Page 166 of House of Crimson Cloak and Silver Teeth

“Well, I didn’t know you had a dog, Clayborne.” Aelfric’s posture relaxes slightly, a hint of a smile touching his lips. “I suppose it’s something you and Rhianelle have in common. She loves her cats.”

Garrett’s eyes widen for just a moment, surprise flickering across his face before his expression shutters. “It’s not mine.”

Something inside me breaks at those words.

But I can’t fall apart now. I came here for a reason. Aurora needs help and I can’t save her like this. Garrett is smart, resourceful. If anyone can figure out what happened to me, it’s him.

I have to try. This is Garrett. We spent weeks together, shared a bed, shared secrets.

I have to try and make him understand somehow.

It’s me, Garrett.

The words scream inside my head but come out as nothing. My mouth moves but produces no human sounds, no recognizable speech. I huff, sharp and urgent.

Please, help me and my friend. Aurora and I are in trouble.

I push air through my lungs again, trying to make it mean something.

“How did it even get in here?” Garrett mutters, perplexed by my presence.

I move toward him, trying to catch his attention. My paws carry me across the floor, closing the distance between us. I need to get close enough that he’ll look at me.

I’m not a wolf. It’s me. The person he trusted with his life.

Garrett glances around the room. “The windows and balcony are far too tall for it to climb.”

It?

Desperation claws at me. I can feel panic building in my chest. I paw at his boot, anything that might spark recognition. My front paw reaches out, claws clicking against the leather of his boot. I tap once, twice, the way I used to touch his arm when I wanted his attention.

My friend is in trouble, I bark again, louder and more frantic this time.

Aurora’s face flashes through my mind. Five hunters closing in on her, the guild’s cruelty, her screams if they catch her.

I bark again, putting everything I have into the sound.

His gaze slides right past me.

Look at me. Please just look at me.

I stand on my hind legs, front paws reaching toward him. But he steps back, putting distance between us.

“My apologies for the security breach,” Garrett apologizes to his companions, for the disruption to their meeting. “I should call the guards.”

“It’s fine,” Aelfric starts, but Garrett is already turning toward the door.

“Guards! We have an intruder in the castle—”

Darstan moves.

He’s suddenly beside me with a knife gleaming in his hand.

The movement is so fast I barely see it. I’m ready to bolt but he reaches for my neck. I tense, expecting the blade to find my throat.

But his touch is surprisingly gentle, controlled. His fingers find the leather band of the collar and it parts under his blade. The servitor band falls away, landing on the floor with a soft thud. I can breathe more easily.

Curiosity sparks in Garrett’s eyes. “Why did you remove the tag?”