I exhale, relieved by the opening he just gave me. “Yes. Please. Whatever you’re willing to tell me,” I say. “If I’m going to be in Lion territory, I’ll need all the help I can get. And even if you hate me, surely you must hate the Lions more?”

Matteo presses his lips together and looks around the room, like there might be an answer there somewhere. He’s silent for a few seconds and then nods like he’s come to a decision. “If I agree to help you, there’s a condition.”

“What kind of a condition?” I say slowly.

Matteo’s expression is serious. “You must agree that this information will be used by you and you alone. I need your word. I have absolutely no interest in telling Ash my Family secrets.”

I hesitate. I hate the idea of keeping things from Ash, but I can’t discredit Matteo’s need to protect Family secrets. And in truth, I’m flattered that he’s considering trusting me with them.

“Agreed,” I say.

Matteo takes a good look at me, reading me again, and when he seems satisfied that I’m telling the truth, he continues. “There’s a Bear Family apothecary in London. Her shop is called Arcane Minded; the front is an antiques store. If you need supplies to use against the Lions, you can go to her. Tell her Aut cum scuto aut in scuto.”

“Aut cum scuto aut in scuto,” I say, repeating the Latin phrase.

“Either with shield or on shield,” Matteo says before I have a chance to work out the meaning. “It roughly means ‘Don’t surrender; never give up.’ It will let her know that you’re battling the Lions and you need her assistance.”

Secret phrases in secret shops with secret apothecaries. A month ago I would have rolled my eyes and made a comment about how I didn’t think apothecaries existed in anything except old stories, but my entire world has shifted since I came here.

“Will it matter that she’s never met me before?” I ask.

“Well, that’s the thing, you do look like our immediate family. She may just assume you’re a second or third cousin she’s never met. But”—Matteo pauses—“if she realizes who you really are, you may have a problem.”

I remember my talk with Ash last night and his warning that some European Strategia might recognize me. “Do the Bears hate me, too?”

He looks thoughtful for a moment. “My mom might accept you. She loved her sisters a great deal. But our grandfather is head of the Family and I’m not sure he’ll want anything to do with you. I can’t tell you what to expect out there. You might have Bear support. You might not.”

Chapter Five