Page 53 of The Cries of Monsters
Even though I believed Lyr would be the last person to out me to the council, I lifted to my feet and glared at the tiger shifter. “You know as well as I do that I’m no sympathizer. Why are you here, Lyr? Shouldn’t you be at the party, spying on the alphas and newbloods?”
Lyr was once Queen Izla’s personal spy, but though her job had ceased when the queen disappeared, she still listened to the whispers of those in Katakin and kept abreast of any rumors that floated through the high houses.
“Raine still hasn’t changed,” Lyr said with a matter-of-fact voice. “And I want to know what you’re planning to do about it. I was passing by when I noticed you entering the back of the building. From the looks of it, you’re hoping to find an explanation in these fairy tales?”
Fuck.I knew if Lyr had seen me enter the building, others could have too. I tilted my head, listening for any signs we had other company, but the library remained quiet. When I turned my attention back to Lyr, she was still staring at me expectantly. I didn’t bother trying to lie. The female was as smart as she was cunning, and I didn’t doubt she’d been paying special attention to Raine.
“She hasn’t,” I admitted, “and now that we’ve announced she has shifter blood, no monster will want her to join their house without seeing what she shifts into.”
Lyr seemed thoughtful, but then she said, “I could offer for her to join my house.”
“What?” I kept my face neutral to hide my shock. In two hundred years, Lyr had never taken an interest in the newbloods and offered them a place with her and her mates. But we were running out of options, and the urge to refuse her offer didn’t leave my tongue. If it came to it, letting Raine join her house might be the best we could do.
She shrugged and rubbed her chin. “We’d have to figure out what to do when Raine does change, but it could be a solution for now.”
“Why would you do that?” I asked suspiciously.
Her ice-blue eyes peered back at me, giving nothing away. “I told you, the peace in Katakin is as fragile as ever, and announcing that Raine is human would cause anarchy.”
“And you’ve always kept to the Taratun’s rules,” I said dryly.
Lyr’s lips quirked up at the sides. “Just know that for now, I’m also interested in keeping Raine alive. You don’t tell me all your secrets now, do you?”
I resisted the urge to grab her by the neck and squeeze the information out of her. Whatever Lyr’s motivations were for wanting to help Raine, I knew she wasn’t just offering out of the goodness of her heart. Lyr always had a plan.
I glanced at the pile of fairy tales on the table. We were running out of options, and I had been wondering what the fuck we would do if we made it to the joining ceremony, and Raine still hadn’t changed. This was the only option that seemed somewhat plausible. “I’m hoping it won’t come to it, but if it does, Raine might have to accept your offer,” I relented.
“I’ll make sure I’m there if the time comes,” Lyr purred, and then she was gone, her body having melted back into the darkness. I scowled at where the shifter had been standing. Lyr had always been true to her word, and I had no reason to doubt her now, but I still hated that she knew about Raine. Knowing I couldn’t do anything about it, I sat back down and grabbed another book from the pile.
Itwasoveranhour later when I sensed another heartbeat, and Kade entered the library. My brother smelled of sex and Raine, and those scents had my cock growing hard again. I cursed under my breath.
“I didn’t think you’d come,” I said, swallowing down my jealousy when he approached. Like Darian and Asher, Kade and I had shared females in the past, mostly to make sure we kept each other in check, and explicit images of Kade and I sharing Raine had me grinding my teeth in frustration.
“I always show up,” Kade responded as he stopped before me.
My lips twitched at that. I could only imagine how hard it must have been for him to leave Raine with Darian and Asher rather than keep enjoying her.
“Find anything?” he asked.
I shook my head. “Maybe this is a fucking fool’s errand.”
“It’s better than doing nothing. What are we going to do if Raine doesn’t change soon? We’re lucky no one’s said much about her not shifting so far. Even if she wins the fights, if she doesn’t shift soon, the alphas will think she’s weak.”
Sighing heavily, I leaned back in my chair. “Lyr was here. She offered to let Raine join her house if none of the other monsters will have her.”
“Raine’s not joining anyone’s house,” Kade growled. “She’s staying with us.”
“We have nothing to offer her,” I said bitterly.
“We’ll make it work, even if it means running from the Taratun.”
There’s nowhere for us to run,I thought, but I didn’t say it. Kade’s glowing golden eyes showed just how close he was to shifting, and there was no point in us arguing. Not when I wanted the same thing he did, as reluctant as I was to admit it.
I tipped my head toward the shelves where I’d pulled my books from. “Are we going to talk all night, or are you here to help?”
Kade grunted, but he moved over to the shelf and pulled out his own stack of books. “We’re making this work, Locke,” he growled as he dropped down next to me. I didn’t answer.
CHAPTER 24