Page 117 of The Wolf and the Chimera
“No,” Ryder said flatly and glared at his brother.
“They’re coming,” Bo hissed.
A plan struck me, and my breath caught. I reached for the hem of my damp shirt to pull it over my head, and Ryder gently gripped my wrist. I slapped him away.
“I have a plan,” I insisted quietly, “but I’ll need you to channel some of that anger you felt when we were interrupted.”
Kieran paled, and I amended, “not all of it.”
Shirtless, I led Ryder back into the pool and spoke in a rushed whisper to him and the other werewolves.
“Let me answer first,” I said, “and then add your own voices to the story, okay?”
They nodded, and figures loomed on the cliffside. Ryder pushed me farther behind him and shielded me from their sight.
Perfect.
“Ryder,” I said loudly in a voice breathless and rattled by fear, “calm down. You have to calm down—we’re safe now.”
Ryder snarled at both his friends and the werewolves now rushing to the creek in their human forms. As they drew closer, the tallest one in the middle radiated power. I recognized his blond hair, steely blue eyes, and bright white dress shirt.
Lyall.
Fear spiked my heartrate, and I stifled the urge to draw on my power. For once, I was grateful for Circe’s ceaseless training.
Control, control, control.
Instead of wielding my power, I used my terror to put on a better show. My hands shook at my sides, and Ryder pushed me a step deeper into the water, farther out of the Sovereign’s reach.
This is good,I told myself.
I had planned on putting on a performance for patrolling wolves, not Lyall, but if I could lie well enough, maybe hearing the story from me first would work to our advantage.
You faced a Minotaur,I reminded myself.You can handle Lyall.
“Stay back,” I warned the patrolling wolves. “He’s-he’s not himself right now.”
Lyall studied us, and his nostrils flared. I realized he was taking in my altered scent. Both Ryder’s growl and my shiver of disgust were genuine. The guards looked cautiously between us and their Leader, unsure how to treat us—as friends or foes.
Lyall spoke to his son. “What are you doing? You know better than to mess around near the sacred waterfall.”
Kieran blanched.
I swallowed. “Um, Sovereign?”
I hated the sweet, unsure timbre of my voice, but I would play the part of the damsel again if it meant saving my friends and my mate.
Lyall’s gaze homed in on me, and Ryder tensed. In my mind, my chimera growled.
Trust me,I told her. She quieted.
“You might want this to be a private conversation,” I said. I looked at the wolves flanking him, then at the waterfall behind us.
The Sovereign jerked his head. “Leave us.”
His patrolling wolves didn’t hesitate before shifting into their wolf forms and jogging into the forest. When they were out of sight, I continued.
“This is so embarrassing,” I admitted and buried my face in my hands. “I, well, I’m sure you noticed a…changein my scent. You see, I was mad Ryder left me with Kieran when he went with you this morning. I don’t need a babysitter.”
