Chapter 34

Damien

“Explain,” both Sargon and I growled at the same time, still glaring at Clarissa, who was more pale than usual.

“I was upset,” Katla explained, “And Clarissa saw me sitting over there, crying. It’s just, the weight of everything…” and she started to trail off.

“When she was upset, I suggested we go for a walk to help her clear her mind and get some air,” Clarissa picked up for her.

“So we walked, and I saw a little wolf with a human—“ Katla was clearly amused by this.

“A dog,” Clarissa finished. “We walked to the Roaming Bean. I thought it would be good for her to see other Wolf People, so she wouldn’t feel alone. Only, I didn’t know—“

Katla picked up, “She didn’t know what happened yesterday.”

“And you told her while you were there?” I asked.

“Yes, because Ronaldo told me about Viti saying I was dead and trying to make others follow Iceclaw. ‘Bend the knee,’ he said. It’s like Viti is trying to become king instead of Alpha,” Katla answered.

So far, I could find no fault in what she and Clarissa had done. Clarissa was genuinely trying to help her. “Katla, for just learning about the situation, had understood it quickly, more quickly that us,” Sargon pointed out with approval. “She would make an excellent Luna…”

“She is an Alpha, more than that,” I reminded him.

“So then you called on the rectangle,” Katla continued.

“Rectangle?” I asked.

“Phone…” Clarissa interjected.

“Phone… right… so you called, and we left. But when we were leaving, a wolf called me ‘princess’ and others in the coffee shop looked. We didn’t think anything about it—“ Katla said, looking at Clarissa to continue.

“Mr. Silverburn, I swear, I didn’t mean for any of this to happen—“ Clarissa started to speak quickly.

“I understand, just what got weird?”

“Katla started hearing things” she said, clearly concerned.

“Hearing things? Like what, Katla,” I asked.

“I heard it earlier. A voice, calling my name. It wasn’t Aurelia, it was different. It was a whisper earlier, but this time it was much more clear. A voice on the breeze, calling my name, willing me to look back—“ Katla said. “Aurelia” Sargon whispered approval at learning her wolf’s name.

“It’s a good thing, too, because two wolves were following us. Wolves, in the city!” Clarissa’s eyes began to well with tears. She was clearly shaken. “Their yellow eyes and snarls. My God, they were huge.”

“Actually… they were pretty little. They looked like rogues. Shaggy, unkempt. But it was odd because they had no scent. None,” Katla continued. “And rogues, usually, well, let’s just say you smell them long before you see them.”

“So then what happened?” I asked.

“We ducked down an alley. I didn’t want the wolves on the street with humans. I knew I could also shift if I had to, but I could see Clarissa was really upset. So, I didn’t want to have to shift if I didn’t have to,” she said, then I looked at her and saw there was blood on her sweater.

“So you shifted?” I asked.

“Am I naked?” she raised an eyebrow. Thinking of her walking naked through a human city made my smile twitch.

“So, we went down the alley, and I was between Clarissa and the rogue wolves because it is my bound duty to protect humans, even though I am not on Iceclaw territory. And, she’s my friend,” Katla smiled at Clarissa.

“So, there are two rogues and you’re an in alley with a human?” I asked.

“Yes, but I’ve killed others bigger, so I wasn’t worried, other than of the laws here that I don’t know,” Katla was nothing if not pragmatic. Clarissa looked a bit horrified by this revelation though.

“One connected with me, the leader. He told me that Viti would be happy to have me home. I told him I was on my way home, to the North,” Sargon swelled with pride hearing her call Silverburn home, and it made sense. Viti had been telling everyone she was dead because he was planning on killing her.

“The leader jumped, and just as Aurelia was pushing forward for the shift, this glowed and burned,” she said, pulling up her sleeve showing the cuff. “Instinctively I raised my hands in an x above my head, but it wasn’t me, and—“ Katla raised her arms, moonstone circles gleamed on the underside of her wrist. I gasped.

“Katla, where did you get that?” I asked.

“From my father,” she shrugged.

“The wolf incinerated on the spot,” Clarissa finished. “One moment it is leaping, jaws open, and Katla was standing there, her eyes glowing, claws and fangs dropping, then boom. Ashes.”

“I see. And the second wolf? Did he run?” I asked.

“No. Ronaldo. He followed us. The second wolf never connected with me, he just charged. Ronaldo stepped from around the corner and shot him in the back of the head with a silver bullet,” Katla motioned to the blood on her shirt. Well, that explained that. I would have to thank Ronaldo and call Erik back.

“What happened to the body?” I asked.

“Ronaldo told me that Evergreen stands with the princess of lore and true heiress. He would see to it that the mess was cleaned up.”

“What did he mean by that?” Clarissa asked.

“I’m not sure,” Katla replied, but reached out to me though our mindlink, “My father left a letter.”

“I know,” I said back through thought.

“You read it?” She asked, looking a little betrayed.

“No, it is yours. I put it in the safe with the Moonstone,” I told her. I noticed Clarissa looking at us, confused, while we used the mindlink.

“The Moonstone?” she asked.

“Your mother’s necklace. It’s…special,” I told her. “Like your bracelet actually, and the gift yesterday. They’re all part of the same origin.”

“So you know, too?” she questioned.

“I suspected but didn’t know until yesterday,” I told her honestly.

“Why does everyone seem to know more about me than me?” she yelled aloud, pushed me away, and walked up the stairs. “Follow her,” Sargon said, but I wasn’t sure if I should leave her for a little while or follow her.

“You were doing the thing again,” Clarissa said, “the mind conversation thing. She did that with Ronaldo.” Goddess, she was incredible, but wolves were waking up all over the city. I needed to get her to Silverburn where she would be safe while we figured this out.

Then, two things happened at once. Katla screamed, and Peter was no where to be seen.