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Until I couldn’t shake the fear that it waslearned that none of these wolves knehere another gate was

"All right," I said, sing "Thank you"

"While I was downstairs," he went on, "we also had a ius, Brucella, and the other prominent members of this pack attended" Hea seat next to him "We discussed what our next stepan attack on the hunters’ lair immediately That is only to be expected, because none of them witnessed for themselves the hunters’ beasts and weaponry I succeeded in swaying the all those who are willing to be rallied We ether all the tribes that have not yet been eradicated or compromised by the hunters Those who are still unaware of the hunters’ presence athered together, we h to base ourselves, and hold ato decide on the best course of attack"

"But these packs seem to be so disconnected," I said "Even if you traveled to each of them and informed theree to join you?"

"We can only try," Bastien said, rubbing his te the way, the easier it will becoain trust We do after all share the same land"

"Do you knohy there’s such strife between packs?" I asked It was soed "This was sily drifting into his own thoughts, before snapping hi to leave now We plan to depart as soon as possible, in less than an hour" He stood up, tightening his robe around his waist, even as it draped to reveal hisso we arments with us," he went on "I requested Lavonna to come up to your room in a few minutes to provide you with some In the meantime I have some preparations of my own to make, and"--his eyes lowered to ain before we leave"

Then he stood and, without a backward glance, strode out of the roo he’d just said

I wondered howould need to be traveling Whether anyone aate

I stood up andout at the view--beyond the clearing at the base of thisbut woods, woods, andat the door made me jump I had barely turned around when the handle creaked and the door pushed open I expected to see Lavonna standing in the doorway, as Bastien had predicted, but instead there stood Brucella

I stopped still, gazing at her she entered the apart a bundle of clothes in her hands and a brooven satchel Shefurther into the apart the bedroom where I stood She planted the ite h she had been crying still However, when she spoke, her voice was surprisingly steady "I have co these for you instead of Lavonna," she explained

"Oh," I murmured "Thanks"

An aard pause followed as her eyes roa else?" I asked

She stepped forward I instinctively stepped back

A small, artificial smile crossed her full lips, a slare "Yes," she said "There is so I would like to ask you a question"

I flinched as she shot out a hand and laid it on aze, I had half been expecting her to slap me across the face She closed the distance between us, until our faces were but a few inches apart Then she breathed, "Is ed "What?" I choked Hoould I know that?

Her eyes narrowed, her grip ona little "Don’t play coy with me," she said, her voice a lot harsher than it had been a second ago

"I seriously have no idea what you’re talking about" The blood rose tome that you have not soiled hi into aze, defiant She would find no guilt in rip slackened on my shoulder and she took a step back

"Hm," she murmured, softly Then her plastic smile reappeared "Good Because you should know that he has been betrothed since he was a child to ht to keep ust Bastien is betrothed to his cousin? That would be like h

I cleared my throat "I assure you, Mrs Northstone, there is absolutely nothing of that sort going on between Bastien and me It would be a stretch to even call us friends We’re just two people thrown together by circuate that would lead me home, I would not even be here"