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  Whatever it felt like from his side, Rune’s eyes darkened. To wolf and wild tinged with human regret.

  If he’d been anyone else, I would have expected him to go lupine, to howl and perhaps even attack someone to release pent-up angst. But this was Rune, who I’d first sighted meditating in a human diner. Rune who was gentle and protective.

  Who deserved an explanation.

  Unfortunately, I couldn’t afford to explain that I was merely being an Alpha. I couldn’t tell him that, in a different lifetime, I might have reveled in the tenuous connection between us. But in this one, my clan had to come first.

  I certainly couldn’t launch into those explanations in the mess hall while half the pack was watching. Instead, I jerked my chin upward in answer to his original question. Then I tugged on a different pack bond, the one connecting me to my father’s Beta.

  “Once Ash is in the cell, contact me. I intend to change the code.”

  Today appeared to be a two-for-one day, with a sale on upsetting those close to me. Because Willa was so surprised she ignored our audience and answered aloud. “Why, Alpha? You and I are the only ones who know it.”

  A rustle of voices behind me promised that, yep, the entire pack was trying to decipher that statement. I’d need to make an announcement about Ash and fae at some point. But not now. Not at this moment.

  Because another ping was coming in, this one from the guard currently on duty at the gatehouse. “Alpha, there’s a human here to see you. He says he wants to buy glitter.”

  “I’ll be there in ten minutes,” I answered silently. Then, aloud to Willa and Rune: “Go.”

  I CHANGED THE HOLDING cell’s code on the way, using the security app on my cell phone. Assuming Ash wasn’t able to turn himself into immaterial wind then squeeze through a keyhole, he wasn’t getting out of there without me present. And Rune would handle any fae maneuverings in the worst-case scenario.

  Or Rune would handle it unless severing our connection had hurt his feelings so badly that he decided to be done with me. I trailed my fingers across the healing wound on my neck a second time, both glad and disappointed to find that it was now merely a scab. It took all of my concentration to refrain from contacting Willa and asking if Rune was still present while I marched up to the guardhouse.

  There, however, I forced myself to focus. Because the waiting human introduced himself as—

  “Lenny Harrison. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

  His name was instantly familiar even though the realtor I’d barked a single negation at was smoother in person than he’d been over the phone. His clothes were sharp, his haircut fancier than our small-town barbershop could manage, and his response when I ignored his proffered handshake was a self-deprecating chuckle.

  “You think I’m here under false pretenses,” he continued when I just glared at him in silence. “I’d be lying, ma’am, if I said I didn’t want to buy your land. But that’s not why I came.”

  Well, that was refreshingly honest. I unbent enough to ask a question. “Why did you come then?”

  His face opened into a wide smile. “Like I told your security guard, I want to buy glitter. My son’s girlfriend works in your factory. Told me all about how hard y’all have been working. How your glitter’s been piling up in that storeroom with no buyers. I figured we might be able to engage in a mutually beneficial arrangement.”

  That sounded like salesman-speak for wanting something for nothing. I raised one eyebrow. “Do you intend to buy our glitter?”

  “Why, of course! But we’ll put it on social media too. Maybe open up a new market for you among individual buyers.”

  “And in exchange?”

  He attempted to look wounded, but didn’t do a very good job of it. “Small business people have to work together.”

  I cleared my throat. Waited.

  “And, well, if you end up needing to ship out lots of small orders, perhaps Kimberley could be moved over to the mail room? The factory line is hard on her feet.”

  Lenny was looking out for his pack. That made sense. Still, I couldn’t imagine a small-scale use of glitter so interesting that a video about it would go viral. “What exactly do you plan to do with my product?”

  Rather than answering, Lenny pulled out his cell phone. Drew up a photo of a smiling woman who looked as plump and homey as this man appeared gym-toned and citified. “That’s Vanessa,” he said proudly. When I offered no comment, he added, “My wife. We’ve been married for twenty years, or will have been come September first. We were just kids when we got hitched, though. Could barely afford the wedding dress. I figure she deserves a party. Better late than never. A renewal of vows.”

