Page 183 of Wolf Roulette

I unplugged my headphones and exited the Water app screen. Tucking my phone in my pocket, I grabbed my saxophone from the chair and placed it back in the case.

With no other excuse to delay, I left the manor.

The tribe quietened at my passing, and I didn’t drag out the moment needlessly by stopping to chat as I usually did.

My head team stood at the front, each holding a microphone.

They’d worked around the clock since last Thursday. Stanley looked ready to drop.

“Thank you all for getting us to this moment,” I said for their ears only. “It’s up to our stewards now.”

Wade’s nod was as terse as the others.

They dispersed through the crowd.

I caught Rhona’s curious gaze from the second row but turned away to climb the stage stairs. Freeing the microphone, I looked at the tribe and inhaled their uncertainty, confusion, and fear.

“There has never been a moment so important in our tribe’s history,” I addressed them. “On Sunday, I asked that you consider what happens if we win and the Luthers leave the valley. Tonight, we will make a decision for our children and children’s children.”

The stewards weren’t stupid. They’d guessed where my question was leading.

But they didn’t have all the facts just yet.

“First, I wanted to ask how the training with our guests went yesterday and this afternoon.”

There was a general murmur of approval. Some excitement.

They still had no idea our guests were vampires. I’d watched them practice with the Vissimo at interval. Though my stewards’ heartbeats increased and their scent changed slightly in reaction to the supernaturals’ presence, for the most part they felt nothing more than curiosity. Basilia had seemed to think so many Vissimo would cause panic in them, but I wondered if regular exposure to other supernaturals had given this tribe a certain resilience over the centuries. Strangely, those who didn’t react as strongly felt the most wariness about our guests, but they were few.

I nodded. “I’m glad to hear it. If Gerry spoke, he’d shout your praise. Thank you for your effort.”

That earned a few laughs, but the mood quickly sank back to trepidation.

“There has been a development in Grids that myself and the head team decided not to impart with you all until now. We wanted the focus to be on memorising the influx of new strategies. On Sunday, there was a meeting with the pack. Two of our sandstone experts attended also. The meeting was called to settle concerns our sandstone stewards had picked up on while working for the pack.”

Their spying job was no secret within the tribe, but only a handful of our sandstone stewards knew what had happened with the reports.

My hands shook slightly—not with apprehension. Withanticipation.“As a result of that meeting, a grid was turned over—”

There was a collective breath-hold.

“—to us.” I finished. “We are now in possession of Clay, bringing us up to a total of four grids.”

The tribeexploded.I grinned as they shouted and screamed, watching on as they hugged each other.

We’d possessed four grids three times since the game’s origins.

I waited as the stewards celebrated, breathing in their relief and excitement.

I waited as their happy calls quietened.

… As their happiness morphed to determination and realisation.

Yes.

Tomorrow could be the end, and where would we be then? Five grids rich, and on the cusp of something more frightening than anything we’d faced?

Their nervousness swelled.

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