Page 326 of Primal Bonds

“Yeah.” Adric rubbed a thumb over the beer’s glossy label.

He’d told his lieutenants about being tracked by the night fae. What he hadn’t told them was that it had been Lady Blaer, and that Luc had been with her. Not even Marjani knew.

He just couldn’t expose his old friend to the clan’s condemnation. They might ask why Luc wasn’t trying harder to fight Blaer’s orders.

Adric wondered that himself. For instance, Luc could’ve taken his time tracking Adric so that by the time he and the fae arrived in Lewes, Adric and Rosana were gone. On the other hand, there was that moment in the parking lot when he could’ve given Adric away—and hadn’t.

Zuri fingered his neat black soul patch. “Know what I think? Things are coming to a head. Something’s about to happen. I can practically taste it.”

Adric stilled. Had the lieutenant guessed his plans?

“And you think this, why?”

“Hell if I know. Things are quiet, but that’s the problem. It’s too quiet. For months, we’ve been seeing night fae every time we turned around. And then suddenly—nothing. Something’s up. My wolf’s so antsy I can barely sleep.”

Adric relaxed. Zuri hadn’t guessed.

“It’s not just you. My cougar’s antsy, too. Every time I’m out at night, my skin itches. I’m sure those bastards are still around, just hiding in the shadows.”

“If only we had someone on the inside. If we had even a clue as to what they’re planning, we could prepare a counterstrike.” Zuri’s lips peeled in a humorless smile. “A Seer, that’s what we need. Although the old Seer wasn’t much help. She didn’t see her own death coming, did she? Or prevent the Darktime.”

Adric blinked. “No,” he said slowly. “She didn’t. But she tried, remember? Except Leron didn’t want to hear it.”

A trickle of unease slid through his veins.

You need me.

What if Rosana was right?

Seers were rare. His own clan’s Seer had met with an ‘accident’ during the Darktime when she’d refused to slant her prophecies to suit Leron’s orders. Since then, no one else had shown signs of the Gift.

He reminded himself that no Seer was infallible. What Rosana had Seen was simply a strong possibility. She couldn’t know. Not for sure.

The Darktime isn’t over. The prince will destroy your clan from the inside out.

Adric’s fangs pricked out. The hell he would.

“Step up patrols of the city,” he ordered.

“Already did. But if a night fae doesn’t want to be seen, we can run all the patrols we want and it won’t do much good.” Zuri shook his head. “Wish I knew how the motherfuckers slip in and out of the shadows like that. They can even hide their scent, which is just not possible.”

“Except they do it.”

“Yeah.” Zuri took another slug of beer.

“Contact the alphas in each den, warn them that things are heating up. No one is to go outside without at least one other person. If they’re younger than fifteen, they should have at least three people, including an adult. I’ll make sure Jani knows to take extra care. It’s her the prince really wants.”

They shared a grim look. Langdon had somehow discovered it had been Marjani who’d killed his son, even though Adric had let everyone assume he’d been the one who knifed the prick.

His sister was a marked woman…unless someone took out Langdon first.

“I’m on it,” Zuri assured him.

“Thanks, bro.” Adric squeezed the other man’s shoulder. “But watch your own back, okay? The prince knows you’re one of my top men. If he can’t get to me or Jani, he’ll go after my closest people instead—and you and Jace will be at the top of the list.”

Zuri’s grin was all wolf. “He can try.”

A commotion at the saloon’s entrance made them both swing around. Dion do Rio stalked inside followed by his tenente Davi, both in black leather and jeans, their faces set in menacing lines.

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