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“Why is this one prisoner?” Rafe asked, keeping his tone brisk.

“Your friend, Izetta,” he replied, echoing Teegar’s words. “She said to keep him prisoner, or there would be blood spilled.”

That was good enough for Rafe. More wolves were joining them now—the six Lila had freed from the dungeon. They surrounded Teegar, thrusting their muzzles close and baring fangs. No doubt this was who his father had summoned with his whistled command.

“Take him away,” the Alpha ordered. “Don’t let him budge until I say so.”

One of the wolves nipped Teegar, making him scramble to his feet. With a shove, they forced him toward the edge of the battle. These wolves weren’t fit for a fight, but six of them could supervise one fae cuffed in iron. They walked proudly now, stiff and sore but with their tails high.

“You found them,” said his father, gesturing toward the retreating wolves. “You saved them.”

“Not all. I was too late. We were too late. And I didn’t save them alone.” Rafe was stammering, so he made himself shut up.

“It doesn’t matter.” His father put a big hand on his shoulder. “I asked you for help, and you gave it. As for those we lost, they will be mourned as heroes.”

“I still haven’t found the Magician.”

“When you open the fridge door and smell decay, it’s only a matter of time before the rotten cabbage comes to light.” The Alpha nodded toward the way station. “There’s our fridge, and your friend is tearing it a new door.”

Rafe frowned at the vampires ripping open the wall. “Fenrir’s balls.”

His father’s laugh was evil. He slapped Rafe’s shoulder again. “I always complained about your Undead friends, but I’m beginning to see the appeal.”

A moment of awkwardness rose between them as the ghost of old arguments drifted past. But Rafe had seen too much in the last few days to give that ghost much weight. He put an arm around his father’s shoulders and gave him an awkward, one-armed hug.

“Thank you for coming,” he said.

“You’re my son. I’ll always come to get you.”

There was pride in his father’s voice. It wasn’t magic, and it didn’t heal everything, but it was a very good start.

“I hear there’s at least one fae worth saving,” his father said as they stepped apart.

“Yes.” Rafe pulled his shirt off over his head. He’d been human long enough. “No one touches her.”

“Then you know what to do,” the Alpha said. “It’s time to avenge our cubs.”

Rafe snarled, fully wolf now, and bolted toward the battle.

A flash of light bleached the night sky.

CHAPTER 31

Lila backed away from the window, pulling her father with her. She looked around for Rafe, but he was nowhere in sight. Worry stabbed her—if wolves were attacking, he was an automatic target for the fae. So did a profound sense of loss. She’d grown used to having him near.

But there was no way to search for him. Fae were crowding in every direction, making it hard to move. She wished she was still wearing the fancy gown and jewels she’d had earlier that night. Right or wrong, the finery earned her a degree of respect. While she was dressed in ill-fitting castoffs, no one thought twice about trampling right over her and her father.

A female in a crimson skirt knocked Lila in the ribs, making her lose her grip on Gareth’s arm. For a heart-stopping instant, he vanished into the crowd, carried off like a twig in a river. Desperate to find him again, she burrowed through the crush of bodies, nearly getting bowled over by running soldiers.

The military captains who had come with Farras were mustering their troops in the banquet room. That made sense. It was large enough to hold most of the fae, and it had few entrances to control. On the surface, it was the logical place for her to go. Then again, the way station was hardly a beacon of hospitality. Which would be worse—to be stuck in the room with Farras’s crew or take her chances outside? Neither guaranteed safety, but her choice couldn’t be for herself alone.

She glimpsed Gareth’s cloak near the banquet room door. By sheer determination—and use of elbows—Lila forced her way to his side.

“There you are,” she said, slipping her arm securely through his. “I thought I’d lost you.”

Clearly too weary to speak, he put his hand over hers, squeezing her fingers. She looked around for Rafe, but there was still no sign of him. She hoped he’d made it outside, where he’d be with his pack.

The crowd carried Lila and her father through the banquet room door. The high-ceilinged hall looked nothing like it had just an hour ago. The lights had been turned up, dispelling the illusion of an indoor night. Most of the tables had been removed to make room for the crowd, although one or two had been pushed against the wall to hold platters of leftover food. Lila entered, immediately sensing the spell she’d cast to decorate the hall was shattered. The vines had withered and falling petals smeared the floor where a hundred heels had crushed them.

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