Page 73 of Tangled Threads Of Fate

Another put-upon huff.

“No offense, but I haven’t had a great track record with your Pantheon. But the guys have some kind of weird, symbiotic relationship with you, which means you must be okay, right?”

Cy yipped and nuzzled his head against my belly. Sighing, I sat back on the chair Milo had brought out for me, and watched the dogs eat and play. I gave up on trying to guess breeds. I was pretty sure none of them were pedigree, though.

I wished I could bring them all inside the walls, keep them safe and warm, but even I wasn’t delusional enough to think the compound could hold over a hundred dogs without chaos ensuing.

As if to prove my point, a fight broke out, and Cy’s head snapped up. He raced over, got between the two dogs and stood over them, growling softly. It was a warning, but in that moment, I could almost see that he wasn’t normal. He wasn’t your average street mutt. He was something special.

After settling whatever disagreement was occurring between the scrappy little terrier and a big mastiff with hanging jowls, Cy sat there and watched over his pack. His army, Demke had insisted.

A dog with long, skinny legs and a pointy head came over to sniff at my hand. I held it out, so it could get a better sense of me.

“Hello, sweet”—I did a quick check—“girl. Aren’t you just the most beautiful thing ever?”

Apparently, that was all that was needed. The dog was up and in my lap a second later, and I leaned back so she could curl up against my stomach. I scratched behind her ears, and she drifted off to sleep, full and content.

When this was over, I would find them all homes. Where they’d be loved and cared for and never know a night of being cold outdoors again. Even if that home was with me.

Chapter 39

NÉIT

My phone ringing woke me. I was wrapped around Wren after managing to basically strong-arm my way into her bed without any added participants. She was still sleeping soundly, and I flailed an arm around, searching for the offending noise-maker.

It was probably Clio, who didn’t really respect my sleep when we were in the same time zone, so I doubted she’d pay much attention now.

“Hello?”

“Wake up! They’re attacking. They’ve found someone to break the wards, and they’re coming for Wren.” The line sounded crackly, but the words came through crisp and clear, like the scream of the banshee she was. “I can’t get there, but I’m sending help from closer. Accept the aid, Néit. She’ll need it.” There was a scuffle from the other end. “I need to go. Shit is getting insane here. People have lost their minds.”

The line went dead.

Dread I hadn’t felt in a long time welled up inside me. Rolling out of the nest, I stepped out of the room, growing to my fullGodly height. My trusty ax appeared in my hand, and I wished more than ever that I’d brought my sword too.

I barged into the living quarters of Milo, who was up with a sword in his hand before his eyes had even opened. “What’s wrong? Is Wren okay?”

I shook my head. “My source in the States says they’ve worked out how to break the wards. I need you to make sure they stand. She said they’re going to attack.”

Fear flashed across his face. “He said they were going to attack tonight?”

I shook my head, frustrated at myself for not asking more questions. “Shedidn’t say.”

Milo didn’t ask anything further, just rushed along the halls toward Erus’s room. I wasn’t surprised to see Erus and Tryp together in bed, but they both startled awake as the bedroom door banged against the stone wall.

“Fucking hell, Milo. What’s wrong?” Tryp grumbled.

“Check the wards.” It was an order, even though I didn’t think Milo was further up the hierarchy than Erus or Tryp.

Erus was instantly out of bed and moving toward a glass jar that glowed in the corner of the room. Inside it was a single luminous strand of hair. He chanted over it in a language even I didn’t know, then suddenly, the jar went dark.

Tryp sucked in a deep breath, his eyes flying to Milo. “They’ve broken the wards around the island.”

“But the compound’s wards still stand?”

Erus nodded. “For now.”

Milo made a truly horrendous bellowing noise. “They’ll attack tonight.” Erus and Tryp were already nodding, grabbing weapons.

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