Page 39 of The Wolfing Hour

It felt like he was telling the truth, but I couldn’t trust anyone connected to the pack. Not fully. “Understand this. If I find out you eventhoughtabout betraying Ronan, I will hunt you down and rain curses on your head until your back breaks under the weight of my magic. Got it?”

He gulped, Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat. “Yes, ma’am.”

I spun on my heel and strode back inside the park. I had saguaros to visit and a protection spell to check on.

I’d just finished with Orange when my cell phone buzzed against my thigh. I dug it out of my jeans pocket and answered it, barely glancing at the screen.

“Hello, it’s Betty.”

A soft voice edged with the brightness of youth said, “Betty, it’s Rory. Aurora Pallás? Ronan’s sister?”

I smiled. Finally, a nice surprise.

“Rory, every time you call you remind me who you are. We’ve met several times. I’m dating your brother. You don’t have to reintroduce yourself.”

Her light giggle made me feel a hundred years old. “Sorry. You’ve got such main character energy. It intimidates me a little. I’ve always been kind of a background player.”

“Not to your brother.”

“No.” She stopped giggling. “Not to Ronan. That’s why I’m calling. Is he all right? I’ve been feeling unsettled over here. I’ve tried to call, but he’s not answering. I thought you might know where he is.”

“We had an eventful night, but he’s all right. He’s helping Gladys shift right now, but I can go get him if you need me to.”

“No, don’t disturb him.” She paused. “Ms. Jiménez? Why would he be helping her? She’s a beta, but a strong one. Wait, was she hurt? Is Ronan hurt? I knew something was going on.”

I gave Rory the short version of events, keeping it low on details like Ronan’s silver superpower and my demonic weirdness.

“Dad’s wolves attacked her? Inpublic?”

“Yeah.” I hadn’t considered the implications of Floyd doing it publicly. I should have.

“He’s declaring war on Ronan, isn’t he? The day is finally here.”

“I don’t know,” I lied, because she was Ronan’s kid sister and I didn’t know how much he wanted me to tell her. “But maybe watch your back.”

She laughed, and there was nothing youthful, giggly, or happy about it. “Myback? I’m not the one our father wants dead. Ronan is. Please keep my brother safe, Betty.”

“I’ll do my best,” I said.

“Because you love him,” she said.

“Yeah.”

“He loves you, too.” A little of the lightness returned to her voice. “Oh my goddess, I’m going to bethebest cuñada ever. Just you wait and see. I’ve always wanted a sister.”

Apparently, Rory was like her brother with the straight shots to the heart.

“Me, too,” I managed.

We hung up, and to keep myself from bursting into sappy tears, I walked the perimeter of the park, checked in with the remaining saguaros, tested to be sure the protection spell was holding strong.

Tomorrow, the boys and I were making specially keyedhealcharms for everyone in the Siete Saguaros. Ronan, especially.

Rory’s take was spot-on. The attack on Gladys had been a declaration of war against Ronan.

None of us were safe.

“Quit fussing over me,”Ida said, when I slid the plate of eggs in front of her. I set a stack of buttered toast on a smaller plate along with some of Trini’s prickly pear jam. Not the boozy version; it was a little early for booze.