We need to move fast, Daniel reminded her as he held the window open, preparing to receive the unconsciousness prisoners. We're not behind schedule but if we get held up, we'll miss the rendezvous time.Two Silver Nation warriors had come with them until just past the first third of the trek. They were waiting at the point and keeping careful watch, but if Beth and Daniel were late, they were to return to the troops and inform Adrian and Annalise that something had gone wrong. Carrying two unconscious rescues on their backs would slow Beth and Daniel down considerably, so they needed to get a move on. She shook her head. She needed to pull herself together.Too easy, Daniel murmured for the second time as she undid the rope knots with skillful fingers. I'm not seeing anyone still.Good. If we can get out without being seen or getting into a fight, that's all I want.I'll go in and help you.No, keep watch. These knots are easy. They must not have been expecting anyone to come help my
"We'll move again in five minutes. Let the soldiers know while I take care of something before we leave.""Yes, Alpha."Beth forced her breathing to even and slow as if she were still in deep sleep when she sensed a shadow falling over her, blocking out the scant light that had reached through her eyelids a second ago.Was that Andrew leaning over her to check if she had regained consciousness? If only she could reach up and slash his face open, but she remained bound with strong ropes. She would never get free in time.The shadow moved away, allowing the light to fall over her closed eyes once more. She held back a relieved sigh and let her thoughts wander again, memories piecing themselves together slowly.Her parents... Daniel. Andrew had been lying in wait with his pack warriors and other soldiers, just waiting to pounce. That bothered her immensely. He had been so certain they would be there that he had come personally -- he could just as well have remained in the Troy pack terri
"My two best are experienced enough to know what to do if things go wrong. I trusted them to watch over Beth.""The ones you said you assigned to follow the Gold Nation contingent assigned to Beth? The same ones who were caught by Noah and Anna after they arrived at Tahoe?" William countered. "Face it. With how depleted Silver Nation forces are, especially the Heether pack, you're better off traveling with two of mine instead. They're less likely to be recognized.""You need to keep your men around you. With this, Andrew Troy must be gearing up to do something permanent about this incident. If you accuse him and take this to Union Court--""That won't happen because he knows I would never endanger Beth by threatening him. Not only that, but the Troy pack always had the upper hand in Union Court. If anything, this might only convince the minor packs to side with the Troy pack when they find out the edge he has over me. Over all of us."William was right. Daniel leaned against the windo
Daniel's expression hardened, and Matt had to suppress a sigh. Same age, they were not, but it had probably sounded ridiculous to see someone with a youthful face talk like an old man. It was getting harder and harder lately to conceal his true age instead of the other way around -- it should be getting easier to slip seamlessly into this repeat life, not more difficult.And now he had to face off with Daniel Heether of all people."There's a difference in our age but more in our experience," Matt said crisply, weaving together an excuse for what he had said before but also in an effort to make the younger man realize what he was dealing with. "You're strong in a fight, and you were raised in a family of warriors. But this won't be won with violence. There's more under the surface than you can attack with fang and claw, and that's where I come in. I can get Beth out of there.""And I'm telling you again we're practically the same age. If it's experience in politics you're claiming, yo
The days were short yet passed in slow misery. Trapped in the Troy pack manor on the third floor with guards posted everywhere to keep her from escaping, Beth was a canary imprisoned in a gilded cage, never allowed a moment alone even to bathe. Andrew Troy pretended it was to pamper her by assigning her female attendants to attend to her every need, but she knew better. Much better.He even had the gal to visit her as if she were just some guest being entertained in his home. How dare he have the fucking nerve? She was a prisoner, and yet when he knocked on her door and let himself in, he was all charming smiles and gentlemanly manners. Except how he never explicitly waited until she gave him permission to enter, but maybe that was because she flatly refused to give it. After five seconds of waiting, he came in, ready or not, and it made her want to punch him in the gut for it all the more.She was fed and well-taken care of, granted, like a captured exotic animal kept for private vie
The shift change came every day at nine o' clock in the morning and nine o' clock at night. Morning escape was impossible, because even if she slipped past the changing guard, it would be daylight outside and everyone from here to the outlands would see her running across the estate's grounds. She had to make it a night getaway.The good news was with the frigid weather and the frequent sleet and rough snowfall, her tracks would be covered easily, and her scent hard to follow. She was used to traveling in harsh conditions from the life before, and hadn't she managed that journey to Pandemonium City and back? It had been grueling, but she had done it. And, she thought grimly, she had already conceived by then.Proof her child was already strong. Took after its father, and its mother, too. Beth smiled at the mirror, but it was razor-sharp and vindictive, not sweet.She had no more sweetness left for the enemy. She and her child would get out of here no matter what.***One week of obser
They were still talking, but they had moved off the stone path and deeper into the shadows. They were on the other side of the stone half-wall, so close that it took another five steps this way, they would find Beth and she would be discovered. She placed a hand over her mouth and nose to stifle what little sound she might betray, but there was nothing else she could do. Her only choice was to wait and hope they didn't notice her, and as soon as they left, she could make a break for it.But to her chagrin, Andrew's voice became louder -- closer. Oh, Moon Goddess. They were now standing almost on top of her, just on the other side of the wall, and if they leaned over, they would see the top of her head no matter how she tried to squash herself against the stone. Was this it? Had she been too hasty?How could her luck be like this! If she had waited only one more night, Andrew Troy might not be walking the grounds. She could deal with avoiding a measly patrol; most of the time, walkabo
The Troy pack house ran on routine. Everyone had been careful to keep their mouths shut about even potentially important information around Beth, which made sense since everyone knew she was a prisoner, not a mere guest. But what Andrew Troy had so carelessly forgotten was that she had already stayed here before her imprisonment.When he had entertained her as an actual guest in the span of time she had spent waiting for Daniel to arrive here, back before Andrew requested she go to Tahoe Village to help with the fake 'espionage' mission, she had already been housed here for quite a while. Long enough to learn several important details, and details that she couldn't imagine would have changed since then.Andrew's political wheeling and dealing were unpredictable, but his home life was anything but. That enormous cart of food she always saw wheeled in every morning at four in the dark of night came in every day without fail, and she was willing to stake her escape on the guess that that