Page 179 of Wolf Roulette

And like Sascha back on pack lands, I wanted to do everything possible to make him feel better.

I wanted us to be happy for more than a few minutes strung together. So I didn’t waver.

A leaden beat passed.

“The pack accepts the total penalty of two points,” he said quietly.

His words were a kiss on the mouth and a punch in the stomach.

Jubilation filled the room, emanating from my stewards, but I’d never felt closer to tears.

Sascha’s jaw clenched. “The Ni Tiaki hold five penalty points. One of our grids is yours. Which will it be?”

No sane Head Steward would choose Clay with our horrendous track record in Water.

“The Ni Tiaki claim Clay.” My voice rang through the space.

Lisa blinked three times.

Yeah,I’d decided on the insane path.

For several reasons, one of them being that last Sunday, we announced Clay as the next grid.

The pack would only have three days to prepare for Water. No time to order equipment. Very little time to brainstorm and train. Whereas we’d already had ten days practicing for the grid.

The gloves were off.

Sascha inclined his head. “We’ll prepare for the turnover of the grid on Thursday morning as per usual procedure. Congratulations on four grids, Head Steward.”

I didn’t want his congratulations.

I wantedhim.

Sascha ended the call.

31

I stood at the manor entrance with my head team as Basilia Le Spyre made her second entrance.

She was in a white car this time and driving.

“Who’s the guy?” Wade asked.

Crown Prince Kyros was crammed into the passenger seat and looking faintly harassed. As Basilia ripped down the wheel and fish-tailed into a parking spot, it wasn’t hard to guess why.

“Her mate, Prince Kyros.” I walked down the steps as a few SUVs drove onto manor lands too.

Our guests had started to arrive. Many more would follow, but they’d stagger their entry into Deception Valley over thirty minutes so werewolves in town didn’t notice the stream of traffic.

The SUVs were filled with employees of Basilia’s who’d once served Clan Sundulus to pay off debt, or so I understood the matter.

I’d come prepared with orange-scented oil this time. Having already dabbed it under my nose, I offered to the vampire princess as she exited the car.

“I’m sorted.” She held up a small bottle.

“How was the journey?”

“It’s much more entertaining to drive. So many tight bends. It flew by. Right, Ky?”

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