  “With glitter.” That actually made a modicum of sense. “What did you have in mind?”

  “Something custom.” He leaned in closer, eyes sharpening. “I was thinking maybe heart-shaped sparkles on glitter to throw at the bride instead of rice.”

  Heart-shaped glitter would be easy, and a biodegradable product would be appropriate for outdoor use. Making the sparkles shine in a heart pattern, though, was beyond my understanding. Still, I wouldn’t put it past Natalie to be able to create the desired effect.

  “That might be possible,” I told him. “I’ll be in touch Monday with details.”

  It was a clear dismissal, but Lenny lingered rather than heading for his car. “Don’t you need my number?”

  “The kids have it.”

  Before he could ask any more unnecessary questions, a throaty motor roared up the drive toward us, materializing into an unfortunately familiar shifter.

  RYDER WASN’T THE KIND of companion I wanted business associates to consider when they thought of my glitter factory. Especially not a whooping Ryder spinning gravel to ping against the gatehouse as he swerved his motorcycle to a stop far too close to us for safety’s sake.

  Had he expanded his tattoo collection since I saw him last? Or maybe the wind had just roughed up his hair when he rode without a helmet? Either way, he looked wilder than before. Wilder, but just as annoying when he greeted me with:

  “Darlin’. You’re a sight for sore eyes.”

  I blinked, wishing we were alone so I could suggest Ryder shove that particular pet name where the sun didn’t shine.

  Instead, I pasted on the best customer-service smile I could manage and dismissed Lenny. “I’ll call you Monday,” I repeated. “In the meantime, please congratulate your wife.”

  “With pleasure,” Lenny answered, this time willing to leave. So I guessed Ryder’s rough edges were good for something after all.

  Still, my voice was hard when I addressed him. “You,” I told Ryder once the realtor was safely in his vehicle, “come with me.”

  “With pleasure, darlin’.” He propped the motorcycle up on its kickstand in the middle of our driveway. But I ignored the irritant and instead took off at a trot for the holding cells.

  “We don’t have all day,” I called over my shoulder.

  “Can’t wait to get me alone, huh?”

  Despite my lack of warning, Ryder’s rumble followed far too close for comfort. His presence at my back was the exact opposite of Rune’s. Hairs prickled as I remembered how easily Ryder had overwhelmed my alpha command. My breathing sped up until I forced it to slow.

  “You will behave yourself while within my territory,” I growled once I was sure there would be no tremor in my voice. The holding cells were on the ground floor and we were nearly to the entryway. I couldn’t be certain, however, who other than Rune and Ash might be inside.

  Which meant reining in this shifter who appeared unreinable. He was also stronger than me and possessed no apparent understanding of politeness. Even as I turned over ideas, Ryder’s innuendo filled the conversational gap.

  “No canoodling? I’m disappointed, darlin’. Don’t you want...?”

  He made an obscene gesture, his body just a little too close for comfort. I ignored my wolf’s impulse to raise her hackles and snap, whic
h might have been a mistake. Because Ryder advanced one inch nearer...

  ...And a hand came out of nowhere to yank my companion off his feet.

  Chapter 27

  “You will stay out of her personal space.” Rune’s face was more bestial than I’d ever seen it. Not actually shifted, but his inner beast was so close to the surface that his words came out as a growl. Since I’d met him, this was the closest he’d come to donning lupine fur.

  “Or...what?” Ryder taunted. “You won’t go wolf. You won’t even ride my motorcycle. Tara deserves a man with balls.”

  What I deserved was this comeuppance. I’d known Rune was struggling when I broke our bond. I’d just assumed his control was too great for him to lash out in response.

  I shut my eyes for one split second as I thought through a way to defuse the situation. And when I opened them again it was to the sight of swords.

  Not a friendly sparring match either. We were outside, on a lawn that had been used over the years for everything from picnics to birthday parties. It was also the perfect setting for a battle. Plenty of room to swing bladed weapons with the intent to kill. In this case, Rune was hacking and Ryder was dodging and I could already smell the salty tang of blood.

