“I have no need to buy it from them. My people make it.”
“Bullshit.”
“Your father was taught how to make it when he was young. It’s a complex process, with a lot of magic done in correct order, so it was his equivalent of a graduation project.” Hugh’s eyes turned steel-hard. “I control the entire supply on this part of the continent. The only way for the Pack to get their paws on an ounce of it is to sail now, without you.”
Curran wouldn’t leave me.
“If he chooses to stay, the gloves come off.” Hugh said. “I warned him. He knows if he stays, it’s war.”
“He will stay.”
“God, I hope he does. I’ve been looking forward to killing him for three years. I will enjoy the hell out of it.”
Hugh hadn’t just taken advantage of Desandra’s pregnancy. He’d engineered this whole thing. He’d pulled the strings and the shapeshifters had obeyed, because he held panacea over their heads. He’d manipulated everyone just to get me here.
“If you hurt him, I will kill you,” I said.
“You’ll try, and I will enjoy that, too. I meant what I said, Kate. You make me feel that interesting something. That’s rare for me. And I like having you around. You’re funny.”
“Funny. Does your jaw hurt when you laugh?”
“‘My hand won’t shake,’” he quoted. “‘My aim won’t falter. My face will be the last thing you’ll see before you die.’ You’re hilarious.”
Those were the words I’d said to the Pack Council when Curran was in the coma and they’d tried to separate me from him. My skin crawled. Hugh had a mole on the Pack Council.
“I think we’re done here.” I rose.
“I always get what I want, Kate,” he said. “That’s how I’m wired.”
I walked down the path and kept walking. Derek saw me, rose, and followed.
“The ship might not be there,” I told him quietly.
“I heard,” he said. “They will be there. Don’t worry.”
We kept going.
“Are you really Roland’s daughter?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“I don’t care,” he said. “Some people might, but they don’t matter.”
I didn’t say anything, but the night grew a little brighter.
CHAPTER 18
The castle hummed with activity. Servants strung garlands of feylantern lights in the hallways. People moved back and forth. The air smelled of roasting meat and spices.
I walked through it, strangely disconnected, the quiet sounds of my footsteps lost in the celebratory chaos.
Derek raised his head, listening. “It’s the hunt dinner. They finally got all the game sorted and cooked. We are supposed to celebrate the winners at midnight.”
Great. Everyone stuffed back into the single dining hall. That would go well.
I made it up the stairs. My heart beat a little faster. I picked up speed. He wouldn’t leave without me. Not even with the panacea on the line.
I walked into our room.
Empty. A stack of my books had disappeared. Curran’s clothes, thrown on the chair, had vanished. The bed was made.
No way.
The sound of running water came from the bathroom and Curran emerged, wiping his hands with a towel. He wore trademark Pack sweats. Gray and thin, they fell apart when a shapeshifter shifted form.
Behind me Derek stepped into the hallway and shut the door.
“You’re here,” I said.
“Where else would I be?”
“Hugh owns the panacea.” He’s also a complete fucking bastard.
“He sent a note.” Curran crossed the floor and hugged me to him. My bones groaned.
I put my face into the bend of his neck. The world suddenly calmed. The fractured pieces snapped into place.
“Did you think I’d leave?” Curran whispered into my ear.
“No.” I hugged him back. “What happened to all our stuff?”
“Anything nonessential is packed and loaded. I kept your belt with all your stuff out. Got any messages for me?”
“If we go to that dinner, we’ll have a fight. Also, he hopes you will be a challenge.”
Curran smiled. It wasn’t a nice smile.
We looked at each other. We both knew Hugh would make his move tonight, and after that, everything would be over. We could try to fight our way to the ship now, except we had promised to guard Desandra. Abandoning her wasn’t an option. We had given our word.
“Are you hungry, baby?” Curran asked.
“Starving.”
“I think we should go to dinner.”
“Great idea.”
“What are you going to wear?”
“My badass face.”