Page 64 of The Hero Within
"You're so gallant."
Arik's eyes flickered their way as Nnedi murmured to him, one hand on his enormous chest.
"Welcome to Shadow Rock," Arik said, gesturing them closer. He sank onto a chair, legs spread wide, and his forearm resting on his thigh. "My second tells me you're on your way to Cortez City."
Here was her opening. Eden swiftly explained about their mission, giving it her all. "We're running out of time," she pleaded. "We have to leave as soon as possible."
The Alpha's face remained impassive. "You won't see the inside of Cortez City. Its walls are thick and the Confederacy doesn't like outsiders getting in."
"Then we just have to figure out a way over their walls," Eden shot back, growing a little vexed. "Or under them. Or around them. I can't go back to watch the people I love die without at leasttrying. I know a man inside. He might agree to meet with me, if I can just figure out a way to—"
"You have a contact?"
"Miles Wentworth."
Stillness radiated through him, and if she hadn't known any better she would have suspected he knew the name.
A flicker of something dangerous roamed through Arik's hazel eyes. There were flecks of gold mixed among the brown, as if a painter had flicked gold paint from his brush onto his canvas.
"I understand your desire," Arik finally said, leaning back in his chair. "It doesn't negate the truth; you can't get inside Cortez. It's impenetrable."
Nothing's impenetrable. But there was no point arguing with him. He'd made up his mind. "We shall see. In the morning I'll check on CJ. If he's feeling a little better, we intend to head on."
"And if he's not well?" Nnedi asked.
Eden knew what CJ would tell her to do. She'd seen Nnedi tending him and knew he was in safe hands. "If he's not better, then we will have to go on without him—if you would agree to tend him?"
Colton stirred at her side, and Eden looked up into his eyes.Please. She couldn't do this without him, and despite the change in circumstances, the plan had to remain the same.
He nodded faintly, and relief flooded through her. Eden pressed her hand to his back, a silentthanks.
"I will tend the boy," Nnedi said, her hard face softening.
Arik turned his head toward her, his brows drawing together. "He is an untested warg," he murmured, censure in his voice.
"I will vouch for him," Nnedi said. "When he is better, CJ can be tested."
Arik pushed to his feet, and Eden felt the tension in the room shift.
They'd all been making plans around this man, a potentially volatile alpha, and she could see he didn't like it.
"You are strangers in our territory," Arik said, "and one of you drew blood."
"Arik," Nnedi said under her breath.
He moved forward, and Eden took a step back as he loomed above them on the dais.
"My second has granted you guest rights for the night. Tomorrow you intend to leave. But first"—Arik held up his hand to still the murmur of the watching crowd—"there is a reparation to see to."
The crowd grew a little closer, and Eden shook her head. "Reparation?" she demanded. "What sort of reparation? Your men attackedus."
A hand came to rest in the middle of her back.
Just a light warning.
"Is this how you treat guests?" Colton murmured. "We've obeyed your rules, and given over our weapons in good faith."
Lincoln began stripping off his vest with a faint smile. "You misunderstand, friend." He touched his throat, where Colton's blade had kissed it. "You owe me a debt, Colton. You drew the blood of the pack, now you must pay the price. Maybe I'll take that pretty little piece at your side as repayment."
