From somewhere outside a car honked, making me jump. A few moments later, Mrs. Alcoon curved her head back round.

“There’s a car waiting for you.”

Evincing surprise, I followed her out. When I recognised the number-plate as belonging to the Brethren, my stomach gave a little flip. I quashed it back down, telling myself not to be so silly. It was probably there because Tom had been thoughtful enough to arrange it. Even if it had been Corrigan who’d sent it, it would merely be because he wanted to make sure that I didn’t bail on my promise to attend the funeral. I clambered inside, my eyes inadvertently falling on the spot where I’d almost died just hours before. I quickly looked away, my gaze landing on Aubrey instead. He looked worried. I reminded myself that I’d have to find somewhere for him to go that would be well out of his former foster family’s reach. Then the car door closed automatically, and we drove off.

The service was being held at the Brethren’s stronghold. I spent the entire journey there in silence and, upon arriving and walking inside, little else changed. I could feel the eyes of numerous shifters on me, accusatory glances that held so much meaning, from how I’d treated Corrigan to allowing Staines’ death to occur. There was so much I was responsible for. I carefully took a seat at the back of the hall, which was clearly used for such occasions, and folded my hands in my lap, closing my eyes. I allowed a trickle of bloodfire to run through my body, enjoying its warmth and hoping it would in some way reinvigorate me. Lughnasadh was less than three days away and, as unlikely as it was starting to seem that I’d make it that far, I had to get myself ready just in case.

The chair next to me creaked as someone else sat down. Surprised, I opened my eyes. I’d rather imagined that being persona non-grata as far as the shifters were concerned, no-one would wish to come near me. When I saw who it was, however, I couldn’t help but smile.

“Hi Betsy.”

“You look like shit, Mack.”

I snorted. “I feel a hell of a lot worse.” My voice was still croaky from my near-strangulation. I lifted my hand to my throat for a moment, then dropped it.

Betsy reached over and squeezed my fingers. “Things have been tough.”

I nodded, suddenly not quite able to trust my voice.

“The Lord Alpha’s been screwed up. I’ve never seen him in such a bad mood.”

I swallowed down the lump rising in my throat. “He’s lost his right hand man, hasn’t he?” Because I hadn’t fucking been at home.

“It started before then.” She watched me carefully.

I didn’t want to go there. I couldn’t go there. I gave her a watery smile instead. “I hear the wedding preparations are going well.”

“Going well?” She shook her head. “You have no idea. Trying to get Tom to even begin to show enthusiasm is a nightmare. I was talking to him yesterday about cake, and he just shrugged and said I could choose whatever I wanted. Except I don’t like fruit cake, he’s allergic to chocolate, and you know what sugar does to shifters.”

“Johannes isn’t doing the catering, is he?” I asked in mock horror. Johannes, the designated chef of the Cornish pack, possessed a lack of culinary skill that was legendary.

She giggled. “No chance. He offered, but I told him I wanted him to enjoy the day, not be rushed off his feet cooking.”

“Did he buy it?”

“Who knows?” A shadow crossed her face. “You are still coming?”

I thought about the upcoming battle with Endor, and my own apparent impending doom, and hoped the scratch in my voice would mask the lie. “I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”

Betsy beamed. “I think we could all do with a bit of celebration.”

She wasn’t wrong there.

“Is it bad talking about a wedding when we’re at a funeral?”

“Life goes on, Bets. It has to. What are we all fighting for if not the chance to have weddings and celebrations and happiness?” I smiled sadly to myself.

Funereal music kicked in at that point, and a procession with Corrigan at the helm trooped in solemnly. As well as several highly placed shifters, both the Arch-Mage and the Summer Queen followed them in, their heads bowed. Tom came and sat down on the opposite side of Betsy, although I barely registered him, fixed as I was on Corrigan. The Lord Alpha’s ramrod straight spine indicated just how hard this was for him. The hue of his suit seemed to match his jet black hair perfectly. He’d obviously taken a lot of care in getting dressed today, in order to show his respect for the one person he’d trusted above all others. I closed my eyes again and clenched my teeth together until my jaw ached.

