Page 30 of The Wolf and the Chimera
“We don’t know that you’re…” I couldn’t bring myself to saythe next Sovereign.The implications of such a thing were far too heavy.
“No,” Ryder agreed, “we don’t. We only know that Kieran isn’t the next in line. No Sovereign would’ve been so easily dominated.”
“Even at such a young age?” I asked. "He's only seventeen."
Ryder nodded. “The dangerous part is Lyall now knows that his son isn’t his true Heir, like he’d prefer everyone to believe.”
“And he knowsweknow it too,” I added.
Ryder laughed without a trace of humor.
“So, who’s ready for family dinner?” he joked.
I took his hand in mine. “We can leave. I’ve been on the run my whole life. I can do it again.”
Ryder traced my hand with his thumb.
“Maybe we should,” he whispered. “Your powers haven’t made a reappearance and without them acting as a beacon, you’re pretty hard to track down.”
“We can’t leave now though,” I said. “It’ll have to be tonight when everyone’s asleep. If we don’t show up to dinner, they’ll know immediately we're gone.”
“Right,” Ryder reluctantly agreed. “Let’s get this over with.”
Someone knocked on the door, and we both startled. Kieran’s begrudging call was muffled by the door.
“I’ve been sent to escort you.”
Ryder and I exchanged a wide-eyed glance. My fears were reflected in his eyes.
How long has he been standing there? Did he hear us?
We should’ve passed notes to communicate. Conversations were too risky when living among werewolveswith keen hearing.
“Look,” Kieran continued. We remained frozen. “I know you’re pissed at me, but I really don’t want to go back to Mom empty-handed, nor do I want to stand out here like I’m waiting for my date who’s not gonna show. Can we just go to dinner in peace?”
Nothing Kieran said implicated he had heard us. Though I didn’t know him well, I didn’t believe him to be calculated enough to completely hide his reaction to our plans.
“We’re coming!” I called cheerfully.
Ryder hesitated, and I shook my head. The worst thing we could do now would be to act suspicious. With a sigh, he led me to the door.
Kieran leaned against the doorway in a rumpled green shirt and jeans. When he realized we had come, he jolted back and ran a hand through his perfectly straight, russet hair.
“Hey,” he said nervously. “How’s your nose?”
Ryder stiffened, and I elbowed him.
“Fine,” I promised. “I’ve always been prone to nosebleeds. It wasn’t your fault.”
“Good,” Kieran said and winced. “Well, not good that you have to deal with that a lot, but, you know, good that it’s not serious.”
As he rambled, the last of the fear that squeezed my heart softened. There was no way Kieran was as conniving as Lyall.
“Are you going to escort us or what?” Ryder asked.
Kieran’s expression hardened, and he nodded curtly. I wished Ryder wouldtryto be kind to him, even if it was only for our last evening here.
Regardless, the rest of the walk was made in silence, only broken by Kieran’s occasional greeting to a passing wolf. Like his mother, he was much friendlier with his pack than Lyall was. A part of me saddened at the thought that he would never get to lead.
