Page 36 of Resurgence of the Pack

‘If this is a secret magical circus, then calling it “Other” isn’t exactly subtle,’ Greg complained.

‘Hiding in plain sight,’ I suggested. ‘Who would think a hidden circus would be so brazen?’

‘A double bluff.’

‘Exactly.’

‘Well, let’s go and see if we can find ourselves a dead man walking.’

We paid the entrance fee, though we were a solid half an hour before the next performance was due. ‘Excuse me,’ I asked the young man on the gate. ‘We’re looking to speak to Cain Stillwell. Can you direct us to him?’

The young lad eyed us dubiously. ‘Follow me,’ he said finally. He collared a colleague to take his place on the door and led us around the back of the circus where a number of caravans were set out to the swanky new black one in the centre. He jogged up the metal steps and knocked respectfully. ‘Boss?’ he called. ‘You got some people here to see you. You want me to let them in?’

‘Who are they, Stu?’ a grumpy voice called back.

Stu flushed. ‘I knew I forgot something,’ he muttered. He turned to us. ‘Who are you?’

‘I’m Lucy, and this is Greg. We want to talk to him about … wolves.’

Stu paled and started shaking visibly; I would have happily played poker with this kid all day long. He opened the door to Farrier’s caravan and went inside. I couldn’t hear what they were saying because they were whispering but a moment later Stu opened the door and showed us in.

Theboy made a swift exit, leaving us to size up the man in front of us. He was sitting at a table dressed in a red military jacket, ready to go on stage in his role as the ringmaster of the circus. The dude was a handsome silver fox but his glare was off-putting.

‘Hi,’ I said in a friendly, perky voice. ‘I’m Lucy Barrett and I’m—’

‘I know who you are,’ he interrupted. ‘What are you doing here?’

I blinked. So … were we being open about the werewolf thing or not? ‘I’m here to see you,’ I said finally. ‘Jessica Sharp sent me. I’m her best friend, and I was told I’d die without your help.’

‘By whom?’

‘A seer.’

Farrier grunted, took out his phone and made a call. ‘Victoria, come to my caravan.’ He paused a beat before belatedly adding, ‘Please.’ He hung up without waiting for a response. Oh yeah, this guy had alpha energy allllll over him and yet, according to Jess, he’d been one of the good ones.

There was a rap on the door and in strode a woman dressed as fortune teller, complete with a starry robe and matching starry turban. Neither she nor Farrier had themark of the Other realm on their heads, yet I was still somehow certain that they were magical.

He’s an alpha,Esme agreed.

And her?

She snorted.A seer, of course.

How much can she see whilst she’s in Common?

The strongest can still wield a little magic in Common. Don’t touch her,Esme warned.

Farrier shuffled up on his bench seat so that Victoria could perch next to him. ‘Sit,’ he finally said to us, pointing to the seat opposite. We sat.

‘So,’ I said lightly, ‘are we being open about the fact we’re all Other or not?’

‘Just say your piece,’ Farrier growled.

‘I just did. A seer told me I needed to see you or I’d die. So here I am.’ I sent him a finger wave.

‘May I?’ Victoria held out a hand to me.

I balked but one glance at Farrier’s glowering visage told me he wasn’t going to help me worth a damn unless his pet seer told him to.

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