Page 375 of Primal Bonds

“You say you traced her to southern Maryland?”

He nodded. “A few miles from the state line.”

“Fuck.” She dropped her hand back to her side. “Adric’s gone, too. And I’m pretty sure he’s on his way to Virginia. To the New Moon Court.”

“He didn’t tell his second where he was going?” That was Rui.

“No.” Her mouth flattened. “He knew I’d never let him go alone.”

Dion frowned. What was the Baltimore alpha mixed up in now? “But why go to New Moon in the first place?”

“To protect me, damn it.”

“Jani,” warned her mate.

She hitched a shoulder. “What does it matter if they know?” she said. “In fact, maybe it could help.” She turned back to Dion. “It’s me the prince really wants.”

Rui made a small sound.

They knew, of course, that someone in the Baltimore clan had slain Langdon’s only surviving son, but they’d assumed it was Adric. Now, the pieces of the puzzle rearranged themselves in a way that made perfect sense.

Dion lowered his voice to a sub-vocal level. “It was you who killed Tyrus.”

She jerked her chin in assent.

“To save Jace Jones and my daughter Evie,” Morningstar added in equally low tones. “And it was Adric who made the bastard’s body disappear.”

“Doing all of us a huge favor,” muttered Rui. He’d argued for years that Merry would be safer with Tyrus dead.

“But what the fuck does this have to do with Rosana?” Tiago demanded.

“Nothing,” Marjani said. “Unless…”

“What?” Dion said. “Please, tell us. Even the smallest piece of information could help.”

The cougar fada met his eyes. “Unless the prince knows how Adric feels about her.”

“And that is—?”

“She’s his mate.”

No. Deus, no. “Not if I have anything to do with it,” he grated.

Beside him, Tiago shook his head, although he seemed unsurprised.

“Take it easy.” Marjani glowered back. “He hasn’t claimed her. He doesn’t want this any more than you do.”

Rui set a hand on Dion’s arm. “Whether he’s claimed her isn’t important. What’s important is what the prince believes.” To Marjani, he said, “You think the wolf took her to New Moon?”

“I don’t know. He’s not under a geas to the prince, he’s under a geas to a fae lady. But she’s half night fae—she might be at New Moon.”

Dion’s stomach tightened. He had a bad feeling about this fae lady. “What’s her name—this half night fae?”

“Lady B,” Morningstar said, confirming Dion’s suspicions. “I believe you’ve had some trouble with her yourself.”

“We did,” Dion replied grimly. Blaer had tried to kidnap his brother Nic’s young daughter for some sick purpose of her own.

Morningstar spread his hands. “I’m afraid that’s all we know.”

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