Free Tarnished by Rhiannon Held Page A

see.”
    Sacramento snorted at the borderline insult. Technically, Andrew was out of line to drop Sacramento’s title when he didn’t have a personal relationship with the man, or wasn’t another alpha. The years since Andrew had seen him had sharpened his face, especially since he’d shaved the beard that once softened his jaw. Maybe he’d want to grow it back now, to hide the scar, Andrew reflected with satisfaction. “I hear we have a problem.”
    “You should discipline your mate.” Sacramento mustered a sneer through the pain of the burn. Andrew rubbed at the ridges along his back through his shirt, and felt not an ounce of sympathy. “Using silver on her own kind. Is that what her leash on you is made of?” He nodded to John. “Like whatever that human has on Seattle. What is she, his fuck-toy? I had no idea he was into that kind of thing.” Sacramento pointedly kept his voice below Susan’s threshold of hearing at her distance.
    “You’re trespassing, Sacramento.” John growled, full-throated and threatening. Sacramento’s voice carried fine to werewolf hearing. He left Susan to join them. “And attacking those under my protection. You have an hour to make it beyond the border, or I’ll throw you out myself.”
    Sacramento held up his hands. “I’ve delivered my message. I have no beef with you, Seattle. I’ll be waiting on the other side of your southern border tomorrow morning. I’d suggest you send Dare to face the Lady’s clear gaze.” He pressed a hand to his cheek and walked with pointed insouciance toward a truck dimly visible in a parking lot adjoining the back of the store’s lot. The blond hurried after. Sacramento turned over his shoulder to blow a kiss from his fingertips to Silver. “You and me, babe. I look forward to the rematch soon.”
    Silver lifted her chin as she watched him go. “I’ve found Death tends to punish those who assume he’ll come at their call like some kind of domesticated pet. Watch out for him yourself.” Sacramento laughed in the slightly awkward way of someone who didn’t understand the joke.
    John’s beta, Pierce, came up behind him to bolster Seattle’s appearance of strength, and all of them watched until the taillights of Sacramento’s truck disappeared onto the road beyond. “No point following them on foot,” John told the rest of the pack over his shoulder. “And we need the van to take Susan and Silver home. Do a quick sweep now to make sure they’re really gone. Then I want you all on extra patrols near the house.”
    Andrew caught himself before he nodded. John didn’t need Andrew to approve. But since they couldn’t follow Sacramento immediately, John was right. If they wasted time casting around to find his truck to make sure he made it over the territory line, he could circle around to attack the house.
    Everyone relaxed as they turned back to the van: Silver allowed Andrew to pull her against his side, Susan sniffed, and John limped over to her. To Andrew’s surprise, Susan noticed the limp, even after the upset and in poor lighting for human eyes. “Were you attacked too?” Her tone wavered, but no tears materialized.
    Andrew kept his mouth shut. He didn’t know what story John would choose to tell her. Silver speared him with a look. Even not having been out on the hunt, she could probably guess what had happened. It was common enough.
    After a tired sigh, John went with the truth. “We strayed off the land we actually own. Some codger on his back porch with a twenty-two decided to shoot at the coyote or stray dog. Or maybe even Bigfoot, Lady only knows. It’s nothing, I just didn’t have time to dig out the bullet before it healed in. I’ll do it when I get home.”
    “Not silver, huh?” Susan said with a weak laugh, then looked back at Silver. “Metal, I mean.”
    “Yes, though it’s not so simple.” Silver turned her look on Andrew this time, and it took him a long moment to realize he was supposed to fill in