Page 86 of Wolf Roulette

“Come on in,” I said to Basilia.

We were both holding our noses now, and laughter bubbled up my throat at the ridiculousness of the situation.

Her eyes danced, then tilted her head. “There are a lot of humans here.”

“You’re used to less noise?”

She shrugged a shoulder. “Less noise, but around the same number. We have a lot of help and security at the mansion.”

The mansion.

Oh to be a billionaire.

I guided her to the oldest sitting room.

She shifted her attention from the polished wood to the old books. “This place has been in the family a while.”

“In the tribe, yes. The Thanas have lived in this manor for one hundred and fifty years, but we’ve always lived on this land.”

“And where are the wolves?”

“On the opposite side of the valley. They call their territory pack lands, but the area is only on loan to them until the end of the game.”

She focused on me, and I withheld a shiver at the laser intensity of her topaz eyes. “What game?”

Wade and Tommy returned.

“Roll this under your nose,” he said.

I accepted the essential oil from him and obeyed. Orange scent filled my nose. I could barely smell Basilia through it. “That’s better.”

She sighed after doing the same with a second roller. “Much.”

Wade took cocktail orders and got busy at the corner bar we’d stocked earlier.

Basilia sat with a grace that confirmed her otherness. “As I said.Whatgame?”

“Holy shit.” Tommy plonked down beside her friend.

I darted a look between them. “You have some history with supernatural games?”

“I told you,” Wade called. “There was a game between two vampire clans, and one side recently won.”

I vaguely recollected him saying that.

“Ourside,” Tommy jumped in. “Basilia owned them.”

What I’d give to do the same. I smiled. “You’re proud of her.”

“Damn straight. You should have seen her.Bam!Do this.Bam!Do that. Be my minions. Except she freed the actual minions. Totally cool.”

Wade passed Basilia a strawberry mojito. “Tequila for you, Tom?”

“With a lemon, please, Wadie boy.”

They were on a nickname basis already.

I shook my head. “Right. The game. There’s been a battle between the tribe and werewolves for over two centuries. The pack originally came here to find a new home after splitting from their old pack.”

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