Helena laughed, the sound low and throaty. “I entertain people. Tarot cards, energy work, crystals. That sort of thing. You meet a lot of people that way.”
“I think that’s fascinating,” he said sincerely. “I’d love to hear more.” He shut the door, walked around the front, then barked, “Get in,” at the kids. They hustled into the backseat. “I’ll talk to you later, Caidrik. Good call on this one.” He sat and shut his door.
The engine turned over and the vehicle pulled away. Caidrik watched it go, bemused.
Nadia popped up beside him. “Your mom’s fascinating.”
“That’s one word for her.” He glanced down at Nadia, suddenly aware of the older women behind them. Turning, he asked, “How was the play last night?”
“It was great,” Bussy said, pushing curls from her face. “We had fun date nights with our husbands. They do miss us, which is good for them.”
Margaret, curlers still in her hair, nodded. “We got back to your place late. We went out for a while and had a little to drink. We didn’t want to disturb you, Nadia.”
“Oh no,” Nadia said, rolling her shoulders. “I went to bed early.”
Caidrik looked from Nadia to the women, then back again. He wanted to talk to her and make sure she was all right, but not with two nosy lupine aunts behind her. He had to end this entire Alpha challenge first—before anybody smelled their mating on them. “I have work to do but will check on you later.”
“As do I,” Nadia said.
“I need to find Bulwark,” Caidrik added quietly. “And now.”
Chapter 28
Nadia spread the map across the slate conference table in the main lodge, smoothing the curled edges with her palms. The room smelled faintly of pine cleaner and old stone, the wide windows letting in a cold, clean light that bounced off the snow outside. Two enforcers stood near the door, pretending to be uninterested in the meeting while very clearly clocking every movement. She could feel others outside as well, posted along the perimeter. Caidrik hadn’t taken any chances.
Her large purse sat in the corner of the room, heavy with the notebooks. She was acutely aware of them, like a physical tug at the back of her mind. She needed to get to them sooner rather than later. She’d almost forgotten this meeting entirely until a phone call had reminded her that morning.
Paco Johnston sat across from her at the table, hands folded neatly, posture relaxed but alert. He had to be a couple hundred years old at least, his dark silver hair combed back from a sharp, intelligent face. His green eyes missed nothing. He’d been the city planner for years before finally retiring, and apparently retirement hadn’t stuck.
“All right.” Paco leaned over the table, pointing a gnarled finger at the land between Slate Pack territory and the mine leased from Jackson Tryne. “If we extend here, we could create a cooperative farming area with the Copper Pack.”
“That’s what I thought,” Nadia said, excitement rushing through her. This was finally going to happen. She leaned forward, bracing her hands on the table. “I have contacts there who are phenomenal farmers.”
“So I’ve heard,” Paco said with a faint smile. “That’s fine by me.” He cleared his throat. “Are we any closer to getting an Alpha? I heard Luca Cross was out of the running.”
“Yeah.” Nadia nodded. “He’s with Doc right now, but we don’t know if he’s going to make it.”
Who had left him on her porch? It had to be Bulwark.
Paco nodded. “That just leaves Caidrik, right?”
“Yes.” She shoved down her reaction to his name. Her body was already changing. She could feel it on a molecular level, the mating settling in, rewriting her. She probably only had twenty-four hours where she’d be able to mask it.
The door opened and Solomon strode in, dressed in a navy-blue suit with a green tie. “You called? Repeatedly?”
“Solomon,” Nadia said, relief bleeding into her voice. “I’ve been calling you for days. I need to get my hands on the grimoire.”
“You can’t get your hands on it,” he said easily, “but you can certainly look at it. You know that.”
“Thank you,” she said, meaning it.
The outside door opened again, and Taryn soon appeared, cold air trailing after her. “I have too many enforcers on me today to think. Caidrik is being a bit overprotective, isn’t he?”
Nadia sighed. “He’s just trying to keep everyone safe.”
Taryn looked around. “Full house here, huh?”
Paco chuckled. “That’s what I was thinking.”
