He reaches for my hand, and I take his, bridging the space between us.
Back through the winding halls we go, depositing Omar into a guest room.
“This place is wild,” he says, taking in the opulent surroundings, the bulky four-poster bed, the paintings on the walls, the thick carpet.
“Let’s meet out front in an hour and prepare the ritual,” I say.
“Will do,” he responds.
Jasper and I pass more doors and wander down more hallways. Tomorrow this place will be full of gamma wolves and pack officials, the cabins will be occupied by soldiers, and the retreat will feel as busy as I’m used to. But for now, it’s just us.
We figured it was best if we came up with Jericho before the others to perform the ritual, so the images I plant into Walter’s mind are as based in reality as possible. If I were to see hundreds of wolves moving around, setting up their lodgings, making fires, it would be harder to convince Walter that we’re here with Jericho and only a limited security team.
Further down a long corridor a door is open and spilling light into the hall.
“My father’s room,” Jasper says, increasing the pace of his steps. “I’ll just check if everything went well.”
Jasper ducks inside when we reach the room and is met by Tobias. Healers are fussing around the bed, and security wolves are positioned at the windows and on either side of the door. It’s sort of hectic, so I wait in the hall. From here I can see the foot of the bed, and Jericho’s feet under the covers.
Thankfully, Jasper seems relieved. He pats Tobias on the shoulder then rejoins me in the hall, closing the door behind him.
“His condition hasn’t changed,” he informs me. “The transition went well.”
“Phew,” I say, miming wiping my forehead.
“Let’s get settled in, then we should probably jump straight into the ritual. We don’t have much time before everyone else arrives.”
After we’ve dropped off our bags in Jasper’s room and gotten changed into something closer to hiking gear, we head back through the lodge and outside, where Omar is waiting, a leather bag slumped on the ground by his feet.
“You all set, Cuz?” he asks.
“Oh yeah,” I say, although my heart is thumping really freaking fast. A lot is relying on my ability to enter the Lunar Plane and plant convincing images in Walter’s mind, ones that he’ll believe. The whole plan is dependent on me and my blood-wolf powers. Jericho’s life, the safety of the pack. It’s all down to me. There’s no room for error.
“Where we doing this?” Omar asks, glancing around, a stranger in these environs.
“The amphitheater?” Jasper suggests. “It’s where we pray before the Mating Run, high levels of lunar energy.”
Omar nods. “Great. Lead the way.”
MIND GAMES
The ominous clouds I spotted hanging low over the mountains roll in as we make our way to the circular wooden stage of the amphitheater. Light drops of rain begin pattering our shoulders by the time we arrive.
We stand on the stage, and I look out at the curving lines of seats where I sat before the Mating Run. Marcel stood right where I’m standing now, delivering his prayer. The importance of this moment hits me square in the chest. The danger we’re facing is real, the loss of more lives inevitable. But it’s possible we can stem the tide.
Right here, right now.
In the center of the boards is a firepit, the black remnants of previous years’ bonfires lying dormant. Omar is already at work setting up crystals and bones in a circle around it. Jasper places a cushion at the edge of the pit for me.
“You ready?” he asks, taking my hand and leading me to the middle of the stage.
“Yes,” I say, remembering Marcel and his father, remembering Kairos, remembering how I felt just under a year ago when I didn’t know if Jasper would live. “Let’s do this.”
I sit and Jasper moves so he’s sitting in front of me, he’ll channel as much energy into me as possible to help bolster my blood-wolf powers.
Omar is positioned behind his crescent of bronze bowls, ready to coax me into the Lunar Plane as he’s done before.
“Take a breath,” he says. “Close your eyes.”
