“No,” said Lavinia, “he is their…strategist. And he is asking in an official capacity on behalf of Dominic Volkhov.”
The name caught in her chest, wrenching her back in time to a meeting of the packs. A serious, strong-looking boy with intense eyes and dark hair.
She choked down the memory.
“I assume by strategist, you mean spymaster,” Dani spat. “How do we know this Julian Rook isn’t trying to trick us?”
Rosetta folded her arms. “We have been in communication with the Scottish Coven, as well as the Roman Coven. They have had…encounters with him in the past and have assured me that he would not ask this unless it was truly necessary.”
“What if it’s a trap?”
Lavinia and Rosetta exchanged a look before Lavinia turned to Dani with a strained smile. “Dominic Volkhov was recently mated, a union blessed by their god, so they say. The reports we’ve received seem to indicate, however, that…”
“She’s a witch,” Penelope interrupted with a dark scowl. “There’s no other explanation for it.”
Everything inside her went still.
Her heart. Her lungs. Her thoughts.
Still.
Then, violently, painfully,moving.
Heat surged beneath her skin, not magic, just emotion. Pure, terrible emotion.
“Impossible,” she whispered, throat tightening, tears rising unbidden. “That’simpossible.”
“Stranger things have happened,” Rosetta said, the wooden beads in her dark braids gently knocking against each other as she tilted her head in contemplation. “We were allies, once.”
“No, you don’t understand,” Dani said, launching to her feet, anger crackling in her ears. “It’s just not possible. The Volkhovhateus. Magic has been outlawed in their lands for decades, and Dominic is no different from his father. Whoever this Julian is, whatever he says, this is atrap.”
Penelope scoffed. “You cannot declare that without evidence.”
“I am the evidence,” Dani spat. “The Volkhov destroy every piece of magic they come across. Theyhatewitches. They exile us on sight, if not worse. If they’re reaching out now, it’s because they want something. And it won’t be safety or peace.”
Lavinia held Dani’s gaze. “This request was sent to multiple covens, Dani. Not just ours. And not only to witches.”
Rosetta nodded. “The Volkhov have called a meeting. They’ve invited other packs. Vampires. They believe this threat requiresallof us to face it. They have sworn we shall not be harmed, and we are inclined to believe them.”
Dani’s heart thudded over itself, stuttering to a near-halt.
She barely got the words out. “The Volkhov are not the only pack in Skymist. What does this letter say of theNordan?”
Lavinia paused, lips pressing together, before she looked back down at the letter, turning it over in her hands. “It does not mention the Nordan.”
“There you have it,” Dani said, hands trembling as she pointed at the letter. “Even if the Volkhov have honest intentions, even if they would welcome us, the Nordan…they hate us even more than the Volkhov. The…the alpha would not let us past his territory line. And we would need to cross it to reach the town.”
“Our reports say that Arthur Wells is a reasonable male,” Rosetta said, “and strongly allied with the Volkhov. It is unlikely he is unaware of Dominic’s plans.”
“You’re not listening,” Dani whispered, ice spreading over her limbs. “You can’t go. Arth—the alpha is cruel. Crueler than you know. He will not suffer witches in his lands.”
Penelope’s eyes narrowed, gaze piercing into Dani’s, as if looking through to her very soul. “What do you know of Arthur Wells?”
Dani met her gaze, hands closing into fists. “I know enough.”
Lavinia chuckled. “You underestimate us, Dani. We will not be going in undefended. Other covens will be in attendance, and we have more allies than you might think. One in particular, whose presence will ensure our safety.”
“Who could that possibly be?” Dani asked. “The Volkhov and the Nordan are among the strongest packs in America. Who could possibly stand with us against them?”
