Page 25 of The Wolf

“Well, actually, two dukes were murdered.” Pyre laughed humorlessly. “The old duke—the one you knew—appeared to have died of natural causes, though a new informant has revealed that his son had him killed. And then said son took his place, and our very own lovely Robyn, the former Lady Lochslee, may have dispatched with him on their wedding night.”

Brine’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “That—that slip of a girl who Damien claimed was his mate,” he spluttered, “murdered the duke of Merjeri?” How intriguing.

“When will you stop underestimating every ‘slip of a girl’ you come into contact with, Brine?” Pyre cried in mock display.

“Apparently never. Did she really murder him?”

“Not intentionally. A flight of stairs was involved. She was distraught, of course, but terrified that she would be tried for his intentional murder and hanged. So we took care of it.”

Brine huffed. “You mean you covered it up.”

“We helped the innocent victim of a horrible man. It was also to our advantage. Now we have a duchess of Merjeri—not a duke—who is sympathetic and supports our new queen. But this, of course, presents us with new problems.”

It didn’t take Brine long to fill in the blanks. “This is the same as when Ansette took the throne,” he said slowly, lips pursing. “Merjeri is full of corrupt highborns loyal to the old duke, or to his son.”

“Yes.”

“And Robyn will need protection.”

Pyre nodded. “As quick as ever, my friend. I’d expect nothing less from you. Yes, Robyn has been invited to the capital to present herself before the queen and explain her case. Of course, Ansette already knows what’s going on, but we need to do all of this for the sake of the public. She’s meeting with her now. Tempest and I protected her on the way to Dotae. But Tempest must stay here, and I have something else to take care of, so I need someone else to guard Robyn on her way home. Someone I can trust.”

“So you want me to do it.”

“Right again.”

Brine crossed his arms. “And what of her mate? Damien is good with this?”

Pyre smiled, but it wasn’t nice. “That is what I’m going to find out. The bloody dragon has disappeared and I intend to bring him back to his senses, even if it means I have to drag him back myself.” He ran a hand over his face. “At least I know where to start and that Robyn will be safe.”

A burst of pride filled Brine’s chest; this was what he lived for—actually helping people, effecting change. It had been pointless of him to miss the version of him that lived in his past, the one who used to live purely for long summer days spent with the blond girl with big eyes. That version of Brine was long gone.

Pyre swung his legs from the ledge of the window to stand, so Brine followed suit. He was taller than the fox, which was saying something because Pyre was tall and rangy. But in any case, Pyre had to tilt his gaze upward to meet Brine’s eyes as he set his hat on his head. “Yes. I wouldn’t trust anyone else for that. But I should warn you…”

“Just spit it out.” That was one of the things that drove Brine crazy. Pyre rarely ever said what he wanted outright.What now?

“We’ll be pushing out some of the wolf shifters from Merjeri in the process,” Pyre said carefully. “The ones still remaining from Old Mother’s now-destroyed alliance with Merjeri. I don’t want you entering your grandmother’s territory while we do this.”

Brine considered this, studying the kitsune. Pyre arched a brow in challenge almost as if to say,I know you won’t listen to me, but you should. Entering your old territory is dangerous.

“Fine,” Brine said, even though they both knew it was a lie.

Pyre didn’t push back, but nodded slowly. “Don’t be stupid.”

“I never am.”

The kitsune snorted. “That’s the bloody truth. But there’s something about family that makes one crazy.”

Brine said nothing and clapped his good friend on the shoulder. “Thank you for breakfast.”

“You’re welcome. Come to the palace. Ansette is waiting for you.”

They left the bakery, and Brine watched the sun rise in the sky as the city of Dotae began to wake. One more task before he would go home. Leading the duchess of Merjeri back to her home would get him one more step closer to his grandmother.

Brine knew what he needed to do the moment his duties as bodyguard to Robyn were over. He couldn’t let his grandmother hurt anyone else. Not anymore. Not after all this time.

Come tomorrow, he would return to the province that had made him who he was and integrate himself into the pack of Betraz as his final mission.

He’d take back what was his.

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