Lupi 04 - Night Season

portion of the mantle of another clan—his clan’s oldest enemies. Cynna didn’t understand mantles, didn’t know exactly how or why it had happened, but she knew that the leader of the other clan was hanging on to life by a thread. If he died, the full mantle would go to Rule. “I guess it would be bad if you were in another realm when the Leidolf Rho died, huh?”
    â€œBad is one way to put it. I don’t know if the mantle would cross to another realm to reach me. If it didn’t…some lupi who suddenly lose their connection to their clan simply die. Most survive the death shock, however, becoming lone wolves.”
    Cullen had been a lone wolf for years before Rule’s clan, Nokolai, formally adopted him. “Lupi don’t do well as lone wolves.”
    â€œUsually they go insane. Cullen is very much the exception. Most sundered lupi don’t stay lone wolves long, though. They gather in packs. Packs are dangerous to the humans around them—worse in that respect than lone wolves.”
    Worse? Cynna swallowed. “Are you sure you should tell me all this?”
    Rule smiled gently. “Yes.”
    Because she was supposed to become the Rhej of his clan. Cynna had told him—told everyone—that wasn’t going to happen. A Rhej was, among other things, the clan’s priestess. Cynna was Catholic. She didn’t worship the lupi’s Lady. And even if she could get past that, who in their right mind would pick her for some kind of holy woman?
    â€œLook, Rule—”
    â€œI’m not saying you’ll accept the Lady’s offer. Just that it’s okay for me to speak of these things to you. The Rhej has given permission.”
    That was okay, she supposed, as long as he wasn’t expecting too much. She wouldn’t spill his secrets. “I see that you can’t go, but…it’s probably none of my business, but, ah…does that necessarily mean Lily can’t go? I mean, when you were in Dis and she—or part of her—was here, the mate bond worked as if you were still physically close.”
    Rule turned to look at the doorway a second before Lily appeared there. “Neither of us passed out then,” Lily said, “because Earth and Dis are physically analogous. Edge isn’t. I asked Gan about that earlier.” She looked straight at Rule. “I’ve already told Ruben I won’t be able to go.”
    Rule moved the way only a lupus can, all grace and speed. One second he was standing still. The next he was holding on to Lily and murmuring things Cynna couldn’t quite catch.
    She gave them a moment, then drummed her fingers on the table. “I could go watch TV with Gan, I guess.”
    Rule turned a smile on her. “Sorry. I’m feeling emotional. Lily thought of the clan. She understood what my duty must be without my telling her, and chose to put her own duty second.” He bent his head and whispered something in Lily’s ear.
    Lily laughed and pushed out of his arms. “Later. Maybe. We’ll see.” Her smile faded into a sigh. “I couldn’t tell Ruben why I can’t go. He doesn’t know about the mantles.”
    â€œWill this cause problems for you, nadia ?”
    She shrugged. “Not with Ruben. I told him it was clan business, nothing I could explain, and he was okay with that. But he’s getting pressure from higher up to give the Edge delegation what they want.”
    â€œIncluding people?” Rule snapped. “Will Cynna be ordered to—”
    Cynna broke in. “Rule, I’m going. Orders or not, I’m going.”
    Rule and Lily exchanged one of those couple’s glances that say all kinds of things without using a word. Cynna could read some of it, though. They weren’t happy with her decision.
    Well, she wasn’t exactly thrilled herself. She’d thought she would have friends at her back. Now…
    The sound of gunfire came from the TV upstairs. Cynna’s eyes widened as a thought struck. “What about Gan?”
    â€œIf I understood her correctly,” Lily said, “she has to go to Edge to fulfill her…she called it a testing.”
    â€œShe doesn’t know you aren’t going.”
    Lily shook her head.
    So instead of Lily and Rule, Cynna would have a pissed-off former demon for backup. “Well, shit.”

SIX
    T HE enchiladas were great. The company was strained due to