Caged, page 23
“Three of them were my patients,” Ruth spoke up.
“And four of them were mine,” Kristine confirmed.
Andy looked from Ruth to Kristine. “Have you already talked amongst yourselves to figure out if they had something in common? Any enemies, friends, romantic interests?”
Ruth and Kristine shared a look.
“Without breaking patient confidentiality,” Ruth answered carefully, “we can confirm that together we observed depression in all seven women.”
“Oh. Oh, that’s brilliant, really,” I said, staring at the board and all the female faces gazing back at me. “If our Ms. Amica preyed on female shifters suffering from depression, then trapping them in wolf form and pairing them up with vulnerable individuals who need protection might have formed a connection that the female shifters welcomed. They might—”
“Are you suggesting what she did was a good thing?” Kristine interrupted sharply. “Because depression doesn’t just mean sad, it can mean angry too. Putting depressed shifters with anyone is dangerous.”
“I know depression doesn’t just mean sad,” I said calmly. “But trapping a woman in wolf form would mean her instincts would be stronger, including her protective maternal instincts. It’s possible that whoever did this chose their victims specifically because they would be safe. Perhaps they chose women who’d suffered a loss and might view their owner as a sort of surrogate? Recovering addicts are emotionally raw, almost childlike in their inability to handle anxiety.”
Ruth and Kristine shared a look again. I could tell I’d guessed right.
“We can’t discuss specifics about what we learned in therapy,” Kristine said carefully. She hesitated. “But depression isn’t the only thing they had in common.”
“What else?” Andy asked.
Kristine met Andy’s gaze, very deliberately avoiding Ruth. “They all had a bit of a crush on Liam.”
Everyone turned to the alpha. Liam frowned, but didn’t take his eyes off the papers he was sifting through. “I don’t date patients, so that’s irrelevant. The first connection is better.” He held up the papers he’d been looking through. “I have their case histories that we filled out when all of them arrived. Evangeline had to quit her job at the animal shelter, Candace lost her sister to cancer, Olivia’s husband refused to allow her visitation with her children after she lost her temper and trashed the house…” He kept reading. “Several of these women fit the profile.”
A sudden commotion outside the conference room halted whatever Liam had been about to say next. The tension that had been holding his temper down wavered, and his eyelid twitched. I rose to my feet in time to follow him out of the conference room, halting when I spied the crowd of shifters that had gathered.
“What’s going on?” Liam demanded.
“Is it true someone’s been kidnapping people from this place and selling them as pets?” one wolf demanded. He wore a business suit that was a size too big for him, and his tie was off kilter. He looked as though he’d borrowed the suit from someone larger than him.
“I heard at least a dozen have gone missing,” another added. This time the speaker was a female wearing a light blue summer dress with pink flowers on it that brushed her thighs when she took a step forward.
“And you didn’t even realize they’d been taken until it happened to your sister!” another woman accused. She grabbed the wrist of the first woman who’d spoken, holding her back from coming any closer to Liam. Her hot pink T-shirt depicted a pair of baby chicks with the phrase “Hangin’ With My Peeps,” but she didn’t look very warm and fuzzy with that glare on her face.
Liam held up his hands. “Calm down, no one is kidnapping shifters. We’re reviewing the cases now, and making sure everyone is accounted for. Go back to your rooms.”
“How are we supposed to feel safe if you obviously can’t protect us?” the first wolf insisted. He tugged at his tie and braced his feet shoulder width apart. “You need to tell us what’s going on.”
“Go to your rooms,” Liam repeated, his tone more grating than it had been a moment ago. “That’s an order. If anyone needs to speak with Ruth or Kristine, call their offices from your room. I’ll send them back now and they’ll see you immediately to discuss any concerns.”
“We’re not going anywhere until you stop lying to us!”
That last shout came from another male, this one wearing jeans and a dark grey T-shirt that had seen better days. He lifted his chin as he swaggered forward, shoving his body into Liam’s personal space. “We want answers. Now.”
