“All right,” Solomon said. “We had five challengers. Now we have four. I’ve searched all the rules.” He flipped a page. “If one of you poisoned the tea, you didn’t break any guidelines. Sabotage is perfectly acceptable.”
Nadia wanted to lean against the wall but stood tall instead. Well, tall for her. “That’s just great,” she muttered.
“Wait a minute,” Bulwark said. “I thought we couldn’t kill each other outside of the trials.”
“Oh no,” Solomon replied calmly. “You can kill each other now that the challenge has started.” He peered down at the grimoire. “Feel free.”
Bulwark’s body bunched, muscles tightening as if he might launch himself across the table.
“Hold it.” Solomon raised a hand. “Let’s at least get through this part first. Then you can fight to the death.” He didn’t sound like he cared.
Nadia did. She cared very much. “I’m trying to find a way out of this for everyone.”
“You can’t,” Solomon replied.
“Maybe you can’t,” she shot back, her pulse hammering. “But I have a code deciphering that ancient language that apparently only you can read. I think you might be making it up on the spot.”
Solomon reared back, clearly affronted. “I would never do such a thing. Feel free. I’m happy to translate for you anytime.”
“Good,” Nadia said. “Let’s meet after this. I have questions that might help my algorithm.”
“You might be a little busy,” he said, nodding toward the side table.
Bussy hustled over and grabbed two large manila envelopes, handing one to her sister.
“This is interesting,” Isaac muttered.
A flurry of sound erupted outside, followed by rapid footsteps. The door burst open to reveal a beautiful female.
“Sorry,” Glynis said, breathless as she edged around the newcomer. “I told her you were all busy, but she wouldn’t listen.”
The female stepped fully into the room. “Listening isn’t one of my best skills.” She had to be at least six feet tall with long black hair falling straight down her back, and striking blue eyes the color of a sparkling pond in summer. She looked around once, assessing. “I’m Taryn Rook,” she said. “Current member of the Ravencall Pack.”
Luca slowly set his coffee cup on the table. “Taryn,” he said carefully. “What in the world are you doing here?”
“Hello?” Isaac said, looking the woman up and down. His brows lifted slightly. “You have some very nice height.”
“Thank you for noticing.” Taryn smiled to reveal perfectly spaced white teeth. She didn’t look the least bit uncomfortable under the scrutiny. If anything, she seemed to enjoy it. “It has come to my attention that it’s quite possible there can be more than one challenge in this situation.”
The room felt like it tilted a degree off center. Chairs creaked as bodies shifted, attention snapping fully to her.
Taryn turned her head toward Solomon. “I take it you’re the librarian.”
“I am.” Solomon straightened, somehow making himself look even taller, his shoulders squaring. “What can I do for you?”
“Well.” She winked at him, quick and confident. “I’d like to challenge for the trophy position.”
Nadia took a step back before she could stop herself. Her heel caught slightly on the rug, and she steadied herself by clenching her calves. What in all that was holy? She swiveled toward Solomon. “Is that something that can happen?”
Solomon tugged at his amethyst-colored tie and glanced around the assembled group, clearly recalibrating. “Well, yes. I hadn’t thought it would come up, but it can.” He leaned over the grimoire and flipped several pages. “See, right here. If new challengers arrive, someone can challenge to be the mate without being related to the current Alpha, Philip Nightsom.”
“Please tell me we don’t have to fight to the death,” Nadia said. The woman had several inches of height on her, and Nadia hadn’t been training to fight.
“Absolutely not,” Caidrik said lowly.
“No, no, no,” Solomon echoed, shaking his head. “It’s not a fight to the death. Not at all.” He leaned forward again, reading, then flipped the page quickly. “Basically, if there’s more than one trophy, the ah, trophy challengers must go through at least one trial with each challenger. Once an Alpha wins, it looks like—hmm. Interesting.”
This was not interesting. “What?” Nadia asked.
