Page 64 of Blood Fist

“Let’s get on with this,” he rasped, drawing himself to his full height. His cold eyes skated across the seated Chieftains, landing on Ridan.

“We have a new face among us.”

“I was sad to hear of Chief Restrina’s passing,” Auhert said, ignoring Thewn’s comment to speak directly to Ridan. “She fought a strong battle.”

The table tapped their knuckles on their chests in a sign of respect. Ridan bowed his head in thanks.

Thewn was still staring at Ridan. It was making him itchy. He leaned back in his chair, spreading his legs in a show of confidence.

“She is reunited under Artrax’s wings with her mate,” he grunted.

Snorting, Thewn finally took his seat. “And left behind a pup in her place.”

Ridan’s eyes snapped to the big man. “I haven’t been a pup in a long time. I’d be happy to prove it.” He smirked. “If you can even lift your…sword.”

The insult didn’t go unnoticed. Thewn snarled, his disgusting copper scent flooding the room. Ridan sneered, refusing to react to it. Osmond shifted behind him, no doubt uncomfortable with the challenging alpha scent.

Auhert looked between them. “Is it true you took in soldiers from Kaledonea?”

Without looking away from Thewn, Ridan nodded. “We did.”

That alarm. Even Areine looked up, her fine eyebrows twitching in interest.

“We should speak to them.” Auhert glanced around the room, looking for approval. “See if they can be trusted.”

Ridan’s scent spiked, joined by the sour tang of citrus. He forced his lips back, teeth on display.

Thewn scoffed. “You’d protect them?” he looked smug, like he’d just discovered something no one else had. “How weak has the Stone Blade grown that they bow to foreigners?”

“You’re welcome to find out, Thewn.” Ridan growled, purposefully leaving out any honorifics. “Thoseforeignersare clan now. They have the same protections as any of my clan.”

Truthfully, Ridan wasn’t sure he could take Thewn in a fight. The man was big, strong, and experienced. But that never stopped him before.

Areine finally kicked her feet off the table, setting her mug down. “That settles it then,” her voice cut through the tension. “Control your scent, boys. Ordon’t and see just how it affects me.” She winked at Ridan.

Thewn grumbled but settled back, restraining his scent so the room could breathe.

“This Kaledonea mess,” Areine began, finger running along the wet rim of her mug. “Where do we stand?”

“He was defeated,” Ridan said, easing into what he and Gustall agreed to reveal. “General Bargrave is dead, as is most of the force he sent.”

Auhert lifted his mug in celebration. “By Artrax’s Claws, that is good news!”

“Hardly,” Ridan grumbled. “They’ll be back.”

“What makes you so certain?”

Ridan didn’t want to tell them about Corric. The chiefs wouldn’t see him as pack—they’d see him as a liability. While the clans shared a history, and the same core beliefs, through the ages they’d all developed unique laws and ideals. While pack was important to them all, Corric wasn’ttheir pack.

Besides, now that Bargrave was dead, it was entirely likely King Krait would not have a reason to come for him. Sure, he was his son, but they knew that was just his flimsy justification for invading. Krait wanted something else.

“Kaledonea is dying,” Ridan revealed. “They’ve relied on magic for too long, and it’s fading. They need land, food, resources.”

Thewn spat at the mention of magic, but Areine’s eyes glittered. “Which makes the Stone Blade a gem too precious to leave alone.”

She was right. The Stone Blade excelled in farming and livestock. Their horses were second to none, and they haven’t had a lean winter in years. If land is whatKrait wanted, there was no other clan that would suffice.

That and Stone Blade were the closest to Artrax’s Mountain. His ancestors settled there specifically to protect it.