“Where am I?” Luna asked when she’d finally opened her eyes. Everything was a little fuzzy and far too bright. She slammed her eyes shut, covering them with a hand as a bolt of searing pain shot through her head.

“The Campbell Inn,” said a voice coming from somewhere on her right. She turned her head and pulled her hand away from her face, wincing as her skull throbbed with agony. It was all coming back now. Ripper’s fist, the giant shadow in the sky…

“Kirith,” she said, drawing her eyes open and swinging around to look for the Dragon shifter. But it was Silver who sat next to her in a chair by her bed. Her brother was staring at her, a concerned look on his face.

“I’m afraid he’s in Ripper’s hands,” he said. “I watched the whole thing go down. He let them take him to the club, in exchange for…”

“For what?” Luna asked. But she could already guess.

“For you. Ripper left you in the park. He told me where I could find you, and I and brought you here. It was quite a feat to convince the desk clerks that you weren’t a dead body.”

“We have to go help him,” Luna replied, trying to push herself upwards. “Have to…” Almost immediately, the room spun round at blinding speed, sending her slouching back into the pillow.

Silver shook his head. “You’ve got a concussion, Luna. You’re in no shape to go running around. Besides, what the hell could you and I possibly do against the entire Pack? You’re their enemy now; they won’t let you anywhere near the club.”

“Fuck,” she said, leaning back. He was right, of course. “What about you?” she asked, shutting her eyes against the light.

“Ripper still thinks I’m on his side, apparently. After I brought you here, I went back to the club and told him that I was sorry you’d betrayed him, that I had no idea you’d been up to so many terrible things. I assured him that I intended to disown you.”

Luna let out a cynical laugh. “You devious bastard,” she said.

“That I am.”

“Ripper bought it?”

“Hook, line and sinker, apparently. I’ve been his lap dog for so long that it doesn’t occur to him not to trust me.”

Luna opened her eyes again and reached a hand out. “Silver,” she said as he took it.

“Yes?”

“Tell me why.”

“Why what?”

“Why you’ve been his lap dog for so long.”

Her brother went silent for a moment before he drew a hard intake of breath. “I will. Soon, I promise. When you’re feeling a little better. For now, we need to figure out the situation with your friend the BHD.”

Luna nodded her head, which made the room spin all over again. “You need to help him.”

“We’ve been over this. I can’t do anything against the damned Pack…”

“You don’t understand,” she said. “Kirith has protected me twice now. But now, because of me, Ripper has him. I can’t let him…”

She pulled back, burying her face in her hands. It was all her fault. Kirith might be dead by now, all because her Wolf had called out to him. If she’d just left him alone, none of this would have happened.

“I heard Ripper say they were going to lock him up,” Silver told her, “so I suspect they’re keeping him alive for now. Tell me what I can do to help, and I’ll try my best.”

“Maybe you’re right. Maybe there’s nothing you can do,” she replied miserably. “If Ripper figures out what you’re up to, he’ll have you killed.”

“I don’t care,” he replied, rising to his feet. “If Kirith is as worthy as I think he is, I should take the risk. We just need a plan.”

“No, Silver,” Luna said, pulling herself to her feet. Her head felt as though it was under constant attack from a jackhammer. “I don’t want to lose him, but I couldn’t bear losing you both. Please don’t go over there alone.”

“If not alone, then who with?” he asked.

A light sparked to life inside Luna’s mind. “Amara,” she said, looking around.

“Who?” said Silver.

“A Wolf shifter I met. She’s a member of the Guild.” She reached into a pocket on her skirt and pulled out the card that Amara had given her. “Maybe there is something you can do to help.”

“What’s that?”

It felt like years now since Luna had met the strange, gentle woman; hard to believe that it had only happened the previous morning. “This is the contact information for a Wolf shifter who’s a part of the Dragons’ Guild,” she said, handing the card over. “Get in touch with her. Tell her what’s happened. If she doesn’t know already, that is.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s a long story. Just…please…find her. It’s the only way I know of to help Kirith.”

“Okay,” said Silver, stepping forward to take the card. When he’d slipped it into his pocket, Luna took him by the hand again and squeezed.

“Silver,” she said, “Please help him.”

“I’ll do everything that I can.” he replied, letting her hand go.

“Thank you.”