Page 55 of Wolf's Keep

Gaharet raised an eyebrow. Had one of the twins found a mate also?

“Not as good as your announcement, but something that might be helpful.” Edmond leaned in closer. “We found something, Gaharet.”

Aubert produced a pouch from within his surcoat, tipping some of its contents into his palm, holding it out for them to see.

Gaharet sniffed. Some kind of herb.

“Got it from a woman deep in the forest.” Edmond snarled over his shoulder at a chevalier approaching them and the young man quailed, beating a hasty retreat. He turned back to Gaharet. “The woman is a healer. Rumor has it she has certain…abilities.” His deep voice dropped lower, barely above a whisper. “Casts spells.”

“What is it?” Gaharet pinched some of the herb between his fingers, raising it to his nose, taking in its scent. It had a musty, pungent aroma that brought to mind mice infestations in grain stores.

“Hemlock.”

“Hemlock?”

Edmond nodded. “We sought the woman out, went to see if she knew of something for pain, something to take it away and make you sleep. Allowing the body to heal pain free—if you catch my meaning.”

Gaharet kept a tight rein on his emotions, possibilities burning within him. “Is it dangerous?”

“Minute amounts will render a person unconscious and control muscle spasms. Larger doses can be toxic to humans.”

“But we are not human,” murmured Ulrik.

“Where did you find her?” Gaharet would pay this woman a visit as soon as circumstances allowed. As a witch, with a knowledge of spells… His hand moved to the amulet resting close to his heart. Would she also have knowledge of them?

“Not far. Due east of our clearing beyond the walls, no more than five leagues. Do you think we will be needing stock of this in the near future, Gaharet? Now you have a betrothed?” Edmond’s face lit up with an eagerness barely contained.

Gaharet nodded, a slow smile forming. “I think yes, Edmond. It would be best to acquire some, for I will have need of it in the days to come.”

The men grinned. For the first time in a long time, they had hope. Even Ulrik seemed buoyed by the news. If Erin would have him, now they had a means to temper the pain, he would turn her. He would wait no longer. Tonight he would make her his, then he would make her one of them.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Archeveque Renaud glanced over his shoulder as he slipped into the forest, the sun dipping low behind the walls of Langeais Keep. Cool air stole beneath his robes, and he cursed the necessity for him to be away from the comfort of his chambers. Soon he would have no need to be skulking about in the wilds, meeting with the likes of the man—no, the monster—he forced himself to collude with.

Things were moving along nicely. Comte Lothair had fallen for their ploy. His lip curled up in a sneer.Fool.So hungry for power, it had taken very little to get Lothair’s attention. A few well-placed hints, a request for an audience without d’Louncrais, the suggestion he could boost his army with a supernatural force more than enough to pique Lothair’s curiosity. To contemplate working with an animal, a hellish beast more nightmarish than human, imagining he could tame it, perhaps wishing to become one… The man was insane, a menace and a means to an end. Renaud had no qualms about sacrificing the comte, or anyone else, to get where he wanted.

Through the gloom of the trees, he picked out a patch of color, a glint of steel. He stiffened. The likelihood of him encountering someone other than his accomplice out here, beyond the watchful eyes of the keep, was small, but he could not be too cautious. Unlike the beast in the clearing, he could not tell by smell alone who awaited him.

Renaud surveyed the forest, searching for anything out of place, an ambush, a trap. Not that this man needed such ploys. He caught no sign of any other presence, so he pressed on. A lifetime of twisting others’ desires to his own use told him he still had the upper hand. This man-monster, this chevalier, needed him, would not have approached him otherwise. For now, the chevalier posed no threat to him, but that could change. He would take more precautions next time.

“I know you are there, Renaud. Stop wasting my time. I do not have all day.”

Renaud smirked at the impatient summons. He stepped into the clearing, skirting the grazing horse and approached the lone chevalier. His sword drawn and held loosely at his side, the man scowled. The chevalier found their collusion as distasteful as he did.

Renaud was not a small man. As the second son, his family had once assumed he would make an excellent chevalier, but the man before him loomed larger, broader, moreeverything. All his kind were. Until now, no one had noticed this anomaly. To be fair, when there were more of them, it had helped them blend in. With so few left, the differences between the other chevaliers were stark.

“You endanger us both by insisting on this meeting.” The chevalier snarled, stepping closer, using his size to intimidate. “Be careful summoning me on a whim. I might withdraw my assistance. Without me, you have no hope of entrapping Lothair.”

Renaud stood his ground, met his stare. “Without me, you lose the opportunity to destroy d’Louncrais. Need I remind you, over half of your kind are dead by my hand?”

With a flick of a wrist, the chevalier pressed the tip of his sword up under his chin, an inhuman growl reverberating in his chest. “Are you threatening me, old man? You are here on your own, and I could easily cut your throat.”

They stared at each other, shapes shifting behind the chevalier’s irises, a strong musky scent surrounding him. The beast pressed close, wanting to take over. Renaud had experienced it often enough to recognize it. The time would come when he would force this confrontation, but for now, he still needed the information this man provided.

He stepped back, pushing the sword away with the palm of his hand. “I will be more considerate of your time in future.” He let a conciliatory note leak into his voice. He would play whatever role necessary to achieve his goal. The chevalier lowered his sword.

“We are here now and we have much to discuss. If my plan is to be successful—”

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