As I scrambled over the ledge, I couldn’t help but appreciate the view that much more.
While I explored, Rían strung a heavy-duty hammock from two stumpy posts that appeared to be sawed-off radio antennas from the tower’s active days. After he secured the ends with hefty carabiners and tested them, he lowered himself in then patted the spot beside him.
The mesh gave under my weight, tipping me against his side, but neither of us seemed to mind the close quarters. I pushed off the shingles with the tips of my toes, swinging us, waiting for him to explain what I sensed pressing on him beyond the fiery start to the day.
“There’s no easy way to say this…” He tipped his head back. “We received word a few hours ago that the challenge for alpha of the Sartori pack was called after a seven-hour brawl.”
Pit two alpha personalities against one another, and you were guaranteed a good show, but seven hours was excessive even by our pack’s warped standards. Though I was sure Carmichael’s rage had fueled the bout. Losing me and what I represented had shaken him to his foundation, exposing his fixation for all to see. Mercer’s betrayal after years of loyal service had stripped Carmichael bare, leaving him raw and vulnerable.
But I was deflecting. Buying time. I wanted to know the victor as much as I didn’t want him to tell me.
“Carmichael lost.” I hadn’t been certain of it until I spoke the words. “Mercer is the new alpha.”
“Yes.” Rían’s large hands engulfed mine. “I wanted to give you privacy when you heard.”
“Is he…?” I swiped a tear off my cheek, furious it had fallen. “Is Carmichael dead?”
“Mercer withheld the killing blow.” His exhale whistled through his teeth. “Sentinels loyal to Sartori carried him to safety. We don’t know where they’ve gone. They brought charms to conceal their trail.”
Relief mingled with regret, twisting me up inside, making it impossible to determine how I felt about this development. I hated him for killing my parents, for robbing me of my identity, but he had been the only father I would ever know. Things would have been so much easier if Mercer had…
No.
I couldn’t blame Mercer for showing Carmichael mercy when I might have done the same in his place.
Life was messy, people were complicated, and even steadfast hearts faltered. “He expected to lose.”
“Mercer was a formidable opponent.”
Mercer was formidable, and he wasn’t the type to show mercy. Carmichael had been an exception, and I could sympathize. But I couldn’t dismiss how odd it had been for Carmichael to preplan an escape route. That wasn’t like him. At all. He was more likely to tear out his own throat than to admit defeat.
“In light of these developments, are you sure it’s still the right move to lower the wards on Brentwood?”
“No.” His eyes crinkled at my surprise. “But unless we all consent to living under a dome for the rest of our lives, we have to open up sometime. It’s risky, and everyone will be warned, but we’re not without allies.”
“You’re an optimistic guy, considering everything you’ve been through.”
“There’s too much good in my life to only ever see the bad.” He brought our joined hands to his mouth. “That includes you.”
The warmth of his lips brushing my skin skyrocketed my heart rate, and awareness tingled through me of how our thighs touched from hip to knee in this position. “Sure you’re okay after this morning?”
“Not a scorched hair on my head.” He tugged on his ear. “Burdock did mention I was covered in weird bruises, but he wasn’t sure if that was the result of falling in the lake or not. There are old Christmas trees and God only knows what down there. Cement blocks too.”
For cement blocks to be responsible for the number of times I slapped him on the back and in the face, there would have to be a Legoland of them down there. “Hmm.” I scratched a fresh mosquito bite. “That is weird.”
“I did lose a shoe, though.” He wiggled his bare toes. “I’m tempted to go back and see if I can find it.”
“I would rather you didn’t.” I mashed my lips together. “Sorry, that’s the trauma speaking.”
“Normally, I wouldn’t sweat it, but Goldie gave those sneakers to me for my birthday. Bought with her own money, if you can believe it. They’re only a few months old, so if I can rescue them, I want to try.”
“Well, I suppose you could send Liam. Call it penance.” I picked at my fingernails. “Though I have to admit, the longer I think about it, the more childish I feel for running away to sulk.”
“Liam has to learn there are better ways to talk to people.” He sighed. “Those of us who know him are used to how unhinged he can get, and we know he doesn’t mean what he says when he’s screaming or jumping up and down like the world is his personal trampoline park.”
A snicker escaped me at that mental picture because it fit his tantrums so well.
“That’s how he processes, and I told myself it was fine, but I see now I’ve let him get away with it for too long. He needs to rein it in for the sake of his position and those depending on him to conduct himself as a professional.” A thread of pride wove through his voice. “He can act like you wouldn’t believe, become a whole other person when he’s undercover.” He fisted his hands on his thighs. “Bad example.”
