pure anticipation in him at the imagined prospect. His entire body had tensed. Lachlain hadnât seen excitement like that in his cousin in nearly two centuries.
âYouâll have to wait.â
Bowe shook his head. âIâll get her to remove the spell before then.â
âAnd if she refuses?â
âIâll throttle her.â
âDamn it, Bowe, Iâm going in your stead.â
âWhen the full moon nears? Youâd be away from your female?â
Bowe didnât know that Lachlain had just missed the last one with Emma because sheâd been on the other side of the world holding vigil with her family for Kaderin. Being without Emma had been grueling for Lachlain, and he dreaded the repeat prospect, but heâd not see his cousin walk into a trap. âThere will be more. Emma will understand.â
âAnd why would you noâ send Munro or Uilliam?â
The Lykae twin brothers were among Lachlainâs most trusted soldiers. âThey have noâ returned from the last task I sent them on.â
âAnd Garreth?â
Lachlainâs younger brother had called just two days ago. âHe still pursues Lucia, his Valkyrie huntress. Sheâs proving to be elusive quarry, even for him. And thereâs no one else Iâd trust to do this. Iâm going. This is my final word on the subject.â
Boweâs expression darkened. Lachlain was so used to giving orders that he sometimes overlooked the fact that Bowe was an alpha himselfâa strong one who was far more comfortable giving orders than receiving them. Not to mention the unspoken fact that Lachlain was king only because Boweâs father had ceded his heirdom.
âIâm noâ off to fight the goddamned Hydra, Lachlain. Ifly, I drive, I collect a witch. Do you truly believe Iâm incapable of this?â
Lachlain had not only angered Bowe but offended him. He exhaled. âNo, of course noâ. Just . . . just let me know if I can help you.â
Bowe nodded. âBefore I go I want to know why that Valkyrie soothsayer told me I would get my mate back through the Hie. Can you call Emma and get her to find Nïxââ
Lachlainâs new pager went off and he started, still uncomfortable with the technology of this age. Emma had gotten this contraption for him and tried to teach him how to work it, but heâd been gone that entire day without seeing her, and the only thing heâd been interested in was ripping off her red negligee with his teeth. . . . He hadnât yet told her that red was an attractant to Lykae males, much less mated males.
He tossed the pager to Bowe. âTell me what it says. And if you canna work it with one hand, then you sure as hell canna drive a stick shift down in Guatemala.â
Bowe glowered, then fiddled with it. âIt says, âDim the room. xoxo.â â
âBugger me!â Lachlain lunged for the drapes, yanking them closed.
Just as he was finishing the second window, Emma traced inside the scant light of the bedroom and smiled softly at him, her expression proud. âSee? The system works.â
âWhatâre you doinâ here, lass?â
Casting Bowe a sympathetic glance, she said, âI had to come when I heard all the commotion at Val Hall.â
âCommotion?â
âI had better let my aunt Nïx explain it.â Emmaâs beautiful blue eyes grew troubled. âSheâs on her way here. Said Bowe was going to want to speak with her now?â
Bowe scowled. âEerie, bloody foresight. Iâm weary of it, and of magickâand of the whole bloody Lore!â
9
W hen Nïx blithely entered the room minutes later, Bowe said, âYou told me that if I entered the Hie I would get my mate back. What reason would you have to deceive me?â
Ignoring his question, she unabashedly crawled onto the foot of Boweâs bed. Her T-shirt read: Itâll