“It’s easy for me to judge,” he said after a moment, “when I grew up surrounded by love. I always had the support of my family, of my clan, and that makes me hold others up to their standards when I know that’s not how it is for everyone.” He dropped his head. “I shouldn’t have been so quick to judge her without knowing her situation.”
“Even in the short amount of time I’ve spent with the Walshes, I’ve gained perspective that’s allowed me to look back and see how unhealthy the situation was that I grew up in. Without that, I might have never truly known how bad things were in the pack. When you have nothing to compare it to, you think it’s normal. Itisyour normal.” I tapped the back of his hand. “Believe it or not, your cousin told me that.”
“Do you want to talk to Zoe? It sounds like you didn’t know her well, but she might feel more comfortable answering questions if they come from you.”
“She’s already agreed to help, right? What is it you want me to find out?”
“Determine whether she wants out. We help relocate shifters who need to hide for one reason or another. Mostly dragons. The ones who want to live away from the rest of their kind. Unlike other shifters, there’s no safety in numbers for us. The more of us there are, the more of our magic can be sensed by hunters andother factions. We’re safer alone, for the most part, and there are those who prefer that to the company of their own kind.”
“I’ll talk to her.” I bobbed a shoulder. “I’m not sure how much good it will do, but I’ll try.”
The Sartoris were prosperous and thriving, from the outside. Plenty of wolves fought for a place in the pack, and many of them saw too late what they had signed up for wasn’t the glossy image Carmichael made certain to project to the outside world. Not that it was a bad place for wolves. As long as you could shift and follow the rules, you and yours could chip out a niche within the pack that was as good as anywhere else. The problems started if you weren’t a wolf or if you couldn’t shift. Humans included. That was when your stock plummeted, and no amount of investing in the pack would earn you a return.
“If you change your mind, we can always send Sloane.”
Sloane had more interactions with her, but I might have the edge. Zoe saw my situation for herself. She must have wondered if an alpha treated his daughter that way, and allowed others to as well, how would she fare?
How had he secured her loyalty? Had he threatened her? Bribed her? Held something over her?
Or was that wishful thinking? This would be the first time I was responsible for the sentencing of a Sartori as a Walsh, and I dreaded the outcome. As our neighbors, and our enemies, this promised to be the first of many conflicts. I had to harden my heart against any twinges of pity or sentimentality.
For this to work, for me to be the magna the Walshes needed—the mate Rían deserved—I had to rely on cold, hard facts and deny emotion a toehold in these matters.
“I can handle it.” I rubbed the sheet between my fingers. “Where is Sloane?”
“She’s helping Fayne unload groceries.” He didn’t offer to fetch her. I doubted he would leave me even if I asked him to after everything. “She’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“I’m sure Seamus and Dane told you everything.” I wet my lips. “Mercer has decided on a scorched-earth approach where I’m concerned. He’s convinced the only way to undo everything Carmichael has done is to stamp out all reminders of him. Including me.” I lifted my chin. “He won’t rest until one of us is dead. The only way to stop this, for good, is for me to challenge Mercer.”
Then and only then would the Walsh clan—myclan—be safe from the Sartoris.
And if I had to get my hands bloody to do it, then so be it.
On Burdock’s orders, I was placed under house arrest for twenty-four hours. I suspected the reason was an excuse to grant me privacy to grieve. Sloane stayed with me while the others left on errands. She and I mostly napped on the couch, ate cookies, and watched TV in the living room.
I must have dozed off because the next thing I knew, rapid clicking snapped my head up, and I was forced to blink my eyes clear. Sloane stood in the foyer, tapping away on her phone. No. That wasmyphone. A shudder rolled through me as I considered what reason she had for taking it that didn’t involve pranking Liam.
“Hey.” She noticed me watching her. “Do you feel up for a walk?”
Eager for a distraction, I swung my legs over the edge of the cushion. “I?—”
“This outing will lift your spirits,” she blabbered over me, pocketing my phone, which wasn’t suspicious at all. “I promise it’ll be worth putting on pants.” She hauled me to my feet and dragged me to our room where she helped herself to my half of the closet, tossing loose-fitting clothes at the foot of the bed. “We won’t stay long, if you get tired.”
That Sloane was walking on eggshells because she couldn’t get a read on me made me grind my teeth. She had suffered at Carmichael’s hands, the same as me, but she would keep her relief to herself to avoid hurting me. She and I would have to have a talk about that, but it could wait until later. She was bouncing on her toes, and I didn’t want to ruin the moment.
“Sounds good.” I made sure my smile was genuine. “I’ll be ready in a few.”
Once I was alone, I rushed through brushing my teeth and hair, pulled on my outfit, and shoved all thoughts of Carmichael Sartori into a box I kicked off a mental cliff. I was done with letting him ruin things for me, and his death held the power to destroy this new and fragile life I was living if Mercer twisted his narrative to suit the Sartoris. That I refused to allow.
“Ready,” I called out as I stepped into the hall and right into her. “Oh. Sloane. What?—?”
Slapping a hand over my mouth, she jerked her head toward the room next door. Curious, I followed her and found an open window waiting on us. The Walsh was strong with this one. She had already adopted their preferred method for stealthy entry and exit. That was well and good, but I didn’t get why.
“Rían just got home,” she whispered in my ear, explaining her odd escape route. “Liam too.”
“Mmm-hmm.” I was missing something here. “Why are we ditching them?”
“Ha.”A snort blasted out of her nose. “Because we can?”
