Iron Master – Jennifer Ashley Page 0,65

him, but Reid wasn’t Shifter. In terms of Reid’s clan, he was no submissive either. He’d not been at the absolute top of his clan, but pretty near. He’d learned never to give in to a leader without long thought about what that leader really wanted.

Dylan moved his gaze to Peigi. If he expected her to knuckle under, he didn’t know her. This woman could convince Donny and Noelle to clean their rooms and do the dishes, and that took some serious maneuvering.

“I don’t want to see the hoch alfar come in and overrun us,” Peigi said to Dylan. “But I won’t risk the safety of the dokk alfar either. If the karmsyern can be borrowed—if it can even be found and rescued—then it has to be up to them.”

“I agree,” Dylan began, but Peigi wasn’t finished.

“And it isn’t fair to expect Stuart to go in and browbeat them. Stuart is loyal to you, but by his choice, because he likes you and is grateful to you, and Eric and all. But that doesn’t mean he’ll throw the dokk alfar under a bus so Shifters might have an edge in a fight.”

“The dokk alfar don’t have busses,” Stuart murmured out of the corner of his mouth.

“Whenever they invent busses,” Peigi said heatedly. “You won’t throw them under.”

“No.” Stuart’s answer was firm. “I won’t.”

Dylan regarded them in silence. Rain spattered down, thoroughly wetting Stuart’s hair and dripping into his eyes. The Shifters didn’t seem to notice, but they’d just shake it off. Bears and wolves—and tigers—liked the rain.

“As I started to tell you,” Dylan said, “Yes, I agree. I’d like it if Cian gave us the damned thing without hesitation, but no, I’m not asking you to submit your own people to slaughter. If I can’t use it, I can’t.” He let out a breath. “But I have to try.”

“It won’t be enough.”

Tiger’s voice cut in from behind Dylan. Stuart jumped a little and was satisfied that Dylan jumped too.

“What did you say, Tiger?” Peigi asked.

“The karmsyern won’t be enough to stop the hoch alfar.” Tiger spoke steadily, without anger. “They might have discovered its secret, or learned how to withstand it. The hoch alfar want to beat Shifters at all costs. The dokk alfar are a barrier to their power, so they want to destroy them too.”

Tiger snapped his mouth shut, as though a recording had been clicked off. He resumed his stance of mild impatience, waiting for the meeting to be done so he could go back to his mate and cubs.

Graham raked a hand through his short, rain-soaked hair. “Whenever the big guy speaks, he’s usually right.”

“And I listen,” Dylan said. “Even so, the karmsyern could give us an edge. Find it, and talk to Cian about borrowing it. That’s all I’m asking.”

“Which could get Stuart killed,” Peigi protested.

Dylan’s look to Peigi was surprisingly gentle. “That’s why I’m asking, Pegs. It’s his choice.”

Stuart had the feeling that if he, Stuart, refused the task, Dylan would set about finding someone else to recover the karmsyern. A Shifter, maybe, who wouldn’t be as conscientious about talking to Cian before taking it.

“I’ll think about it,” Stuart said. He already knew he’d go, because he couldn’t risk Dylan doing exactly what Stuart envisioned. His hesitation was only so he could talk to Peigi first.

“A question for you, Dylan,” Peigi said. She’d stood in close contact with Reid for the entire meeting, her warmth the only thing keeping him from shivering. “Do you have a Shifter in your clan called Crispin?”

Dylan blinked and then he appeared, if anything, embarrassed. “Crispin,” he said in resignation. “What’s he done this time?”

“Joined the hoch alfar,” Stuart said. “He was working for a Fae prince.”

Sean glanced heavenward. “The Goddess go with him. I mean that for when Dad gets his paws on him.”

“I knew he had run off to Faerie to be a Battle Beast,” Dylan said. “Crispin is a distant cousin, and was always full of stupid ideas. I’d given him up as dead. But I had no idea he’d gone so far as to throw in his lot with a Fae prince.” His lip curled.

“Right now, he’s Cian’s prisoner,” Peigi said. “Stuart wrapped an iron bar around him.” She smiled rapturously. “It was awesome.”

Sean laughed. “Ah, Peigi, you’re as bloodthirsty as any of us.”

“Only for asshats,” Peigi said.

Eric chuckled. “I’ll remember that.”

“If you decide to return to Faerie,” Dylan broke into the mirth. “Will you bring Crispin back for me? I’d leave him to be