Liam’s arm swung out, vicious in its speed. There was the dull sound of flesh hitting flesh, then the demanding shifter was flying through the air. He didn’t even have the breath to let out a surprised grunt before he hit the floor.
“Not good,” Peasblossom croaked.
I raised a hand, magic pulsing against my palm, but hesitated. This was not my business, not in any way. If I interfered now, I’d do more harm than good. But I couldn’t just stand there while Liam lost it.
Shock shot through the gathered crowd, strangling voices in a chorus of gasps. The shifter Liam had struck shook his head as if dazed, then his eyes zeroed in on the enraged alpha. Blake and Sonar took up positions on either side of Liam, but made sure to stay behind him, waiting for an order before interfering. Ruth stood in the doorway to the conference room, and I was both relieved and concerned that she didn’t look as satisfied as she had when Liam had attacked Edwin. If she was worried, then this was worse than I thought.
The shifter struggled to his feet, shaking his head and rolling his shoulders. His eyes burned dark copper, and his lip curled in a snarl that revealed teeth glistening with too much saliva. He wasn’t experienced enough, or powerful enough, for a partial shift, but the fact that he hadn’t lost control yet spoke of the strength he would have after a few years.
Liam snarled and stepped forward, tension pulling his shoulders tight. He stared down his opponent, daring the man to try anything. “Go to your rooms,” Liam growled.
The shifter took a breath as if he’d answer—
Then bolted.
Liam hesitated, surprise slackening his features for a second as the man took off down the hallway. He passed the elevator and hit the door that led to the stairway. I stood there, feeling helpless as Liam stared after the shifter, obviously torn.
Then another wolf ran after the first. Then another, then another. The whole crowd bled away, and they all followed the first, heading for the stairway.
“Where are they going?” Andy asked.
No one turned to look at him.
“If they’re smart, they’re hiding,” Peasblossom spoke up.
“Shifters don’t hide,” Ruth said, her voice distracted. “Not from their alpha.”
“You think shifters don’t hide from what scares them?” Peasblossom snorted. “Everyone hides sometimes.”
“Not when what’s scaring you can hunt you down with a sniff,” Ruth said shortly. “There’s no point to hiding, certainly not when you’re still in the build—”
“Oh, blood and bone,” I breathed.
“What?” Peasblossom demanded.
I stared at the pixie. “When you hide, where do you hide?”
Peasblossom frowned. “Behind you, usually—” Her eyes widened as she broke off.
Too late, Liam realized what I meant. I didn’t have a prayer of keeping up with him, and he was already up the first flight of stairs when I made it to the door to the stairway. Ruth rushed past me, almost sending me crashing into the wall when her shoulder struck mine. Kristine caught me and steadied me, her face grim as she waited for me to get my balance before we both rushed for the stairs.
We heard the shouting as soon as we left the stairwell. Unsurprisingly, the sound was coming from Stephen’s room.
“You would give me orders?” Liam snarled. “You would dare?”
I followed Liam’s voice, but halted in the doorway to Stephen’s room without going inside. Stephen was in his living room, and there was a large group of shifters standing behind him. Some curled up on the couch, some huddled on the floor, and some stood behind him like a wannabe security detail. They were all from the downstairs crowd.
“I’m not giving orders,” Stephen said, his voice sounding all the calmer in contrast to Liam’s furious tone. “I’m reminding you that this isn’t who you are. These people are here for your protection.”
“They’re here to learn,” Liam said, his voice strangled. “They’re here to learn to obey their alpha, and control their emotions—including panic. I’ve seen what happens when I show too much leniency, when I fail to enforce the rules and my orders.”
The look he gave Stephen made it clear to whom he was referring.
Stephen bowed his head, the epitome of respect. “They’re scared. Others just like them have gone missing, stolen away from your protection. And it seems as though those responsible used the people we’re supposed to confide in to help them.”
