“I’ve a bit of a problem that I think might be one of yours,” Donovan said.
“Let’s not start casting blame about.” The queen shook her finger at him. “Weren’t you there with my daughter when she was caught on film? In the media? You especially know my feelings about this.”
“As I recall, we both agreed it was only a matter of time, but the way it happened was unfortunate. Believe me, this is not the manner in which we wanted to make ourselves known,” Donovan said.
“Unfortunate indeed.” The queen’s laugh was a harsh-sounding thing. “If it had been anyone caught but my Cosette, I might have been able to be a better ally to the wolves, but as things are…” Her eyelids fluttered. “The queens have spoken. The world changes, but our natures stay the same. We choose to hide and disappear rather than rise among the humans. We know what happens when the humans know of our kind… The power is too much, and we dare not risk what terrible things we’d become if we were worshipped again.” She held her hands wide. “I fear there’s nothing I can do to help your cause.”
I’d heard stories, but it was one thing to learn about how some of the fey turned to fearsome gods and ruled over the humans, and another to hear about it from someone who had lived it. Now that I knew why they were leaving, I was kind of thankful. If they really thought that they could turn into gods again, then I wasn’t sure I wanted them sticking around.
Even though I couldn’t scent her emotions through the mirror, the littlest bit of tension around the Lunar Queen’s eyes told me she didn’t agree with what her fellow queens had decided. So maybe there was another option. Too bad it sounded like she couldn’t go against them.
Which meant we might be out of luck, too.
“Is that your new mate with you?”
“Aye. Rude of me not to introduce her. This is Meredith Molloney, my true mate.”
The queen laughed. “I had heard tale of this on the wind, but I didn’t believe such a young one could catch the eye of the notorious Donovan Murry.” She made young sound like it was a bad thing. “And if I’m not mistaken, you were there with my Cosette?”
“I was.”
“Cosette!” The queen called, but her gaze didn’t leave mine. “Did you know your friend was here?”
I tried to cover my shock the best I could. I’d assumed Cosette was still in Colorado, but a moment later, she came into view. With the way her arms were crossed, she looked a little stand-offish. I wasn’t sure if it was because her mother had called her home or because of what’d happened at the mall.
“Is she, Mother?” Cosette met my gaze through the glass, her eyes and tone flat. “Hello, Meredith. What an unexpected surprise.” Her tone was anything but surprised.
“The trip wasn’t planned, but when we got word that Donovan’s second was killed, we had to come.” I had to come. Even after her warnings.
“And that’s why you’re calling?” The queen looked to Donovan. “I’d be happy to step in and take control of the pack if—”
“No. I’ve got it, thank you.” Donovan cut in.
Yeah. That was never happening, but it was scary that she thought—even for a second—that it was a possibility.
“I’m calling as a friend—”
“And former lover.”
Okay. Helen was officially getting on my nerves.
“That, too.” And with Donovan’s snippy tone, the friendly side of him got tucked away. Power expanded out from my mate until the urge to change itched under my skin. It took everything I had to focus on the conversation and keep myself in human form. “Were you aware that a fey intruded in my stronghold and murdered my second?”
“Oh, my. How embarrassing! One of your own killed in your home. But what makes you think it was us?”
“Don’t play coy with me. You know I can scent your kind out, even among the entrails of my dear friend.” Donovan stepped forward, and his voice lowered. “Are you really after starting a war with us?”
The queen’s sigh sounded like twinkling chimes. “No. We—the majority of the queens—do not want war. But not everything is as simple as that.”
“One of your people helped to murder two of my pack. It’s hard to take that lightly, and I promise you everything will get deadly simple if these killings keep up.”
She held up a hand. “Please, Donovan. I’m in a very precarious place. I shouldn’t have taken your call, especially now.”
“If we were closer to another queen’s territory, I’d ask her, but I’m asking you. What is doing this to my people? How do I stop it?”
The queen was quiet for a moment but finally said, “Bhrunyz was never meant to leave underhill. There were protections in place, but it appears they’ve been broken.”
“So someone in your court set something loose on us?” Donovan’s words were fierce. “Am I understanding correctly?”