Page 35 of The Omega Thief

Well, that was helpful. “But Raz has a wolf. Why wasn’t he affected by the smell?”

Laronne pursed his lips. “And many years used to dealing with having one.”

Attiker thought about the blank look he’d portrayed and agreed. The servants came in again, and Attiker picked up his wine.

“What exactly did you mean by a dormant wolf?”

“My apologies, Master Healer. Will that be all?”

Attiker squirmed slightly. He thought the room was empty, but Laronne didn’t seem perturbed. “Perhaps you can keep the food in the warming oven in case His Highness joins us?”

The servant bowed and left.

Laronne took a sip of wine. “Exactly that. But the important thing is to know your wolf still lives. His Highness or perhaps Her Highness may know more. They are, rightly so, secretive with a lot of their gifts.”

“So, do I just wait for him to wake up?”

The door opened, and Raz walked through. He groaned. “I hope you saved some for me.”

Laronne rang the bell as he’d done before, and Attiker moved so he could sit down. Attiker waited until the servants had left and Raz had at least finished off one plate full of food. “Laronne’s been trying to poison me.”

Raz stopped helping himself to more of everything. “What?”

“He made me taste all this disgusting moldy food.”

Laronne chuckled. “Highness, I merely established that your mate’s wolf is dormant.”

Raz’s head whipped around so fast I expected him to need Laronne for a strained neck. “Dormant?”

Attiker nodded shyly. He felt rather pleased with himself.

“His sense of taste and smell has increased tremendously,” Laronne added. “It also explains why your wolf can’t find him.”

Raz put his plate and spoon down carefully. “Has anyone heard you mention this?”

Attiker glanced at Laronne and back to Raz. Laronne shook his head. “No, Highness, why?”

“It’s very important that you keep this suspicion to yourselves,” Raz ground out.

“Actually,” Attiker said and looked at Laronne. “There was the servant.”

Laronne waved a hand. “Gimlick has worked for me for years. He understands the confidentiality associated with the healing ward.”

“Gimlick?” Raz repeated.

“What’s wrong?” Attiker asked. “I thought you’d be pleased. Surely, a dormant wolf is better than no wolf?”

Raz didn’t answer immediately, but he reached over and took Attiker’s glass of wine, finishing it in one gulp. “We’re okay if Gimlick can be trusted, but you need to summon him immediately.”

“Why?” Attiker said.

Raz rubbed his head. “Because I’ve claimed you once.”

Attiker nodded. “And?”

“There’s an old law associated with dormant wolves,” Raz said slowly. “It goes back to Queen Charlotte’s time.”

“She got into all sorts of trouble, didn’t she?” Attiker commented. Raz frowned, but Attiker didn’t want to cause a rift between Raz and his grandmother, so he wasn’t about to explain.