Ruth and Kristine both tensed at that. Ruth took a step forward, but was careful to remain behind Liam. “Are you suggesting—”
“I’m suggesting that we all take a deep breath.” Stephen turned to face the crowd of wide-eyed shifters. “Remember, we’re a pack. It’s not just Liam looking out for you, it’s all of us. And now that we know there’s a danger, we’ll be more vigilant. If anyone is concerned, you can go to Ruth or Kristine to talk. If you just need to be around other people, you‘re free to come see me if company will help.”
The air shifted behind me. I turned in the doorway and stilled when I saw Edwin. The black shifter stood just outside his door, his head tilted as he listened to what was going on. He showed no signs of injury from his fight with Liam yesterday, but I hadn’t expected him to. After all, that was a big part of what made shifters so dangerous. The sheer amount of damage they could take and still keep coming.
His eyes focused on me, the milky eye disturbing in its intensity. His eyes flicked to the door, then back to me. He shook his head slowly, then retreated inside his room.
Something about that look reminded me of Edwin’s earlier words. Suddenly, my heart sank. I looked back into the room and caught Ruth staring back at me. I could tell from the look on her face that she’d had the same thought.
Edwin had pointed out that in order for Stephen to get anyone to follow him, he would have to do something big, something to set himself up as a person of authority. Right now, with Liam losing his temper, and a group of scared wolves doubting the security they’d been promised, Stephen had seized his chance. He was the voice of reason. The calm in the storm.
Liam was the storm.
Chapter 21
Liam, for his part, seemed to have realized the change in dynamic too. I watched him pull back, rein in his temper like a fisherman fighting to get a large catch into the boat. Frustration pulled his jaw so tight it was a wonder I didn’t hear a crack, but finally, he stood straight, looking out at the group.
“Kristine and Ruth are here if you need to talk. And you can rest assured that I will find out who’s been threatening this pack. And I will make sure it never happens again.”
Liam looked at Stephen when he said the last part, and the other wolf nodded, still keeping his head bowed in respect.
Stephen started to usher the wolves back to their rooms, but Kristine stepped in. “Let’s all go to the cafeteria and get some food. No one can relax on an empty stomach.”
I met her eyes and she nodded. She’d try to keep the peace without giving Stephen a chance to get the worried wolves alone.
Liam stormed into the hall, heading back to the conference room.
I started to follow, then reconsidered. I went back into Stephen’s room. Emma was standing with him now, in human form again. She looked exhausted, but there was no mistaking the calm in her body language as she stood with her lover, his arms circling around her waist, their foreheads pressing together. I’d inadvertently walked in on a tender moment, and it made me freeze in the doorway.
Emma jerked her head to face me, and the hint of a sneer curled her lip. “What do you want?”
“Did you have nightmares last night?” I asked. “Either of you?”
“I honestly don’t see how that’s any of your business.” Emma pulled away from Stephen and took a step toward me. “You’re not welcome here.”
“Emma, wait.” Stephen grabbed her hand, laced his fingers with hers. He drew her back to him, then leaned down and whispered in her ear. A frown creased the skin between her brows, but after a minute, she nodded.
Stephen nodded at me. “We did. Why?”
“Mind if I look in your bedroom?”
Stephen and Emma both stared at me, as if waiting for me to say, “Just kidding.”
“It’s just, I find it hard to believe an entire building of werewolves had nightmares on the same night by coincidence.”
“Go ahead,” Stephen said slowly. He gestured toward the bedroom door. “It’s this way.”
“Don’t walk too close to him,” Peasblossom warned. “He’s sneaky.”
“He also has excellent hearing,” I said, more tired than anything. “As they all do.”
Stephen and Emma followed me into the room. Not surprising, since I doubted I was one of their favorite people right now. I raised a hand and sent a pulse of magic outward. Silver light washed over the room, and a second later, I was rewarded with a bright purple flare.
Dream magic.
