Page 39 of Savage Prince

“The beach gate is heavily guarded, too, but it’s still likely our best way in,” I add as we continue to discuss the university’s fortifications and possible routes into Lost Moon. “The gate itself is wooden and weaker than that barred gates at the front and sides.”

“And if we distract them with an initial attack at the front of the school first,” Ford adds, “their focus will be divided, and they’ll be slower to respond to forces pushing in from the beach. We also have a person on the inside who might be able to help with access. If we give him a time, he might be able to arrange for the beach gate to be unlocked.”

“He’s assured us that a lot of the wolves aren’t on board with what’s happening,” I say. “They’re just afraid to go against Hammer and the other leaders. But if we give them a safe space to surrender, I’m guessing a lot of them will.”

Maxim nods. “I agree. Especially if I have Beckett Lawson senior in custody when we demand their surrender. I’ve had eyes on him for a few months now. I knew he was fomenting unrest at the school, but I didn’t think he’d bankroll something this stupid. I’ll have a team collect him on their way north. In light of recent developments, I don’t anticipate any difficulty getting enough votes from the judicial board to obtain a warrant for his arrest.”

A shorter man with his long black hair tied in a ponytail at the base of his neck appears on Maxim’s right, bending down to murmur something softly into his ear. Maxim nods and says, “Good. Tell Hermione the helicopters are cleared for takeoff and that I’ll meet her at the rendezvous point tonight with the tanks and ground forces.”

Once the man is gone, Maxim turns his attention back to us. “The Alphas of Montreal and Quebec City have approved our request to bring troops into Canada and will be providing several hundred soldiers to aid the fight. I’ll touch base with you both in a few hours and tell you where and when we’ll meet. Is the cell phone Chase’s father gave me a good number to reach you?”

Chase ducks into view behind us. “Yes, that’s fine, it’s my phone,” he says. “I’ll stay with Juliet and Ford tonight and deploy with them. I don’t have battle training, but I want to help.”

“I’m sure we can find something for you to do,” Maxim says. “I’ll be in touch. And thank you all for bringing this to my attention when you did. The sooner we can stamp out terrorist activity like this, the less likely it is to spread.”

We end the call and I slump lower in my chair, exhaling a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. “We did it.”

“We did,” Ford says. “Thank God.”

“Thank Chase,” I say, shifting in my chair to face the center of the room, where Chase is now perched on the edge of one of the two queen beds. “And luck being on our side for once.”

Chase smiles. “You would have gotten through to Maxim, eventually, but I’m glad I could make it easier. And faster.” He glances between us. “So, should we go get some dinner somewhere or something? Do you have a suitcase you need to collect from another hotel?”

“Everything we have is in the duffel bags,” Ford says, nodding toward the corner, where we dropped our things on the way in.

“And it’s stolen,” I confess. “We robbed a man not far from the school. Just so we’d have something to wear and food for the trip. But I’m going to send him some money anonymously, once all the craziness is over.”

“Desperate times call for desperate measures,” Chase says, thankfully not judging us for our brief foray into criminal behavior. “But if you’d like something else to wear, there’s an area with shops and restaurants not far away.” He glances at his watch. “I think the shops stay open until seven and I’m happy to pay for whatever you both need. I’m sure you’d feel steadier tomorrow in clothes and shoes that actually fit.”

“That would be amazing,” I say. “Thank you so much.”

“And we’ll pay you back. With interest,” Ford says, his tone brusque, but respectful. So far, he’s avoided licking me or taping a note that reads “Property of Ford Zion” to my forehead, but I can feel the territorial energy rolling off him in waves.

I’m sure Chase can feel it too—he’s a perceptive guy—but he’s way too well-mannered to ask if I’m dating my stepbrother.

But I am, in fact, dating my stepbrother. I’m more than dating him, I’m in love with him and fucking him and determined not to let him out of my sight for the next fifty to seventy years, so…I might as well come clean.

We already have Maxim on our side. The worst thing that can happen now is Chase decides he doesn’t want us shacking up with him tonight or using his cell phone, after all, and we have to go buy our own phone and reach out to Maxim’s people with the new number.

I cut into Chase’s assurance that we don’t need to pay him back with a blunt, “Ford and I aren’t just stepsiblings. We’re together. Like…togethertogether,” I add in response to his confused look, sending his brows shooting toward his hairline. “I know that may seem scandalous from the outside looking in, but we didn’t spend much time together as children. We didn’t have a family relationship or any relationship at all, really, until we reconnected a few weeks ago and slowly became more than friends. I hope that’s not weird for you.”

“But if it is, we can go,” Ford pipes up with an eagerness that makes me cut a sharp glance his way.

But he isn’t looking at me. His gaze is fixed on Chase, a challenging look in his eyes that makes me regret speaking up. If I have to get in the middle of two men fighting over who peed on me first, I’m not going to be happy about it.

We have way bigger things to worry about than the fact that the only two men I’ve ever been intimate with happen to be in the same room at the same time, and I’ve already made my choice. Chase is a good guy, but he’s my past. Ford is my present and my future.

Chase nods, his raised brows slowly sliding down his forehead. “Oh. Okay. I sensed there was something between you, but I thought…” He shakes his head. “It doesn’t matter what I thought. And it’s none of my business. If you’re happy and Ford is treating you better than he did when he bullied you as a kid, who am I to stick my nose into your personal business? I just want you to be happy.”

Letting the dig at his behavior as a kid slide, Ford says, “I appreciate that, man. And I feel the same. Juliet’s well-being is my top priority. I’m grateful for your help keeping her safe.”

“I’m always going to be here for Juliet,” Chase says, holding Ford’s gaze with the confidence of something much larger than a badger shifter. “Any time she needs me, whatever she needs me for.”

“She’ll need your friendship,” Ford says. “Friends are always good things to have.”

Arching a wry brow, I murmur, “If you two are done huffing and puffing, I’d love to go find some shoes that don’t pinch my toes. And a calzone or four. Sounds like we’re going to need fuel for the fight tomorrow.”

“Sounds good,” Chase says, his lips hooking up on one side. “And badgers don’t huff and puff. We dig in and hold our ground. You’ve got a friend for life in me, Juliet, even if it’s never anything more than that.”

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