Owan’s smile widened. “Pretty young man.”
Snow’s face grew ever warmer.
“Keep your cock in your pants,” Hwa said to Owan before turning to the blond stirring the cauldron in the hearth behind Vor. “This is Lazlothe Lazy.”
Lazlo lifted his spoon, eyeing Snow. “He says as I make everyone sustenance.”
“Only because you were forced,” Shen murmured. “Under threat of death.”
“I’m doing it,aren’tI?”Lazlo spat, dunking his spoon back in the cauldron and glaring at the side of Shen’s head.
“He hasn’t cooked a meal in months,” Shen told Snow.
“I provide services in exchange for those who do my cooking for me,” Laszlo corrected, offering a toothy grin. “And I don’t see the problem with that.”
“Lazy boy hails from Alpenheim, where he spent his days herding sheep along the mountain sides, he claims,” Hwa said, grinning. “And lost them all when he fell asleep in the grasses one summer afternoon.”
“They’re wily beasts, quick to roam,” Lazlo said, grinning impishly. “And I’d been up too late the night before. Couldn’t be helped.”
“Up doingwhat?”Hwa asked.
The grin Lazlo offered told enough of a tale.
“You’ve already met Greer, and there’s not much to say about the highwayman, so all that’s left is Klaus, I suppose,” Hwa said, pulling Snow’s attention back to the introductions.
Snow searched around and finally noticed a man sitting in the corner, deep in shadow, sharpening his silver axe. A shiver raced down Snow’s spine at the sight of him and his angry scowl.
“Say hello, Klaus,” Vor demanded. “You’re scaring him with your bitter nonsense.”
“Mynonsense? I’m not the one who invited a stranger into our home without asking any here if they wished to share itortheir dinner,” Klaus snapped.
“You’d have him freeze to death outside?” Vor asked without looking up.
“No, but I tire of you always telling us what to do,” Klaus said. “None here are any better than the other, Vor.”
“I was here first, and it landed on my shoulders. You’ve had little time here, but if you wish to lead this merry band of blackhearts, all you need do is challenge me, Klaus.”
“You’d like that,” Klaus spat and returned to sharpening his axe. “Wouldn’t you?”
“Nay.I wouldn’t,” Vor replied, never looking up to meet Klaus’s hard stare. “I’d prefer my days spent in relative peace.”
“Peace? There is no peace, especially withyouaround,” Klaus roared.
“Your anger isn’t with me, Klaus, and we both well know it. If you must take it out on me, so be it,” Vor said. “One day you justmight be free of me, and we’ll never have to speak another word again. Until that day, you will do your part, just as we all must.”
“As if we’ll ever be free,” Klaus snapped.
The silence that followed Klaus’s declaration weighed heavily on Snow. As he gazed around the room, he noticed expressions that matched the sudden change in mood.
“You all speak as if you’re trapped here,” Snow murmured.
The alphas froze. No one uttered a word. Their gazes drifted between one another’s, silently conveying messages to one another.
“Are you?”Snow asked, eyes widening as the realization he might have struck on a truth with his question.
Chapter Three
The fire crackled and spat, seven pairs of eyes avoiding Snow’s. Shame etched into their expressions, their bodies appearing wearier than they had just moments before. A wave of sorrow engulfed Snow, and he struggled to breathe against it.