My magic wasn’t visible to anyone but me and Peasblossom, and I kept the discovery from showing on my face. The last thing I needed to do was let Stephen and Emma know that someone had managed to sabotage their bedroom. The other residents would love that. And I was fairly certain I’d find the same thing in the other rooms.
“Find anything?” Stephen asked.
“Nothing concrete,” I said, turning back to the door. “Thanks.”
“Before you go,” Stephen said, holding up a hand. “I have something to ask you.”
Unease curled around the base of my spine as he stood between me and the exit. I’d spent more time using magic to battle in the past month or so than I ever had before, and I liked my chances if I had to fight my way out. I did not, however, like the idea of what effect that would have on the precarious situation at New Moon. A witch Liam brought in beating up the rising star? Not good.
“What is it?” I asked finally.
“Has Liam ever raised the subject of a volva with you?”
I blinked in surprise. “I’m aware of the job description. I can’t say I’m comfortable discussing what Liam and I may or may not have talked about in relation to the position.”
“He hasn’t,” Emma said confidently. “His father hated witches, and Liam is more like dear old dad than he’d like to admit.”
My lips parted. Liam’s father hated witches?
“It’s true,” Stephen confirmed. “Liam’s father had an…unfortunate experience with a witch. I don’t think Liam would ever fill the position for his own pack. I, however, don’t hold the same prejudice.” He stepped out of the doorway and gestured for me to follow him back into the living room. I didn’t miss the way he let me stand closest to the exit, making sure I didn’t feel trapped before he continued.
“I’ll be starting my own pack,” Stephen said. “Soon. I don’t think there’s any point in denying it. And when I do, I want to make it as strong as possible. As healthy as possible.”
He looked at Emma. Emma nodded.
“We’d like you to consider being our volva,” she said.
“You…” My brain clicked like an old projector that’s run out of film. “You’re asking me to be your volva. In the new pack that Liam won’t let you start?” I stared at Stephen. “I thought you hated me.”
Stephen sighed. “I’m sorry. I behaved badly, I know I did.” He strode over to the couch and collapsed into the cushions. “I made bad choices, and I blamed other people for them. I know that. And it’s possible that I’m still…”
“A jerk?” Peasblossom suggested.
Stephen snorted. “Yeah. A jerk. And maybe I still resent Liam.” He leaned forward, bracing his forearms on his knees. “But you should understand. You of all people.”
“How so?” I asked, suddenly wary of what information he’d obtained since the last time we’d spoken.
“My understanding is that witches all start with a mentor. Sort of like an alpha. They’re supposed to teach you, and you can’t go off and do what you want until they deem you ready.” Stephen paused. “St. John told me. He dated a witch.”
“I’m familiar.” I frowned. “But I didn’t ‘go off and do what I wanted,’ as you put it, until my mentor said I was ready. I didn’t like it, and it chafed, sure, but I respected her experience. I trusted her judgment.”
Stephen tilted his head. “Do you respect Liam’s?”
That was a loaded question, considering he’d just said Liam shared his father’s grim view of witches. “I’m sorry, Stephen, but I’m not looking to be anyone’s volva.”
“You’d do it for Liam if he asked you,” Emma said. There was no anger in her voice, no malice. In fact, she sounded like she had before she’d been turned. Confident, unwilling to play the fool.
“You can’t know that,” I said finally. “You can’t know that because even I don’t know that. But it’s all irrelevant. Right now, I need to find out who’s responsible for Adrian Varca’s death.”
“Oh, are we still pretending to care about that?” Stephen asked, his voice light.
I gave him a tight smile. “I have to go. Thank you for the offer.”
I left the room, shoving away thoughts of Stephen’s unexpected offer and considering the evidence I’d found in their room. A dream spell. Who—
“What was that all about?”
I let out an undignified squeak and flattened myself against the wall, my heart pounding so hard it should have bruised. Ruth stood in the hallway with her arms crossed, today’s dark blue sweater wrapped tightly around her body. She glared at me as if she could read the information she wanted on the back of my skull.
