“That is averyremote possibility. I doubt they’d take him in. Iespeciallydoubt they’d take in Eugenia. Those two seem like a package deal.”
“They might if it meant they got some insider information,” I said.
“Anders would never follow anyone. He’s too much of a dick. Desdemona requiresabsoluteobedience. Even if he tried to join, he’d never make it serving under a female alpha.”
“Desperation does a lot of things to people,” I said. “It sent me off into the woods to search for you, didn’t it?”
“Fair point,” Levi said. “But I’ve already made my decision. I can’t go back on it now. We have to push forward.”
“I know,” I said. “I just hope you’re right.”
“Are we good?” Levi said, holding his hand out to me.
“We are,” I said, taking his hand.
“Okay.” He kissed my cheek. “I’m going back inside. I need to talk to Rainier.”
I nodded, squeezing his hand once.
As he walked back in, I couldn’t help but dwell on my worries. I really hoped he was right, but my instincts told me things wouldn’t go as smoothly as he hoped.
81
LEVIATHAN
“How’d it go?” Rainier asked as I stomped back inside and flopped into the seat beside him.
“As good as can be expected.”
“What did she say?”
I swatted a hand through the air. “She’s afraid Anders and Eugenia might join up with Red Maw. I still can’t believe she wants to show that asshole any kind of mercy, regardless of the reason. After everything he did to her.”
“It shows she’s kind, at least,” Rainier said with a shrug.
“Kindness is fine. Naphele was kind, but she also knew when to be more realistic about things.”
“There’s that name again,” Rainier said, his tone full of reproach.
“Huh?” I frowned at him.
“Naphele, Naphele,Naphele,” Rainier said, glaring at me. “We’ve been over this, Levi. I thought you’d put her behind you.”
I stared at him, unsure what he meant, then it struck me. I had just compared June to her—again.
“Goddamn it,” I hissed, putting my face into my hands. “I didn’t do it on purpose.”
“Doesn’t matter. Jesus, you didn’t say that to June, did you?”
“No,” I groaned, lowering my hands. “At least I’m notthatstupid. Why is this so difficult?”
“You loved her, bro. That’s to be expected. She was the first love of your life. But she’s gone, and now you get a second love of your life, which is a pretty nice deal,ifyou can keep her. But spouting off another lady’s name like that is a one-way ticket to Bachelorville, you know what I mean?”
“Yes. It doesn’t make this any easier, though. June is her own person, with her own personality. I’m not lying when I say Naphele would have supported me in this decision. I don’t say that as a slight toward June, either. It’s just the truth.”
“June isn’t Naphele. That means she will act and react differently. Like you said, that’s not a bad thing.” He grimaced. “Could June have been a little morediplomaticearlier? Sure. That doesn’t mean she was technically wrong, though.”
“Are you saying you agree with her?”
