Lupi 08 - Death Magic

doesn’t smell clan and think friend . He thinks us . He feels a deep sense of belonging. This new wolf will feel that belonging, but because he is Rho, instead of us he will think mine .”
    Deborah nodded seriously. “And you said Ruben is all wolf right now, so that’s how he’s thinking. Like a wolf who’s a Rho and so he’s in charge.” Her smile peeped out. “That part’s not such a change. Ruben always feels like he’s in charge. Not in a smothering way, but like he’s a shepherd with a really large flock who is also responsible for the landscape as a whole. Only he feels that even more now, being a Rho?”
    Isen nodded. “Not in a smothering way, like you said. He feels responsible for those who are his clan.”
    “Then why did he submit to Rule? You said earlier that Rule couldn’t use his mantle to make Ruben submit any more than Ruben could use his to make Rule submit. So it wasn’t the mantle that made Ruben submit. He did it on his own. That’s what I don’t understand. He’s not exactly submissive.”
    “Ah.” Isen nodded. “I can see why that’s confusing. Humans do see submission and dominance differently than we do. Perhaps for now you could accept that submitting doesn’t make us submissive.”
    “That’s for sure,” Lily said. “I’ve seen Rule submit, and it sure didn’t turn him submissive.” Isen had given her enough food for two people—or one lupus. She couldn’t finish it, but maybe one more bite of corn bread . . . she dabbed a bit of butter on a small chunk. “But there’s a whole language of submitting. They do it for lots of reasons other than establishing who’s in charge. It’s how they acknowledge a fault, settle a dispute, seal a deal between clans—all sorts of things.”
    A slight frown lingered between Deborah’s eyebrows. “But Ruben didn’t know any of the—the cultural context about submitting, and he did it anyway. He agreed to let Rule be in charge.”
    “He didn’t know much of anything at the time. That was the problem. But he knew Rule could beat him and he knew Rule would take care of him. That was enough.” She popped the bite in her mouth. She’d better stop now or . . . why were all the men in the room beaming at her that way? “What?”
    Isen patted her hand. “You’ve learned a lot since you first came to us. We’re pleased. And now, I fear, it’s time for me to go. Pete, if you’d bring the car in front?”
    Pete left. There was a bit of bustle as the rest of the lupi leaped to their feet and started bussing the dishes and Deborah tried to help. Lily took advantage of the noise to say to Isen, “I’ll walk you to the door.”
    He slid her an opaque smile and told José to put on a little dish-washing music so he could have a private word with Lily. José plugged his phone into a player on the counter and they were all treated to Led Zeppelin.
    Lily shook her head at Isen. “That was way less subtle and devious than I expect from you.”
    “I’m a flexible man. Sometimes the straightforward way works best. You wished to escort me to the door?”
    Together they headed for the front of the house. “Are you driving to New York State, then?”
    “My route and means are complicated. The Mercedes has GPS, which is potentially trackable. That reminds me. Benedict tells me it’s possible to track my location through the GPS on my phone, so I’ll keep it turned off. Cullen has made sure Rule’s phone is off, also.”
    She should have thought of that. Why hadn’t she thought of that?
    Because she was used to being the one using government resources, not the one trying to dodge them. “How will I reach you?”
    “Benedict keeps a stock of untraceable, prepaid phones on hand. I brought two with me. I’ m told these phones don’t roam well away from large cities, but having two networks to choose from may help. These are the numbers.” He stopped as they reached the parlor and handed Lily a slip of paper. “I’m glad you wanted a word with me. I wished to speak with you privately, also.”
    “Oh?”
    He smiled. “So wary—and rightfully. I’m offering advice, which is annoying of me, but I hope you’ll listen anyway. Has Rule seemed edgy lately? Unusually so?”
    “That was a question, not advice.”
    “And one you don’t care to answer, which of course is an answer of sorts. Lily, you know that we are protective of women. You’ve been in danger often since you and Rule mated. He has dealt with this so