The thick, ominous fog that had filled her mind a second ago at the Moon Goddess's demand departed in a flash. The instant Daniel opened his eyes and saw her, truly saw her, Beth let out a choked scream and threw herself upon him. Terrified that she had fallen asleep and was dreaming herself, her exhausted mind conjuring up delusions of a healthy Daniel, she didn't dare even cry against him. What if that dissipated this fragile illusion? What if the slightest sound, the smallest disturbance broke up this searing happiness, and she woke up to discover Daniel hadn't made it?Only when he patted her back with a struggling grunt did she finally give herself a chance to let out the stifled emotions. The tears came fast and hard as words bubbled out of her throat, scolding ones to Daniel for terrifying her and for leaving Marten when he should have stayed behind, grateful ones right on their heels as she thanked him for being strong enough to survive, for making it through the night and be
"It's confirmed," the scout panted, face nearly blue from having sprinted so far in the punishing cold. "They're on their way here. Adrian is escorting them here as he said he would."Anna would have wilted in relief if she weren't so conscious of the presence of her subordinates. She could show no weakness even if her actions until now had already proven she was incapable of acting independently. Appearances were everything in times like this when all that held back wholesale chaos was her wire-thin composure."Good. I'll take them in my tent and brief them here. They'll have questions, but refrain from answering any within earshot of anyone else.""Yes, madam."Madam, not Alpha. For a while, Anna had hoped the Iron Nation army would look to her as a true leader with the absence of her father regardless of her sex. But that had yet to happen. They were polite and respectful and listened to her orders, but there was no inherent trust: she was an interim occupant for a vacant space th
"If that's where they are, that's where I'm going. I'll leave as soon as I have more provisions packed."Daniel steadied Beth with a firm hand on her arm before she could stand, fixing her with an equally hard look. "You need to rest. And you can't go in unprepared. This might even be a trap if Andrew knows Adrian is helping us. He could be waiting to ambush anyone who walks in.""That is indeed possible. I would recommend scouting the area first to be safe. I was his tutor for quite a while and can vouch for how sharp he is. If he's managed to lead a long game like this without being discovered by the world yet, a maneuver as small as this one would be nothing to him.""I'm not going to sit here and let someone else find my parents first.""Then I'm going too," said Anna, but Beth shook her head."We don't know if Andrew will send demands yet. If he sends a messenger tomorrow with his terms and neither of us are here, there's no telling what he'll do. You have to stay here. At worst,
We need to move fast, Daniel reminded her as he held the window open, preparing to receive the unconsciousness prisoners. We're not behind schedule but if we get held up, we'll miss the rendezvous time.Two Silver Nation warriors had come with them until just past the first third of the trek. They were waiting at the point and keeping careful watch, but if Beth and Daniel were late, they were to return to the troops and inform Adrian and Annalise that something had gone wrong. Carrying two unconscious rescues on their backs would slow Beth and Daniel down considerably, so they needed to get a move on. She shook her head. She needed to pull herself together.Too easy, Daniel murmured for the second time as she undid the rope knots with skillful fingers. I'm not seeing anyone still.Good. If we can get out without being seen or getting into a fight, that's all I want.I'll go in and help you.No, keep watch. These knots are easy. They must not have been expecting anyone to come help my
"We'll move again in five minutes. Let the soldiers know while I take care of something before we leave.""Yes, Alpha."Beth forced her breathing to even and slow as if she were still in deep sleep when she sensed a shadow falling over her, blocking out the scant light that had reached through her eyelids a second ago.Was that Andrew leaning over her to check if she had regained consciousness? If only she could reach up and slash his face open, but she remained bound with strong ropes. She would never get free in time.The shadow moved away, allowing the light to fall over her closed eyes once more. She held back a relieved sigh and let her thoughts wander again, memories piecing themselves together slowly.Her parents... Daniel. Andrew had been lying in wait with his pack warriors and other soldiers, just waiting to pounce. That bothered her immensely. He had been so certain they would be there that he had come personally -- he could just as well have remained in the Troy pack terri
"My two best are experienced enough to know what to do if things go wrong. I trusted them to watch over Beth.""The ones you said you assigned to follow the Gold Nation contingent assigned to Beth? The same ones who were caught by Noah and Anna after they arrived at Tahoe?" William countered. "Face it. With how depleted Silver Nation forces are, especially the Heether pack, you're better off traveling with two of mine instead. They're less likely to be recognized.""You need to keep your men around you. With this, Andrew Troy must be gearing up to do something permanent about this incident. If you accuse him and take this to Union Court--""That won't happen because he knows I would never endanger Beth by threatening him. Not only that, but the Troy pack always had the upper hand in Union Court. If anything, this might only convince the minor packs to side with the Troy pack when they find out the edge he has over me. Over all of us."William was right. Daniel leaned against the windo
Daniel's expression hardened, and Matt had to suppress a sigh. Same age, they were not, but it had probably sounded ridiculous to see someone with a youthful face talk like an old man. It was getting harder and harder lately to conceal his true age instead of the other way around -- it should be getting easier to slip seamlessly into this repeat life, not more difficult.And now he had to face off with Daniel Heether of all people."There's a difference in our age but more in our experience," Matt said crisply, weaving together an excuse for what he had said before but also in an effort to make the younger man realize what he was dealing with. "You're strong in a fight, and you were raised in a family of warriors. But this won't be won with violence. There's more under the surface than you can attack with fang and claw, and that's where I come in. I can get Beth out of there.""And I'm telling you again we're practically the same age. If it's experience in politics you're claiming, yo
The days were short yet passed in slow misery. Trapped in the Troy pack manor on the third floor with guards posted everywhere to keep her from escaping, Beth was a canary imprisoned in a gilded cage, never allowed a moment alone even to bathe. Andrew Troy pretended it was to pamper her by assigning her female attendants to attend to her every need, but she knew better. Much better.He even had the gal to visit her as if she were just some guest being entertained in his home. How dare he have the fucking nerve? She was a prisoner, and yet when he knocked on her door and let himself in, he was all charming smiles and gentlemanly manners. Except how he never explicitly waited until she gave him permission to enter, but maybe that was because she flatly refused to give it. After five seconds of waiting, he came in, ready or not, and it made her want to punch him in the gut for it all the more.She was fed and well-taken care of, granted, like a captured exotic animal kept for private vie