Tangle of Need (Psy-Changeling #11)(109)

“Only caretaking,” Indigo clarified. “You know how good he is. Needs a bit more seasoning is all. I’m taking most of my novices and younger soldiers along,” she added. “Good for them to learn to work with dominants from other sectors. The ones I’m leaving here are those with an aptitude for weapons—Alexei’s going to do sessions with them while he’s here.”

Knowing Alexei’s strength in that area, Riaz knew the novices had lucked out. “He had any more problems with challenges?”

“No, but there has been an interesting development as of last night—the wolves in the pack that kept challenging him?” At Riaz’s nod, she continued. “Turns out they’re in a bad way. Their alpha passed two months ago from old age, and while the lieutenants were able to keep it quiet and hold the pack together, they’re all comparatively young and weak.”

In a situation where a pack had no successor to their alpha, Riaz thought, a strong lieutenant who had the backing of his fellow dominants could ensure the pack’s continued health. But it needed to be someone of Riley’s caliber—a man every wolf in the pack could respect and whose strength was unquestioned.

Without that, the natural aggression of the dominants would spill over, disintegrating the pack from the inside out. “Is that why all the challenges?” he said, seeing the weaker pack’s plan—a clever one, if only they’d had someone who could take Alexei. “They wanted one of their people in a position of power in SnowDancer?”

Indigo nodded. “They’re desperate to merge with us, but it’s a tough ask for them to bring in their people under someone they don’t know and trust. Especially given our reputation.”

A reputation that, Riaz knew, had been carefully cultivated in the years after Hawke took over as alpha. No one else, that young boy had declared, would ever see SnowDancer as easy prey. Each and every dominant in the den had backed that reputation up with teeth and claws and blood, until even the most aggressive packs steered clear of SnowDancer territory. “Alexei’s show got their attention,” he guessed.

“Yeah—and since pretty much every dominant in their pack was there when he returned their man, they had a chance to judge him for themselves. They’ve made a formal request to be permitted to move in under SnowDancer’s banner, bringing their territorial lands with them.”

“This pack know what that means?” SnowDancer expected total and absolute loyalty, had executed one of their own not long ago when he proved a murderous traitor.

“They will—and if it goes through, our region swap might have to wait a bit while our new packmates get settled in under Alexei.” Indigo glanced at her watch. “It’s time for you to leave for the meet. Make sure the octopus doesn’t get you.”

“Funny,” he muttered, but part of him was intrigued by the idea of changeling octopuses. Or should that be “octopi”? BlackSea was so secretive, it was impossible to separate wild conjecture from fact.

Hawke and Riley met him in the garage. The three of them—and Kenji—had debated dressing in suits, but had settled on their usual jeans and T-shirts. This was who they were, and if BlackSea didn’t like it, there wasn’t much hope for a functional alliance.

“Who’s going to drive?” Riaz asked, reaching the vehicle.

They all looked at one another … then stuck out their fists for a game of rock, paper, scissors. Riley won, with Riaz losing and ending up in the backseat. In a good mood, he wasn’t fussed, his mind filled with thoughts of the woman who had brought him back to life, branded her claim on his heart. His tough, prickly, generous Adria, who wasn’t so tough or prickly after all.

Last night, he’d had her in giggling fits after finding a ticklish spot and taking merciless advantage. He’d felt as young as a pup as they twisted and tangled in the sheets, her giggles erupting between stern admonitions and breathless threats. Wolf grinning at the memory, he talked to the back of Riley’s head. “How’s Mercy doing?”

The senior sentinel caressed the steering wheel through a turn, sliding the vehicle gracefully onto the highway beyond den territory. “She hasn’t snarled at me yet.” Pure disbelief in every syllable. “I turn up out of the blue while she’s working, and she smiles, gives me a kiss, and lets me hang around as long as I want.”

Hawke turned to look at Riley, suspicion writ large on his profile. “We’re talking about Mercy the sentinel? The one who’d kick your ass if you dared baby her?”

“Maybe it’s the pregnancy?” Riley sounded hopeful.

Riaz winced. “Pregnancy usually makes dominant females meaner, not nicer.” It tended to take very careful petting to calm one down once she got her fur ruffled. “Are you sure she’s happy to see you?”

Riley gave him a look in the rearview mirror.

“Right,” Riaz muttered. “Mating bond.” The scar inside him stretched, the wound throbbing, but it didn’t bleed. Because the thing was, he knew when his empress was happy, too, his wolf attuned to her own.

Hawke rubbed his jaw. “I’d say enjoy it while it lasts,” was his thoughtful advice. “Sooner or later, she’ll turn into a she-demon.”

Riley’s growl filled the vehicle. “Don’t insult my mate or I’ll have to stop this SUV and beat you dead.”