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“Oh, Mom did mention her, just not by name.”

“After you spoke of Duncan’s quest, your mother asked Concetta about the lost medallion. She located a book that had been kept by thelastarchivist. It’s handwritten in ink that has faded, but most of it is apparently still legible. In it, there is mention of a werewolf named Tommaso who left the pack after losing his mate. Sometime after his departure, what the archivist called the male version of the Medallion of Memory and Power was found to be missing. Nobody had any proof, but the archivist believed Tommaso stole it. Some of the pack members went after him to find out. They chased him up to the forests west of Mount Baker, but he disappeared near a lake up there. Neither he nor the medallion was ever seen again.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. Since Duncan had been hunting along waterways in the forests in that direction, maybe Radomir and Abrams had found similar information.

“The archive just referenceda lake?” I asked. “No name?”

Since this was the rainy side of the mountains, there werethousands of lakes about. Even saying west of Mount Baker didn’t narrow it down as much as one would hope.

“That’s all that the archivist recorded, yes. It may have been too small a lake to have a name. Or it may notyethave been named by anyone other than the native tribes. This all would have happened a hundred years or more ago.”

“Okay. Tell her thanks for checking. I know Mom has other things on her mind.”

“It would please her to see the matching medallion returned to the pack so that a rightful male alpha could wear it again and protect our kind.”

“Yeah. I just wish… I’m sorry I don’t have a solution for her more permanent problem.” It would be wishful thinking and nothing more to imagine the medallions, once reunited, would have the power to cure her of her cancer. My experience thus far with these magical items was that the mushroom-shaped artifact in the wolf case was closer to something that might heal a person.

The thought made me look toward the doorway, reminded that I’d intended to ask Duncan if he could try changing next to the case and we could see if his bipedfuris aura could open it. What if we did that near Mom? Maybe her illness would activate the artifact inside and prompt it to heal her.

But Duncan had left, his clothes draped over the upturned couch. He’d only just arrived, and he was already off, trying to solve one of my problems. I hoped it didn’t get him into trouble—more trouble.

“I don’t think there’s a solution for that,” Lorenzo said sadly. “Even for those with magical blood, our time in the mortal realm must have an end.”

“Unless you get bitten by a vampire.” I tried to make my tone light, but the night had left me grim and somber.

“I do not believe your mother would care to be beholden to avampire master. There are some prices that one doesn’t pay, not even for immortality.”

“Yeah. She doesn’t even like being beholden to her nephews for fixing her internet.”

“True,” Lorenzo said fondly. “She’s a proud woman.”

“Did Mom mention where her aunt lives?” I wondered if I could learn more if I spoke to the woman personally. “Or if she has a phone number?”

“I believe Concetta eschews modern technology and that her home is off the grid.”

“Does that mean no address?”

“Or modern amenities like power and plumbing.”

“Are you telling me that my ninety-eight-year-old great aunt doesn’t have an indoor toilet?”

“As I said, she eschews modern technology.”

“Some modern technology is worth adopting. Like refrigeration, electricity, and toilets.”

“Your mother says she can draw you a map to her home.”

“Tell her thatshecould stand to adopt some modern technology too.”

“I will relay your message.”

“Thanks. I’ll see what I can do about the medallion. If it would bring Mom peace to have it returned to the pack, I’d like to make that happen.” Because my to-do listneededmore entries.

At least I knew Duncan would help with that quest. What I didn’t know was if, when we found the medallion, he would return it to the pack or he would hand it over to those who controlled him.

18

Jasmine was helpingme straighten the mess in the apartment when someone knocked on the door. I didn’t sense anyone paranormal and grimaced, having an inkling of who it was before I opened it. Yes, Dubois stood outside.