Page 37 of Resurgence of the Pack

Sorry, Esme, looks like we’re getting touchy with a seer.I felt her reservations, but she didn’t try to stop me.

I laid my hand on Victoria’s. She gave an audible gasp then clasped her other hand on top of mine and held me in a vice-like grip. I had to fight the urge to pull away as shestared off into the middle distance but I was here because I needed help and I couldn’t afford to piss them off just because they were getting handsy.

She gasped again and I clenched my teeth. Could she just notdothat? What was it with seers and all the drama? Finally, she released my hand and sat back, looking stunned. ‘You need to tell her about the Domini,’ she said to Farrier.

Farrier’s jaw dropped. ‘Jesus fucking Christ. That’s a name I hoped I’d never hear again.’ He licked his lips and shook his head. ‘No, I can’t. They took everything from me and I can’t put my head above the parapet again. Not even for my supposed Queen.’

‘You know it’s less of a title when you put “supposed” in front of it,’ I said wryly.

‘I don’t know you and I haven’t sworn fealty to you. I’m not in a werewolf pack.’

My eyes narrowed. ‘Did you hear me when I called the lones to me?’

His jaw worked but he didn’t answer; I wasn’t sure if he’d heard the call whilst he was in the Common realm. After a beat he turned to Victoria. ‘Leave us.’

‘You still don’t trust me?’ she asked softly, looking crushed.

‘It’s notthat, never that. I won’triskyou; I won’t risk you knowing what I know. I’m not painting a target on your back for anyone, not even her,’ he jerked his thumb at me. ‘Go, Victoria. Please.’

She grimaced and shot him a hard glare but she didn’t walk out; instead, she turned to me. ‘Candice is a strong woman,’ she said obliquely, ‘She’ll be perfect for him.’

‘Who the hell is Candice?’ I asked.

Victoria smiled. ‘You’ll find out.’

With that last piece of cryptic advice, the seer stalked out without so much as a backward glance at Farrier. She slammed the flimsy door as she left, making the ringmaster’s poster of himself that was tacked to the door flutter. Wow, a life-size poster of yourself in your own caravan – that was some narcissism.

I refocused on the man, rather than his smiling picture. ‘You look friendlier on that,’ I muttered, gesturing at the image.

He grunted but ignored my comment. ‘I don’t know what to do,’ he said finally.

‘What would your wolf do?’ Greg asked.

‘I don’t know,’ Farrier sighed. ‘I haven’t shifted in a very long time.’

My eyes widened. ‘I’ve restored the Great Pack.’

‘The what?’ Farrier looked at me in confusion.

‘The Great Pack. It’s like a hive mind, but for wolves. The witches’ curse tore it from us centuries ago but I’ve restored it.’

‘So what? You want a medal?’ he asked flatly.

It was my turn to glare. Clearly, he didn’t understand the implications so I’d have to spell them out for him. ‘It means you can communicate with your wolf. Talk to him properly.’

His jaw dropped. ‘Are you serious?’

‘With all that I am. Shift and you’ll see.’

‘God, I’m tempted, I really am. But I can’t risk going to a hall – not now, not ever. If the Domini catch wind that I faked my death, I reallywillbe pushing up daisies.’

Pipe him, Esme suggested.

What?

Pipe his wolf and loop them together. He’ll be able to talk to his wolf then even if he doesn’t have magic enough to shift.

Will it work with him in Common?I asked dubiously.

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