“Not much different from humans that age. How often do your adults give in?”
When Simon didn’t answer, Montgomery grinned. “That’s what I thought. I guess Wolves and my mama have some things in common when it comes to raising children.”
Put that way, it explained why the Wolves treated Miss Twyla more like one of their own than like a human.
They watched Skippy flop down and put his front paws around the bowl. He gave the remaining ice cream a lick, then looked at Miss Twyla.
Montgomery laughed softly. “Oh, there are the big sad eyes. Lizzy tries that look on me every so often. Hard for me to say no to that look, even when I know giving in would be bad for both of us, but Mama is made of sterner stuff. Every grandkid has tried that look, and every grandkid has failed.”
They stood in the doorway, watching, until Miss Twyla turned her head and looked right at them.
“Are you two going to keep gawking, or are you going to get some work done?”
“That’s our cue,” Montgomery said under his breath before he raised his voice enough to be heard. “We were just leaving, Mama.”
Simon strode out of the Market Square with Montgomery but said nothing until they were out of sight. “I am the leader of the Courtyard. I’m the one who makes decisions.”
“Yes, you are.” Montgomery waited a beat. “You going to tell her that?”
He growled. “Maybe I’ll send a memo to her too.”
Montgomery just laughed.
Late that evening, when the Market Square stores had all closed, Vlad walked to the back of Erebus Sanguinati’s mausoleum, where Grandfather and Leetha waited for him.
“Simon will be here in a few minutes,” he told them. The Wolf had been a little confused, to say nothing of wary, about being asked to have this discussion in the Chambers. After all, it was only the second time since Simon took over the Lakeside Courtyard years ago that he’d been invited inside the black wrought-iron fences that marked the boundaries of the Sanguinati’s part of the Courtyard.
“Why does he need to be involved?” Leetha asked.
Vlad studied the female who had relocated here when the terra indigene abandoned the Toland Courtyard. She was an intelligent, beautiful hunter. Not in Stavros’s league as a predator, or his, or even Nyx’s, but deadly nonetheless.
“Simon Wolfgard is the leader of this Courtyard,” Vlad replied.
“And why is that with Grandfather residing here?” she challenged. “The Sanguinati always rule the Courtyards in prominent human cities. While this city isn’t as significant as some of the cities we rule on the East Coast, it’s still a major port on the Great Lakes.”
“The Sanguinati support the Wolfgard here.” Vlad felt his temper sharpen.
“Enough.” Erebus’s snarled command was directed at both of the younger Sanguinati, but he had turned toward Leetha to make it clear that she was the provocation. “It was decided many years ago that shifter forms were better suited to lead Courtyards in certain areas of Thaisia, just as we were better suited to rule the large urban cities and coastal towns.”
“Then why . . . ,” Leetha began.
“Perhaps the Sanguinati ruled in Toland so long they began to think of other terra indigene as subordinates rather than strong predators whose ancestors chose a different shape that better fit the other predators and prey where they lived. Your attitude displeases me, Leetha.”
She looked stunned. “I—I’m sorry, Grandfather. I didn’t mean to give offense.”
“Then learn. Simon and Vladimir are friends. They work together, live as neighbors, have fought well together. There is true cooperation in this Courtyard, not just an agreement to work together to defend against the human infestation as is the case in so many Courtyards. And that cooperation has opened up opportunities for all the terra indigene. Tolya now rules a Midwest town, a rustic place compared to Toland, but the Sanguinati have a foothold in a part of Thaisia as never before—because Tolya was willing to work with the Wolfgard and other shifters in the area.”
“So isolated,” she whispered.
Vlad studied Leetha. Was there a hint of fear in her voice? Tolya, and the Sanguinati he had selected to join him in running Bennett and some of the town’s important businesses, seemed to be thriving. But unlike the Wolves, who usually hunted four-legged animals and liked living in the wild country, the Sanguinati were better suited as urban predators, with humans being the preferred prey. That wasn’t as easy to do when you knew everyone in a small town—and they knew you. That was one reason the Sanguinati preferred using larger human cities as their hunting grounds.
The other reason was that, in larger human cities, his kind didn’t often deal directly with terra indigene like the Elders.
“If you cannot accept Simon as leader, perhaps you would rather be living in Talulah Falls,” Erebus continued. “It is under Stavros’s rule now.”
“No.” Leetha’s tone made it clear that she didn’t want to answer to Stavros.
Interesting. Vlad knew Stavros had agreed to rule Talulah Falls so that he would be close enough to present himself as a potential mate the next time Nyx came into season. Had he turned away from Leetha’s invitation the last time she was in season, unwilling to become the mate of a female who wasn’t his first choice? Or perhaps Stavros, who could poke fun at his own kind, had sensed on some level that he and Leetha would not suit each other once the physical mating concluded.
And, in truth, Talulah Falls was even smaller than Lakeside and in far more turmoil, as terra indigene and even some Intuits moved into the town to join the remaining humans in keeping the power plant and other necessary businesses running.
It suddenly occurred to him that both Stavros and Tolya had seen the possibility of working in a mixed community because of their visits here.
<Vlad?> Simon called. <I’m at the fence. If I need to be in human form for this meeting, I’ll have to find some clothes.>
<Not necessary.> Vlad smiled, almost feeling that amber stare despite being out of sight. <Being in human form, I mean. Should I open the gate?>
<Not necessary.>
He looked at Grandfather Erebus. “Simon is here.”
“Open the gate for him, Vladimir.”
“Not necessary.”
The fence that defined the Chambers wasn’t tall, wasn’t trying to keep anyone out. Anyone who entered uninvited didn’t leave. But maybe leaping over the fence to join them was Simon’s way of telling Leetha, and any other Sanguinati who might be in doubt, that he was, in fact, the leader of the Courtyard and he respected their boundaries by choice.
<Grandfather Erebus,> Simon said politely once he joined them.
“Wolfgard.” Erebus tipped his head in the slightest bow.
<Meg wanted me to tell you she received a catalog today that lists a lot of movies for sale. She’ll bring it tomorrow when she makes her deliveries.>
Erebus smiled. “The sweet blood knows how much I enjoy watching my old movies.”
Leetha looked at Grandfather, then at Simon.
Yes, Vlad thought. The sweet blood is the link between our kind and Simon’s. We would not have come this far this fast if she hadn’t stumbled into the Courtyard. Some of us would not have survived the recent conflicts with humans. Even with her warnings, some of us didn’t survive.
“Tell the Wolfgard what you heard,” Erebus said, waving a hand toward Leetha.
“A couple of us followed Cyrus Montgomery earlier this evening,” Leetha said. “The bus station and downtown bus stops are good hunting grounds, especially after dark. And businesses that stay open later than the police recommend are also prime hunting grounds. Lights are lowered and the door is locked, but the patrons who come in before the official closing aren’t asked to leave.” She smiled, showing a hint of fang. “The owners tend to live above the business and don’t really care what happens to the customers when they make their way home.”