  Which made no sense. For the entirety of our acquaintance, Rune had always been able to contain himself. As Ryder said, he’d never once gone wolf—a shifter’s usual response when pushed past our emotional limits. Barring a few seconds with Erskine, he’d never even seemed close to losing control.

  But, past notwithstanding, Rune was out of control now. His blade swiped low and Ryder barely blocked it. Metal screeched against metal before the two sprang apart.

  Perhaps Ryder was similarly confused. That’s the only explanation I could give for him throwing oil on the fire. “What, you can’t reel her in but you’re mad when I bait a hook?” the tattooed shifter grumbled. He stank of electricity and fur.

  Rune smelled even worse. Like fallen leaves slumped into a puddle, rotting there without oxygen until bubbles of sulfur strained for the surface. I swallowed against the foulness, knowing that in three, two, one....

  Yep, there was nothing like a fight to attract the entire pack.

  At least a dozen shifters were now assembled around us. I could feel them jostling for better views, which was annoying but not really problematic. From the little I’d seen of him, Ryder liked to start things, and I well knew that Rune was proficient at shutting down dicey situations. Momentarily, Rune would brush off his friend’s teasing. Momentarily...

  ...I was proven very wrong. Because this time, Rune feinted then aimed for a place much more dangerous than knees or shoulders. This time, his sword settled sharp and deadly across Ryder’s unprotected throat.

  My chest tightened. One wrong move and Rune’s friend might bleed out on my turf. That wasn’t right. Was it possible the tattooed motorcyclist wasn’t really Ryder but a fae impersonating him? Or perhaps...?

  Whatever was going on, I chose to trust Rune’s instincts. So I slapped my pack mates with an order: “Disperse!” Then I drew my knife and stalked up to the pair of panting men.

  “Butch, what do you want me to do?” I murmured, keeping my voice low enough so any stragglers wouldn’t hear it. Gripping my weapon tightly, I kept the rest of my muscles loose and ready to move.

  I was ready, but Rune didn’t even acknowledge my presence. Instead, he growled deep in his throat, sounding so much like a wolf that I shivered. His gaze didn’t waver from Ryder’s. It was almost as if he didn’t even realize I was there.

  Ryder was more aware of his surroundings. His eyes flicked down to the blade, then back up to his friend’s face. “Ru—” he started.

  And Rune pressed down so hard blood rose along the sword’s edge. Ryder’s breath was raspy now. His hands curled into fists.

  Meanwhile, I was even more confused than I’d been previously. If this person knew Rune’s true name, then he really was Ryder. And if the person bearing Rune’s face didn’t want his true name spoken, then he really was Rune.

  So why wasn’t Rune releasing his friend?

  Whatever the reason, the sword sank in a millimeter deeper. Ryder made a frantic grab for the hilt then let go with a strangled moan as the beads of blood at his throat coalesced into a trickle sliding down his chest.

  His eyes were closed and I wasn’t so sure he was even breathing. Rune was killing his friend and I knew deep down inside that he’d regret it once he was back in control of himself.

  So I did the only thing I could think of to save Ryder’s life.

  IN RETROSPECT, I COULD have used the same weapon Ryder had been going for. Rune’s true name would have forced him to obey me. Utilizing that, I could have called him off as if he was a dog being forced to heel.

  But maybe my subconscious realized that was the wrong move. Realized Rune needed to be the one to stop himself. Whatever the reason, instinct sent me in another direction, straight for the sweat slicking Rune’s chest.

  Because, despite the swamp-muck stink rolling off him, my gut said there was still some persimmon hidden beneath the surface. Still some of his inherent sweetness. All I had to do was hunt it down.

  Cautiously, my fingers feathered across Rune’s muscles. His breath caught, and I paused, hoping I hadn’t just prompted him to drive his sword in deeper.

  No, he was statue-still. Achingly slow, I drew away from him then lifted my damp hand back to my face to sniff.

  Yes. There it was. Persimmon, faint yet present. Careful not to wipe away the sweetness, I used the same fingers to pick at the scab on my throat.

