Belvedere’s voice booms through the wood.
The tension snaps like a string pulled too tight. We all collapse into laughter, relief spilling out in ragged bursts. My knees feel weak, the wolf inside me snarling in frustration before slinking back down.
Min doesn’t hesitate. She flings the door wide and launches herself into Belvedere’s arms. “You scared me to death.”
“I apologize,” Belvedere says smoothly. “I tried to call, but no one picked up.”
We all exchange sheepish looks.
“We were… a little busy,” Leonard admits.
“Come in,” I say. We can’t afford to attract any attention by lingering in doorways.
Belvedere sweeps inside, lilac tote swinging from his shoulder.
“Can I get you something to drink? Water? Tea?” My eyes sweep to Belvedere’s friend. She looks terrified to death but there’s a powerful tension crackling within her.
“I assumed provisions would be scarce.” He pulls out a bottle of whiskey like it’s a magic trick.
“Oh, thank the gods,” Min mutters. “It’s been a day.”
“Everyone,” Belvedere continues, “I’d like you to meet Serafina Minto-ho-yo. She’s Councilwoman Tallulah’s sister. She’s been doing her own investigation into the petrification.”
We all freeze, wary. If she’s here to point fingers…
“Hello,” she says softly. Just one word, but it holds so much grief. And something else I can’t quite name.
My wolf bristles as the image of Tallulah’s face petrifying flashes through my mind. I bite back bile. If Serafina blames us, I’m not sure I can keep my claws in check.
Marcus inclines his head, and I feel the suspicion radiating off him.
Belvedere pours us all a hefty shot of whiskey, and the discussion cuts straight to the bone. Serafina explains that she uncovered someone close to us was responsible for slipping poison into the wine. Someone from our circle. Not human. Not wolf. We were infiltrated. I freeze at the betrayal.
“A changeling. Seris, to be exact.” Belvedere confirms grimly. “For hire. One of the worst.”
The name lands like a curse. Min hisses. Leonard swears. But my heart stills fractionally. It wasn’t one of our own, only someone disguised as such.
“This monster’s already been banned from Europe and Australia,” Leonard says. “Assassinations. Kidnappings. Blackmail. You name it.”
“They vanish between jobs,” Serafina adds. “But they’ll take coin again. And when they do…”
“…we blindside them.” Belvedere’s grin is sharp and humorless. “I know their hideout. We won’t get another chance.”
Plans spill across the table until my head aches. Still, unease knots in my gut. A changeling for hire means no one is safe. Not in their own homes. Not even in their own skin.
It’s nearly three in the morning when we all decide to get some sleep. Marcus hovers near the couch, scowling down at me.
“You should take the bed,” he mutters. “I’ll sleep out here.”
I arch a brow. “Don’t be stupid. You won’t rest out there.”
He shakes his head. Stubborn as always.
“Marcus.” My voice softens, surprising me. “Just… sleep next to me. Nothing’s going to happen. We need rest.”
It looks like he’s going to argue, but then he nods stiffly and follows me. We get into bed awkwardly and lie back-to-back, a wall of silence between us.
I have to force myself to lie still, to keep my breathing even, or Marcus will know I’m wide awake. Will he know I’m replaying every second of that kiss? Gods, I kissed him.
