Page 5 of Resurgence of the Pack

‘Hi, Nina,’ I said warmly and patted her walls. ‘It’s good to see you. Could you ask if my grandfather is available?’

After my grandfather had shown up at the mansion panicking about his forthcoming duel, I had called Voltaire and left him a message demanding that he facilitated a delay for the fight. I’d pointed out that he owed me, since he’d persuaded Abberdon to attack me despite his vow not to. Voltaire hadn’t answered but we’d received a note on our doorstep with a new date, time and location on it, signed with an obnoxiously large ‘V’.

The rearranged date was tonight. I had arranged for some wolfie allies of Lord Samuel to hang out with me in the hope that they would becomemywolfie allies. Naturally they’d arrived today, but I was a woman so I could multi-task like a bitch.

The ceiling to my room opened and Alessandro was dropped through the gap. He gave a strangled cry and looked pissed off as he landed on his ass; he’d clearly just woken up and was halfway through getting dressed. ‘Hey, Grandy,’ I said weakly.

‘Rude woman!’ He shook his fist at Nina’s walls. ‘She needs to learn to knock,’ he snarled. ‘You can’t just go around removing floors!’

‘Sorry! It wasmy fault. I asked her to see if you were available. I didn’t expect her to … well, drop you into my room.’

‘She’s a menace,’ he growled.

‘She’s enthusiastic,’ I countered diplomatically. ‘She’s just trying to help me.’ I patted her walls again. ‘Anyway, I’ve come up with a plan. Kind of.’

‘I can’t wait to hear it,’ he said flatly. ‘I do love a plan to save my life.Kind of.’

I sighed. ‘Old age has made you crotchety.’

‘Losing my fire magic has made me crotchety,’ he shot back as he fastened the remaining buttons of his shirt.

There was a knock on the door before Archie popped his head into the room. ‘Amber DeLea is here to see you, ma’am.’

‘Perfect timing. Show her in.’

‘To here?’ he asked, surprised. I hadn’t let many people come into my personal domain in the seat of power.

‘Yes, please.’

Archie bobbed a bow then returned a few moments later with Amber in tow. She looked around with interest. ‘So this is your seat of power. Very nice.’ She reached out to pat the walls. ‘My honour to meet you,’ she intoned to the house and bowed.

Oh, I like her,Nina said warmly.

‘She’s very pleased to meet you,’ Isaid aloud. ‘How are you doing, Amber?’

‘I’m fine. Better than Emory,’ she replied drily.

I sighed. ‘Yeah. It’s not ideal.’

She shrugged. ‘He’s not a man you can keep down for long. He’ll be fine.’ She looked at my grandfather. ‘Alessandro,’ she said respectfully, giving him a regal inclination of her head. Man, I needed to get that move down.

‘Miss DeLea,’ he intoned formally, giving her a slight bow in return.

‘You two know each other?’ I asked, surprised.

Amber raised a haughty eyebrow. ‘Of course we’ve met before. I know everyone of importance.’

‘As do I,’ Alessandro smirked.

‘Great. Glad you’re big fans.’ I sobered. ‘So you heard about Emory’s trial? It’s a fucking travesty.’

‘It is,’ Amber agreed with a disappointed shake of her head. ‘Though for some reason, I find myself doubting he’ll be down for long. The man has more charisma than Winston Churchill. He’s a leader through and through. If the dragons are done with him – then the Connection better watch out.’

‘The dragons aren’t part of the Connection, though, are they?’ I asked.

‘Not historically, but I wouldn’t put anything past Emory. His accomplishments in life won’t be diminished by the naysayers around him. He’ll seek another path of greatness and I just can’t wait to see which.’

I loved her matter-of-fact tone and her simple and unquestioning faith in the man that Emory was. She’d known him far longer than I had, and I had no doubt that she was right. Something in me eased. A door might have shut for Emory but I was confident that he’d smash through the walls and create a new window. I grinned. ‘You’re right.’

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