Page 70 of Resurgence of the Pack

The Great Pack!She sniffed.If it is so great, why has it abandoned me?

A tingle flew across my scalp and a sense of déjà vu crashed over me. We’d had this conversation before. When I’d first met her, she’d seemed ignorant of the curse; didthat mean I shouldn’t mention it? Had she forgotten? Or was she just a great actor?

In the end, I decided to risk it. ‘The witches cursed the werewolves and turned anyone that went feral – golden-eyed – into gargoyles. They intended the curse to separate the wolves from the humans and end them forever, but it didn’t work like that. Instead they separated the wolves from the Great Pack. The Great Pack has been silent toallof us.’

Then how come I can talk to you?she asked nosily.

In for a penny, in for a pound. ‘I’m a piper.’

Ah. How will I talk to Torrance?

Good question. I knew that they could talk, so it had to be possible, but she couldn’t exactly wear Torrance on her head like I did.

‘I’ll link you. One second.’ I hummed a ditty and reached out with my piping magic. It was sluggish and hard to work with, and for a second I almost bound her to Terrance instead of Torrance – whoops! I hummed the tune again and tied her to the correct crown and spirit.

When I’d finished, I was bone-achingly tired. I’d used a heck of a lot of magic on this trip and done plenty of things that should have been impossible. The impossible was becoming my speciality. ‘All done, I hope,’ I said.

I’llintroduce myself after you go,Nina said primly.The fire is nearly out,she noted with satisfaction.

‘It is.’ I let the moment stretch, wondering what to say.

Tell her the truth,Esme suggested. It was often her advice; she had no duplicity and I loved that about her.

I licked my lips. ‘Nina, I have something else to tell you.’

You’re from the future. You used the Third realm.

‘Well, yes,’ I admitted. ‘But that wasn’t what I was going to say.’ I collected my thoughts. ‘The truth is that the next few years will be hard for you. You need to protect the crown and yourself, so you’ll have to cultivate a deadly persona. You need to convince everyone that they should leave you alone – even me, when we meet for the first time in the future.’

Arrrr,she said.I’ll be a swashbuckling pirate house.She sounded excited at the prospect.

‘Less piratey,’ I suggested. ‘More sinister and lethal – slamming doors and windows, creepy lights, people disappearing if they venture inside you. That sort of thing.’

I can’t disappear people!she objected.I deliver the dead to the Great Pack but I don’t makethem dead! I couldn’t kill anyone if I tried.

‘I know, Nina. But people have to believe that you do. Torrance will help you.’

I felt her uncertainty so I went on. ‘You know, the chap in the crown I just linked you to? He’s very nice. You’ll be good friends.’

I bet he’s snooty,she sniffed.

‘He’s not,’ I promised.

With a name like that?

‘We can’t help the name we’re given.’ I paused as I thought about it. ‘Do you know why it is called the Crown of Torr?’ I asked.

The house gave a light shudder, her equivalent of a small shrug.A seer named it, I think.

I grimaced: I bet they did. ‘I’ve got to go, Nina.’ We needed to make tracks before the Staffordshire pack started asking inconvenient questions. ‘I’ll be back, but not for a while. Just … be patient, honey, okay?’

Patient and deadly.

‘Pretenddeadly,’ I amended and patted her walls. ‘Look after yourself and Torrance.’

I think I’ll call him Terrance – or maybe Terry,she mused.

I slipped out of the house as I heard her introducing herself.

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