Marrok hadn’t caught them up on his meeting with Theron or on what Evelyn’s most recent dreams had revealed.

“It has.”

Danil got up from the table.

“Where are you going?” Favin asked.

“I have a feeling this is going to require whiskey.”

He grabbed the bottle and four tumblers before returning to his seat. He poured each of them a glass and settled back into his chair.

Evelyn, whose fingers were still itching to take action, downed the spirits and slammed the glass back on the table.

“That tastes terrible!” she exclaimed in between coughs.

“It’s supposed to be sipped, poppet.”

Evelyn eyed Danil as though he’d just called her a trollop right to her face. Making a decision, she nodded and shoved the glass towards him. “Fine. This time I’ll sip it.”

Danil grinned, pouring a smaller amount this time. “You know, Marrok, I think I’m going to enjoy having a Queen.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” the King replied, warmth spreading through his chest that had nothing to do with the whiskey he’d swallowed.

* * *

Marrok watched his friends as they sifted through the memories he was sharing. He focused on his discussion with Theron, as well as Evelyn’s dreams.

A minute ticked by. Then another. Their faces didn’t show much. It was their body language that gave them away, especially Danil’s.

While Favin’s knuckles went white as he gripped the table, Danil’s fingers flexed and closed and flexed again. His head swiveled back and forth and a low rumble emanated from the back of his throat.

Once it ended, Danil’s face had gone ruddy. “That bitch sold you out, Evelyn. Pardon my language,” he quickly added, peeking at Marrok for any reaction to his assessment of the King’s late wife.

“I don’t see how she had any other choice,” Evelyn defended Melena, ignoring his profanity. “She was under duress. Brennen was holding those she cared about over her head. I don’t know what I would have done if in the same position and someone was threatening Nora or Eden.”

Danil scoffed. “You wouldn’t sic a murderer on a child.”

“Enough,” Marrok intervened. “Melena’s motivations are immaterial at this juncture. What does matter is that we know Sephtis Kenelm had access to some of her visions. They knew about Evelyn, at least in the abstract. They knew if I met her I would take the throne. They were trying to intervene. It’s how Brennen found her when she was six.”

“I think that, too, is beside the point, Sire.”

“What do you mean, Favin?”

“The dreams are past memories. Decades ago. No one even knew the brotherhood was still functioning. Now we have confirmation and two of the four members are confirmed deceased. The wolves have identified the she-wolf.”

“They also know of the vampire,” Evelyn interjected.

“The wolves know hisscent, not who he is. We know what the vampire looks like. Between him and the she-wolf, he’s the greater threat because he can teleport. The wolf you might see coming. The vampire? Doubtful. I think this is why you had this particular dream. It gives you an advantage to recognize a previously unseen foe.”

“I wish I also knew the face of the she-wolf.”

“Don’t need to. No she-wolves reside in the Southland. You see one, you kill her or run away.”

“Thank you, Danil. Very insightful,” Evelyn deadpanned.

“I live to serve.”

“What about the other dreams, Favin?” Marrok questioned. It still didn’t sit right with him, his mate having to experience his wedding to another.