Wouldn’t that have been the cherry on top? If I’d wound up married to one of those two. Or worse—a stranger.
Just the thought made my stomach dip in uncomfortable ways.
The sound of a door opening and then Caroline’s muffled voice. “I’ll be there shortly.”
A rumble from the other person.
Caroline’s tone hardened. “I said I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
There was another rumble and then a door closed again.
Caroline’s sigh floated down the line. “Sorry about that, Lena.”
“You okay?”
“Just dealing with a bunch of impatient idiots.” Frustration bled through Caroline’s voice.
“Anything I can help with?”
“Not unless you can make me a few centuries older or my wolf less dominant.”
“Neither of those things seem to be within my superpower.”
Caroline snorted lightly. “Mine either. Damn it.”
“How’s the hunt for Brax and the rest of the pack going? Did Sondra and the other two find anything while we were playing decoys?”
“There’s a lead,” Caroline admitted, sounding grim.
“You don’t sound happy about that.”
“Let’s just say the source isn’t particularly trustworthy.”
“This would be easier if we were at home where we had an idea of the players,” I agreed.
We didn’t know enough about this city or its power dynamics to figure out who was blowing smoke up our asses or who could be leading us into a potential trap.
The click of nails against wood distracted me for a brief moment. A shape about waist high moved through the shadows. A second later, Alches padded into view.
He had taken the shape of a mid-sized black dog, with a distinctive wide snout that had deep furrows running across its bridge. The tentacles that normally drooped from his jowls were missing today, placing his appearance much closer to a normal dog’s than usual.
A buzzing came from his tightly closed mouth. As if he’d caught a swarm of bumble bees in there.
“Look—Thomas corralled me into attending an event of his,” I said with a frown at Alches.
What the hell was he up to now?
“I won’t be able to hook up with you until later tonight.”
“That’s probably for the best. Sondra and the rest aren’t exactly fans of a vampire being involved. You know how it is.”
I did.
Vampires and werewolves may not have been arch-enemies, but there was always an undercurrent of tension between the two species. That went for every other species as well. Each kept to their own cliques and territories.
That inability to coexist peacefully was one of the reasons businesses like Jerry’s and mine were in such great demand. There was a need for people who could navigate the different groups without accidentally sparking a war.
It was why I was reluctant to let Thomas draw me too deep into his world. I liked being on the periphery. Flowing between the different cliques as needed.
