Page 69 of The Scent of Vengeance

I nodded, biting the side of my nail as anxiety crawled through me. “Yup, I think that room on the tapestry is real, and I think its down there.”

Zeke rubbed my back soothingly, tugging my hand away from my mouth. “This is a good thing, then. We have a lead on where to look.”

I forced myself to take a deep breath. “Yes, it is. But it also means travelling in those tunnels and I’ve never been a fan of being locked underground in the dark.”

“Can we go overground? We have Ulf’s map.”

I shook my head at Noah. “I’m assuming we’re heading for the castle, but there’s no way of knowing that for certain. The map showed places where the tunnels opened out. We could miss it completely.”

“We can go without you,” Liam murmured, almost to himself. “If we run as wolves we’ll be faster and bring it back to you.”

I snorted at him. “Like shit you will. I’m the only one who stands a chance against the Queen if she finds us down there.”

I held up a hand as he opened his mouth to snarl at me. “I’m not questioning your strength, but she’s proven time and again that she isn’t any regular witch. We need to stick together.”

Noah nodded, looking across at Liam. “We’re all bonded now, man. Risking any one of us risks us all. It makes no sense to split up.”

Liam’s jaw tightened but he gave a curt nod of agreement. “Fine. I’ll call the pack together to explain and we can leave in the morning.”

My brow shot up. “Tomorrow?”

He smirked at me, though I could still see the tension in his face. “One more night in your cosy bed, Princess.”

I rolled my eyes at him and drained the last of my tea. “I was thinking more about sorting supplies and getting the pack settled.”

He shrugged. “They’re used to us leaving by now, and they understand. They’re strong enough to organise themselves.”

I smiled as I felt the pride in his words, echoing it back to him down our bond. He wasn’t wrong, they were stronger than ever even after the drama with Mina. He’d been a rock for them.

Standing, I walked over and wrapped my arms around his waist, pressing my cheek to his chest as he readily returned the embrace. After a minute I felt the tension leak out of his body and he leaned down to bury his face in my neck. A shiver ran through me as his breath tickled my skin and a low chuckle rumbled through him as he squeezed me tighter.

“I’m sharing that bed tonight,” he promised in my ear.

“No calling dibs, dude,” Noah reminded him, swatting my ass as he passed us on the way out the door. “I’m going to go sort the food supplies, be good.”

Zeke chuckled as he followed suit. “When is she ever good?”

I pushed back and propped my hands on my hips indignantly. “Hey!”

Liam grinned and tugged me back against him, wrapping his hand around my neck possessively.

“She can be very, very good,” he murmured before catching my mouth with his, leaving me clutching at his shirt to pull him closer.

A growl vibrated through him as I stepped back, forcing myself to take a breath and focus.

“Stop it,” I warned, giving him a stern look even as he smirked at how husky I sounded.

“Fine, Princess, let’s go,” he answered, grabbing my hand and pulling me out of the cabin behind him.

I looked down at our joined hands as we headed into the village. Liam wasn’t the type for sweet gestures like handholding, but he just winked at my questioning look and looped our fingers together.

“Going soft on me, Alpha?” I murmured as we entered the main clearing, grinning unrepentantly as he gave me a challenging look.

“Maybe I just like the thought of you tied to me,” he replied, not bothering to lower his voice. “Or tied down.”

The shifters in earshot chuckled as I snatched my hand back and thumped him on the bicep, walking away from him towards the kitchens.

“Watching you walk away is good too,” he called, his smugness becoming a full laugh as I flipped him off over my shoulder.

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