  Because my blood plus Rune’s persimmon would rekindle the hint of a connection I’d severed an hour earlier. Or at least I hoped it would. Hoped that would make a difference in Rune’s current daze....

  I winced as the scab came loose. Now Ryder wasn’t the only one with blood on his throat. I had no real idea what I was doing, but I smashed my palm into the wound I’d recreated, ignoring the pain as salt struck damaged flesh.

  And something inside me clicked into place. Persimmon rebounded, not full force but stronger. Was it my imagination, or did the indentation beneath Rune’s blade lessen the tiniest bit?

  It had lessened, but the danger didn’t ease up entirely. Meanwhile, the persimmon scent emanated from me only while Rune still smelled like swamp muck.

  So I’d need to take this one step further. Removing my bloody fingers from the source of the persimmon, I wafted the combined aromas in front of Rune’s nose.

  Wafted the aroma...and my unprotected neck. Mine was thinner than Ryder’s. More easily snappable.

  Meanwhile, so close to Rune, I could see into his eyes. There was no humanity present. Instead, he resembled a predator doing what predators did best. Killing. Then, perhaps, eating what he’d killed?

  I shivered. My persimmon-blood ploy now appeared to be a very, very bad idea. I was counting on Rune’s inherent gentleness and control to rebound, yet neither seemed to be present in this barely recognizable being.

  Then...the Rune I knew was back. Not the wholeness of him, but a hint of the man I’d invited up to my room the previous evening. He pushed Ryder away so fast I heard rather than saw sword and flesh losing contact. Out of the corner of one eye, I noted the tattooed shifter crawling sideways out of Rune’s reach.

  For my part, I didn’t dare move. Not when Rune’s mouth was now one centimeter away from my throat.

  Chapter 28

  Rune was human on the outside, but his eyes and teeth were sharply wolf. I held entirely still as hot breath licked against me. Hot breath...then his tongue.

  Rune licked away my blood as gently as he’d touched me the night before up in my tower. He reached over to manipulate the remnant of a scab with gentle fingers, pressing what was left back into place.

  For the first time in what felt like minutes, I inhaled. There was humanity in Rune’s face now. Some, but not enough.

  Closing my eyes, both of my hands rose to
encircle Rune in a hug. Nothing sexual, merely reassurance for both of us.

  “Are you okay?” I murmured.

  “Not really,” the tattooed shifter behind us grumbled, “but thanks for asking.”

  Rune’s growl thrummed beneath my fingers and I sighed. Almost having his throat slit wasn’t enough to squash the irrepressible Ryder. Without looking away from the shifter I clung to, I suggested: “How about you go wait for me by the holding cells?”

  Ryder’s scent receded—so maybe he was repressible after all—but Rune didn’t relax. “Are you okay?” I asked again.

  Rather than answer, Rune shook his head, his hands settling on my shoulders. Faster than my eyes could follow, he set me aside and put distance between us. Striding not toward Ryder but toward a shade tree just far enough from the mansion so it wouldn’t impact the foundation with its roots.

  There, Rune settled down into half-lotus position without speaking. Eyes closed, thumbs touching middle fingers.

  He was meditating. I blinked.

  And now that immediate danger was averted, I had time to assess the larger picture. My nosy pack mates had retreated until they were out of earshot, but they hadn’t left entirely. Instead, they lingered, accumulating more friends and relatives. The upshot? We now had an even larger audience for the upcoming confrontation with a broken Rune and a potentially deadly fae.

  I needed backup, so I pinged Caitlyn down the pack bond. She’d had less than an hour of sleep, but her internal voice wasn’t groggy when she answered. “Alpha?”

  “Find Willa and be her shadow for the next few hours. If she does anything odd, contact me immediately.”

  “Yes, Alpha.”

  I didn’t really think Caitlyn’s task would be necessary, the chances of Willa having been affected by the fae since jumping over the bonfire yesterday being slim. That’s why I also contacted Willa directly. As quickly as I could, I thrust a massive lump of information about the fae and Samhain Shifters toward her. Everything, really, other than what had passed between me and Rune during the last twenty-four hours.