don’t care. I’m just delivering a message.”
“Then you shouldn’t mind waiting here until I get back. Mike, will you watch her?”
“Sure, no problem.” The big werewolf waved his spatula in the air. “I’ll even feed her.” He pulled out a chair and motioned for her to sit. She sat.
“Russell, Lilith, with me.” Just in case a surprise waited beyond the doors, Ari was taking backup.
The only person they saw in the hallway was Marta’s consort, Percy. He passed them without speaking. Maybe Marta was OK with the new establishment, but this guy seemed less accepting. Another person she needed to watch—in a place filled with potential enemies.
When she entered the lounge, she found nothing except a phone with its hold light blinking. The precautions hadn’t been necessary. This time. Ari sighed. It was so hard to identify the enemy these days.
She picked up the receiver. The familiar voice of Riverdale’s Magic Council president got her immediate attention, and he didn’t waste time on preliminaries.
“Something has come up. I need you to return to Riverdale. We have a situation.”
“What kind of situation? I thought we’d agreed I’d stay in Toronto for a while.”
“I know, but this is urgent. Steffan is missing.”
“Missing?” Her heart skipped a beat. “What do you mean by ‘missing?’”
“Exactly that. He didn’t return from a run night before last. He separated from the pack to conduct what he described to them as private business and failed to rejoin them. Since he has a habit of hunting alone part of the night, they didn’t report his absence to the Council until late yesterday afternoon.”
Two nights ago. The night they’d fought Sebastian. The night of the Hunter’s Moon. It was like a bad omen.
“Are you sure he’s not sleeping it off somewhere?” It was a big night for the Otherworld. All the wolves would have been running, followed by feasting. A time of over-indulgence, especially for wolves, the werecreatures most susceptible to the moon’s persistent call. Ari understood the power of the moon. Not in the same way, but the magic of the moon goddess was at the root of all witchcraft.
The President sighed, as if surprised by her question. “He missed a council meeting, Arianna.” The wizard’s answer was firm, chiding. “How often does that happen?”
Ari understood. Never. Steffan was too conscientious. Although he wasn’t natural-born from wolf parents, he had accepted and even embraced his new condition after he was infected with lycanthropy. He’d quickly become a respected leader, headed the largest pack in Riverdale, and was the lycanthrope representative on the Magic Council. He honored his responsibilities.
Anxiety made her clutch the phone a little tighter. “What’s already been done? Any leads? Theories? Have the woods been searched?” Hearing the stress in her voice, she made an effort to slow her racing pulse.
“We’re making inquiries. Naturally Steffan’s pack has looked everywhere they could even remotely imagine he might be, and they’ve asked questions all over town. Everyone has pitched in, with no results. You have to come home, Arianna. If he isn’t found soon, or if he has been killed, you will be needed to help Martin keep the wolves under control.”
“I understand. I’ll be on the first plane I can get, sir.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry I had to do this. I know you’re leaving things unsettled up there, but it can’t be helped. The Toronto Council has assured me they will keep us informed, and perhaps you can return as soon as Steffan is found. For now, your duty is here.”
“I’ll contact you as soon as I land.” She wanted off the phone. She’d already gotten the message and needed time to think and plan.
“I’ll wait for your call.”
After she disconnected, Ari sat a moment, staring across the room at nothing. What could have happened to her friend? Even though she’d brought up the possibility,
“Then you shouldn’t mind waiting here until I get back. Mike, will you watch her?”
“Sure, no problem.” The big werewolf waved his spatula in the air. “I’ll even feed her.” He pulled out a chair and motioned for her to sit. She sat.
“Russell, Lilith, with me.” Just in case a surprise waited beyond the doors, Ari was taking backup.
The only person they saw in the hallway was Marta’s consort, Percy. He passed them without speaking. Maybe Marta was OK with the new establishment, but this guy seemed less accepting. Another person she needed to watch—in a place filled with potential enemies.
When she entered the lounge, she found nothing except a phone with its hold light blinking. The precautions hadn’t been necessary. This time. Ari sighed. It was so hard to identify the enemy these days.
She picked up the receiver. The familiar voice of Riverdale’s Magic Council president got her immediate attention, and he didn’t waste time on preliminaries.
“Something has come up. I need you to return to Riverdale. We have a situation.”
“What kind of situation? I thought we’d agreed I’d stay in Toronto for a while.”
“I know, but this is urgent. Steffan is missing.”
“Missing?” Her heart skipped a beat. “What do you mean by ‘missing?’”
“Exactly that. He didn’t return from a run night before last. He separated from the pack to conduct what he described to them as private business and failed to rejoin them. Since he has a habit of hunting alone part of the night, they didn’t report his absence to the Council until late yesterday afternoon.”
Two nights ago. The night they’d fought Sebastian. The night of the Hunter’s Moon. It was like a bad omen.
“Are you sure he’s not sleeping it off somewhere?” It was a big night for the Otherworld. All the wolves would have been running, followed by feasting. A time of over-indulgence, especially for wolves, the werecreatures most susceptible to the moon’s persistent call. Ari understood the power of the moon. Not in the same way, but the magic of the moon goddess was at the root of all witchcraft.
The President sighed, as if surprised by her question. “He missed a council meeting, Arianna.” The wizard’s answer was firm, chiding. “How often does that happen?”
Ari understood. Never. Steffan was too conscientious. Although he wasn’t natural-born from wolf parents, he had accepted and even embraced his new condition after he was infected with lycanthropy. He’d quickly become a respected leader, headed the largest pack in Riverdale, and was the lycanthrope representative on the Magic Council. He honored his responsibilities.
Anxiety made her clutch the phone a little tighter. “What’s already been done? Any leads? Theories? Have the woods been searched?” Hearing the stress in her voice, she made an effort to slow her racing pulse.
“We’re making inquiries. Naturally Steffan’s pack has looked everywhere they could even remotely imagine he might be, and they’ve asked questions all over town. Everyone has pitched in, with no results. You have to come home, Arianna. If he isn’t found soon, or if he has been killed, you will be needed to help Martin keep the wolves under control.”
“I understand. I’ll be on the first plane I can get, sir.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry I had to do this. I know you’re leaving things unsettled up there, but it can’t be helped. The Toronto Council has assured me they will keep us informed, and perhaps you can return as soon as Steffan is found. For now, your duty is here.”
“I’ll contact you as soon as I land.” She wanted off the phone. She’d already gotten the message and needed time to think and plan.
“I’ll wait for your call.”
After she disconnected, Ari sat a moment, staring across the room at nothing. What could have happened to her friend? Even though she’d brought up the possibility,
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