“And four of them were mine,” Kristine confirmed.
Andy looked from Ruth to Kristine. “Have you already talked amongst yourselves to figure out if they had something in common? Any enemies, friends, romantic interests?”
Ruth and Kristine shared a look.
“Without breaking patient confidentiality,” Ruth answered carefully, “we can confirm that together we observed depression in all seven women.”
“Oh. Oh, that’s brilliant, really,” I said, staring at the board and all the female faces gazing back at me. “If our Ms. Amica preyed on female shifters suffering from depression, then trapping them in wolf form and pairing them up with vulnerable individuals who need protection might have formed a connection that the female shifters welcomed. They might—”
“Are you suggesting what she did was a good thing?” Kristine interrupted sharply. “Because depression doesn’t just mean sad, it can mean angry too. Putting depressed shifters with anyone is dangerous.”
“I know depression doesn’t just mean sad,” I said calmly. “But trapping a woman in wolf form would mean her instincts would be stronger, including her protective maternal instincts. It’s possible that whoever did this chose their victims specifically because they would be safe. Perhaps they chose women who’d suffered a loss and might view their owner as a sort of surrogate? Recovering addicts are emotionally raw, almost childlike in their inability to handle anxiety.”
Ruth and Kristine shared a look again. I could tell I’d guessed right.
“We can’t discuss specifics about what we learned in therapy,” Kristine said carefully. She hesitated. “But depression isn’t the only thing they had in common.”
“What else?” Andy asked.
Kristine met Andy’s gaze, very deliberately avoiding Ruth. “They all had a bit of a crush on Liam.”
Everyone turned to the alpha. Liam frowned, but didn’t take his eyes off the papers he was sifting through. “I don’t date patients, so that’s irrelevant. The first connection is better.” He held up the papers he’d been looking through. “I have their case histories that we filled out when all of them arrived. Evangeline had to quit her job at the animal shelter, Candace lost her sister to cancer, Olivia’s husband refused to allow her visitation with her children after she lost her temper and trashed the house…” He kept reading. “Several of these women fit the profile.”
A sudden commotion outside the conference room halted whatever Liam had been about to say next. The tension that had been holding his temper down wavered, and his eyelid twitched. I rose to my feet in time to follow him out of the conference room, halting when I spied the crowd of shifters that had gathered.
“What’s going on?” Liam demanded.
“Is it true someone’s been kidnapping people from this place and selling them as pets?” one wolf demanded. He wore a business suit that was a size too big for him, and his tie was off kilter. He looked as though he’d borrowed the suit from someone larger than him.
“I heard at least a dozen have gone missing,” another added. This time the speaker was a female wearing a light blue summer dress with pink flowers on it that brushed her thighs when she took a step forward.
“And you didn’t even realize they’d been taken until it happened to your sister!” another woman accused. She grabbed the wrist of the first woman who’d spoken, holding her back from coming any closer to Liam. Her hot pink T-shirt depicted a pair of baby chicks with the phrase “Hangin’ With My Peeps,” but she didn’t look very warm and fuzzy with that glare on her face.
Liam held up his hands. “Calm down, no one is kidnapping shifters. We’re reviewing the cases now, and making sure everyone is accounted for. Go back to your rooms.”
“How are we supposed to feel safe if you obviously can’t protect us?” the first wolf insisted. He tugged at his tie and braced his feet shoulder width apart. “You need to tell us what’s going on.”
“Go to your rooms,” Liam repeated, his tone more grating than it had been a moment ago. “That’s an order. If anyone needs to speak with Ruth or Kristine, call their offices from your room. I’ll send them back now and they’ll see you immediately to discuss any concerns.”
“We’re not going anywhere until you stop lying to us!”
That last shout came from another male, this one wearing jeans and a dark grey T-shirt that had seen better days. He lifted his chin as he swaggered forward, shoving his body into Liam’s personal space. “We want answers. Now.”
