She accepted the distinction with a huff and picked up her bowl again. I did the same. The stew warmed all the way through me, simple and solid. Bread soaked it up nicely, and for a few minutes the only sounds were spoons scraping metal and the wind moving through broken glass high above us.
Lyndsey leaned against a pillar, watching us eat for a while before she spoke.
“Most packs I see,” she said, voice casual but her eyes keenly intelligent, “are heading the other way.”
I looked up. “What do you mean?”
“North. West. Anywhere that puts water and distance between them and London.” She tipped her chin toward Tamsin. “I spend my time getting wolvesoutof the city. Not walking them back toward it.”
The room went quiet.
Tamsin set her spoon down slowly. “That’s usually the right move.”
“Usually,” Lyndsey agreed. “So… I’m curious why a group like yours is doing the opposite.”
Elias didn’t answer. Neither did I. We both glanced at Tamsin to see what she would say.
“We’re not going back for family or friends,” Tamsin said. “And we’re not going back to make a point either.”
Lyndsey studied her. “Then why go at all?”
“Because they’re using a drug,” Tamsin said. “Something that makes wolves lose control and go feral. We’ve seen the results firsthand, and Bishop here saw where it’s being done.”
Bishop inclined his head slightly but didn’t add anything.
Lyndsey exhaled and leaned back against the stone. “Then you’re heading in to confirm it? And then what?”
“Stop it if we can,” Tamsin said. “Or at least slow it down. Break the supply chain. Expose them as much as possible.”
“That’s not a small job,” Lyndsey said.
“No,” Tamsin agreed. “But staying put isn’t an option anymore either.”
Lyndsey glanced around the chapel, at the weapons stacked neatly, at each of our faces. Then she looked back at Tamsin.
“Clear out before dawn,” Lyndsey said, picking up her bowl again. “I’ll make sure no one comes looking for you or your friends.”
“We appreciate it,” Tamsin replied.
Lyndsey waved it off with a lopsided grin. “Just save the world and we’ll call it even.”
“We’ll see what we can do,” Tamsin smirked.
“I’m turning in,” Lyndsey said, already moving toward a narrow side door set into the stone. “Candles are by the altar; water pump’s outside if you need it. I’ll be up before dawn.”
Tamsin nodded. “Thank you. For all of it.”
Lyndsey paused at the doorway, glanced back once. “I just want to tell you lot good luck,” she murmured. Then she was gone, the door clicking shut behind her.
“All right,” Elias said softly. “Let’s settle in.”
We didn’t waste any time.
Eamon gathered the bowls and stacked them neatly by the wash basin. “I’ll clean these in the morning,” he said, already making a mental checklist.
Bishop checked the doors again, then took up a position near the side window. He didn’t sit yet. He just stood there, listening.
Nox rolled out bedrolls, testing the floorboards with his heel before choosing where to lay them. “If anyone tries to come through the north wall,” he muttered, “I’ll hear it.”
