Page 82 of The Wolf Queen’s Curse

Bishop and I converse quickly under a privacy spell. In the end, we decide to let him go. And then we need to move fast, because we still have a train to catch.

TWENTY-EIGHT

To my shock, we reach our train in time. That’s one thing I’m learning about fights—they don’t last long. Interrogating the lone wolf took longer than the entire battle, and our hansom cab arrives as the train is still pulling into the station.

As we climb out, Julius spots us and strides over. “Did you need me to schedule a wake-up? We’d begun to wonder…”

He trails off as he catches sight of us. I’d cleaned us up as best I could in the cab, and there’s no longer any blood. Also, Bishop removing his jacket for the fight did more than grant him extra mobility. The jacket now covers his torn and bloodied shirt. But nothing can hide our cuts and bruises and general dishevelment.

“We will explain on the train,” Bishop says as Rufus catches up. “Conceal us as best you can, to avoid questions, and I will change my shirt in our compartment.”

They walk close, blocking us from the view of others. Once we’re on the train, and tidied up properly, Bishop explains what happened as I prepare breakfast from the hamper.

“Do you know why you have an enforcer?” Rufus says. “To guard against exactly this sort of thing.”

“I had Cordelia,” Bishop says mildly. “We handled it.”

“And now everyone knows that the new Alpha walks around without an enforcer. You were lucky. I know you can fight, and obviously Cordelia can, too, but this is my job. Next time, you will take me up on my suggestion, which will also no longer actually be a suggestion but a demand. If you want me to be your enforcer, Bishop, you let me be your enforcer. I don’t care if you and Cordelia walk ten paces ahead of me. I watch your back. That’s my job.”

“Silas didn’t take Henry everywhere he went.”

“Because Silas was a fool. Also, Silas was an established Alpha. After a while, you, too, can stroll through strange cities with your wife. But this encounter proved that you need to start thinking about how you present yourself. Because people—supernatural people—are watching, and they are taking your measure.”

Rufus pauses for breath before adding, “And if you say they took your measure when you bested four supernaturals and a werewolf—”

“I wasn’t going to say that,” Bishop cuts in. “I concede your point. I’m not accustomed to this, and I am accustomed to needing to prove myself.”

Rufus’s voice softens. “Which you have, Bishop, by beating Silas. It’s good that you and Cordelia fended for yourselves in that alley. Especially for Cordelia. They need to know she isn’t a shrinking violet. But that could have been done with me there as well, and then it shows that you both can fight, even if you don’t need to.”

“All right,” Bishop says.

“All right what?”

Bishop glares at him and then shakes his head. “All right, you should have my back when we’re in a strange place.”

“Thank you.”

It’s evening when we arrive in Cardiff. Since the Cambrian Pack isn’t official and doesn’t hold territory, we have no concerns about leaving the train station. We will, however, stay in the city center until morning, and then we’ll set out to where Bishop expects to find them.

We exit the train with our bags, and Rufus heads out to get us a cab. We’re surveying the station when Bishop turns, slowly, nostrils flaring. Julius and I tense and look around, expecting to see werewolves.

Instead, I follow Bishop’s gaze to a red-haired woman sitting ramrod straight on a bench, carpetbag at her side. Bishop turns a slow look on Julius, and his cousin lifts his hands.

“I didn’t tell her to come,” he says. “I wouldn’t.”

The woman gets to her feet, picks up her bag, and marches over.

“Ann,” I say with a smile, and I resist the urge to greet her with an embrace. “We didn’t expect to see you here. Are you…?” I trail off as I look around.

“Alone? Yes. Tabitha is with Oliver. You sent your schedule to him so I knew where to find you.”

“All right but—”

“I was tired of cooking and cleaning for your wolves, Bishop, and they were not learning to do it for themselves as long as I was there. They won’t dare expect Tabitha to do it—Oliver won’t allow that. So they will learn or starve.”

“I understand,” Bishop says. “I’m sorry they expected that of you, but if you had simply refused, Oliver would have supported you.”

Her jaw sets. “Are you telling me to go back?”