Settling the golden retriever in his lap, he stroked the long blond fur that grew out of those flanks. “And listen, I’ve heard you’re working hard for us out in the field. You’ve taken two lessers down. I like that. Keep it up.”
As Boone flushed and bowed again, his response was mumbled, but his blush was loud as a holler—and John liked the humility.
“I’m not sure this is …” The trainee cleared his throat and looked around at the Brothers. “This may be nothing, but my father has been invited to this dinner party. Tomorrow night.”
“What are they serving?” Rhage chimed in. “If it’s lamb, I’m coming, too.”
Wrath sent a glare in Hollywood’s direction, then refocused on Boone. “G’head.”
“Well, it’s being organized by an aristocrat that goes by the name of Throe?”
Instantly, the mood in the room changed, the Brothers straightening, shifting in their shitkickers.
“I know that the Council was disbanded by you.” Boone glanced around again. “But that the glymera is not prohibited from congregating, provided it is for social purposes only. However, my father doesn’t know this male well, and when my sire asked who else was invited, he learned that the other remaining Princeps were on the list.”
“So it’s basically a meeting of the Council,” Wrath muttered.
“Called by a known agitator,” someone else piped in.
“My father is not going to go, and he asked me to come here and tell you about it because I’m in the training center program and he figured it would look less suspicious for me to have an audience with you. As I said, my sire doesn’t want to get involved in any intrigue, and he certainly does not want a civil war within the species.”
The King’s nostrils flared. “Is that all that you’ve come to say to me?”
“Yes, my Lord.” There was a pause. “I beg of you, send someone out there. You must … this is not right. They should not be gathering like this. It is sowing seeds of revolt, I just know it.”
“Anything else?”
“I can provide you with the address.”
“Can you. And what is it?”
Boone gave a street that wasn’t far from the Audience House. “It is at midnight, my Lord. They gather at midnight on the morrow.”
John looked at the King. And then checked out the expressions of the Brothers. When no one said or did anything, he was confused. This was a possible coup in progress—
“Is that everything?” the King prompted Boone once again.
“Yes, my Lord—except … please don’t tell anyone that my father sent me or that this word came from him. He does not want any trouble. He wants to stay out of it.”
Wrath continued to stroke George’s fur, his dagger hand moving over the dog’s golden hair. “Son, I appreciate you coming here and all. Giving us a heads-up.”
“So you’ll send people. And stop them—”
“But you and I have a problem.”
Boone shook his head. “There is no problem. I am utterly loyal unto you. There is nothing I would not do to serve you.”
“Then why are you lying to me?” Wrath tapped the side of his nose. “I may be blind, but all my other senses work just fine. And you are not being truthful here.”
Boone opened his mouth. Closed it.
“Why don’t you take another stab at this, son.”
The trainee crossed his arms over his chest. Stared at the floor. Then he paced back and forth.
“I know you’re in a helluva spot,” Wrath said quietly. “So you take your time. But I’m going to be clear here. Consequences are going to fall where they do and there is no carefully crafted version of reality that is going to stop that. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
When Boone finally halted, he was facing the King, and his voice was reedy as he spoke, like his throat was tight.
“My father …”
“G’head. Just say it. This is not your fault, okay? You are not going to get blamed for anything as long as you tell the truth.”
Boone took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “My father is going to attend. He’s going to the dinner. He’s …”
“Not as loyal to me as you are.”
The male dragged a hand over his features. “I’ve been telling him he shouldn’t go. That this isn’t right. I’m doing everything I can to talk him out of it—I believe he’ll come around. He has to—he just has to. And in the meantime, I couldn’t let this happen—it’s wrong. I don’t know for sure what they’re planning, but why are they