Page 42 of The Tracker's Rage
My hackles rose, and I felt oddly torn between Jake and Eric, wondering whose side I would be on if they decided to fight. But just as I thought they would shift and size up their wolves or dicks, they broke the handshake and inclined their heads respectfully.
“I don’t have all day,” Damien’s voice echoed through the house as if on speaker phone. Rosalina and I glanced all about, wondering where it was coming from, but it was probably magic.
“We better get down there.” Eric went through the false door, gesturing with his hand for us to follow.
Rosalina went first. I followed, Jake at my side.
“What the hell was that?” I asked Jake.
“A moratorium.”
“A what?”
“Moratorium. It’s when two alpha’s agree to commune peacefully and promise not to try to overpower each other.”
“Interesting.”
Man, I had so much to learn. Would I ever catch up?
From the door, a set of steps led toward a gloomy basement. The area appeared old, unlike the rest of the house, which seemed to have been remodeled recently. The walls were exposed brick with mortar that looked crumbly in places. A dank scent rode the air, reminding me that despite appearances, this place had been built well over a hundred years ago. I wondered if Damien was the original owner.
The mage was waiting for us in a large, semi-lit area. The edges of the room were dipped in shadows, the warm glow of candles unable to reach far enough to let me determine the true dimensions of the space. Some of the furniture I’d seen in the potions room upstairs was now here. Several long worktables and the large armoire with the carved doors and metal handles. Several empty shelves lined one wall, all in need of ingredients to make this place worthy of any mage’s proper potions room.
Damien stood behind one of the long worktables. As we approached, he narrowed his eyes at Jake, still distrusting him.
“He’s all right, Damien,” Eric said. “We communed and have an understanding.”
The mage removed his top hat and set it on the table. His white hair lay flat against his scalp, making him look in terrible need of a comb. “Forgive me if I’m not too impressed by agreements between alphas.”
Eric made a sound in the back of his throat but said nothing.
“Thanks for letting us help,” I said.
Damien forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “You have suddenly become... useful,” he said.
I frowned, unsure of what he meant.
The mage removed his cloak and set it next to the hat.
His mouth twisted in a smirk. Jake glanced at me, silver eyes twinkling with amusement. He was probably thinking that his prima donna assessment of the mage was right on point.
“Eric tells me you know Kalyll Adanorin, the Seelie Fae Prince.” Damien raised his eyebrows, inviting an explanation.
Except I was the one who needed one. How the hell did Eric know I’d met the Prince? I’d never told him. We had never talked about Kalyll. I turned and faced my busybody teacher.
“Who told you that?” I demanded.
“You did.” He tapped his temple.
“You mean yousawthat in my mind?”
He nodded.
“That’s just wrong!” It was a flagrant invasion of my privacy,
“You were unguarded the first few times you shifted during our training. It’s yet another perk of being an alpha.”
“No shit!” I exclaimed. “Does it ever end? I hate all the surprises and not being able to stop any of it. Maybe you need to make me a list of all the alpha perks and teach me more.”
