expression as calm as I could.
He popped the grape into his mouth and chewed slowly. Wasn’t he going to say something? His green eyes held mine steadily but he remained silent. Damnit, I needed to think of something to say then. Weather?
“It’s fortunate the rain held off,” I said. God, I was an inane idiot sometimes.
He continued to look at me without speaking but I could swear there was a measure of amusement in his eyes now. I felt waves of power emanating from his still body and wondered briefly at the apparent fact that he’d had to fight for the Brethren leadership position. I tugged nervously at my ponytail. “I mean, then you’ll be able to find the trail of whatever killed John without the scent being washed away.”
He leaned closer into me and I caught a sudden whiff of a deep, clean and very masculine smell. I felt slightly woozy again and tightened my grip on the screw.
He finally said something. “Were you there?”
“Uh, where?” I barely resisted the urge to take a step back.
“At the beach. When his body was discovered.”
I had no idea what to say. Should I say yes or try and lie? “Ummm….”
Betsy took that moment to rescue me by dropping her plate to the floor where it made an almighty crash and splattered food in twenty different directions. The Brethren Alpha turned around so quickly it made my head spin.
She giggled. “Oh, I’m so clumsy! It’s just you made me nervous standing there. I had no idea that the Brethren were so powerful in person, and you the Lord Alpha as well.” I could swear she batted her eyelashes just then. “Just what is your name?”
I walked away before I could hear the answer, gripping my plate tightly. I owed her more than one by now.
*
After lunch was over, the Brethren rose smoothly as if they were one and headed outside. Apparently this time they were all going to the scene of John’s death to see it for themselves and then our interviews, or rather interrogations, would begin on their return. I was starting to feel more normal now that I had food in my belly, but I definitely thought that a bit of an afternoon siesta was called for. That way I could wake up in control, out of pain, and ready. The other pack members wandered off to do their own thing, whilst I made for the dorm. I supposed that I technically should go to the room that Tom and I ‘shared’, but I knew that my narrow bed in the dorm would make me more comfortable.
Two hours later I woke back up, feeling slightly groggy. The pain in my side was still ridiculously annoying but it was becoming more manageable. I didn’t dare take any more painkillers just yet. I pulled on an old sweatshirt and went in search of some strong black coffee.
The keep itself was very quiet. I passed a couple of pack members who were moving quietly about their own business, but it was clear that most were outside somewhere and that the Brethren hadn’t returned yet. All the better for me.
I hadn’t been able to find my favourite chipped mug where I usually left it, so I tried to backtrack to where I’d last seen it. I was definitely something of a hoarder and didn’t like to replace items unless it was absolutely necessary so I thought hard before realising that I must have put it down in the office when I went to check the weather on the Othernet. That had been before going out for my run on the morning of John’s death. It seemed like a lifetime ago now.
I let myself into the small space, immediately seeing it propped precariously on top of a pile of papers. Letting out a small happy sigh of satisfaction I moved to pick it up, slipping past John’s study door as I did so. I paused, as a thought suddenly struck me. It was just possible that there would be some information about the wichtlein and his thoughts on it on his computer. I’d never ever normally even consider broaching his sanctuary like that - but he was dead now and could hardly be hurt by my intrusion into his privacy. And I might dig up something that would help me find his killer.
I didn’t give it another second thought and walked deliberately back to the study door, wrenching it open with purpose. Even though the