Ansel tried to sneak behind Tess, but I grabbed his arm.
“Don’t say good-bye,” he mumbled, not looking at me. “I don’t want to hear it.”
“I’m not saying good-bye.” I dug my fingers into his arm and he stared at me in surprise. “This is a warning, Ansel. You stay with Tess. Any running off, any stupid heroics and I will hunt you down myself no matter what’s happening on the battlefield. You are still my baby brother and I am still your alpha. I’m not going to let you get hurt out there.”
He nodded, still wide-eyed. I wrapped my arms around him, knowing I’d be too far from him to track his movements during the attack. But I hoped he’d at least listen to me and that some of his instincts to obey his alpha might still be lingering.
I turned, sensing someone behind me.
“He’ll be fine,” Ren said, searching my eyes with his own. “Tess won’t let anything happen to him.”
“I know,” I said, forcing a smile.
“So the plan really pissed you off, huh,” Ren said as we walked toward Adne, who’d begun to weave the door our party would take to Vail.
“Did you expect me to be happy when I found out?”
“I didn’t bet on Shay telling you about it,” Ren said. “He over-shares.”
“I appreciate honesty,” I said. “It’s a winning trait.”
“I honestly will play dirty to win this fight,” he said. “Is that a winning trait?”
“Drop it.”
Shay and Connor were standing near Adne, watching the shimmering portal take shape.
I glanced at Shay. Ren waved at him and Shay made a rude gesture at Ren, but then gave me a sad smile that made my chest tighten. Did he really believe he wouldn’t survive this fight?
The tightness in my chest became so painful I had to close my eyes to push it away. My mind had to be in this fight, no matter what else might be tugging at my heart. I couldn’t afford to think about what this war would ultimately cost me.
Mason came up to us, grinning. “You guys ready to roll?”
“You look awfully happy.” I eyed him warily. “Considering.”
“I miss Nev.” He shrugged. “Sure, it’s a war and all, but at least he’ll be there. I’ll take what I can get.”
Ren slapped him on the back. “I love you, man.”
“Of course you do.” Mason smoothed his hair back. “I’m irresistible.”
Bryn tossed her curls. “I think this fight is going to be fun.”
“I hope you’re right,” I said.
“All right, hellhounds.” Connor was waving at us. “Get your butts through that door.”
“We are not hellhounds,” I growled. “We are wolves.”
“Really?” Connor gave me a crestfallen look. “You didn’t like my new nickname for your pack? I thought it was inspired or maybe awe inspiring. You know, like Hell’s Angels.”
“We’re not a motorcycle gang either, dude,” Ren said, then he shifted into wolf form and bounded through the portal.
“Are his jokes always this bad?” Bryn asked.
“Usually.” I smiled at Connor. “But don’t tell him that. I’d hate to hurt his feelings.”
Connor shook his head. “Alas, I will always be unsung.”
“Yep.” Shay smiled. “I’d say you’re right.”
“Thank God for that.” I flashed a grin at him, shifted, and leapt after Ren.
My paws crunched into snow that reached the middle of my legs. The moon hung high above us, offering considerable light despite the late hour. Adne’s portal opened onto a crest at the edge of the forest. The grounds of Rowan Estate stretched out below us. The garden with its curving paths and sculpted hedges lay cloaked in shadow. Caught in early winter’s grasp, the fountains were dry and the flower beds empty, devoid of the life that made gardens so inviting.
At intervals along the forest ridge and at points closer to the gardens other winking lights appeared. Shadows moved under the night sky. The Searchers were arriving, our forces gathering. As our numbers amassed, the strike teams began to move forward into the garden, making their way toward the manor house. Rowan Estate’s windows were black. The stately home stood silent, giving every indication that it was empty.
I pawed the ground anxiously as we waited. With our separate mission in play, we were among the last of the teams to move out. I lifted my muzzle, testing the air for any signs of danger. Or allies.
Where were the Nightshade and Bane packs?
As much as this was a quasi-surprise attack, the Keepers would be anticipating our arrival. Anika and all the Searchers knew that. Our enemies were waiting for us, but where?
Would my father be running with Emile’s wolves, ready to turn on his adversary when the right moment came? Were they on their way here now?
“It’s time.” Adne closed the portal, sheathed her skeans, and pulled out that wicked steel whip she’d used in the practice match with Shay while we were in Denver.
“You should stay here.” Connor frowned. “I don’t like risking you.”
Adne laughed. “Sorry, Connor. All the Weavers are in this fight. Including me. Anika’s orders, remember?”
He shook his head but trudged down the slope with Adne grinning as she kept pace with him.
Ren, Mason, Bryn, and I formed a protective ring around Shay and the two Searchers. I took point, while Bryn and Mason trotted beside them. Ren stayed at our rear. As we entered the garden, I snarled at the marble incubi and succubi that were arranged like sentinels all around us.
“Don’t worry, Calla,” Shay said. “We’re keeping an eye on them.”
“Yes, we are,” Connor said. “And if they break open those shells, we’ll know that Bosque is already here.”
I sniffed the air, still bristling.
Is that supposed to reassure us somehow? Mason barked at him, baring his teeth at Connor.
We’d made it a few yards into the estate grounds when the first shouts rose from the teams ahead of us.
“Looks like we’ve got incoming,” Connor said.
Shay drew his swords, squinting into the distance.
I waited to hear the ringing of steel and snarls of wolves, assuming that our allies would encounter Guardian resistance as they closed in on Rowan Estate. But the Searchers’ shouts weren’t battle cries. They were confused yells, filled with fear.
