“How do you know that, Rodrigo? Did you have yourself a little chat with Cassandra before the duel?” Nelson asked. I’d never heard him be so short with anyone. I didn’t even know he was capable of suchcurtness.
“No, Nelson, I didn’t,” Rodrigo bit out. “But why else would they have all come? Why else did they have Aidan observe us for so many years? Liam said there was a missing packet of Sillin. I bet they got some pills inJulian—”
“He wouldn’t have been able to shift. Besides, he didn’t drink or eat anything last night,” Jamessaid.
“How do you know? Were you with him all night, Jamie?” Under his breath, he added, “Again.”
James backed away, shaking his head. “You can be a real ass sometimes.” He turned and headed toward another group ofBoulders.
“Liam told Robbie they should have Julian’s blood analyzed for Sillin.” The dark-haired, dark-tempered firefighter tipped his head toward the lawn where Liam was talking with Robbie. “But Julian’s body belongs to the Creeks now that Nora refused to fight. If they so much as allow him a burial, I’d besurprised.”
“Will Robbie challenge Cassandranow?”
“Possibly,” Rodrigo said, “but his odds of winning against an Alpha would be shit.” He slanted his dark eyes on me. “You have to have a screw loose to challenge anAlpha.”
I recoiled, because that last part feltpersonal.
Nelson’s fingers tightened around August’s arm. “That was out of line,Rodrigo.”
“My father could’ve won,” Imurmured.
“Oddsare—”
“Enough!” Nelson said, still gripping August’s arm. “That’senough.”
Rodrigo pinched his thick pink lipsclosed.
“It takes courage to fight for what you want,” Nelson said. “What takes no courage is denigratingothers.”
Rodrigo lowered his eyes, chastised by Nelson, but too proud to apologize for having insulted myfamily.
“August, we need your help with something.” Cole cocked his head toward Matt andDexter.
When Nelson released his son’s arm, August turned toward me as though worried to leave mealone.
I flexed my lips into a smile I wasn’t feeling. “Go.”
Reluctantly, he left with the three otherBoulders.
I stepped a little farther from Nelson, who was still giving Rodrigo a tongue-lashing. I tried to glimpse Sarah down below. If Liam was down there, it was probablysafe—
“You and August a thing now?” Lucasasked.
He stood next to me, forearms propped on the railing, gaze sunk on the field below, or rather on the crumpled girl with the lustrous blonde hair. Margaux placed a kiss on the top of Sarah’s head, then, cradling her abdomen, she stood and walked over to an older man—her fatherperhaps.
“Yes,” I finallysaid.
Lucas pivoted toward me, leaning against the balustrade. “Is itserious?”
Margaux made her way over to Robbie next. Although he was still deep in conversation with Liam, Robbie tugged his pregnant mate againsthim.
I sighed. “Istayed.”
“You were really going to skiptown?”
“Yeah.”
“Where would you havegone?”
