Page 26 of Cold Curses

“I’m fine,” I said. “There was a timer.” I opted not to tell him how close it had been. “Me, Theo, and Gwen are all fine. I got the other humans out.”

His magic was like cold steel, and it sliced through the air.

Lulu cleared her throat. “Should we just—”

“Let Elisa tell us all—and for the first time tonight—what kind of danger she was in?”

I lifted my eyebrows. I surmised he was angry I hadn’t sent him a message. But he knew my job was dangerous, and this tone wasn’t like him.

“When’s your next challenge?” I asked.

“Tomorrow night,” he said.

“And your life will be on the line.”

He bit back whatever he’d wanted to say next. But his jaw was stiff, and there was anger in his eyes. And, worse, fear.

“Wise man,” Lulu murmured, and poured more wine as Connor steepled his hands, elbows on the table, and rested his forehead on his joined fingers. He was composing himself, I knew. And seeing that struggle drained my temper.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I wasn’t trying to hide it or make it a surprise. It happened, and we were okay—”

“So it’s just one more fucked-up thing in Chicago,” Alexei put in, then ate an enormous forkful of pasta. And because he was right, the rest of the tension evaporated.

“Yeah,” Connor said, lifting his head and running a hand through his dark waves.

“Who’s the challenger?” I asked.

He took a drink of wine. “Leader of a small clan near Green Bay. Thinks we need fresh blood in charge, so the Pack doesn’t get stale.”

And I could see in his face that he thought the idea had merit.

“Fresh blood is for vamps,” Alexei said. “Doesn’t matter for shifters.”

“I think the system needs change,” Connor said. “I think it’s time to reconsider whether beating the shit out of someone every few days is a sign of good leadership.”

“You’re tired,” I said.

“Yeah. Of a lot of things.”

“That’s the sign of good leadership,” Alexei said, and we all looked at him. “Doing things right for the Pack. Being strong for the Pack. Putting up with bullshit challenges for the Pack. That matters.”

Connor reached out, squeezed Alexei’s shoulder.

“You want me at headquarters?” Alexei asked.

Connor shook his head. “Stay with the sorcerers. My thing is simple: I win or I lose.”

“If you lose,” I said, knowing it was time to lighten the mood, “I will take you to supernatural night at Disney World. You can ride roller coasters until you puke.”

“You are such a romantic,” he said.

“Speaking of romance,” I said, and pulled off a chunk of bread, “let me tell you about Poison Ivy.”

* * *

Surprising Connor with my second demon attack of the evening maybe hadn’t been the best way to soothe him. But they all enjoyed the video, at least.

“Thanks for the spread,” Connor told Lulu when dawn was drawing near and it was time to wrap things up. “Not bad for a free meal.”