Page 28 of Hidden

Prisoner and guard stopped at the foot of Ademar’s bed. With a brutal shove, the servant forced Rafe to his knees. The wolf tried to twist away, but the servant grabbed his shaggy hair, wrenching his head up to face his captors.

Ademar pushed himself up to sit forward. “Why is this creature here?”

“The beast escaped his cell, and then helped the vampire escape,” Galeeta said, her voice cold. “He has squandered whatever dim chance for clemency he had. He is here to beg your forgiveness before I decide his end.”

“Forgiveness?” Ademar’s features twisted. “This thief trespassed against the fae and maimed me when I forbade him.”

The heat of her brother’s words jolted Lila, clearing her head. “Wait a minute.”

Silence fell over the room, brutal in its absolute quality. Lila’s pulse thundered in her ears.

“What?” her brother finally demanded.

Lila widened her stance, as if bracing for a blow. “Whatever else happened, Rafe isn’t a thief. He was telling the truth about looking for his kin.”

“Why would you possibly believe that?” Galeeta asked, sounding weary.

“I found the graves in the woods a few minutes ago.”

Rafe jerked, making a strangled sound around the gag. The servant wrenched his bonds, silencing him. Even so, Lila heard his soft moan.

“Graves?” Galeeta said softly. “Graves of other wolves?”

“Yes.” Lila steadied her thundering heart and pressed on. “He told me he came looking for other wolves, and apparently that was true. Someone killed them and wove a thicket around their graves. I found them when I was looking for the vampire. Whoever buried them invested a lot of magic to keep the place secret.”

“Are you saying a fae is responsible?” her mother asked. Where she’d been haughty before, now there was apprehension.

Lila looked from Galeeta to Ademar, considering the shock on their faces. In a deep corner of her soul, she felt relief. Not that she’d suspected them of the crime—not really, but ever since arriving at the way station, it was hard to know what to believe.

“A fae spell hid the graves,” she answered, sticking to the facts. “Their families deserve to know they’ve been found.”

She glanced Rafe’s way, but his head was bowed, features hidden. She looked away. It seemed wrong not to allow even a beast his private grief.

“Not so fast,” her mother said. “A crime like this deserves justice, but our own authorities must be informed first. There is protocol for a crime between our communities.”

“Very well,” Lila said. She distrusted delays but wasn’t going to spoil the fact that her mother was actually listening. “But let’s not lose sight of the fact that the wolf told the truth about his missing pack.”

Her brother frowned. “Then as little as I like it, we owe him some leniency.” The words were grudging, anger still thick in his tone.

“His life for that of the victims.” Galeeta replied slowly. “But only that. He attacked us. And, if he came here in search of his missing packmates, it is unlikely he knows anything of value to us. By the same token, he knows too much to be set free.”

Lila winced. “Then what will we do with him?”

Galeeta flicked a hand. “Since you pleaded his innocence, he can serve you.”

Lila balked. “I don’t need a servant, especially not a wolf. It’s plain that fae and wolves don’t mix well.”

“Don’t be hasty,” Galeeta said, circling Rafe and the servant as if inspecting them for purchase. Her eyes were still troubled, as if pondering problems Lila could barely see. “Lord Farras will be here soon, and he must be received as befits a noble of royal blood. He is leaving his estates and joining the king in Gilden Wood. He will be stopping at this way station and has commanded that there be a feast here to initiate the journey. You will see to the arrangements.”

Lila gaped. “Me?”

“Of course you,” her mother said in a way that left no doubt. “I raised you properly. You know what to do, and you will need a servant’s help.”

As the daughter of a noble house, Lila knew what wine to serve and who to seat next to whom and in what order they ought to be greeted. That didn’t mean she enjoyed any of it.

Her mother watched her, reading her silence for the resistance it was. “I’ll repeat what I said before. Lord Farras is our greatest supporter. If he chooses, he will intercede with the king to get your father released. We need the lord’s favor.”

Lila cursed silently. “Very well. I’ll make a comfortable bed and cook a good meal if that will help Father, but that’s all. I don’t like Lord Farras. You know that.”

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