Page 76 of Wolf's Return

Gaharet grunted. “Lothair wants to be a werewolf. Claims he has his reasons.”

“Lothair could have killed my family. He let everyone think he had, but he had made a deal with Jacques and let them live,” said Ulrik. “And he let you go in the forest, Gaharet.”

“He could have taken Kathryn from me,” said Aimon. “He did not.”

“And he let me go,” added Ulrik, “though I had offered him my life in exchange for Rebekah’s. Even after I bitandkilled Renaud.”

“Do you think, maybe, he never intended to sentence Rebekah to death?” asked Aimon.

Ulrik clasped his mate’s hand in his. “It is possible. I know I am beginning to wonder if Lothair is not the monster we all thought him to be.”

Gaharet nodded. “I agree. There is much deceit in his court and all around him. And there is something amiss with the Comtesse Marguerite. It is not a happy union. But I would wager it is more than that.”

He shared a glance with his brother. He suspected there was much more to Lothair than anyone had ever imagined.

They all turned as hoof-beats approached. D’Artagnon leaped to his feet, tucking Constance behind him. As the rider drew closer, he tilted his nose to the air. “Remi.”

The boy rode into the clearing as though he had been riding all his life, reined the horse in and jumped to the ground.

He grinned at them all facing him, protecting their mates. “My apologies, Seigneurs. I figured you would all smell it was me from a fair way off. Perhaps I should take more care if you lot are going to be this nervous. I do not want you to mistake me for someone else.”

“I trust you, Edmond and Aubert made it back safely?” Neither D’Artagnon, nor Gaharet, had seen the twins since Langeais. “And the woman? Did she survive?”

Gaharet’s eyebrows rose. “The woman?”

“Constance was not the only captive Faucher was keeping in chapel storerooms. She was in a far worse state than my mate. Who knows how long she had been down there.”

Remi rubbed the back of his neck. “That is why I am here. The woman.” He held up his hands. “I am only the messenger. Please do not be mad at me, but…”

“Speak, Remi.” A touch of alpha command echoed in Gaharet’s voice.

Remi quailed, but he did not run. The boy had courage.

“Well, you know how Edmond likes to rescue those less fortunate?”

They all nodded. D’Artagnon had a suspicion where this was going. From the stormy expression on Gaharet’s face, his brother did, too.

“The woman was dying and Edmond… Well, to be fair, Aubert was in agreeance. You see, Edmond bit her. To save her life.And they have sent me to get one of those turning potions from Constance.”

“Neither of them could come to me and tell me of this.” Gaharet’s voice was pure steel. “Toaskfor this?”

Remi held up his hands and shrugged. “Neither of them would leave her, and they growl at anyone who comes close. They are extremely protective of her. Both of them.”

D’Artagnon shared a startled look with his brother. “Both of them?”