“I see.” She regarded him. “Then, let me introduce myself. I’m Lannahi. Remember my name as I will be the one demanding compensation if your pack lays a finger on a citizen of Goldfrost. In case you do not understand, this means I will allow you time to pay the debt before collecting it personally. You will not dare refuse payment.”
The man feigned disappointment. “That all? I was hoping for more passion,Lannahi.”
She smiled flirtatiously. “Not all at once,Amaruk. If you show me that you are a good neighbor, I might present a more interesting proposal.”
The white she-wolf snarled again, but this time the alpha silenced her with a sharp look.
“What do you have in mind?” he asked. The impudent smile left his face, but in his eyes lurked suspicion.
“Maybe that in exchange for patrolling these woods and warning me of dangers menacing Goldfrost, I would be willing to bestow onto you and your wolves gifts.”
Amaruk’s golden eyes took on a cool tint. “You want to put a leash on me, little queen? A bold fantasy for someone barely controlling her own pack.”
Lannahi got her expression under control, but the thoughts in her head swirled. Objectively, one could assume that the new queen wasn’t popular with her subjects and that she encountered difficulties in establishing order. There was a chance that Amaruk merely guessed at her troubles, but…
What if there was more to his words? Did he know something that she did not?
The settlements of wild shapeshifters were primitive but also self-sufficient. As far as she knew, werewolves living in the area didn’t seek contact with landshapers, and chance encounters, excluding moments of weakness that ended in the birth of mixed-blood children, usually ended in hostility. If that was the case, how did Amaruk know that Goldfrost had a new Ruler? It was likely that he or his wolves overheard someone speaking of it while traversing through his woods, but what if the alpha had a spy within the city?
Could it be Lizaar?
“I don’t know what you have heard about me, but know that I am not a woman who is excited by chains,” Lannahi said. “But I imagine that life in isolation can be dull and that even wolves sometimes dream of trying something new. New flavors, new sounds, new materials and objects… Every plan starts with a fantasy. Don’t you agree, alpha?”
Amaruk regarded her thoughtfully, but his answer was noncommittal. “Perhaps.”
Lannahi smiled. “Let’s get to know each other better before we decide if we want to pursue our fantasies. Can we end this meeting and part today in peace, wolf?”
After two heartbeats, the corners of Amaruk’s mouth lifted slightly. “Todaywe can, little witch. I don’t promise that tomorrow I won’t feel like biting off your tongue to see if it’s as sweet as your words.”
“Then, until we meet again,” Lannahi said, treating his words as if she’d heard a compliment rather than a threat.
Amusement flashed in Amaruk’s eyes, but instead of replying, he turned to his companions, “Let’s go.” When the wolves of his pack started withdrawing slowly out of range of the enchanters’ blades, he surveyed Lannahi’s face one last time before looking at Ashared. “Until we meet again,” he said ironically and, hearing a growl in response, walked away with a laugh toward the white wolf waiting for him.
Ashkii didn’t share in his amusement and bid them farewell with a hateful glare.
Even as the last tails disappeared from sight, the enchanters made no move, waiting for a sign from the guards who were still perking their ears, listening. When the other wolf guards rejoined their group, Esau and Erril summoned the knives back into their packs, and Souhi set the sleigh down on the ground.
“Are you hurt, Esau?” Lannahi asked.
“It’s nothing serious,” the man said, raising his left arm to show that he could move it. “The wolf’s teeth barely scratched me through the thick sleeve.”
Lannahi nodded in relief and surveyed the faces of her companions. They didn’t seem shocked, but she asked nonetheless, “Do you need to rest?” When they shook their heads, she swallowed her shame and asked Ashared, “And you?”
The brown wolf’s eyes looked at her with an unreadable expression. He growled.
No, the answer appeared in her mind.
Lannahi nodded, but her remorse didn’t diminish. She suspected that in wolf language, one doesn’t always have to growl to communicate refusal. That Ashared chose this way was all too telling. Hewasangry with her.
She passed the guards and approached the sleigh. When she smelled the faint citrus scent, another piece of the puzzle fell into place.
“Nice work, Blann,” she said with a smile, eager to relieve some of the tension. “But since wolves don’t seem to like the scent of citrus, consider dulling it for the sake of our own guards.”
The green-eyed woman giggled.
Lannahi shifted her gaze to Souhi and added, “Well done, you both.”
The women grinned and made room for her in the sleigh.