“Don’t say good-bye,” he mumbled, not looking at me. “I don’t want to hear it.”
“I’m not saying good-bye.” I dug my fingers into his arm and he stared at me in surprise. “This is a warning, Ansel. You stay with Tess. Any running off, any stupid heroics and I will hunt you down myself no matter what’s happening on the battlefield. You are still my baby brother and I am still your alpha. I’m not going to let you get hurt out there.”
He nodded, still wide-eyed. I wrapped my arms around him, knowing I’d be too far from him to track his movements during the attack. But I hoped he’d at least listen to me and that some of his instincts to obey his alpha might still be lingering.
I turned, sensing someone behind me.
“He’ll be fine,” Ren said, searching my eyes with his own. “Tess won’t let anything happen to him.”
“I know,” I said, forcing a smile.
“So the plan really pissed you off, huh,” Ren said as we walked toward Adne, who’d begun to weave the door our party would take to Vail.
“Did you expect me to be happy when I found out?”
“I didn’t bet on Shay telling you about it,” Ren said. “He over-shares.”
“I appreciate honesty,” I said. “It’s a winning trait.”
“I honestly will play dirty to win this fight,” he said. “Is that a winning trait?”
“Drop it.”
Shay and Connor were standing near Adne, watching the shimmering portal take shape.
I glanced at Shay. Ren waved at him and Shay made a rude gesture at Ren, but then gave me a sad smile that made my chest tighten. Did he really believe he wouldn’t survive this fight?
The tightness in my chest became so painful I had to close my eyes to push it away. My mind had to be in this fight, no matter what else might be tugging at my heart. I couldn’t afford to think about what this war would ultimately cost me.
Mason came up to us, grinning. “You guys ready to roll?”
“You look awfully happy.” I eyed him warily. “Considering.”
“I miss Nev.” He shrugged. “Sure, it’s a war and all, but at least he’ll be there. I’ll take what I can get.”
Ren slapped him on the back. “I love you, man.”
“Of course you do.” Mason smoothed his hair back. “I’m irresistible.”
Bryn tossed her curls. “I think this fight is going to be fun.”
“I hope you’re right,” I said.
“All right, hellhounds.” Connor was waving at us. “Get your butts through that door.”
“We are not hellhounds,” I growled. “We are wolves.”
“Really?” Connor gave me a crestfallen look. “You didn’t like my new nickname for your pack? I thought it was inspired or maybe awe inspiring. You know, like Hell’s Angels.”
“We’re not a motorcycle gang either, dude,” Ren said, then he shifted into wolf form and bounded through the portal.
“Are his jokes always this bad?” Bryn asked.
“Usually.” I smiled at Connor. “But don’t tell him that. I’d hate to hurt his feelings.”
Connor shook his head. “Alas, I will always be unsung.”
“Yep.” Shay smiled. “I’d say you’re right.”
“Thank God for that.” I flashed a grin at him, shifted, and leapt after Ren.
My paws crunched into snow that reached the middle of my legs. The moon hung high above us, offering considerable light despite the late hour. Adne’s portal opened onto a crest at the edge of the forest. The grounds of Rowan Estate stretched out below us. The garden with its curving paths and sculpted hedges lay cloaked in shadow. Caught in early winter’s grasp, the fountains were dry and the flower beds empty, devoid of the life that made gardens so inviting.
At intervals along the forest ridge and at points closer to the gardens other winking lights appeared. Shadows moved under the night sky. The Searchers were arriving, our forces gathering. As our numbers amassed, the strike teams began to move forward into the garden, making their way toward the manor house. Rowan Estate’s windows were black. The stately home stood silent, giving every indication that it was empty.
I pawed the ground anxiously as we waited. With our separate mission in play, we were among the last of the teams to move out. I lifted my muzzle, testing the air for any signs of danger. Or allies.
Where were the Nightshade and Bane packs?
As much as this was a quasi-surprise attack, the Keepers would be anticipating our arrival. Anika and all the Searchers knew that. Our enemies were waiting for us, but where?
Would my father be running with Emile’s wolves, ready to turn on his adversary when the right moment came? Were they on their way here now?
“It’s time.” Adne closed the portal, sheathed her skeans, and pulled out that wicked steel whip she’d used in the practice match with Shay while we were in Denver.
“You should stay here.” Connor frowned. “I don’t like risking you.”
Adne laughed. “Sorry, Connor. All the Weavers are in this fight. Including me. Anika’s orders, remember?”
He shook his head but trudged down the slope with Adne grinning as she kept pace with him.
Ren, Mason, Bryn, and I formed a protective ring around Shay and the two Searchers. I took point, while Bryn and Mason trotted beside them. Ren stayed at our rear. As we entered the garden, I snarled at the marble incubi and succubi that were arranged like sentinels all around us.
“Don’t worry, Calla,” Shay said. “We’re keeping an eye on them.”
“Yes, we are,” Connor said. “And if they break open those shells, we’ll know that Bosque is already here.”
I sniffed the air, still bristling.
Is that supposed to reassure us somehow? Mason barked at him, baring his teeth at Connor.
We’d made it a few yards into the estate grounds when the first shouts rose from the teams ahead of us.
“Looks like we’ve got incoming,” Connor said.
Shay drew his swords, squinting into the distance.
I waited to hear the ringing of steel and snarls of wolves, assuming that our allies would encounter Guardian resistance as they closed in on Rowan Estate. But the Searchers’ shouts weren’t battle cries. They were confused yells, filled with fear.
