Page 58 of Resurgence of the Pack

Torrance bowed again, his eyes flashing over Greg in a quick evaluation. His body tensed: he had correctly assessed that Greg was a threat. ‘You’re in need of a guide,’ he said finally. ‘I’ll go with you. I can ensure that no harm comes to you from Timmy.’

Ali frowned. ‘Are you sure?’

‘She is your family, is she not?’

‘She is. She’s an Alessandro.’

Torrance bowed to him. ‘I am indebted to the Alessandros, so allow me to assist. You cannot leave your post and I cannot in good conscience let these two stroll defenceless into the ogre’s den.’

‘We’re hardly defenceless,’ Greg growled.

‘Perhaps not,’ Torrance agreed. ‘But you won’t have allies there and you’ll need them.Shewill catch Timmy’s eye. She’s his type.’

This time Greg’s growl was loud and rumbling.

I sighed. ‘This is all a bit more complicated than I’d envisioned.’ I admitted. ‘I just need to get to the Staffordshire Pack.’

‘Tomorrow?’ Ali confirmed.

‘Tomorrow,’ I agreed.

‘Then you have no choice. You’ll have to go through Birmingham and risk meeting Timmy Krieg.’ Ali spoke the name with a whisper and a shudder, the way you might speak of the devil.

How awful could this Timmy Krieg be? There was no doubt in my mind that he was a relative of Robert Krieg, the High King of the ogres, and if I’d handled Robert I could surely handle Timmy.

‘I can deal with one ogre,’ I said confidently. Ogres were some of the deadliest bastards in the Other realm, second only to griffins, but Esme was confident she could kill one. Faced with two, we’d probably die. But one? We’d probably be fine. Maybe.

‘I hope so, for your sake,’ Ali muttered. ‘But Torrance is right, you stand a better chance if you take him with you. He can smooth your way if Krieg wantsto see you. Torrance was always a favourite of his, which is why it cost so much to free him. Anyway, take the cart to the station. Best of luck. I’ll be here when you’re ready to return.’

‘Thank you.’ I hugged him, careful not to call him grandfather in front of Torrance.

Ali squeezed me back. ‘Go on now.’ His eyes settled on Greg, ‘You keep her safe.’ It wasn’t a request.

Greg nodded. ‘Yes, sir.’

Satisfied, Ali led us out to the back. He hooked a cart up to a horse – no unicorn this time; Torrance swung up into the driver’s position and we were off.

Ali watched us go, his expression full of foreboding. I wanted to tell him everything would be alright but I wasn’t sure if I’d be lying.

Chapter 29

For some unknown reason, I wasn’t prepared for a steam train. The old thing looked just like the trains I’d seen in the dozens of museums that I’d been dragged round as a result of my brother’s love of all things transport. Ben had grown out of the obsession, but I still remembered tolerating the trips with many an eye roll. Dad had bribed me with cookies and treats to minimise the moaning as I’d been pulled unwillingly around the vast halls filled to the brim with trains, planes or old automobiles.

Dad: a shard of hurt ran through me at the thought of him. I was trying very hard not to feel bad about his decision to remove the Other from his memory and his life, but it felt very much like he had chosen to removeme. The Other was at the heart of my being now – it was in all I did and all I was – and he’d chosen to wipe me out. It stung. It bloody well stung.

It ishisflaw,Esme said dismissively.He is not strong enough for the Other. That is his problem, not yours.

I made noises of agreement but I wished that I could see it like that. We all want our parents’ approval, whether we admit it or not, and with that one action it felt like Dad had removed any chance of me gaining his.I have Mum,I thought firmly. And I wasn’t a teenager, looking desperately to my family to approve my life choices. It would be nice, sure, but I didn’tneedit. Not any more. I’d get over it.

In my head, Esme nuzzled me to offer silent support, even though she didn’t really understand the source of my distress. I cuddled her back, clinging to her as my physical body swayed to the movements of the train.

Greg reached out a hand. ‘Okay?’ he asked softly.

I dredged up a smile. ‘Thinking of my father,’ I admitted.

He pulled me into a hug and kissed my temple. ‘Sorry, Peaches,’ he murmured, and I knew he was. He was sorry for me and he was also sorry that my dad had chosen to throw away Greg’s solution. Greg and Bastion had wrangled an adoption for my parents – and for what? In an instant, Dad had thrown it all away for nothing.

Snuggled in Greg’s arms, I looked out of the window as the miles passed.

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