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All I could say was, "I will find out. This won't happen again." Hades willing it wouldn't, anyway. If the tigers had allies, it would take time to find them.
"Do it quickly," the Alpha snapped. "I gave you a task. I expect you to carry that out as soon as possible."
I nodded. "Yes, Alpha."
He turned away, apparently only now realising his wife was still naked, and starting to shiver. He grabbed a clean shirt from the wardrobe and tossed it to her.
"Cover yourself," he told her. "And Bain, let the Keeper know," he said over his shoulder, "his hospitality leaves a lot to be desired."
"Yes, Alpha," I said again.
Gwendolyn watched me through her lashes. Her expression was pure disdain.
"I'm sorry this happened," I said politely. "It shouldn't have."
"We agree on something," she said. She glanced toward her husband. Did she suspect he knew?
I'd be very happy to get out of the middle of this situation. Attacks and enemies I could deal with. Getting involved, even involuntarily, with someone else's marriage was another.
"Yes, ma'am," I said awkwardly. I backed toward the door and slipped out into the corridor.
"Sir, we're sorry," Novak started.
I ignored him and stalked back down toward the audience room. Halfway there, I sidetracked a servant to clean the room and find a new one for the Alpha and his wife in a different part of the Residence.
He nodded and hurried away, wiping his hands on his yellow uniform shirt.
I stepped back into the audience room to the sound of Calista's laughter. Kerina stood beside her, her posture deceptively relaxed. I knew every nerve in her body was ready for anything.
"Ah, Bain, there you are." Dex smiled. "Calista was just telling everyone about the time—" He caught the expression on my face and his smile faded. "What is it?"
"Kitchen ran out of rocks for you to chew?" Kerina teased.
Usually I would respond with a dig of my own, but this time I just told them all what happened to Gwendolyn.
Partway through, Dex rose, unsteady on his feet after a few glasses of wine. His eyes were wide and he clearly had a pile of questions, but he held them back while I spoke.
"How could this happen?" he demanded once I finished. "And why?"
"Are you certain Gwendolyn didn't let him in?" Calista asked. "Perhaps things got—rough."
Evidently she didn't miss anything.
Dex on the other hand, looked at her in confusion. "Are you suggesting—"
"Not suggesting," Calista said. "I'm saying it outright."
My eyes went to Viva, whose eyes moved back and forth between them like she was watching a tennis match.
Dex shook his head. I wasn't sure if he didn't believe Calista, didn't want to, or just didn't want to get involved. He should definitely stick with the last option.
"Do you think Gwendolyn is working with whoever sent the tigers after us?" Viva asked. "The Watcher, or whoever it is."
"Killing one of them is certainly one way to put us off the scent," Kerina agreed. "So to speak."
Dex waved his hand. "This kind of talk is—"
"Treason?" Calista suggested. "Or just reason."