Liam’s arm swung out, vicious in its speed. There was the dull sound of flesh hitting flesh, then the demanding shifter was flying through the air. He didn’t even have the breath to let out a surprised grunt before he hit the floor.
“Not good,” Peasblossom croaked.
I raised a hand, magic pulsing against my palm, but hesitated. This was not my business, not in any way. If I interfered now, I’d do more harm than good. But I couldn’t just stand there while Liam lost it.
Shock shot through the gathered crowd, strangling voices in a chorus of gasps. The shifter Liam had struck shook his head as if dazed, then his eyes zeroed in on the enraged alpha. Blake and Sonar took up positions on either side of Liam, but made sure to stay behind him, waiting for an order before interfering. Ruth stood in the doorway to the conference room, and I was both relieved and concerned that she didn’t look as satisfied as she had when Liam had attacked Edwin. If she was worried, then this was worse than I thought.
The shifter struggled to his feet, shaking his head and rolling his shoulders. His eyes burned dark copper, and his lip curled in a snarl that revealed teeth glistening with too much saliva. He wasn’t experienced enough, or powerful enough, for a partial shift, but the fact that he hadn’t lost control yet spoke of the strength he would have after a few years.
Liam snarled and stepped forward, tension pulling his shoulders tight. He stared down his opponent, daring the man to try anything. “Go to your rooms,” Liam growled.
The shifter took a breath as if he’d answer—
Then bolted.
Liam hesitated, surprise slackening his features for a second as the man took off down the hallway. He passed the elevator and hit the door that led to the stairway. I stood there, feeling helpless as Liam stared after the shifter, obviously torn.
Then another wolf ran after the first. Then another, then another. The whole crowd bled away, and they all followed the first, heading for the stairway.
“Where are they going?” Andy asked.
No one turned to look at him.
“If they’re smart, they’re hiding,” Peasblossom spoke up.
“Shifters don’t hide,” Ruth said, her voice distracted. “Not from their alpha.”
“You think shifters don’t hide from what scares them?” Peasblossom snorted. “Everyone hides sometimes.”
“Not when what’s scaring you can hunt you down with a sniff,” Ruth said shortly. “There’s no point to hiding, certainly not when you’re still in the build—”
“Oh, blood and bone,” I breathed.
“What?” Peasblossom demanded.
I stared at the pixie. “When you hide, where do you hide?”
Peasblossom frowned. “Behind you, usually—” Her eyes widened as she broke off.
Too late, Liam realized what I meant. I didn’t have a prayer of keeping up with him, and he was already up the first flight of stairs when I made it to the door to the stairway. Ruth rushed past me, almost sending me crashing into the wall when her shoulder struck mine. Kristine caught me and steadied me, her face grim as she waited for me to get my balance before we both rushed for the stairs.
We heard the shouting as soon as we left the stairwell. Unsurprisingly, the sound was coming from Stephen’s room.
“You would give me orders?” Liam snarled. “You would dare?”
I followed Liam’s voice, but halted in the doorway to Stephen’s room without going inside. Stephen was in his living room, and there was a large group of shifters standing behind him. Some curled up on the couch, some huddled on the floor, and some stood behind him like a wannabe security detail. They were all from the downstairs crowd.
“I’m not giving orders,” Stephen said, his voice sounding all the calmer in contrast to Liam’s furious tone. “I’m reminding you that this isn’t who you are. These people are here for your protection.”
“They’re here to learn,” Liam said, his voice strangled. “They’re here to learn to obey their alpha, and control their emotions—including panic. I’ve seen what happens when I show too much leniency, when I fail to enforce the rules and my orders.”
The look he gave Stephen made it clear to whom he was referring.
Stephen bowed his head, the epitome of respect. “They’re scared. Others just like them have gone missing, stolen away from your protection. And it seems as though those responsible used the people we’re supposed to confide in to help them.”
