trial at all. Otherwise, if you’re accused of such a crime, they pretty much just gut you where you stand.
So it’s hardly a surprise that there’s no mercy in those legendary blue eyes.
“I looked at the tracks the next morning when we got the news. You and her going in. You coming out. No one and nothing else.”
“Things aren’t always what they seem.”
“Actually, Frost, they usually are.” There isn’t much else to say. He waves me into the cabin and shuts the door behind us.
The Den is big and warm, wood gleaming, fire crackling. I’ve never been inside, which is hardly surprising. Neither is the litany of curses aimed my way as a slim brunette gets up from one of the enormous leather couches, right before she launches herself at me.
A big redheaded bruin covered in tats and metal—the other Schade brother, Ajax—locks an arm around her in midair, stopping her short. She kicks and screams at him as he glares at Krueger.
The sight of Syana hits me like a punch to the gut, my mind wanting desperately to place Persephone next to her. So much so that for a moment I actually think I see a glitter of blond hair in the firelight, a sheen of pink dancing in the air. But when I blink, it’s gone. There’s only the best friend of the woman I loved with murder in her hazel eyes, clawing at Ajax while she screams at me.
“How could you, Jack? How could you fucking kill her like that? ”
Before I can respond, I catch sight of Thomas. He’s drawn to one side, off by himself, which isn’t surprising. The expression on his face is. He looks like he’s seen a ghost. Turns out, for Thomas, it’s probably worse.
He lifts a shaking finger as I watch, pointing it at Syana, his voice hoarse. “You’re one of them ,” he whispers.
For a minute I’m confused, then it hits me. Oh shit.
Tyr laughs in the sudden deadly silence. For once the assassin is a little slow on the uptake. “Bruins don’t turn people, silly human.”
“Not a bruin,” Thomas croaks. “She’s a goddamn werewolf.”
5
“Well , this is awkward,” Tyr whispers to me.
That’s an understatement. Syana is on the couch, wrapped around Ajax, who looks like he wants to murder everyone in the room. Tyr and I are still next to the door, being very quiet. The mood seems to demand it.
At least I figured out why Krueger hasn’t declared war on the wolves. Funny thing about bruins. When they are at war, any member of the opposing faction is not only considered fair game, but required prey. Meaning that, if war is declared, Ajax will be honor bound to kill the woman in his arms right now.
I could’ve guessed that Syana would turn. Being bitten by a crazed werewolf in the light of a full moon was pretty much a guarantee, but I’d almost forgotten about her. My mind has been occupied with a singular goal these past few months. She looks pale, her eyes on Thomas, who won’t meet her gaze.
Stephen is talking to him in low, urgent tones. I can see the human swallow several times before nodding. Thomas’s ability to sense wolves is an odd one. Humans are usually worthless in that area. They can cozy up to a damn vampire and be none the wiser. Even in the FTC world, unless you’re one of them, it’s hard to recognize a shifter as such when they’re in human form.
Tyr and I wouldn’t have had a clue without Thomas’s observation. Ignorance would’ve been a damn sight safer for everyone.
Finally the bruin’s attention turns back to Tyr and me, those eyes locking on us like lasers as he strides across the room.
“Thomas has promised to tell no one, no matter how the trial ends. I believe him. But you two…”
For once I’m glad the assassin’s here. I have a lot of faith in Krueger’s honor, but it would be a simple thing for him to ensure my silence—and Thomas’s—simply by finding me guilty. Tyr, though, is a wild card. Even at four bruins and one newbie wolf to one, the assassin might make it out of here
So it’s hardly a surprise that there’s no mercy in those legendary blue eyes.
“I looked at the tracks the next morning when we got the news. You and her going in. You coming out. No one and nothing else.”
“Things aren’t always what they seem.”
“Actually, Frost, they usually are.” There isn’t much else to say. He waves me into the cabin and shuts the door behind us.
The Den is big and warm, wood gleaming, fire crackling. I’ve never been inside, which is hardly surprising. Neither is the litany of curses aimed my way as a slim brunette gets up from one of the enormous leather couches, right before she launches herself at me.
A big redheaded bruin covered in tats and metal—the other Schade brother, Ajax—locks an arm around her in midair, stopping her short. She kicks and screams at him as he glares at Krueger.
The sight of Syana hits me like a punch to the gut, my mind wanting desperately to place Persephone next to her. So much so that for a moment I actually think I see a glitter of blond hair in the firelight, a sheen of pink dancing in the air. But when I blink, it’s gone. There’s only the best friend of the woman I loved with murder in her hazel eyes, clawing at Ajax while she screams at me.
“How could you, Jack? How could you fucking kill her like that? ”
Before I can respond, I catch sight of Thomas. He’s drawn to one side, off by himself, which isn’t surprising. The expression on his face is. He looks like he’s seen a ghost. Turns out, for Thomas, it’s probably worse.
He lifts a shaking finger as I watch, pointing it at Syana, his voice hoarse. “You’re one of them ,” he whispers.
For a minute I’m confused, then it hits me. Oh shit.
Tyr laughs in the sudden deadly silence. For once the assassin is a little slow on the uptake. “Bruins don’t turn people, silly human.”
“Not a bruin,” Thomas croaks. “She’s a goddamn werewolf.”
5
“Well , this is awkward,” Tyr whispers to me.
That’s an understatement. Syana is on the couch, wrapped around Ajax, who looks like he wants to murder everyone in the room. Tyr and I are still next to the door, being very quiet. The mood seems to demand it.
At least I figured out why Krueger hasn’t declared war on the wolves. Funny thing about bruins. When they are at war, any member of the opposing faction is not only considered fair game, but required prey. Meaning that, if war is declared, Ajax will be honor bound to kill the woman in his arms right now.
I could’ve guessed that Syana would turn. Being bitten by a crazed werewolf in the light of a full moon was pretty much a guarantee, but I’d almost forgotten about her. My mind has been occupied with a singular goal these past few months. She looks pale, her eyes on Thomas, who won’t meet her gaze.
Stephen is talking to him in low, urgent tones. I can see the human swallow several times before nodding. Thomas’s ability to sense wolves is an odd one. Humans are usually worthless in that area. They can cozy up to a damn vampire and be none the wiser. Even in the FTC world, unless you’re one of them, it’s hard to recognize a shifter as such when they’re in human form.
Tyr and I wouldn’t have had a clue without Thomas’s observation. Ignorance would’ve been a damn sight safer for everyone.
Finally the bruin’s attention turns back to Tyr and me, those eyes locking on us like lasers as he strides across the room.
“Thomas has promised to tell no one, no matter how the trial ends. I believe him. But you two…”
For once I’m glad the assassin’s here. I have a lot of faith in Krueger’s honor, but it would be a simple thing for him to ensure my silence—and Thomas’s—simply by finding me guilty. Tyr, though, is a wild card. Even at four bruins and one newbie wolf to one, the assassin might make it out of here
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