your petty challenges. You will tell me where you are now or I will see to it that you learn your place, damn the cub-hide.”
Analie’s blood ran cold, her mouth going dry.
Giving away the location of Royce’s home was absolutely out of the question. Analie had been very careful as of late to follow rules. In her own mind, she’d also tried to fit everything into Goliath’s pattern of living. Royce was alpha, of course, and she was temporarily transferred to his pack. Positions were not gained by fighting, so she should never challenge others. John was deputy and not to be messed with. As the newcomer, everyone else currently out-ranked her.
However, obeying Ashi was always a good idea, even if it wasn’t a nice idea. Still, telling him the address was a terrible idea, but the idea of disobeying was a horrifying idea.
“No.”
There were three minutes of silence. Analie wondered if Ashi was counting. When he finally spoke, his voice was flat and dangerous.
“What?”
“I can’t tell you where I am.”
“We are trying to get you out of there.”
“That’s dangerous,” Analie said quietly. “You could start a war.”
“Not if Royce is dead.”
Analie barked out a sudden, harsh laugh. Talking over the phone gave her courage she would not have possessed if she’d had to talk with Ashi face-to-face. “You give that a try and you’ll find out just how scary the bogeymen of Goliath really are.”
“You little brat. You utterly disrespectful little shit! I order you to tell me where you are!”
“No!” Analie gritted her teeth and lowered her voice. “No.”
Christoph said something in the background. There was a hard smacking sound followed by a yelp. Analie, though she didn’t much care for the lunkhead, winced.
“You will meet us, then. Choose a location.”
“I’m not sneaking out.”
“Choose a meeting place!”
Analie was now smashed into the corner, trying to hide from Ashi even though he didn’t know where she was. “Look, sometimes I go to an Italian place down the street. I went yesterday, so I’ll go back in two days to get more. Maybe we can meet then, but I’m not taking you back.”
“Fine. I will settle for that. Where is it?”
Analie told him the street and he hung up. She grabbed Mr. Bear and wrapped herself in a blanket, hiding her head under a pillow.
“Ashi is a jerk,” she informed the bear.
He seemed to agree.
* * *
When the appointed time rolled around, Mouse wanted to go with Analie. Obviously, it would create all kinds of problems if Ashi or Christoph saw Mouse, and vice versa. Insisting she go by herself would be viewed with suspicion. There was no way around it – they had to go together.
Luckily, Mouse was only interested in going so she could stop at another store down the street. She didn’t mind leaving Analie alone at the restaurant since it was only a couple doors down, and the vampire wasn’t about to share a meal.
That left Analie alone to meet with Ashi and Christoph, though how long Mouse would leave her to her own devices before deciding it was time to return was anybody’s guess.
Analie sat at a checker-clothed table, palms clammy as she scanned the menu, not seeing anything she wanted. This was odd, since going out to eat had been a rare treat at Gavin’s. Right now she couldn’t remember what she had been dying to try.
Analie jumped when fingers dug painfully into her shoulder, thankfully without claws. She turned around and coughed respectfully. Ashi seemed satisfied with that, but he didn’t let go of her shoulder.
“So. You look well cared-for.” He looked her over and frowned. “These are new clothes. What is he doing, dressing up his food?”
“I’m not his food,” Analie said. She winced when Ashi ground his fingertips in.
“I advise that you keep your tone respectful with me,” he hissed. “Do I make myself clear?”
She nodded quickly.
“Good. Christoph will contact you again, soon. In the meantime, stay strong and don’t let them bite you. If you tell anyone you met me here, I will see to it that you get a lesson in respect, perhaps as demonstrated through Jo-Jo. Do I make myself one hundred percent clear, cub?”
Analie nodded again, eyes wide in terror.
“Good.”
Ashi stalked out of the restaurant. Analie hurried out and tracked down Mouse. She had no appetite and wanted nothing more than to get back to the house to huddle in her den with Mr. Bear.
* * *
Ashi grabbed Christoph and hauled him out of his hiding place