Ruth and Kristine both tensed at that. Ruth took a step forward, but was careful to remain behind Liam. “Are you suggesting—”
“I’m suggesting that we all take a deep breath.” Stephen turned to face the crowd of wide-eyed shifters. “Remember, we’re a pack. It’s not just Liam looking out for you, it’s all of us. And now that we know there’s a danger, we’ll be more vigilant. If anyone is concerned, you can go to Ruth or Kristine to talk. If you just need to be around other people, you‘re free to come see me if company will help.”
The air shifted behind me. I turned in the doorway and stilled when I saw Edwin. The black shifter stood just outside his door, his head tilted as he listened to what was going on. He showed no signs of injury from his fight with Liam yesterday, but I hadn’t expected him to. After all, that was a big part of what made shifters so dangerous. The sheer amount of damage they could take and still keep coming.
His eyes focused on me, the milky eye disturbing in its intensity. His eyes flicked to the door, then back to me. He shook his head slowly, then retreated inside his room.
Something about that look reminded me of Edwin’s earlier words. Suddenly, my heart sank. I looked back into the room and caught Ruth staring back at me. I could tell from the look on her face that she’d had the same thought.
Edwin had pointed out that in order for Stephen to get anyone to follow him, he would have to do something big, something to set himself up as a person of authority. Right now, with Liam losing his temper, and a group of scared wolves doubting the security they’d been promised, Stephen had seized his chance. He was the voice of reason. The calm in the storm.
Liam was the storm.
Chapter 21
Liam, for his part, seemed to have realized the change in dynamic too. I watched him pull back, rein in his temper like a fisherman fighting to get a large catch into the boat. Frustration pulled his jaw so tight it was a wonder I didn’t hear a crack, but finally, he stood straight, looking out at the group.
“Kristine and Ruth are here if you need to talk. And you can rest assured that I will find out who’s been threatening this pack. And I will make sure it never happens again.”
Liam looked at Stephen when he said the last part, and the other wolf nodded, still keeping his head bowed in respect.
Stephen started to usher the wolves back to their rooms, but Kristine stepped in. “Let’s all go to the cafeteria and get some food. No one can relax on an empty stomach.”
I met her eyes and she nodded. She’d try to keep the peace without giving Stephen a chance to get the worried wolves alone.
Liam stormed into the hall, heading back to the conference room.
I started to follow, then reconsidered. I went back into Stephen’s room. Emma was standing with him now, in human form again. She looked exhausted, but there was no mistaking the calm in her body language as she stood with her lover, his arms circling around her waist, their foreheads pressing together. I’d inadvertently walked in on a tender moment, and it made me freeze in the doorway.
Emma jerked her head to face me, and the hint of a sneer curled her lip. “What do you want?”
“Did you have nightmares last night?” I asked. “Either of you?”
“I honestly don’t see how that’s any of your business.” Emma pulled away from Stephen and took a step toward me. “You’re not welcome here.”
“Emma, wait.” Stephen grabbed her hand, laced his fingers with hers. He drew her back to him, then leaned down and whispered in her ear. A frown creased the skin between her brows, but after a minute, she nodded.
Stephen nodded at me. “We did. Why?”
“Mind if I look in your bedroom?”
Stephen and Emma both stared at me, as if waiting for me to say, “Just kidding.”
“It’s just, I find it hard to believe an entire building of werewolves had nightmares on the same night by coincidence.”
“Go ahead,” Stephen said slowly. He gestured toward the bedroom door. “It’s this way.”
“Don’t walk too close to him,” Peasblossom warned. “He’s sneaky.”
“He also has excellent hearing,” I said, more tired than anything. “As they all do.”
Stephen and Emma followed me into the room. Not surprising, since I doubted I was one of their favorite people right now. I raised a hand and sent a pulse of magic outward. Silver light washed over the room, and a second later, I was rewarded with a bright purple flare.
Dream magic.
