Page 102 of The Wolf Queen’s Curse

Lenora had laughed. Didn’t I argue with her? Hadn’t I argued with my mother? It’s part of most relationships, especially if the participants are strong-willed. Even more if they have a temper. Bishop and I haven’t fought since our wedding, but only because we’re too busy fighting everyone else.

Lenora taught me that arguing is only dangerous when you say things you can’t take back. Hurtful things. Cruel things. Even if you might think you’d never do that, you never know what will come out in the heat of the moment. So be mindful.

This particular argument is heated but rather repetitive.

“I am not letting you in that basement unprotected.”

“Well, I am not letting you follow me into that basement where you’ll be unprotected.”

Round and round we go until we realize, nearly simultaneously, that these two concerns are not at odds with one another. Going into that basement with protection doesn’t necessarily mean taking Bishop.

The answer, of course, is Rufus and Julius.

One of them can come into the basement with Ann and me, and one can stay with Bishop, in case it is a trap and leaving him alone abovestairs is just as dangerous.

Bishop wants Rufus with me, and I back down here and agree. Personally, I’d rather Rufus stayed with Bishop, but Bishop has survived this long with his cousin at his side.

Bishop goes to rouse them while Ann and I find the basement stairs. We need to be quiet, of course, but by now, the wolves are all upstairs in the bedrooms.

The basement entrance seems to be in the kitchen. That’s not easy to determine when the kitchen has multiple doors, all of them locked. Yet I use this opportunity to practice my scenting skills by maneuvering onto the floor and sniffing under the doors and warning Ann that if she doesn’t stop her stifled snickers, I’ll cast a fireball at her ankles.

There are three doors. Underneath two, I smell food. The third brings the distinctive musty odor of a basement. All three doors have keyed locks, and I can easily open the one into the presumed basement, but even after I do, it doesn’t budge.

There are no spellcasters in the house, so I’m not dealing with another supernatural’s magic. That’s when I discover a far more prosaic answer. A second lock.

When using a light spell to peer around the doorframe, I spot a bolt at eye level. Feeling around, I get part of the frame to pop out and find the keyed lock behind it.

“Nicely done,” I whisper with a grin.

When I cast a spell directly on the lock, it opens, and I smile to myself.

I ease open the door just as Bishop, Julius, and Rufus join us, having evidently followed my scent trail.

Bishop’s brows shoot up as he sees me holding the door open.

“I feel as if I should wave like a magician,” I say. “Ta-da! The unopenable door has been opened.”

“Hanora never said it couldn’t be opened,” Ann points out.

“She said it couldn’t be opened with my spell, which is exactly what I used … once I found the hidden lock. Never doubt me. I am a powerful witch who can open all basement doors. Not only that…” I lift my fingers and a light ball appears. “Magic to guide our way. I might not know any lethal spells, but I do light up a room.”

“You do indeed,” Julius says. “Bishop and I will remain here while you three go down.”

THIRTY-SIX

The basement is … a basement. I don’t know what else to say. The ceiling is low enough that I need to duck, and poor Rufus has to walk crouched over. It’s one massive space with stone and wood pillars. What matters are two things.

One, the basement is empty, with none of those pillars wide enough to hide anyone.

Two, the floor is dirt.

“Theory supported,” I say, kicking at the packed soil. “Someone’s buried down here.”

“Look for an area where it’s been disturbed and packed,” Rufus says.

“Have some experience burying bodies in shallow graves?”

He jabs a finger at me. “Watch yourself, lass. What do you take me for? A weak human who can’t dig a full six feet down?”