Page 13 of Guardians of the Assassins
Their attention felt invasive, like they’d been waiting for her for a long time and she was finally falling into their grasp.
As much as she hated to admit it—she was a full-fledgedfucking assassin, for god’s sake—she felt safer with Ryder and Caedmon at her side.
“So many…” She peered out the passenger window, cringing when she saw the sheer number of wolves following. “I guess slipping in and out to see the council without making a splash is out of the question.”
Ryder’s mouth twitched at her wry tone, a combination of humor and a grimace, like he’d been hoping for the same thing.
Caedmon was in full elf mode, not a hint of emotion escaping his tight control, like nothing ever affected him, but she knew otherwise. Hell…the air didn’t even stir around him, and she wondered if he was controlling that as well. It wouldn’t surprise her.
Elves were said to each have magic, and she couldn’t help being more than a little curious where his talent lay. He was a fabled, ancient warrior, aloup garou, but she suspected that he was holding something back. While she didn’t like secrets, she could admit that she would do the same.
After another twenty minutes, the vehicle finally pulled up to a giant, two-story ranch house built along the edge of a cliff that overlooked the ocean. They were parked on a lower level, an actual circle drive with a pack of snarling wolves cast in bronze at the center. Though it was a bit much, she had to admit they were magnificent, captured and forever frozen in time.
A retaining wall surrounded the building, the wide set of steps leading up to the house making a grand entrance.
Once again, another set of wolves were perched at the top, as if surveying their kingdom.
And she had no doubt that was what this was—the kingdom of wolves.
They passed a number of other cabins and houses along the way, but the majestic house made an impression.
Wealth.
Power.
Not to mention a ‘don’t fuck with me’ vibe that made her crinkle her nose in distaste.
“Not very inviting,” she muttered under her breath, but of course, the two heard.
Wolves.
“It’s not supposed to be welcoming. It’s supposed to show their might and power and drive fear into the souls of their enemies,” Ryder said as he turned off the vehicle.
She tipped her head and squinted at the house, then glanced back at him, not sure they saw the same thing.
But she trusted him.
If he said all was not as it seemed, then she would reserve judgment.
Ryder glared up at the house, his hands tightening around the steering wheel. Plastic creaked, the metal bent slightly, and she worried she might have made a huge mistake bringing him along.
Something bad had happened to him here, something traumatic, and she cursed that she was left in the dark. “Ryder?—”
“Not here.” The rumbling growl tore from him, his lips barely moving. “Everything we say, everything we do from here on out, even from the privacy of locked doors, will be seen and heard and reported.”
When she reached out to touch him, he released his grip on the steering wheel and wrenched open the door, practically throwing himself out of the vehicle to avoid her.
The door closed quietly, a finality to the sound that made her heart clench.
His rejection stung, and she barely stopped herself from recoiling.
And must have failed when Caedmon released a small grunt. He didn’t turn around to speak to her, not wanting to draw attention, his warning just a breath of air. “Watch him carefully. If the alphas see any sort of weakness, they will pounce and use it against you.”
Before she could probe for more information, he slipped out of the SUV and opened her door, offering her his hand. Hisbrilliant yellow eyes were bright with concern—for her—and her stomach dipped wildly as she placed her hand trustingly into his before stepping out of the vehicle.
She refused to admit that her reaction had anything to do with his nearness.
There was something about him, a calmness that called to her magic. Like she could throw anything at him and it wouldn’t faze him.
