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‘True. Who else was your dad friends with?’ I asked nosily.
‘Tarkers from Oxfordshire – Franklin Tarquin,’ Archie expanded. ‘And then there’s Wakado.’
‘Wakado?’ I repeated faintly.
‘Hugo Wakefield.’
‘From which pack?’
‘Norfolk.’
‘Wonderful.’ I sipped my tea. ‘Maybe you should extend an invitation to them to attend the Home Counties pack next month.’
‘Next month?’ Archie objected.
‘I’ve had my fill of alphas for a few days, plus I have things to do – Jess’s hen do, and then her wedding. I have a busy social calendar. Give me a breather before I have to cope with more testosterone-fuelled alphas.’
‘What happened to the seat of power?’ Liam asked.
‘She’s relocated to the mansion,’ I confirmed.
‘She?’ David sounded surprised.
‘Her name is Nina. She’s very nice.’
David’s eyebrows shot up. ‘What about all the wolves she killed?’
Nina had asked me to protect her reputation so I kept her secret and gave him an enigmatic smile. ‘We all have our off days.’ I looked at the men around me. ‘Go. Go and invite those alphas that Lord Samuel was friendly with. Split them between you. Off you pop.’
They didn’t protest about my transparent effort to be alone with Greg. When they’d gone, I turned to him and let my heartache show. ‘Tell me,’ I said softly. ‘Tell me the names of the men I killed.’
Greg didn’t object to my phrasing. ‘Daniel Hughes of the East Riding pack, Mick Harrington of the Dorset pack, and Gerrard Tadbury of the Essex pack.’
‘And the one who lived?’ James had taught me a valuable lesson about leaving enemies alive; I’d keep a close eye on the cowering alpha.
‘Perry Abberdon of County Durham pack.’
I pursed my lips. ‘Can you bring him to me?’ I wanted to assess him for myself, to look into his eyes and see if there was vitriol.
He hesitated. ‘I’d rather not leave you alone whilst I fetch him.’
I flashed him a bitter smile. ‘Has this morning not taught you that I am capable of defending myself?’
‘That was never in question, Peaches. I know you can defend yourself but you shouldn’t have to. That is my role. I have sworn to serve and protect you – it should be me covered in the blood of our enemies, not you. I was born to kill and made into a killer by the dragons I served – but now I serve only you.’ He paused. ‘You asked me once if Emory gave me an order and you gave me a conflicting one, whose order would I follow? Yours, Lucy. I would follow yours.’
He bowed low, his hand to his heart. ‘My Queen,’ he said passionately then left the room before I could respond.
My heart was hammering. Me: he’d chosen me.
It was everything.
Chapter 36
Perry Abberdon looked far less wimpy in his human form. Nearly seven feet tall, he towered over Greg. ‘Abberdon,’ I greeted him neutrally.
Before I could tell him to sit, he sank to his knees before me, immediately halving his immense height. ‘My Queen,’ he intoned, respect and even a little adoration in his tone. He sounded genuine as he pronounced my title.
‘Abberdon,’ I repeated and cleared my throat. ‘I am glad that you saw the error of your ways and that we were able to leave you breathing.’
