Chapter 142
Chapter 142
+25 Bonus
It was better than sitting like a doll on a pincushion, waiting for Gideon to remember I existed, which he apparently only did when I did something he didn’t like.
I drifted down the tall hallways, brushing my fingers along the walls. This place was massive, built on a scale I had never seen in my life. The Nightwolf pack house was similar, but much smaller.
Beyond the ballroom there were vast servant areas, where I assumed the kitchens and such existed. However there were many wolves coming and going from there and I didn’t want to be around strangers, which was basically everybody.
There were undercurrents flowing here, in the higher reaches of wolven society, and I felt woefully out of my depth. The Lunas were no less intimidating than the Alphas. It was distinctly different than within a pack where there was a wide variety of personalities and professions.
Everyone here was powerful, and driven to control others.
I wasn’t sure I fit in.
I rounded a corner into a warren of passageways, broken by wide round towers with spiral staircases. The walls held tapestries and paintings and candelabras. They must go through so many candles each day!
There were voices up ahead, and I slowed as I approached. They sounded familiar. Two women talking.
I eased up to the next intersection slowly, peering around the corner.
There was my half-sister, Zara, talking to Dierdra! I gasped and pulled back, hoping they hadn’t noticed
What were they doing? How did they know each other? Were they plotting something?
My heart was hammering in my chest. I already suspected Dierdra was a fraud, but I hadn’t imagined she was in cahoots with Zara! This connected so many dots…
Slowly, I moved closer. The two women were standing halfway down the hallway, and it was hard to hear what they were saying, but the corridors were shadowy in between the pools of light from the candelabras, and I thought maybe I could move forward in those shadows.
While they both were facing away, I darted forward, pressing myself against a large tapestry.
“…set backs, but I think it’ll work soon.” Dierdra was explaining something. I could see Zara’s shoulders were set in the way she stood when she was angry or frustrated. Her voice was much louder than
Dierdra’s when she talked.
“This is more than we talked about! We need to see some results soon, or the deal is off p>
Deal? What deal? I frowned and pressed forward, trying to get to a better vantage point to listen.
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Chapter 142
+25 Bonus
Apparently, this section of the hallway contained a set of statuary on a plinth, which I walked into while staring further down the hallway. I stifled a curse as my foot and hand collided with the marble at the
same time.
The delicate piece of pottery balanced on top wobbled precariously, then dove to the floor with a spectacular crash. Shards of ceramic scattered in all directions, and Zara and Dierdra jumped guiltily, whirling to see me emerging from the shadows.
For a long moment, we just stared at each other. Zara’s stare I was long accustomed to, so I focused my look on Dierdra, who looked flustered and upset.
“I’ll be telling Gideon now.” I said, turning to go.
“No one will believe you,” Zara drawled, nonchalantly, “What will you say? That you saw two Lunas talking p>
“She’s not a Luna,” I pointed at Dierdra, “besides, it doesn’t matter if no one believes me. I already know what you are, and I suspect what she is, and that’s enough for me. I will never stop fighting you p>
They were stupid, courageous words, and I tried to spit them with my whole heart, but I was
outnumbered and I knew it.
The minute Zara started moving in my direction, violence in her eyes, I darted for the exit and didn’t stop running until I arrived back in the ballroom, breathless.
Gideon was nowhere to be seen.
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