Page 30 of Kings of Sherwood

“They’re nearby,” he says, voice low, steady. “Ridge? That’s not far.”

“Well, it’s...” My pulse is already in my throat. But I force a shrug. “It’s notclose.” I swallow. “Lotta ridges in these woods.”

Wordlessly, LJ gets up and disappears, footsteps slamming. Which pisses me off just a little—ain’t likehisname is the one going over the airwaves—but I have bigger fish to fry than dealing with his bad attitude.

I’m beinghunted.

Maren’s hand is on my arm. I didn’t even feel her grab it. Scarlet screws around with dials, tries to pick up anything else, but our new friends appear to be off the air. After a minute or two, he leans back in his seat, raking his fingers through his hair.

“I don’t like this,” he says. “I don’t like this.”

“What, like Ido?” I bark, louder than I mean to. Maren withdraws her hand. I shake my head. “Sorry. But we should—”

“Look.”

I snap around. It’s LJ again—back. Holding something out.

Piece of paper. I take it.

“Deputy gave it to me last night,” LJ says. “Trying to get me in on the job. I didn’t even think—shit. I should’ve—”

I unfold it.

It’s a goddamn wanted poster.

With my face on it.

And a fat quarter-million dollar reward.

Chapter Seven

Tuck

The storm starts like a warning.

Crack.

Then—

Boom.

I wince as the thunder rattles the old glass in the library’s windows, the kind of antique panes that look pretty and historical but weren’t exactly built for durability. Maren’s curled up on the window seat, knees to her chest, chin tucked down, gazing out into the dark forest like it’s gonna offer answers. Or swallow her whole.

Which it won’t. Because she’s not out there.

It all pulled together quickly. I barely got all the details at first, only that Rob, Will, LJ were doing a perimeter sweep and patrol—check the security stuff, see if they could get a visual on anything suspicious—and that I’m supposed to stick here and protect Maren in the meantime, just in case anyone does get through to the house.

Which I can do. Absolutely. I mean, I’m a wolf. I’ve done it before, back at Gisbourne’s house.

And I know she knows that.

But the fact remains, they’re out there, in the dark of the forest, and she...

She’s in here.

With me.

“Hey,” I say, nudging the door fully open with my elbow. “I brought some—uh...”

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