Page 55 of Quest of the Wolf

“Goodness, an American using football terms? I’m falling in love.”

“My kids played soccer. We do have it as a sport over here.”

“An improperly named sport.”

“Duncan.” I gripped his hands. “This isn’t the time for banter. If you don’t know where they are…”

“Finding them won’t help with this problem.” He pointed his chin around the ransacked apartment.

“Oh, I know, but I want to free you.Completelyfree you.” I looked at his scar and almost spoke about my plan to steal the control device, but what if they called him back and could coerce him into sharing whatever I told him in confidence? I hoped that couldn’t happen, but I kept that plan to myself.

“I do also desire that,” he said, his voice and eyes more serious. “But I’m here now. Let me help you.”

“I thought you were hunting for the other wolf medallion.”

“I was, but… as you requested, I came to help you put an end to your local crime problem. And anything else that I can assist with.”

“Does that mean you’re at a dead-end and can’t find the medallion?”

“No. It means… I regretted that I disappointed you by going with Radomir’s thugs.”

“Oh.” My snark faded, emotion tightening my throat.

“I have the sense that you’ve been disappointed a lot in your life,” he said softly.

“Just the normal amount, I think.”

“That’s too much.” Duncan hugged me.

I leaned into him, glad for his support, glad he’d come. He rested his hand on the back of my head, fingers gently stroking my hair.

“Iamat a dead-end with the medallion,” he said, his tone dry, “but that alone wouldn’t have made me leave. I’m quite the determined treasure hunter.”

“I have no doubt.”

After a minute, Duncan lowered his arms. “I do wish to go after the men who robbed you. While the trail is still warm. If we don’t get that sword back, you’ll never get an opportunity to prong me with it.”

“Thatwouldbe lamentable.”

The smiles we shared were more grim than pleased. We both knew that if I had topronghim, it would be because Radomir had control of him. The blade, with silver mixed into the alloy, would be the only thing that might allow me to stop a powerful bipedfuris.

My phone rang, and I grimaced. What now?

Duncan stepped back and removed his shirt while I turned to check it. I didn’t recognize the number and waffled over whether to answer it. I didn’t need more heavy breathers threatening me. Unless I could get clues from them about where they had taken my sword. As good a nose as Duncan had in wolf form, he wouldbe out of luck if the men had gotten into a car or on their motorcycles, and I assumed they had.

“Hello?”

“Luna? It’s Lorenzo.”

Worry made me forget about the theft. “Is Mom okay?”

Duncan, naked and ready to shift, paused near the door.

“She is no worse than when you saw her. After you left, she decided to reach out to her Aunt Concetta.”

“I didn’t realize she had any aunts left alive.”

“Concetta is ninety-eight and doesn’t go on hunts or do much with the pack anymore, but your mother visits her in her home on the edge of town from time to time. Concetta has kept records for the family for decades and is the closest the Snohomish Savagers have to an archivist.”

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