Page 30 of Contested Crown

“Yes,” I said. “But first?—”

“Leon and Declan.” Cade nodded. “I understand whyIwas working with him—although it wasn’t my most intelligent moment. But Leon has all of the resources of House Bartlett at his disposal. Why would he work with Declan?”

“Hedidn’thave all the resources of House Bartlett,” I pointed out. “Not when he started. He wasn’t as hamstrung as you were, but you went to Declan because he could do things you couldn’t. He had thefreedomto do things you couldn’t.”

“I went to Declan to do things that the council would disapprove of,” Cade said, his brows pulled together. He pressed his hands together, then pulled them apart, toying with a stretch of tattooed magic between them. Absently, he formed a ball before stretching the magic out again. “Which is exactly what Leon did.”

“Now we just have to figure out what he’s afraid the council is going to find out about.” I watched the magic in Cade’s hands.

“Whatever he’s planning is going to be more than real estate purchases,” Cade said.

“I know.” I brought up my hand, glaring at it, glaring at my inability to shift. “Why would he take away werewolves’ ability to shift?”

“I don’t know,” Cade said. “Other than the consorts at House Bartlett, he’s never shown any interest in wolves before.”

“Or you didn’t notice,” I pointed out. “A guy who still insists on consorts being slaves isn’t exactly going to be fine with wolves getting treated the same as everyone else in larger society.”

Cade made a soft hum of agreement. He squinted at the wall again.

“I’m sorry,” Cade said.

The words were rushed, and I raised both eyebrows, unable to stop from giving him a hard time. “I’m sorry, what? I think I misheard you.”

I made a show of cleaning out my ear. Cade exhaled a long breath through his nose. “Miles, I’m sorry for my pique of temper earlier. When I look at you, I don’t understand why you’d help me. I mean… Iknow”—his eyes cut to me, and in them, I saw a depth of feeling that surprised me, something that left my mouth dry and a hunger inside me that wouldn’t be sated by food—“but I don’t understand it.”

“You don’t understand?” I asked. When I approached, it felt like a prowl, and Cade leaned back, nearly taking a step before he locked his knees, his eyes glaring up at me.

Bringing my hand to his cheek, I ran a finger along his cheekbone. I didn’t understand either. I didn’t understand how everyone in his life had seen him as anything less than who he was. How anyone could look at him and not see the power that thrummed under his skin, the demand he had forbetterfrom himself, from everyone else around him.

I wanted him. I wanted to be with him, but more, I wanted us to betogether.

“No,” he murmured, shaking his head. His mouth opened, and I let my thumb linger on the edge of his lip.

“Cade, I—” The end of the sentence failed me, which was fitting because when I looked at him, I didn’t understand why he wanted me beyond need. He’d needed me at House Bartlett, but why did he want me now?

What good was a wolf who couldn’t shift, an alpha without a pack, a man without a name?

We were two broken people who fit together in the right way. He gave me someone to belong to, someone to belong tome. I gave him safety.

Maybe it was just our broken pieces fitting together, but I couldn’t stand the idea that it was just the same terrible moment eleven years ago that had made usthisto each other.

“I’m with you because we fit,” I said finally. “I want to be safe for you.”

Cade’s mouth dropped open, his eyes going wide, his breath stopping until he gasped, a deep inhale that left my own chest aching.

Something moved over his shoulder. Grabbing hold of Cade’s arm, I tugged him close and pushed him down and behind me, roaring as I took the full force of the attack.

The shadows were moving. They hit me hard, sending me flying back, throwing me into the wall, my head cracking against the drywall. Dust drifted in front of my eyes as I blinked, marveling at the beauty for a second.

“Miles!” Cade screamed, crossing his arms in front of himself and dragging them apart, a slash of black ink appearing in the world. The dark gray magic hit the X and sizzled, Cade shuddering and losing his footing.

“No!” I leapt forward, catching him.

The photographic lighting swung wildly, crashing to the ground with a thud. It threw chaotic shadows up on the wall, and the magic from Krista’s collection moved. But it gave whatever this was more power, more shadowy places to hide.

At House Bartlett, I would have relied on Basil to help me, to save me from an attack. Here, I didn’t have that support.

“Miles,” Cade said sharply. He grabbed hold of my shoulder, and I felt a thousand delicate legs crawl across my skin, and then I raised my arm, blocking the next frontal attack.