Free Darklands by Nancy Holzner Page B

He stopped and remained quiet for a moment. I leaned forward, my heart beating way harder than I wanted to admit, waiting to hear what came next. “But you’re thinking there’s more, and you’re right. I’ve been wanting to discuss this with you, but work’s been so busy I’ve hardly seen you.”
    No,
my heart thumped.
No, no, no. Don’t break up with me. Not over her.
    If Kane saw what I was feeling, he didn’t show it. He kept talking. “Simone’s campaign is a practice run. I want to see from the inside how a political campaign works, because I’m thinking of running for Congress next year.”
    Congress. A werewolf could be elected to Congress about as easily as I could take a running jump and land on the moon, but so what? If anyone could pull it off, it was Kane. And I liked the sound of “I’m running for Congress” way better than “I’m starting a pack with Simone.” I sat back, my heart no longer threatening to leap out of my chest.
    His eyes shone, staring into some far-off place, perhaps the marble halls of the Capitol. “What better way to change the system than from the inside? I’m tired of standing on the outside, banging on the door and begging to be thrown a few scraps of justice.” He refocused on me. “But that’s a long way off. Right now, I’m just exploring the possibility. And as I said, my main reason for helping Simone is that she’s a friend. Our families go way back.”
    My head was buzzing—it was too much to take in. “Does Simone know?”
    “About—? Oh, you mean that I’m considering a run for Congress? Yes, I’ve mentioned it. Why?”
    Simone didn’t care about being reelected to the Council of Three. She was campaigning for a different job: politician’s wife. I mean, who would look better standing beside Kane at political events—a successful politician with model looks and a tailored wardrobe, or a demon exterminator whose only dress was crumpled in a ball at the back of her closet? There was no contest, and Simone knew it.
    Now, she was showing him what an asset she’d be to his political aspirations. And soon, at the werewolf retreat, she’d do whatever it is she-wolves do when they’re after a mate. Kane didn’t stand a chance.
    I
didn’t stand a chance.
    “Don’t look so stunned,” Kane said, squeezing my hand. “I know running for office would be a big step. But like I said, I haven’t decided yet, and we can discuss it after I get back from Princeton.” Princeton was the location of the werewolf retreat closest to Boston, the one Kane—and, I had no doubt, Simone—attended each full moon.
    I searched his eyes again. Why was I even looking for guilt? I had no special hold on this man—and after all, that was how I’d always said I wanted it. I wasn’t cut out for the wife-and-mother routine. If he wanted to start his own pack, he’d find a suitable mate, and we both knew it wouldn’t be me. I had no right to hold him back.
    So why did I suddenly feel like I was choking on the cloying scent of that damn perfume?
    “Vicky.” Kane’s hand traced light circles on the back of mine. “Was there something you wanted to tell me?”
    I blinked. “What do you mean?”
    “Well, most of the time I practically have to make an appointment to see you. Today you appear unexpectedly both before and after work. Don’t get me wrong—I like it.” His smile was warm. “I like it a lot. But you have to admit it’s unusual.”
    The warmth of that smile. I didn’t want Simone basking in it. I didn’t want it shining on anyone but me.
    “I…well, I was thinking that maybe I’d go to Princeton with you.” The words were out of my mouth before I knew I’d say them.
    Now it was Kane’s turn to look stunned. His smile froze. His hand stopped moving on mine. “To the retreat?”
    “Oh, well, if you don’t want me to go…” If I backpedaled any faster, I’d be halfway across Boston in a minute.
    “Want you to go? Of course I do. That