“I’m staying in this manor, too,” is all I offer.
Her eyes narrow as if she doesn’t believe me. “I’m just going to find Liz. She mentioned a book with the prophecy in it. I’ll be plenty safe.”
If Liz and Iris are going to be telling Rowan about how all this started, I’m sure the hell going to be there.
“I’d like to hear what she has to say,” I reply, close enough now to catch the door as she pushes it open. My hand brushes against hers, heat sparking between us before I claim the wood. “I’ll join you.”
She exhales, the sound caught somewhere between resignation and exhaustion.
I bet she’d be more interested in you if you let me meet her, my wolf says, and I can hear the grin in his words.
Maybe tonight.
I’m not sure if Rowan’s ready for her first shift, but the less danger she can be in, the better. Teaching her how to defend herself is going to be a top priority, followed by the possibility of leaving NightShade behind.
It’s not that I want to run, but until she understands more about who she is, it might be our only option.
The air shifts before I hear her—the faint musk of pine and wolf fur drifting across the lobby. My hackles rise. Then comes a chuckle, smooth and mocking, curling out from behind one of Iris’s marble statues.
“Well, well, well. I didn’t believe it, but I guess the rumors are true.”
Stephanie Compton.
My lips peel back over my teeth in a snarl. “What are you doing here?”
Elias could have warned me that more of the pack members had arrived here. But also, what the hell happened to Iris keeping the manor empty to reduce the risk to Rowan?
I step in front of Rowan without thinking, forcing her back behind me with a firm hand as I size up Stephanie. My gaze sweeps over her like a blade, checking for weapons. Gold eyes flash with smug delight, her dark hair slicked into a bun that makes her look like she’s already armored for a fight. Ink curls over her arms in vines and flowers, a black dress clinging to her curves in a way that would tempt most men. Not me. All I care about is that it leaves no place to hide a blade that could reach my mate.
“This isn’t your home, Cade,” she replies, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Hell, I’m not even sure you have one at this point. Either way, I was in the area visiting…a friend. Thought I’d stop in for a rest before heading back to the pack. Seems I made the right call.”
“And why would you say that?” I demand, letting alpha energy I haven’t used in far too long bleed through my words.
“Oh, you know.” She shrugs, glancing around to peek at Rowan. “I just like to be in the loop on the pack’s happening. If we have a new Alpha Female, I’m pleased to be the first to meet her.”
I’d forgotten how quickly things spread in the supernatural communities. An annoyance I haven’t missed.
“What’s she talking about?” Rowan presses, stepping around me.
“Nothing she truly understands,” I grumble. This isn’t what I need right now.
Stephanie clicks her tongue. “Sure. You go right ahead and keep telling yourself that, Alpha Westin.” She walks toward the stairs leading toward the guest rooms, her grin still fully intact. “I’m sure I’ll be seeing more of you both.”
Rowan begins to grumble and once we’re alone again, she storms ahead, her emotions erupting like a geyser I’m not expecting. “This is ridiculous.” She continues muttering, but I don’t catch most of what she says until she calls out. “Liz!”
“I’m right here.” The vampire steps out of the small library NightShade keeps. “I found the book, too.”
“Great. Let’s go then.” Rowan leads the way to the meeting room we were all in before.
Liz seethes at me. “What did you do?”
“Nothing,” I snap, chest rumbling with the irritation clawing at me. “But you should talk to Iris. We just ran into Stephanie Compton. Apparently, she’s staying here tonight.”
“But she’s part of your pack,” Liz says flatly, as if that ends the argument. “Iris thought…”
“She’s a viper who wears my crest on her skin and nothing more.” I don’t bother to explain further. Instead, I lengthen my stride until I’m only a step behind Rowanagain. Close enough to shield her if anything else crawls out of the shadows.
She enters the room with her head high and takes a seat. As she does, the tiny vermin I believe they called Archie scampers in to take his place on her shoulder. He presses his nose to her cheek, and I think he means to bite her, which has me seconds from ripping him to shreds, but the gesture is gentle. Even more, he seems to calm her.
