Page 73 of Ravenous

She fussed with her drab skirt and shifted in those tragic flats—so sensible!

The demoness in Ditch wanted to fang them off her feet and thrash them to dust.

Worse, this interruption had dragged her away from the tantalizing reverie she’d been enjoying: the night before with Thane, the heat, the surprises.

She was on the verge of…something. Some grand thought, a revelation.

Or acceptance?

No. That word she could not stomach.

Meera finished weakly, “Until the Valkyries discover who transported those monsters into their territory, none of us will be safe from the shield-maidens.”

“Debatable,” Ditch said. “Did any witches have a hand in it?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Then send the Valkyries a fruit basket and condolences.” She folded her hands on the desk to curb her impatience. She’d promised herself restraint.Win hearts and minds, her new motto. The coven’s tolerance of her was paper-thin, their obedience thinner. “Anything else?”

“Yes, actually,” Meera said. “I, uh, yes. You see…” She stammered like a youngling witch caught in her own pentagram.

Only one thing could make Meera Newteye more tongue-tied than usual.Forbidden thoughts. And Ditch knew exactly what her brain had fixated on: her secret meetings with Lowell.

Ditch’s tail—still smug from the night before—flicked with annoyance.Does no one think I have eyes? Ears? Witchly intuition?

As Meera stuttered something else, Ditch cut her off with an impatient wave. “While you collect that thought, tell me all about Prince Straegan.”

Meera blinked. “The Lykae prince? He’s Thane’s younger brother. They were close as boys, but Straegan’s been lost to his beast for ages. At least two Accessions ago.”

As Thane had said. “What caused it?” Though such a sublimation could happen, it was rare.

“No one knows. The nymphs brought word of the prince’s decline, and none of the Lykae denied it.”

“Naturally it was the nymphs.” They were the true information getters in the realm. And they loved to act as if they weren’t. “Nothing travels faster than gossip from their smiling lips. So if Thane dies, Straegan ascends to the throne?”

“Yes. Some say his reign would be an age of pure Instinct—Lykae ruled entirely by their beasts. Some in their pack evenwantthat.”

“The coven has never worried about such a development?” Lazara the Worthy hadn’t.Tsk, tsk, Lazara.

“Most figured a male as strong as Thane would live on for many millennia.”

“Unless he goes to war in an Accession, especially if he craves frontline action.”

Meera nodded. “True. I can try to learn more.”

“Do. And what else did you want to talk about?”

Meera inhaled. “I-I have concerns about food stores. Probably misplaced, ha-ha, but perhaps we should, um, review consumption rates and stockpiles.”

“How serendipitous,” Ditch purred. “Since the Red Riders are so preoccupied with cattle lately, they can conduct the audit you propose.”

Meera gawked. “You heard about that.”

“Everyone seems to forget that Akelarre appointed me for a reason.” And that reason might be fodder. Ditch did have a lot of caste powers, but so did other witches with older blood and lighter reputations. “I wonder if Rosewyn helped loose those strigoi on Valhalland to frame me. Actually, I don’t wonder. She’s notthatbold.” Yet. “So make sure the shield-maidens don’t suspect us ofsuch nefarious deeds until we truly commit them.”

Meera swallowed. “Will you ever divulge your abilities?”

Ditch’s tail flicked, a menacing metronome. “When we’re on equal footing with divulgences, young witch.”