‘You must accept it,’ Robbie said softly. ‘In your heart.’
I spoke into the depths of my caladrius companion’s mind.I accept,I said without hesitation.I’ve got you, Loki.You’re home. You’re safe. There’s plenty of light, and always food and flight. I’ll keep you safe.The promise was whispered but no less fierce for it.
His mind willingly latched onto mine, hugging me back as tightly as a child who’d been separated from his mama but then was found again.
Pigdog?he said wonderingly.
Yes, I’m here now. Everything is going to be okay.Whether I was worthy of it or not, the bond was done now and could not be undone.
I hugged him back emphatically and something between us was sealed – bound fast, never to be torn asunder.
Chapter Seven
‘Well,’ Amber said with satisfaction, though her gaze was speculative. ‘I don’t know what you did or how you did it, but the bond is certainly locked in place. He’ll need some rest, but he’ll be back to his old self in no time at all.’
My shoulders slumped. ‘Thank goodness. What do I owe you?’
Her eyes were sharp. ‘Information.’
I pressed my lips together. ‘I won’t share details of an ongoing investigation with you.’
The Crone shot a look at her lover. ‘We have to work with theoneConnection officer with morals?’
Bastion looked amused.
‘There are a few of us,’ I said drily. ‘It’s just hard to stamp out the bad apples.’
‘Like the heads of a hydra,’ Amber said, tapping her lip. ‘In any event, it’s not an active investigation I want information on, but a cold one.’ She walked over and tapped the file spread across my dining room table. ‘This one, to be precise.’
I shut the door to the bedroom to let Loki rest after the bonding excitement.
‘What do you want to know?’ I asked tightly, folding my arms. ‘That’s my father’s case.’
‘So I see,’ Amber said. ‘But Bastion noticed this.’ She picked up the new addition, the picture of the pendant in Dad’s hand.
‘Fuck,’ Robbie said instantly.
Amber’s green eyes sharpened on him. ‘Indeed.’
‘What?’ I said impatiently, heart leaping. They knew the significance of the pendant! ‘Clue me in. Now.’
For a moment, I thought Robbie wouldn’t answer. ‘The Domini,’ Robbie growled. ‘That’s their mark.’
‘Indeed,’ Amber repeated, sounding satisfied this time.
‘And the Domini are…?’
Bastion met my eyes. ‘An organisation that collects power and wealth like another might collect stamps.’
‘It’s worse than that,’ Robbie interjected. ‘They believe in pulling strings, but insidiously. They recruit members through ambition, fear or intimidation. They don’t mind which. Rarely will they accept no as an answer.’
‘Rarely?’ I focused on the word.
‘The Queen of the Werewolves, Lucy Barrett, said no to them, no to joining their ranks. Yet so far she is alive.’ Robbie’s voice told me there was more.
‘And who else?’
He grimaced. ‘I’ve been “invited,” but I’ve declined.’ He hesitated, then continued, ‘I’m not certain, but my refusal does seem to have coincided with the recent rise in to-the-death challenges. It appears that if I won’t join the Domini ranks willingly, then they’re happy to put another ogre king in place who will.’
