Page 50 of Resurgence of the Pack

I looked at him, horrified. ‘Absolutely not.’

We don’t need air to kill them,Esme snorted.

‘I want to help them,’ I explained. ‘All of them. I want to strengthen the werewolves’ position in the Other. At the moment, no one really considers us a threat.’

‘And you want to be a threat?’ The Librarian raised a bushy eyebrow.

‘No, butI want to be taken seriously, to have a seat at the table and an equal voice.’

He nodded slowly. ‘Well that, my dear, is something of worth. Ask your question.’

‘When did the orb, the artefact that gives the werewolves their lost air powers, get stolen?’ I repeated.

‘On the 1stof January 1846,’ he said decisively.

I’d expected some showy magic, or maybe I’d expected him to rummage around in some dusty tomes before he gave me an answer, not just blurt it out. It was a bit of a letdown. ‘Thank you,’ I said politely.

He looked amused again. ‘You’re welcome, Lucy Alessandro-Barrett.’ So the cheeky dragon did know who I was! He leaned forward. ‘Now, ask me how I know that date.’

I decided to play ball. ‘How do you know that date?’

He smiled. ‘I can’t tell you that, but you’re a smart girl so I’m sure you can work it out.’

I gave him a flat look. ‘You were there?’ I hazarded a guess. ‘Alive at the time, I mean, not therethere.’

‘Oh, I was most assuredly living at the time. I’m a good few centuries old – and add a few more for luck.’ He winked. ‘But no, I was not on the Staffordshire packs’ lands when the orb wasstolen.’

I suppressed a grin. Well, that was helpful: he’d inadvertently confirmed the location of the seat of power at the relevant time. I felt a tingle of excitement.

He looked at me seriously. ‘You had another question.’

I licked my lips. ‘Yes.’

‘Ask.’

‘How do I take down the Domini?’

He studied me. ‘Ending their attack on you is one thing, taking them down completely is another. What do youreallywant to do?’

‘I want to end them,’ I said firmly. ‘It’s not enough to stop them attackingmebecause I don’t want them to simply pick a new target. I want them to stop – and I don’t think they’ll do it if I ask nicely.’

‘You need to cut off the head of the snake – but you need to do it correctly. If you cut it off wrongly, it will be like a starfish and grow back two limbs for the one you chopped off.’

I was momentarily distracted. ‘They do that?’

‘Starfish? Yes, they all start life with five limbs. When they lose one, two grow back. If you see a starfish with ten arms, you know it’s seen some shit.’

‘Huh. So what you’re saying is that I could end up making the Domini even worse if I don’t destroy it properly?’

‘Exactly. Cut off the head, not the arm.’

‘How do I find the head?’

He smiled humourlessly. ‘You follow the orb. Your two questions were intertwined. The road ahead is messy, Lucy. Have a care.’

‘I will. Thank you.’

‘Good. And tell your brother, the answer to his question is yes.’

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