My magic wasn’t visible to anyone but me and Peasblossom, and I kept the discovery from showing on my face. The last thing I needed to do was let Stephen and Emma know that someone had managed to sabotage their bedroom. The other residents would love that. And I was fairly certain I’d find the same thing in the other rooms.
“Find anything?” Stephen asked.
“Nothing concrete,” I said, turning back to the door. “Thanks.”
“Before you go,” Stephen said, holding up a hand. “I have something to ask you.”
Unease curled around the base of my spine as he stood between me and the exit. I’d spent more time using magic to battle in the past month or so than I ever had before, and I liked my chances if I had to fight my way out. I did not, however, like the idea of what effect that would have on the precarious situation at New Moon. A witch Liam brought in beating up the rising star? Not good.
“What is it?” I asked finally.
“Has Liam ever raised the subject of a volva with you?”
I blinked in surprise. “I’m aware of the job description. I can’t say I’m comfortable discussing what Liam and I may or may not have talked about in relation to the position.”
“He hasn’t,” Emma said confidently. “His father hated witches, and Liam is more like dear old dad than he’d like to admit.”
My lips parted. Liam’s father hated witches?
“It’s true,” Stephen confirmed. “Liam’s father had an…unfortunate experience with a witch. I don’t think Liam would ever fill the position for his own pack. I, however, don’t hold the same prejudice.” He stepped out of the doorway and gestured for me to follow him back into the living room. I didn’t miss the way he let me stand closest to the exit, making sure I didn’t feel trapped before he continued.
“I’ll be starting my own pack,” Stephen said. “Soon. I don’t think there’s any point in denying it. And when I do, I want to make it as strong as possible. As healthy as possible.”
He looked at Emma. Emma nodded.
“We’d like you to consider being our volva,” she said.
“You…” My brain clicked like an old projector that’s run out of film. “You’re asking me to be your volva. In the new pack that Liam won’t let you start?” I stared at Stephen. “I thought you hated me.”
Stephen sighed. “I’m sorry. I behaved badly, I know I did.” He strode over to the couch and collapsed into the cushions. “I made bad choices, and I blamed other people for them. I know that. And it’s possible that I’m still…”
“A jerk?” Peasblossom suggested.
Stephen snorted. “Yeah. A jerk. And maybe I still resent Liam.” He leaned forward, bracing his forearms on his knees. “But you should understand. You of all people.”
“How so?” I asked, suddenly wary of what information he’d obtained since the last time we’d spoken.
“My understanding is that witches all start with a mentor. Sort of like an alpha. They’re supposed to teach you, and you can’t go off and do what you want until they deem you ready.” Stephen paused. “St. John told me. He dated a witch.”
“I’m familiar.” I frowned. “But I didn’t ‘go off and do what I wanted,’ as you put it, until my mentor said I was ready. I didn’t like it, and it chafed, sure, but I respected her experience. I trusted her judgment.”
Stephen tilted his head. “Do you respect Liam’s?”
That was a loaded question, considering he’d just said Liam shared his father’s grim view of witches. “I’m sorry, Stephen, but I’m not looking to be anyone’s volva.”
“You’d do it for Liam if he asked you,” Emma said. There was no anger in her voice, no malice. In fact, she sounded like she had before she’d been turned. Confident, unwilling to play the fool.
“You can’t know that,” I said finally. “You can’t know that because even I don’t know that. But it’s all irrelevant. Right now, I need to find out who’s responsible for Adrian Varca’s death.”
“Oh, are we still pretending to care about that?” Stephen asked, his voice light.
I gave him a tight smile. “I have to go. Thank you for the offer.”
I left the room, shoving away thoughts of Stephen’s unexpected offer and considering the evidence I’d found in their room. A dream spell. Who—
“What was that all about?”
I let out an undignified squeak and flattened myself against the wall, my heart pounding so hard it should have bruised. Ruth stood in the hallway with her arms crossed, today’s dark blue sweater wrapped tightly around her body. She glared at me as if she could read the information she wanted on the back of my skull.
