Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
“I’m so sorry.”
“I can’t have him threatening my pack.”
“No, I agree.”
“What would you do?”
Narah, who was standing next to him, turned to look at his profile, and I saw the surprise on her face. Clearly, he didn’t normally ask.
“I think you let Tuss go home with only those who wouldn’t choose to come back.”
He took a breath. “So the others who would want to return, to kill us, will die.”
“I don’t think there’s any other choice.”
After a moment, he nodded. “I concur.”
“Good. So I’m going to wake them, one by one, and ask what they want to do, and I’ll be able to judge whether they’ll follow Tuss again or not.”
“And the ones who spew hatred and violence?”
“Won’t leave my grove,” I said flatly.
“Oh.” He glanced around, realizing where we stood and seeing how beautiful it was for the first time. “I didn’t notice how—did you plant it this way or—”
“I have friends who tend this area,” I told him. He was so distracted, so overwhelmed. These were the tests of a leader, and sadly, he wasn’t one.
“Merritt, you must come and have dinner with me.” He went on like life-and-death decisions weren’t about to be made. “I would like it to be just you and my family, if you would.”
“Whatever you want,” I said as Justin joined us, stopping in front of his father. He had come with the others, bringing the two dead men up the hill. He wasn’t helping carry, but he was directing. “You let me know.”
“Good, good.” Abel turned to Justin.
“What are your orders?” Justin asked.
Abel looked back to me. “What would you have us do?”
“I’ll bring the kids down now. All the parents should stay, and all the other men should take Tuss back down to your home. He needs to be guarded. Then just wait, and I’ll send down however many others will be accompanying him home.”
“Okay,” Justin said, “but what if Tuss sends the authorities to find bodies or blood or any trace of—”
“Why would Tuss call the police?” Abel asked him. “For anything? Ever? Wolves handle things themselves. We do everything we can not to involve law enforcement. You know that.”
“I—”
“And there won’t be a trace of anything,” I assured Justin. “These are the woods. Nothing will be found. You’ll have to clean the house well, but other than that, there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Are we just supposed to take your word for that, Merritt?” Justin asked.
I didn’t say anything. I didn’t have to. Cole spoke for me.
“Are you kidding?” Cole retorted, glowering at Justin. “He saved the kids, Justin. Where the hell were you when he was saving the kids?”
“You have no right to—”
“Save it,” Cole ordered, and then he turned to me. “Thank you, Mere.”
I nodded, breathed out, then took a few steps away from everyone. “Teague,” I called out. “The kids can come down.”
The grove was well lit, and if the situation had been less dire, people might have wondered how that was done. How they could still see everything without a full moon when it was so late at night. But in moments it was bathed in the same green light from earlier, and no one registered anything but joy. The kids were excited to see their parents, but they also wanted to go back and talk to Teague. All the parents got to hear about him, the wood elf who wouldn’t come down to greet them but was a good friend of mine and would always watch over any children who got lost in the forest. Some of the kids had crystals in their hands, some night-blooming flowers. Others had intricate crowns made of leaves on their heads. Evan was still holding the baby, who was fast asleep, and he was staring at a large ammonite in his hand.
“Mommy!” a little girl cried out, and a woman who had been about to ask me a question turned just as her daughter ran into her.
I suspect what was a wee bit disconcerting for the parents were the glowing green luna moths that followed the children down into the grove and then flew up into the sky and disappeared.
“You’re not a witch yourself, are you, Merritt?” Narah asked me. “You would tell me if you were, wouldn’t you?”
“I would,” I assured her. “And I’m not.”
“Might we meet this Teague?” one of the mothers asked me.
“No. He’s a bit of a hermit, and he’s a protector of children, but he’s not all that fond of adults. He’ll be a good friend to your bairns, but not to you.”
“Bairn?”
“Sorry, that’s my Gaelic coming through. It’s been a long night.”
“Yes, it has.” Cole, fully healed now, walked over to take my hand. “I’d like to stay and help you speak to the men.”
“As would I,” Abel said quickly. “And Justin should be here as well.”