Page 45 of Lost Girl
“Witches, and witches—especially the Sacred Six—are fickle creatures. One day they might be willing to help and the next they might tell you to fuck off.”
“Okay, so then let’s say they’re back, yeah? What happens then?” She motions for me to continue.
Another shrug because honestly, she doesn’t need to worry about this. I’ll die before I let Hook and his little pet throw her in the dungeon again. “I’ll already have told my dad by then.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“My dad is the Chief, little wolf, and as Chief, he has a spot on the Council.”
Wendy sighs, clearly frustrated at the shortness of my replies. “I feel like I’m asking a million quesions and I detest feeling like a nuisance. Just tell me, Tavi, please. What’s the Council?”
Chuckling, I give a little shake to my head as I pull further back on the oars for a longer stroker. “Hook has allowed one voice per faction. My father speaks for both our people and the Lost Boys, too.”
“Oh my God. Couldn’t you freeing me risk his position?”
“Possibly, but I’m willing to risk it. My dad can hold his own. He has a way with words and I know Hook values him. If the bloodsucker was actually planning on getting you home, us taking you off his plate shouldn’t be much of a big deal. Yes, he’ll likely flip his shit given it was me who’s behind this, but in the same hand, we’re doing him a service. One less thing he has to worry about amongst his ‘very busy schedule.’”
“I don’t know.” Her tone sounds nothing short of suspicious. “It’s one thing to do things on your own terms, but to have the option taken from you, from an enemy no less. That’s a whole different story.”
“You’re right to some extent, but you said he was worried about Tinksley, right?”
She nods.
“Exactly, so think of it this way. She’shisnow, his main priority. Not you, or even retaliating against me. As his future queen, he’s going to put her and her well-being above all others,” I counter with confidence.
Thank fuck for that.
Wrapping her arms around herself, Wendy turns her face away, flicking her gaze out to the darkened lake. “I just don’t want to see anyone get hurt because of me. I couldn’t bear it.”
“Everything is going to be fine, okay?” I affirm, feeling all the more victorious as the dock comes into view. “Let’s just get you out of sight and we’ll worry about phase two tomorrow.”
“What’s phase two?” she questions into the night, earning her a long, steady sigh.
“Telling my dad.”
* * *
“What is this place?”Wendy’s marveling again, and I’m finally releasing the breath I’d been holding now that we’re home.
“It’s sacred land now, a place where we come to celebrate and remember our ancestors. Hundreds of years ago, though, these were their homes,” I explain as we pass row upon row of weathered teepees.
Wendy turns to me in some kind of shock. “You’re taking me to sleep on sacred land? Are you daft?”
The look on her face right now. Her incredulous tone.
Can’t. Keep. A straight. Face.
“I’m assuming daft means stupid, yeah?” I chuckle.
“Pretty much.”
“No, I’m not daft, little wolf. You’ll find peace and comfort here, I promise. My sister and I used to spend hours here as kids all the time, especially in our grandmother’s teepee. When granddad passed, she needed something to busy herself with, a project to focus on rather than the despair she felt without him. So she rebuilt what had stood in our family’s name for decades prior. You’ll love it, I think.”
At least I hope she will. Truthfully, I wish she didn’t have to sleep out here to begin with, but there’s no way I can drop this bomb on my dad right now. I’m not trying to give the man a coronary at this hour.
Because he will when I finally do, and then he’ll come back from the other side with the sole purpose of having my head.
“You’ve mentioned a sister before,” Wendy comments. “What’s her name?”