It wasn’t a long service, but it served the werebear well. He had clearly been well thought of across the Brethren, and they were going to miss his presence dearly. Once it was over, and everyone scattered off to get some food and drinks, I hung back. It didn’t seem appropriate for me to join in the wake, even though Corrigan had asked me to be here. Staines and I hadn’t exactly ever seen eye to eye, and I felt very much like an interloper amongst all his grieving friends. I promised Tom that as soon as we were both up at Loch Ness, I’d meet him for some more transformation training, then said my goodbyes to both him and Betsy. Once the room was cleared, I stiffly stood up and moved towards the door.

I was only a few feet away when a shadow fell across my path. I’d been staring somewhat dejectedly at my feet, concentrating on walking slowly forward in order to not cause myself too much more pain, so I was jolted to see Corrigan there, staring at me fathomlessly with his green eyes.

“Hey,” I said softly.

He didn’t say anything, just continued watching me. I didn’t think he so much as blinked.

“I’m really sorry about Staines. I know how much he meant to you.” My voice still sounded strange, as if I had a very bad cold. And it fucking hurt to speak.

“Are you?” Corrigan finally said. There was an antagonistic edge to his tone, as if he was hoping he could goad me into a fight.

“Am I what?”

“Sorry. Are you actually sorry?” He took a step closer, looming over me with his muscles bunched tightly inside his suit.

I nodded. “We didn’t get on, but…” I swallowed, “But he didn’t deserve that. I should have been there to help him.”

Corrigan looked even more upset at my words and I felt my failure to save Staines’ life even more keenly than before. He opened his mouth to say something, then just closed it again, his hands bunching into fists by his sides. I felt a tightness in my chest, and the awkwardness of the moment was excruciating.

“He didn’t like you.”

“No.”

“He was a good man.”

“I know,” I said quietly.

“There’s not anything he wouldn’t have done to help defeat Endor. His methods might have been unsavoury to some but he knew how to get a job done.”

I wisely kept my mouth shut.

“Did he say anything before he died?”

When I didn’t immediately answer, Corrigan took yet another step in my direction, his face now only inches from mine. I gave him a small nod.

He grabbed me by the shoulders. “What?” he snarled. “What did he say?”

“That he was trying to prove to you that you didn’t need me. I guess that’s why he, you know, went to go see the Batibat.”

“I don’t fucking need you,” he said, his fingers digging into my skin.

I nodded again. “I know.” Boy, did I know.

He stared at me. I stared back at him. I couldn’t work out for the life of me what he was thinking. If he wanted to use me as a punching bag to make himself feel better, then that was fine. I wasn’t sure my body would be able to take much more abuse, but if it would help him...

“Fuck it,” he said in a low voice, and through obviously gritted teeth, then pulled me towards him and kissed me hard, almost painfully.

My bloodfire immediately, and involuntarily, roared into life. I was so surprised, however, I didn’t even have time to react before he was pushing himself backwards and glaring at me with loathing and disgust. Then he spun on his heel and left.

“Shit,” I cursed aloud.

I’d thought he was going to punch me, not kiss me. I lifted my fingers up to lips. They felt bruised and sore. There was meant to be nothing between us any more; I’d promised the Arch-Mage and the Summer Queen there wouldn’t be in order to maintain the shaky interspecies equilibrium on the council. So I shouldn’t have let him do that. I should have walked away the instant he even came into the room. It was just too dangerous to be alone with him, especially when emotions were flying as high as they were. But I couldn’t quash the little thrill I’d felt – I still was feeling – at the knowledge that at least a small part of him still wanted me. Damn me for a lovesick fool. I sat heavily down on a nearby chair.

But it was three days. Only three days until Endor was going to show up at Loch Ness. We had the palladium, which meant we could defeat him. Then there’d be no need for a council so I would be free of my promise. For the first time since that awful afternoon at Alcazon when I’d dumped him, I felt hope. We could still make it together.

Then the shiny little black stone – the unwanted gift from the unnamed wichtlein – popped into my head, along with the vamps and Bolux’s bloodthirsty descendants. All the optimism drained away, and the remaining flickers of heat seeped out from my blood.

*

When I finally emerged out from the keep, with a heavier heart than it seemed I’d had even upon entering, a nearby car with tinted windows honked its horn making me jump. Scowling, I flicked up my middle finger. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with idiots.

The car window rolled down and a little face appeared. “Really? You’re going to treat me like that after I stayed up all night making your bloody steel?”

Oh. I walked over. “Sorry, Balud,” I said, not actually feeling all that sorry at all. “I didn’t realise it was you.”