickelova while Jason drove. The dragon fae directed them onto the highway and out of the city. It was a good thing the Ford Transit had a full tank of gas.
“You’re sure this is the way?” Silas asked from the passenger’s seat, the dragon’s heart securely in his lap.
“The dragon scale amulet calls to me. I’m sure.” Nickelova’s tightly crossed arms didn’t fill him with confidence in her, but she had no other choice than to tell him the truth. He’d made sure of that.
“There’s only one town in this direction—Red Grove.” They’d already searched every inch around Laina’s cabin.
