Page 108 of Ravenous

“Were youloyalwhen you hid Emilia’s escape attempt?” Torben shot back. “When you asked me to help conceal it?”

A gust of breath. “No. I wasn’t.” The admission only hinted at the conflict inside him.

Torben let the point drop—merciful, for once. “You should be able to demand answers of your queen.”

“And if I do? If I uncover proof she’s compromised, do we assassinate her? Split the clan? You’d risk Dagny, your child, now?”

Torben froze, expression filled with conflicting wrath and reason. His fingers trembled slightly, as if the effort to be still cost him.

Arctos continued, “Have you forgotten what Yrsa is like on a battlefield when she is in full Berserkerage? Her power is near mythic. And she’s surrounded by guards who would die for her bear.”

Torben’s gaze sharpened. “Are you in love with her?”

Arctos blinked. “No.” The word came out rough. His feelings were complicated—but love? No. “I’m trying to be sensible. One of us must keep our remaining family safe.”

The silvery rage left Torben’s eyes, leaving bewilderment. He swayed slightly, as if drained by the force of his own fury. “What will it take to make you see?” he rasped. “Brother…when will youwake?”

Chapter 42Ditch

Twenty days till the Hunter’s Moon

A knock on the door.

Fantastic. Meek Meera had returned again—no doubt hovering with her information binders and worries. For a week, the mousy witch had tried to corner her for an audience, but Ditch had been plotting Witchwood defenses.

She intended to contain certain Craigdúr wolves in their cages, but she’d also devised gruesomely fun traps for any who thought to aggress her.

The Hunter’s Moon promised so much pleasure but would bring such pain to those who didn’t behave.

The wolves weren’t her only concern. Though Bloodreach’s royal vampires might be neutered, two demon kings still loomed, reigning over their unruly denizens with baffling efficiency.

She didn’t yet know what they wanted. Or the shifters. Or, gods forbid, the Furies. She’d heard that a bulging nest of them was located on the outskirts of Valhalland. What if those flying she-avengers woke from hibernation and targeted Ditch for past misdeeds?

She had also been keeping herself busy, so she didn’t dwell on Thane’s remarkable self-restraint. He hadn’t evenconsideredsurrendering his throne for her, had basically said, “Yeah, no.” Or, in his case, “Aye, nay.”

Ditch understood Thane’s reasoning, but she’d thought she’d made more of an irresistible impression on him. Her tail flicked, sparking.

Am I losing my touch?Even a female as superlative as Ditch could feel disposable after having once been disposed of so thoroughly as a pup.

Another knock, more insistent.

Might as well get this over with.And Ditchwascurious how much food they had. “Come in.”

Meera shuffled in, looking wounded. “When you went missing a week ago, I scried for you and found you inthe Helter. Um, could you perhaps let me know when you leave the territory for something deadly?”

Ditch blinked at her. “Why would I do that?”

“Because I’m, uh, second-in-command.”

“You?” Laugh. “And not Rosewyn the Banehand? How strange.”

Meera’s mouth tightened. “I’m responsible for maintaining governance until the House sends a replacement high priestess.”

Another laugh. “No one else is takingmyposition. And you should never count me out unless my head is next to my body. And even then,don’t. Just. Don’t. Do it.”

Meera swallowed. “O-okay. Um, in the overview binder I made for you, I outlined the many,manyreasons why the Helter is dangerous. Will you please tell me why you journeyed to the land of the undead? A quarantine zone?”

“No.” Ditch waved her off. “Now why are you here?”