Chapter 56

"The order to return will come."I frowned at the bottle of beer in my hand. The weight of dread pressed upon my shoulders.

"We should use this time to prepare," Sig advised.

"I will not let her go," I vowed.

"I know." He looked resigned.

"You don't have to return. You could…go." I knew that Sig would never abandon me, but I needed to make the suggestion.

His reply was a bored smirk.

"I think you should encourage Talia not to return."

Sig finished his beer. "She would take the suggestion better from you."

I frowned. "She will not leave Sage." I knew this.

"Our loyalty will be our downfall," he predicted with a shrug.

"It will keep us strong. When one weakens, the others rally."

Sig grunted and glanced my way. "Your mate has turned you into an optimist."

"She has given me a reason to fight," I replied hotly.

"Keep that in mind. I fear we will have a few battles before us."

I did, too.

Three days later, the missive arrived, demanding that I return to my duties. Anton gave me a week. I handed the letter to Sig. "I am inclined to wait until he sends guards to escort us back."

Sig read the letter and then tossed it on the table. "I do not disagree. Show him that you are unwilling to jump because he calls."

"Perhaps we should take Sage's lead and use the bus system. That would add days to our trip."

Talia did not look thrilled by that option.

"I don't recommend it," Sage told us seriously. "It smells, and the bathrooms are iffy."

"We will fly into Yellow Knife and drive the rest of the way," I decided.

Sig nodded in appreciation. "Anton's men will not be monitoring that route."

"We need some time to shop. Sage will need clothes," Talia reminded us.

I'd noticed that Sage had said little since the letter had arrived. "Thoughts?" I asked her.

"I am listening to everybody. I don't… I don't know what to expect, so I'll watch and listen."

"It will be fine." Talia tried to look positive. "Bredon will have to attend meetings, but we won't leave you alone."

"You are coming with us?" I asked her.

"Where else would I go?" Talia asked sharply.

"You could visit that gallery in California," Sig murmured.

"Have you been keeping up with your sales?" Sage joined in.

Talia rolled her eyes. "I have an agent for that, and yes, I'm still selling." She turned her attention to Sig. "I brought Sage to the Pack. I won't abandon her now."

"Talia," Sig's voice rumbled, "you know he attacks Bredon through you."

Sage's gaze bounced between all of us. "Will you be safe?" she asked Talia.

"Of course." She blew off Sage's concern. "Anton makes threats. He rarely follows through with them."

"You mean we offer him money to allow you your freedom," Sig reminded her.

"Which I offer to pay back…don't I?" Her eyes were now dangerous slits.

"I do not want your money, Talia, and neither does Sig," I told her calmly. We didn't have time for another Sig and Talia blow-up. "We are concerned for your safety and peace of mind." I turned to Sage. "Anton threatens to block her travel. He also has tried confiscating her work to burn it." I did not continue listing the ways Anton and my father before him had mistreated Talia.

"What?" That made Sage's cheeks pinken. "He wouldn't really destroy her art, would he?"

"First, he'd have to identify what art is." Talia sniffed haughtily.

"He could do worse, Talia. He could devalue your worth by flooding the market," Sage warned.

"That would take too much work," Talia said, but I saw the fear in her eyes.

"We should move your works from the storage rooms. They're not safe there," Sage insisted.

"I'm not sure that is a good idea. He might not react well if we removed the power of one of his threats."

"I don't want you to become a target, Sage," I reminded her. "Staying out of his way would be best."

"Anton wouldn't imprison her, would he?" Talia asked Sig.

"It is Anton." Sig lifted his hands helplessly.

When Sage turned her head toward me with her expression half-wild, I said, "I'm the Second, and you are my mate. He will order you to stay in our wing. Anything more…would make him appear weak."

Talia's gaze lit with mischief. "If he gives you too much attention, it will appear that he believes the newly changed is a strong threat."

"Threats 'R Us." Sage grinned ruefully. "I have no problem sticking to the shadows."

I felt a chill run along my spine. This would not turn out well.