16. Chapter 16

Chapter 16

My phone flared to life as we drove back to the mansion. I didn't recognise the number, but I swiped to answer all the same. ‘Lucy Barrett?' A female voice enquired. It was vaguely familiar but I struggled to place it.

‘Yes?'

‘It's Pollyanna,' she confirmed quietly.

I had to resist the urge to slide a glance at my brother, who was sitting awfully close to Noah in the back seat. ‘How can I help?' I asked mildly.

‘It is more about how I can help you ,' she said wryly. ‘Because of my time with Ben, I've seen some things. Things that you need to know about.'

‘Like needing the final-defence potion to save him?'

‘Like that,' she agreed.

‘You broke his heart,' I accused, keeping my voice low.

‘It didn't stay broken for long though, did it?' she shot back, but I could hear the underlying hurt in her voice and I winced.

If the closeness between Noah and Ben was any indication, then no. I had told them to fake date, so maybe their closeness was exactly that – fake – though right now they had a very limited audience to perform to and their thighs were still touching.

Pollyanna continued without waiting for a response. ‘You need to find Farrier or you won't survive the year.'

Fuck. That wasn't the best news I'd heard. ‘Who?'

‘Clark Farrier. Jinx can tell you where to find him.'

She hung up without telling me who he was, or why I needed to speak to him. ‘Seers,' I muttered, rubbing my forehead. ‘I swear they just get off on being mysterious.'

‘It's part of their MO,' Greg agreed. ‘They're taught from a young age about the dangers of sharing their visions. They're only allowed to share in a few very specific circumstances.'

‘Which are?'

He shrugged. ‘Damned if I know. I'm no seer.'

I looked in the rear-view mirror and inadvertently met Ben's gaze. His eyes were resigned. ‘Pollyanna?' he asked quietly .

‘Yes. Sorry. She says I have to find someone called Clark Farrier.'

Greg frowned as he drove. ‘Farrier's dead. He was some sort of werewolf-rights activist back in the nineties, I think.'

‘What happened to him?'

‘He was assassinated.' He paused. ‘Probably by the werewolf Council. He was spouting dangerous ideas, like equality for women in the packs.'

I sighed. ‘Pollyanna said Jess could point me in the right direction. Maybe I'm supposed to go to his grave,' I said aloud.

‘Only one way to find out. Ring Jinx,' Greg suggested.

‘Yeah, I suppose, but I don't want to bother her with all she's got going on.'

‘She'll probably be happy for a distraction. Besides, she's always happy to hear from you.'

‘I guess.' Persuaded, I pulled out my phone and dialled my best friend.

‘Hey, Luce!' Her voice wasn't quite as chipper as usual but she was clearly pleased to hear my voice.

‘Hey, love. How are you going?'

‘Emory is driving me up the wall. He's barely left my house and he is pretty much buying companies or exercising all day long. '

‘Well … he could have worse vices.'

‘Yeah, I know. But he's a doer, you know? He's not really the chill-and-watch-movies type.'

‘You need to find him something to do or plan,' I suggested.

‘You're right. I'll come up with something. Anyway, how are you? Everything all roses and kittens?'

I laughed. ‘I'm an alpha werewolf – nothing is ever roses and kittens. But a weird thing just happened. A seer called me and told me to find Clark Farrier but Greg says he's dead.'

‘A seer told you that?' she asked carefully.

‘Yeah.'

‘Tell me exactly what they said.'

‘She said I need to find Farrier or I won't survive the year.'

The car swerved a bit as Greg glared at me. I had omitted telling him that part. Whoops.

‘Dammit,' Jess muttered. ‘Okay, we can't risk that. I'm going to find out where he is and give you an address, but when you go to see him you need to be low key. Just you and Manners. And don't tell anyone his location, don't tell anyone you're seeing him. I'm breaking a trust here, and I'm not happy about it.'

‘I promise,' I vowed solemnly. ‘No one will find out his location from me.'

‘Or the fact he's still alive,' Jess pressed.

‘Or that,' I agreed.

‘He's living under an alias. I'll text it to you. Lucy … be safe.'

‘I'm working on it,' I said drolly. ‘Love you.'

‘Love you, Luce. Speak soon. I'll text the address now.' She rang off. Moments later my phone pinged with a name, Cain Stilwell, and an address. I plugged it into my phone: it was a two-hour drive away and we needed to drop off Ben and Noah.

‘Mansion first,' I said to Greg. ‘Then you and I are taking a drive.'

He flashed me a grin. ‘It's road-trip time, Peaches.'

‘I'm coming with you,' Ben said firmly.

‘No, you're not,' I replied equally firmly. ‘I need you and Rohan and Noah here. I need you to schmooze with our guests, Tarkers and Wakado – and Denby should be arriving soon, too. I need you to keep everyone happy. Make friends, Ben.'

He grimaced but nodded reluctantly. Like me, Ben was a Grade-A schmoozer. He was used to socialising at work events and he also needed something to keep him busy. And I needed someone to keep an eye on my guests whilst I went off on a frolic with Greg to find a dead man.

It was win-win.