31. Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-One

Eldrick

“ W alk us through the plan one more time,” Linx said, a mischievous glint shining in her eyes.

The moment explosives had been mentioned, the Gray Fenris’s healer had been glued to Tovi’s plan on infiltrating the castle. Eldrick, though, didn’t need Linx’s contraptions to burst with objection.

Lou Foret owned a renowned bakery in Drystan Village. Sacks of flour and jars of sugar lined every inch of free space in the basement pantry. The scent of fresh bread seeped into the terra-cotta floors beneath Eldrick’s boots while he stewed in the corner as Tovi went through her plan for the third time. A map of the underground tunnel system covered a workbench, and bread-shaping baskets cluttered the perimeter. Lou had supplied a marker for the fighting ring’s location, deep in the underbelly of the castle.

“It’s a good plan,” Kade whispered beside him.

“I know,” Eldrick muttered, crossing his arms.

It wasn’t a bad plan. It was her plan. Instead of lashing out verbally, he battled the two warring concepts internally.

“And how exactly will you get us into the rings?” Bétar asked.

“We will have to investigate that part in the coming days,” Tovi said. “I know somewhere we can get that information.”

That part of the plan also had his wolf howling at the notion. They’d freed five werewolves from slavery days ago, and Tovi wanted to throw two of them into the fighting rings as a part of getting Evelyn out of the castle.

“We’ll need a distraction,” she’d declared.

That distraction called for Kade and Bétar to be smuggled into the rings as fighters while Todd and Linx were stationed under the cavern. Yen would remain in the woods, manning the team’s exit. They’d give the signal to alert everyone else the plan was in motion. They’d keep the vampyr court busy while Tovi and Eldrick got Evelyn out of the castle.

“How do you plan to get her out of the castle?” Kade asked.

“I…” Tovi paused. “Have someone in the castle I can trust.” She and Lou shared a knowing, wordless glance. “I’ll get in contact with them immediately, now that we've arrived here.”

Eldrick grinded his teeth and shifted his stance up against the wall. It was a good plan, and with the access to the tunnels the bakery possessed, they had the advantage. But it didn’t take away the fact Tovi had numerous secrets, ones she chose to unveil when the time was right for her. Tovi may not have had the allies to win the favor of her people, but she had a network of supporters in Drystan Village and apparently also the castle.

It didn’t sit well with Eldrick, not knowing everything there was regarding the princess. Except he was being unfair. Drystan was her home. If the roles were reversed, he’d be no different in Drengr Village.

Leading.

And doubted.

The ire her people felt for her unsettled him, too. Perhaps because he could sympathize. It was something they had in common—an unbending desire to lead a people, some of whom doubted them. She the rightful queen, he the Alpha. Why did he have such difficulty accepting it ?

“What about us?” Siv asked.

She and the other werewolves had lingered to the side. Eldrick hadn’t missed how their eyes shined with excitement and promise when Tovi discussed the plan. He admired their bravery, even after the weeks they’d endured.

Tovi sighed, relaxing against the table. “I think it’s best we get you all home.”

“But we can help,” Sam said.

Kade pushed off from the wall beside Eldrick. “We know it. You’ve all been brave these last few weeks. I’d gladly add you to the Gray Fenris if I had a spot open. But this mission will require stealth, and we need low numbers.”

Tovi nodded. “Kade’s right. I have a way to get you all home by the evening hour, but it’ll require you to trust a vampyr to guide you.”

Erik crossed his arms. “Do you trust this vampyr?”

For a moment, the princess considered. “Yes, I do. He’ll follow through.”

He’ll.

Eldrick stiffened and pushed off the wall.

Lou beat him to the question. “You can’t seriously be considering the captain.”

“If I ask, Flynn will make sure they get home.” Tovi avoided everyone’s stare, but Eldrick caught the stiffness in her shoulders and her stone expression, something she did when she was hiding something.

Lou shook her head. “It won’t be a favor, Tovi. He’ll want something in return.”

Eldrick’s blood heated, and his wolf growled below the surface. “This Captain Flynn, is he a part of the underground pirates?”

“He is the underground pirate, the one who runs it all.” Lou tsked. “Tovi—”

“If it’s a hefty payment, the Drengr pack can help with the fee,” Eldrick said, making eye contact with Tovi.

She blinked, and a pink blossomed on her cheeks.

Lou shook her head. “It won’t be payment he asks for, you know it— ”

“Agree to whatever he asks for, Lou. The werewolves deserve to return home.” Tovi returned her attention to the map. A finality rang in her tone, ending the conversation.

Mouth open and brows pinched, Lou looked like she wanted to argue.

Their conversation on the ship about suitors and marriage filtered through Eldrick’s mind, and his inner wolf growled. She’d not give her hand in exchange for these werewolves she barely knew, would she?

Eldrick dug his nails into his arms, focusing on the pain and not the anger flooding through him. He withheld the urge to object and demand a better solution, but in front of everyone else, he couldn’t demand something he himself couldn’t explain. Why did he care so much about what Tovi sacrificed? Besides, the werewolves— his people—needed a way home.

Siv walked up the table, resting her hand over her heart. “If you trust this captain, so will we. Thank you for getting us this far, Princess.”

The werewolves inclined their heads and said their goodbyes to the rest of the Gray Fenris. Lou escorted them out of the basement, and Tovi, Kade, and Bétar continued running through the plan.

“What of this contact of yours inside the castle?” Kade asked.

“Leave that to Lou and me,” Tovi said with a curt nod. “In the meantime, we’ll need to figure out the best way into the rings. Tonight, I’ll scope out who runs them and where they deliver new werewolves.”

“I’ll come with you,” Eldrick blurted.

Everyone whipped their attention to him, eyes wide. He hadn’t meant to sound so urgent, so eager, but he still didn’t want to let Tovi out of his sight. Eldrick might’ve kept his mouth shut about the plan, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t still scope Tovi’s intentions and behaviors.

Tovi nodded. “Alright. Fine by me, but Linx will need to check your cloaking necklace. It doesn’t help against your scent like the others, and where we’re going, we can’t afford vampyrs who bite first and ask questions later to get a whiff.”

Todd leaned into Eldrick and inhaled. “I can’t smell him. Necklace works fine.”

Tovi blinked, brows pinching. “It must be my vampyr senses then.”

The basement bristled with static and unsaid words as the team shifted uncomfortably. Eldrick’s mouth went dry. Everyone knew Tovi’s bloodstone hid her vampyr scent, yet he’d kept the fact he could smell past it entirely to himself. Yet, it appeared she smelled him, too. Despite magic. Despite cloaking. Which begged the question—

Kade cleared his throat. “Okay, Tovi and Eldrick will learn more about the fighting rings tonight. What about the rest of us?”

“I’d rest,” Tovi said. “If we find a way into the rings, there’s a chance you and Bétar are headed into the castle tomorrow.”

Kade crossed his arms and nodded.

Discussion continued, but Eldrick stood frozen by the table only half listening. He dismissed the earlier awkwardness. Even when he caught a glimpse of Tovi’s bloodstone and smelled violets and plums, he refused to linger on what it all meant.

He battled wariness and trust. Kade had asked him for the sake of the team and mission to put his quarrels with the princess to rest, and he had. He hadn’t even objected to her plan when it clearly put his brother in danger. Moons , he’d drank far too much wine the other night with her, and his attention kept falling to those damn lips of hers. As he let his guard down, the less he saw her as a vampyr, as the enemy.

In fact, the more Eldrick considered her efforts, he was starting to see her less and less as a vampyr and more as a worthy ally.