Page 25 of The Wolf's Appetite
Cian crossed his arms, eyes narrowed. “Maybe they want it tae stay open, tae have that instability and gain power and energy?”
I stared down at the map, tracing the edge of the marked territory with my gaze. The borderlands. Too quiet for too long. Whatever held the Therabus back before… it was breaking.
“We need tae start speaking truths.” Father said, his voice hard. “Whatever is coming—it will no’ stop at theedge of our forests. It will sweep through the realms like fire eating through a dry field unless we act.”
I crossed my arms, jaw tight. “So what’s the next step, Da?”
He growled. “It’s time we call in the fucking vampires.”
The room went dead silent. Although we were allies with the bloodsuckers, truth was that alliance was threadbare and always on the verge of collapsing. And all because their leader Adryan was a fucking sociopath.
Cian muttered a curse under his breath. Caelan let out a short bark of a laugh, but there was no humor in it.
“We donna have the numbers. The Guard’s been stretched thin patrolling, and if the records are right—if the old books are tae be believed—we’ve only seen a fraction of what this threat truly is.” My father’s voice was low and dangerous. “The Therabus will only gain control if we donna stop it before it spreads. They’ll be like a virus.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I agree we need the help, Da, but Adryan is unstable as fook.”
“Aye,” my father agreed. “He’s a brutal and crazy motherfooker, aye, but he’s no fool. He and his cousins command armies of their own. They’re loyal to each other, and this concerns them, as well. The Therabusare a threat tae all Otherworlders—not just us Lycans.”
“And what makes ye think they’d fight with us?”
“Because I already sent word,” he said calmly. “And Adryan answered.” In the dead silence, my father growled, sensing our distrust of the vampires. “I made that decision as King,” he snapped back, voice steel. “Because I will no’ sit by and watch this land fall tae rot and darkness when we have help.” He eyed each of us. “They are already on their way. They’ll be welcome guests.” His word was final.
I gritted my teeth. My heart was pounding, not from rage but from unease. Everything felt like it was moving too fast—like the ground was shifting beneath my feet, and not even my instincts could find solid ground.
“Aisling…” I murmured under my breath.
Caelan looked over. “What’s that?”
“Nothing.” I straightened.
“If Adryan and his brood are coming, we need tae be ready. Set parameters. Rules. We canna trust them tae walk freely among our people,” Cian’s voice was low but controlled and respectful toward his king.
“They’ll be given one wing of the keep, locked down tight, and watched at all hours,” Father assured him. “But I’ll no’ turn down help when we need it most.”
There was a beat of silence.
Then I said, “Adryan may claim he’s come for analliance, but if he so much as breathes wrong, I’ll tear his fookin’ heart out myself.” I couldn’t stop thinking about Aisling under the same roof as the crazy-ass vampire. He may be mated now, but I felt that made him even more fucking insane.
Cian rubbed his jaw. “Gods help us if the Lycans and vampires are sharing space under the same roof.”
Father grunted. “Gods help them if they cross the wrong line.”
I said nothing more, but in the back of my mind, I wasn’t thinking about vampire alliances or ancient threats.
I was thinking about Aisling. About the way she tasted. The way her body had arched into mine like she was made for me.
And the fact my wolf still hadn’t surfaced… even as my body begged to make her mine in every primal sense.
If Adryan was coming, that meant more danger. And if more danger was coming… I needed to be at her side.
15
AISLING
The fire in the hearth cracked softly, casting gold and amber light across the walls of the chamber I’d been led to by one of the staff. It felt strange being here as a guest and not an employee.
I’d just pulled my cardigan tighter around me when I felt it—that hum in the air, like static crawling across my skin. He was near. Lennox.
