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“They are welcomed on Lupine territory. I’ll ensure they have refreshments and a safe place to wait until we finish. But you may only choose your second to come to the meeting with you.”

“I will respect your authority on your land.” She gave a short nod, then turned and walked over to Keijo, her Consort and mate, and the others.

Chanin walked back to his men.

“Are you sure it is a good idea to have her within striking distance of Valko?” Boris was the first to speak when they all gathered around Chanin.

“Or on our land after what a wolf took from them. Should we treat them as hostile?” Duko glanced over his shoulder at the Fae with their curved swords on their sides.

“Yes, having her see him is best in this circumstance. Valko’s actions, just like Farkas’s, were not honorable.

If I did not allow this meeting, I’d disrespect the laws and agreements we all must live by as we occupy this continent.

” Chanin glanced around, met the eyes of all the shifters, and ensured they heard his words. “I will not have dishonor among us.”

“Yes, Alpha,” Boris responded as others nodded.

“Duko, they aren’t to be considered hostiles but our guests.

I am leaving the protection of the Fae in the Fang Warriors’ hands.

Escort them to Raul’s and have food and drinks brought to them there.

” Chanin placed a firm hand on Duko’s shoulder, giving him a slight shake. “I trust no harm will come to anyone.”

Chanin gave the second in command of the Fang Warriors a stern look.

“At your command, Alpha.” Duko walked away to the wolves to speak with them. When he approached, the others shifted back to human form. Bare, with only their green scarves around their necks.

The Fae courtiers moved as one as they stepped onto wolf land. Chanin wasn’t sure if the Fae courtiers were squeamish about nudity, but if they were, they were in his territory now and would have to adjust to it.

Iskah and Keijo approached him, Boris, and Bleddyn.

“My people will stand down and follow your wolves until I return,” Iskah began. “We thank you for the refreshments. Please ensure my people are not served meat in any food or by those dining around them.”

“I’ll ensure it doesn’t happen.” Chanin already knew the Fae were vegetarians and did not consume meat or blood of animals or humans. Chanin waved over Rudie, who remained far in the distance at the place he instructed her earlier.

“Alpha?” Concern etched her features as she glanced between the two mingling groups.

Moving closer, he placed a light hand on her shoulder, letting her know everything was fine.

“Rudie, this is Iskah, Queen of the Fae. Her people will be with us for a short while.”

He watched his assistant glance at the blue-haired woman with the gossamer dress. Boldly, Iskah snapped her translucent wings out. Rudie’s eyes widened as she took in the serene beauty of the woman.

Thankfully, Iskah softened her expression and smiled as she met the slight, she-wolf’s gaze.

Chanin continued, “Go to Raul’s and tell him we have guests. Clear the bar until they leave. Then have refreshment items directly from the garden brought for them.”

“I’ll see it all taken care of, Alpha.” She nodded in confidence.

He thanked her and sent Rudie on her way.

Once he saw the warriors leading the Fae away, he turned to Iskah, “Let’s go.”

Iskah walked beside him while Keijo fell in step with Bleddyn and Boris behind them.

As they moved from the wooded area to town, Chanin felt pride as he witnessed the response of his pack members, who gave the Fae a cursory glance or two but continued their daily business.

He knew they were shocked to see the pale, colorful, slender beings walking among them, but the wolves remained composed and respectful.

Iskah and Keijo looked around but remained silent.

Chanin didn’t wonder what the Fae thought of the homes or businesses they passed. He didn’t concern himself with what others thought about how the Lupine adapted the territory to their way of life.

They continued through town.

Once they arrived at the containment, he stopped at the door and faced Iskah. “When you speak to Valko, remember it would be beneficial to get as much information from him as possible before killing him.”

Iskah stared at him briefly. Shadows moved in and out of her gaze as if she battled her emotions within. She drew in her wings. “I understand.”

He nodded in acceptance of her words, then opened the door. “Follow me.”

He entered first and again allowed his wolf to gaze through the darkened interior to the filthy red-haired wolf-shifter in the chair.

“You fuckin’ asshole, Chanin. How dare you leave me here. Release me!” Valko shouted and demanded as if he thought he had a voice in what happened to him.

Chanin noticed that many of the wounds on the man’s face and even some of the cuts on his chest had started to heal, apparently giving the rogue more bravado. However, his leg was still splayed open and at an awkward angle.

“I can see you missed me while I was gone,” Chanin teased and moved in further.

Iskah was walking directly behind him and Keijo was behind Bleddyn; since the Fae were much more petite in form than them, Valko didn’t realize there were others.

Because Fae had powerful abilities to blend their scent into the natural surroundings, Chanin didn’t worry Valko would pick up on their scent if he didn’t see them—ruining the element of surprise.

“Fuck you! You lame ass Alpha.”

Chanin didn’t even flinch at his words. Valko’s opinion meant nothing to him. “Glad to see you’re in better spirits. I’ve brought someone to see you.”

“Who the hell—?”

Iskah stepped out from behind him and into the edge of light.

“No. No. Nonononononononono...” The single word coming out of Valko blended into one long, unintelligible, fearful sound.

“Valko, is it?” Iskah moved closer until the light’s arc flowed over her, causing her skin and clothing to sparkle.

“Shit, Chanin. What the fuck... why would you bring her here?”

Not responding, Chanin folded his arms and leaned against the edge of the tool table. He was interested in seeing Iskah’s interrogation technique.

Keijo stood close to Iskah but still in the dark, while Boris and Bleddyn came to stand beside him, watching the Fae Queen.

“Let me go. I’ll tell you whatever you need to know,” Valko whined.

