Daciana clings to her, and I see her shoulders shake. Selene appears beside them, wrapping her arms around both women. The three of them stand there, holding each other tightly, and I feel my chest constrict.
Astra looks up at me over Daciana’s shoulder, her eyes questioning. “Can we keep her tonight? She needs us.”
Everything in me rebels against the idea. My mate should be with me. I should be the one comforting her, holding her through the grief. But when I look at Daciana’s face, pressed against Astra’s shoulder, I see how desperately she’s holding on to them both. This is what Daciana needs right now. Not me, not my promises of revenge. She needs her friends.
“Of course,” I say.
Daciana doesn’t protest. Doesn’t even look at me. That stings more than I expect, but I push the feeling aside. This isn’t about me.
Lucian stands a few feet away with Seth, both of them watching their own mates comfort Daciana. The King catches my eye and nods toward the palace entrance. I understand the gesture immediately.
We have business to discuss.
I follow Lucian through the corridors, Leon and Seth falling into step behind me. The silence is heavy, weighted with everything we need to address. By the time we reach Lucian’s study, my jaw is tight with tension.
The room smells of old books and expensive brandy. Seth closes the door behind us while Lucian moves to the sideboard and pours drinks for all of us. I take mine but don’t sip it yet.
“Well?” Lucian asks, settling behind his massive desk.
“We may be looking for a hybrid shifter,” I say without preamble. “Or a witch.”
Leon straightens. “A witch? Working with necromancy?”
“It is possible.” I move to the window and stare out at the darkening sky. “The neighbors’ memories of that night were wiped clean. Only strong magic can accomplish that. Necromancers can’t do that kind of spell.”
“Neither can hybrid shifters,” Lucian says. “Not unless they’ve been raised by their witch parent. It’s a law the Umbra Council passed decades ago. Any hybrid child must have their magic sealed unless the witch parent actively chooses to raise them in magical practice.”
I turn to face him. “So, we’re looking for either a very rare hybrid or an actual witch?”
Lucian nods grimly. “It would seem so.”
“I’ll do some research into the hybrid shifters we know of,” Leon offers. “See if any match the profile.”
Lucian looks at him. “Did anyone report seeing strangers enter the pack territory?”
Leon shakes his head. “Nobody saw anything out of the ordinary.”
“They wouldn’t have,” I cut in before Leon can say more. “Whoever our enemy is knows how to mask themselves. They’re skilled, careful, and they don’t make mistakes.”
Lucian rakes one hand through his hair, and I notice how exhausted he looks. “We have another problem.”
Of course we do. “What now?”
“The Council has called a meeting tomorrow. Both you and Daciana have to be there.”
Fury floods through me, hot and immediate. “My mate is grieving. I’m not going to have her worry about politics right now.”
“Kieran—”
“No.” I set my glass down hard enough that the crystal rings. “She just buried most of her family. Both her parents, two of her brothers. She doesn’t need to deal with the Umbra Council right now.”
“You can’t avoid it.” Lucian’s voice is firm. “Unofficially, everyone knows you two have mated. But officially, it hasn’t been announced. The Council wants answers.”
“Then give them answers,” I snap. “Tell them it’s none of their business.”
Seth steps forward. “We’ll be there to back you up if something happens.”
I force myself to breathe, to think. “What’s the matter to be discussed?”
