Prologue
The moon was full,and yet the wolf’s heart ached.
Down below his apartment window, the city streets bustled with noise. Cars sped by, kicking up acrid trails of exhaust, and drunken people raised their voices to shout over each other.
Poppy shuddered. He’d grown used to the chaotic human city after so many years living there, but tonight, it made him uncomfortable. Especially the raised voices.
He rubbed his arm, moving away from the window. Although he wanted to look at the moon, the scents and sounds from below were too much. He felt especially sensitive tonight.
The call should’ve come by now.
Poppy glanced at the phone again. Full volume, turned on, ready to receive the welcome news of his return to the island.
But his phone was silent.
What if they didn’t want him back?
What ifhedidn’t—
Poppy shook his head and gently slapped himself on the cheeks. He couldn’t think that way. It didn’t help anybody, and it only made him feel worse.
He had to be patient. He was good at that.
It was too late for a phone call, anyway. The moon was already high in the night sky. The invite would have to wait until tomorrow.
Poppy’s skin itched. He rubbed his arm again, feeling the urge to shift. Surrounded by the city noise, his human form felt tight and claustrophobic, a cage he was trapped in.
A violent shiver rolled down his spine. If he had wings, he’d toss the window open and fly. But his paws were close enough.
He held it in until he’d left the apartment building, hurried past the drunken people loitering on the sidewalk, and finally reached the safety of the trees. The shift rolled over him like a fresh rain. He shook out his pelt and ran up the slope. At this time of night, this far away from the busy streets, nobody would see him.
Poppy crested the hill that overlooked the apartment complex and took a few deep breaths. His heart beat fast. The full moon overhead, which usually soothed his soul, did nothing tonight. He couldn’t stop the incessant prickle of anxiety beneath his fur.
There was only one thing that would calm his nerves.
He padded to a secret spot in the deepest part of the thicket, too dense for humans to bother exploring, and found what he was looking for—a small ring of purple flowers.
Poppy sighed in relief. As long as the flowers bloomed, he felt hope.
He curled around the flowers and closed his eyes, pretending he was somewhere else.
When Poppy returnedto his apartment, his phone blinked, indicating a message. That was odd. Nobody ever texted him.
He frowned and picked it up. There was a text from an unknown number.
“Good evening, Poppy.
I apologize for bothering you at this hour. However, I need to speak with you. Urgently. Please call me back at your earliest convenience.
—Jade Chromatimaeus.”
1
Viol
“I’m not fucking doing it.”
All around the table, my brothers stared at me. Some of them look worried, or shocked. Some of their big dumb mouths were agape. I hoped they stayed that way so their stupid expressions matched their stupid idea.
