Again, the feeling of wrongness rose and swept me along with it.
The mental picture of him furry with his back against a dirt wall had been wishful thinking. That or a strategy to coax me out. He wouldn’t have remained belowground for long. He would have missed human luxuries too much.
“You think, after you kill Carmichael, they’ll flock home like sheep to their shepherd?”
“They don’t have many better options.” He rolled a shoulder. “All I can do is try and make them see I can give them a future. And that means I have to remove all threats to that promise.”
“Have you ever considered that you hung around with Carmichael too long? That you developed your own obsession? He might have revered dragons, coveted them, but your hatred runs so deep you can’t let go of them—ofme—either.” I spread my hands. “You could walk away. You don’t have to make me an obstacle to your happiness. I want the same bright future you’re promising your people for mine.”
“How long before they realize you can’t shift and your honeymoon is over? You have power now because you’re an unknown. Maybe they think they can fix you. Maybe they just want to breed you. But you won’t always hold the position you do now, and that means I can’t take your word at face value.”
“That’s a very Sartori mindset you’ve got there.” I huffed bitter laughter. “You’ll do a fine job of leading them, right back into the 1800s.” I shook my head. “You don’t want what’s best for the pack, or you would quit ostracizing members who are different and stop viewing women as walking wombs.”
Neither of those things would happen under Mercer’s leadership, and I pitied the wolves subjected to it.
“How about you ask your escort there to take a step back and let us handle things the pack way.”
“Why would I do that,” Dane asked, having been invited into the conversation, “when she’s not a wolf?”
“Until she severs her ties to Sartori, she’s as good as a wolf.” Mercer’s smile gleamed. “Do you want to fight for her?” He looked me up and down. “Or did you bring your claws?”
Honestly, the thought hadn’t crossed my mind. The silver claws I wore had been for protection. Against my pack. I hadn’t required them while living among the Walshes, and with my dragon waking, and my ability to summon fire, I had felt confident leading this expedition without silver giving me an edge.
“You’ll wish I had fought you when she’s done with you.” Dane chuckled, dark and low. “But hey, it’s your funeral if you want to challenge her.” He pulled out his phone. “I’m happy to document your downfall for your pack’s enjoyment.”
A snarl pulled up Mercer’s lips, but I was too touched by Dane’s words to mind.
Boots smacking earth drew my attention beyond Mercer to where Seamus and the other enforcers emerged with blood smearing their cheeks. Wolf claws and teeth had torn their skin, and their clothes. They were all smiles, though. They looked quite proud of themselves as they formed a half circle behind Mercer, pinning him between them and me.
“The opposition has been crushed,” Seamus reported to me. “You handling this guy, or should I?”
“Take a number.” Dane tipped his head left to right, cracking his neck. “I call dibs.”
This mission was meant to be recon. I should have known better than to expect it to end peacefully. But I hadn’t anticipated Mercer. Our doubts had proven fruitful that he let Carmichael go with a plan in mind, but I hadn’t foreseen this two-birds-one-stone solution to ridding himself of future competition.
“As enlightening as this has been,” Mercer said, “I have other matters to attend to before breakfast.”
Withdrawing a small device from his pocket, one about the size of a car fob, he smiled at me.
And mashed the big, round button right on the top.
An explosion rocked beneath us, and my heart dropped into my stomach.
“What have you done?” I searched the skies for smoke and found it quickly. “Where is Carmichael?”
“Buried under thirty feet of rubble, I imagine.” He yanked a charm from the collar of his shirt. I lunged to intercept but he was too fast. “I’m sure I’ll see you soon, Ana.”
Within seconds, his wolf ripped from his skin, aided by his instantaneous shift charm, and he bolted into the forest. Three enforcers gave chase, but it was a hopeless pursuit. They couldn’t beat a wolf on this terrain and couldn’t shift fast enough to counter him.
To my shock, Zoe stood her ground, her jaw set and hands lifted in surrender.
“What do you want to do?” Seamus set the question to me. “Can you still sense Sartori?”
With the steps engrained in me, I was able to find Carmichael faster than ever. Without my prior experience, I would have missed the fine thread binding us. His end was fraying, unraveling from mine.
“He’s dying. Fast. His healing can’t keep up with whatever damage has been dealt to him.” I clenched my fists. “Our connection is dissolving.”
“Follow the smoke.” Dane clasped my shoulder. “That will lead us to him.”