Iskah brought her hands up and shoved her palms toward Valko. A short, intense burst of energy flowed through the room. The force of it caused the thick, heavy containment walls to groan but not buckle; however, the impact silenced Valko.

The intensity of the Fae power knocked the rogue’s head back and caused Valko to gasp for air in the chair.

The Fae female advanced on him and placed her face before Valko’s. “You want to tell me something? Tell me how you think you had the right to touch not one but two of my fairies.”

“It...it wasn’t me. Farkas. Farkas ordered it.”

One of her hands shot out and gripped his jaw. She squeezed narrow, long fingers around his lower jaw until all five of them pierced his flesh. Blood ran from the man’s mouth and down her fingers.

“Oh, trust me. This Farkas will have his day. And he better hope the Alpha gets to him before I do,” she hissed.

Valko whimpered, a pleading canine whine.

“But you took something that didn’t belong to you.” She pulled her hand away and wiped the blood onto Valko’s pant leg.

“Day pook them pack...” Valko’s words were awkward gibberish through the multiple holes in his cheeks.

“Oh...yes... they were returned. But some of their blood was missing.” She walked behind him.

Valko turned his head, trying to follow her.

“Where is it?” She stood still as she waited.

“Farkas. Farkas! He wanted to take it to the humans.”

“How?” Iskah questioned.

Chanin also wanted to know since trade negotiations were agreed upon by the council and human government.

“I don’t know—”

Iskah grabbed a fistful of Valko’s hair and yanked it from behind. She drew the man’s head back until it looked close to snapping. “If your response is, I don’t know, we no longer need you.”

In such an awkward position, Valko couldn’t answer, but he blinked rapidly to communicate his understanding.

She released him and returned to her position before him. “What was Farkas exchanging the Fae blood for?”

“Women. Human women,” Valko began to babble. “He said we shouldn’t have to wait for scraps from marked ones the council gave. Chanin would never offer any to us, so we were going to take what was ours—”

“Nothing was yours,” she snapped.

Valko bobbed his head up and down.

Chanin wanted to rip the man’s head off himself, but they needed more pertinent information to stop the dangerous transaction from happening.

“How was Farkas going to arrange this? Where? With whom?” Iskah demanded.

Valko shook his head. “Farkas only said he found them. Some secret way to reach the humans and set up an exchange.”

“Where was he meeting them? Where’s our Fae blood?” Iskah yelled, her voice echoing off the steel walls.

Valko shook his head violently. “All I know is Farkas... the humans... they... they have a plan.”

“What plan?” Iskah demanded, her wings on display again.

“I don’t—”

Before the rogue wolf could finish his sentence, Iskah raised her hands. The room quaked around them as the scattered and packed dirt rose from the floors, off the walls, and down from the ceiling. It all merged and became one dark cloud above Valko’s head.

Chanin and the others' gazes stayed riveted on the gathered dirt. He had to admit that Fae’s earth power was remarkable.

Valko stared up at the mound over his head. “No!” Valko screamed.

As if waiting for that moment, Iskah flicked her wrists, and her hands aimed toward Valko. Immediately, the cloud funneled into a dusty stream into Valko’s open mouth.

The man’s body flailed and jerked in the chair as, ounce by ounce, all the dirt in the room filled his mouth. His throat bulged unnaturally from the force of the torrent that soon expanded his stomach to a great degree.

Quickly, Valko’s thrashing stopped as he suffocated under the weight of the dirt, his body exploding.

Flesh and muddy blood showered them.

“As we agreed. I questioned Valko until he had nothing else to give.” Iskah faced them with a shrug.

Chanin wiped the filth from his face. He didn’t fault her for killing Valko. He had agreed to her coming here because he knew she needed the right to avenge the two Fae teens. He’d want to do the same if the situation were reversed. “You could have just snapped his neck, Iskah.”

“You kill vermin your way, and I do mine.” She stepped away from the puddle of Valko around her feet.

Chanin shook his head as he noticed that the two Fae in the room didn’t have a single drop of filth. Fae.

“Chanin, I know you are a competent and powerful leader of your people. I trust nothing like this will happen again.”

“Never,” he growled.

“We need to find Farkas,” she declared.

“My pack is on it. They will find him. But it’s time we pull in the others from the council.” Chanin didn’t doubt the Fang Warriors would sniff his cousin out. However, now he knew things were more pressing since something backdoor was happening with the humans. They could never be trusted.

“I agree.” Iskah nodded. “Once I return to my lands, I will call a meeting.”

Chanin led the way out of the container. “I will get you back to your people. I can provide you all a place to rest for the night.”

Iskah came out behind him. “We can provide our shelter. But if you could direct us to a wooded area near a stream or lake, we could settle nearby.”

“I will see it done.” Chanin guided them toward Raul’s establishment.

When they arrived, Chanin saw two of the Fang Warriors, dressed again in jeans, outside guarding the entrance.

He waved Boris over to him. “Once Iskah and Keijo have eaten, get them to the southwest border by Tail End River.”

“I’m on it, Alpha.” Boris agreed.

“Iskah, that area will provide you and your people a narrower area across the Drahk territory in the morning.”

“Thank you, Chanin.” Iskah met his gaze, communicating so much in her stare.

As leaders of their people, they understood the weight of that role.

“Safe returns.”

“Until the council meeting.” Iskah walked away with Boris as Keijo, the quiet force at her side, aligned himself beside her.

Chanin envied the sight of the Fae Queen and her mate walking side by side. Too many hours had passed since he’d seen Morlie, and he was ready to rectify it. “Bleddyn, you ready to be with your mates? I need to see mine.”

“Alpha, I’m right with you.”