Page 5 of Snowbound with the Alpha Wolf
SilverSleigh had been abandoned as Adrian moved his people east. It was a ghost town. Not even Skin tourists visited. The daring boldly ventured there, only to fall ill with violent retching soon as they crossed the invisible boundary, the line in the sand Adrian had drawn using his alphamagick.
“Is this where you buried Lars after you killed him?” Darcy pointed to a graveyard just outside ofthe cluster of woodenbuildings.
The graves, scattered on a hillside, looked lonely and haunted. Eerie. A shiver snaked down her spine. At least she wouldn’t have to venturehere.
“No.”
Darcy jumped. He’d spoked right in her ear. Quiet, so stealthy she had not heard him get up. Such was the power of a purebred alpha, she remindedherself.
Never drop your guard aroundhim,Darce.
“That’s ground sacred to Lupines. I disposed of his bones in a place I never wanted to see again and boarded itup.”
Dread filled her. She knew the answer before he even told her. “The oldmine.”
Peripheral vision enabled her to see his nod. “The mine was a source of pain and anguish for my people. A suitable burial ground for that bastard. I never imagined I’dhave toreturn.”
“You should have burned his body and scattered his ashes to the four winds,” she muttered. Darcy had hated Lars, hated how the alpha had tormented the weak andfrail.
Adrian lifted a strand of her hair, playfully tugged it. “My little warrior. Sofierce.”
“I may be short, but I can bite and scratch just like you,” shewarned.
A gleam ignited his gaze.“Good. I look forward to it…when I take you to mybed.”
Darcy sputtered. “In yourdreams.”
“Oh, I have dreamed of that moment and many more. My lovers have always been strong women capable of meeting myneeds.”
Arrogant ass. “I should have left you in the snow ten years ago,” shemuttered.
“But you did not.” He released her hair. “In the meantime, Glenda will escortyou to your room and take your measurements. Tell her what kind of items you need for winter weather. Your luggage has already been sent there. Dinner is at seven o’clock. We all dine together in the common room, two doorsdown.”
He opened his office door, called out, and a tall, elegant woman with rich curves, wearing all black walked inside. “Glenda, please see Miss Chambers to her roomand get her anything sherequires.”
As the woman went to leave, Darcy turned. “Adrian, one question before I go. Why did you bury him in themine?”
For the first time, he refused to meet her gaze. Adrian studied the photo of the graveyard, his pulse racing so hard she could see the veinthrob.
“The mine isn’t merely boarded up and warded with strong magick, Darcy. I left Larsalive there, barely alive, to die alone and in pain, as he left the elders he castout.”
Glenda paled, and Darcy’s stomach pitched and roiled. “Ohno.”
“Oh yes. Death was too quick, too merciful for him.” Adrian’s jawtightened.
“What if he’s still alive? Or worse, if he rises?” she whispered. “How could you destroyhim?”
“He is dead.” His smile turned icy as a Coloradosnowstorm. “I promise youthis.”
But as she followed Glenda out of the room, a grim foreboding seized Darcy. Although Adrian was confident his former alpha was gone, Lars could still bealive.
Existing as a living, demonic spirit, ready to slay anyone in his path. She could only hope he had turned to bone and dust by now. If not and they opened the mine and Lars wasalive…
Heaven help themall.
