Page 70 of Grace of a Wolf 2
"Yes. Mostly."
His face hardens. "Where? How many? Why are they there?"
"About ten miles to the northeast of here, there's an abandoned industrial complex. Doesn't look like much from the outside, but there are magical wards everywhere." Lyre's eyes drift to Bun again, who has mercifully fallen quiet in my arms; she's chewing on the collar of her onesie as she rhythmically kicks her foot out, content to sit where she is. "At least one was soulspliced. Shifters, most likely. Possibly some humans mixed in. They've been there a long time."
Owen sighs, and Sara lets out a little whimper. She looks horrified, but by the way her stare's still glued in Caine's direction, I'm not sure if she's reacting to what Lyre's saying or if she's just… really convinced Caine's going to eat her.
Meanwhile, Jer is ignoring all of us. He's trying to get to the rest of the tanghulu, set out of his reach.
My heart constricts painfully. "We have to help them."
Jack-Eye steps forward, a hand already reaching for his phone. "I'll coordinate a team. We can have wolves there within—"
He pauses, sharing a glance with Caine. The Lycan King shakes his head. "The closest are all still in Blue Mountain. It would be hours before they get here."
His beta sighs. "I told you we should have brought a few more with us."
"It's better for them to keep an eye on the brat ruling there." Caine runs a hand through his hair, blowing out a breath. He glances at me with a frown.
"We don't need a rescue team," Lyre says calmly. "It's just a retrieval."
"It's better to be safe—"
"There's no danger," she interrupts him. "I can vouch."
He frowns.
Owen clears his throat, and I'm impressed. He's facing Lyre without shaking.
But then I follow the line of his gaze and realize he's lookingwayover her head. She probably isn't in his peripheral vision.
"I will go. If any soulspliced are alive…"
"I'm going too," I announce, starting to rise before remembering the toddler in my lap. The words come out of me without conscious thought; maybe I'm just swept up in the moment. Or maybe it's the thought of another Bun-like child, trapped in a cage. Maybe without its mother. Family.
"Absolutely not," four voices ring out in unison, and I blink.
"You're no help at all," Lyre says, and her gentle tone is at odds with her words.
"You'd be in the way," Owen agrees, his arms crossed over his chest.
Jack-Eye and Caine don't have a follow-up. They're just standing there like they expect me to follow their every word.
Which I will, because they're all right. I have no business going around trying to save people. Even if I was completely recovered, I have no skill sets to help out. I'm not particularly strong or agile, and I don't have magic like Lyre.
"Sorry. I know. I don't know why I said it."
Jack-Eye frowns at me, then looks at his alpha. "You're staying here, right?"
Caine's jaw works as he considers, his gaze darting between Lyre and Owen, then back to me. "Yes. We can't leave Grace without a guard. But keep me updated. Check in at least once an hour."
"Not every five minutes?" Lyre asks lightly, before pressing her lips together so tight they turn white. Her shoulders shake a little, though.
"I'm sure every hour will be adequate," his beta cuts in hastily. "Come, Madame Lyre. Please lead the way to the children."
The tension in the room shifts from panicked to purposeful as everyone begins organizing themselves. Owen steps away from the wall, his shoulders squared despite his obvious discomfort around Lyre.
"I might have a place to take any survivors," he says, his voice more confident than I've heard before. "But we should hurry. The sanguimancer—she's dead?"
