“That was the sound of an alpha warg realizing his daughter has been consorting with fae.” I set my drink aside, stood and rolled my shoulders to loosen them. “Company’s coming.”

Isaac rose to his feet and positioned himself beside me. “How bad is this going to get?”

“This is Theo-discovering-you-swiped-the-keys-to-his-Camaro-and-wrecked-it-on-a-date-with-his-girlfriend bad.”

“You said your brother wrecked that car—” she began.

“Not now, Mom.” He shot me a thanks so much look that promised retribution via ceramic figurines. “You ought to go inside until we see how this shakes out.”

“And leave my babies out here?” Her laughter rang cold in the night. “I don’t think so.”

We three stood, shoulder to shoulder, eyes on the forest beyond our wards.

We didn’t have to wait long.

Chapter 17

The alpha burst from the forest’s heart, all rippling muscle and simmering rage, with one hand locked around Emily’s slender wrist and the other clamped on Dell’s upper arm. The whites of his eyes shone with madness.

“You, fae. You did this.” He shook Dell until she stumbled then hauled her back and lifted her until she was forced to stand on tiptoe or allow him to dislocate her shoulder. “You brought that evil back here.”

Isaac tensed in my periphery, but Aunt Dot restrained him with a hand to his chest.

“I did.” All the evidence pointed at that being true. I wasn’t going to deny it. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“My daughter—my only child—met with that monster. She took spelled food from it. The same fae who killed our Marie.” He flung Dell forward, and she landed in a heap. “Take that and get off my land.” His face purpled, bones gliding beneath his skin as he fought the change and bellowed, “Now.”

Trembling, Dell crawled on her hands and knees inside the safety of the wards. Isaac ran to her, cradled her in his arms and carried her inside his trailer before rejoining me in the yard.

Guilt drummed a painful tattoo in my chest.

My fault. I did this. I cost Dell everything. Please let Graeson be able to undo it.

Beneath that another primitive rhythm pounded. Dell was mine to protect, and I had failed her. The urge was visceral and flooded my mouth with saliva. My fingertips burned, the tips of claws pressing against the fragile pink barrier of my skin.

“I’m not on your land,” I said, voice hoarse from my thwarted change. “I’ll leave Villanow, but not until I’ve captured the fae.” Harlow deserved better than to be torn apart by wolves. She was a victim too, but Bessemer’s prejudice blinded him to that fact. “You have my word she’ll be relinquished into conclave custody.”

“Conclave,” he scoffed. “They’re your law, not mine. Fae who kill on my lands are mine to punish. The conclave had their chance. They won’t get another.”