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"If they aren't related, we want them to stay that way." She tensed as another servant walked by.
I waited until they were gone to reply. "Yes. hemitheos to the south, the Watcher to the north. We don't want to be stuck in the middle of that."
"And witches to the west," Kerina added. "I know you made an alliance with them—"
"You don't think they can be trusted?" I stepped over a bucket of cleaning supplies which sat near an open door.
"They are witches," Kerina said simply.
"Yes, they are," I agreed. "Which is why I would never turn my back on them, alliance or no alliance."
She nodded, then looked like she wanted to ask something.
I gestured for her to go ahead. "Out with it."
Her tongue flicked over her lips. "Those people who seemed to be calling for you to become Alpha…"
No wonder she broached the subject tentatively. It wasn't something discussed too openly, in case someone overheard.
"What about them?" I asked, my tone short.
"Is it possible they're behind the attacks?" Her tone was more confident now, but still low and cautious.
I stopped for a step or two before I kept walking. "Why would they be?"
"They might have been after the Alpha, not his wife. Or they might be after both.” She glanced over at me.
"And the shifters who went after Viva?" I wasn't prepared to rule her suggestion in or out just yet.
"Diversion?" she suggested. Her mouth twisted to the side. "One of the guards was saying they've heard rumours. Apparently some of the citizens think you're trying to overthrow the Alpha."
I couldn't even say I was surprised by that. There were always people who assumed I didn't want to live in his shadow.
"They think Viva refused to help. Now Bain, Knox and Viva are away from the Residence—" She stopped as we passed more servants.
"This is my time to strike?" I suggested once we were alone again. "I don't know if they're over thinking or if I'm under thinking. When you put it that way, it really is the best opportunity I could ask for.”
Kerina looked at me in alarm.
I grinned. "I'm joking. But you knew that, or you'd have a blade in your hand." She hadn't so much as twitched toward any of hers. "Unless—"
"Unless I'm prepared to help you?" she finished for me. "Not a chance. If you were serious, you'd have a blade shaving the finest hairs off your neck right now."
"Good to know you wouldn't kill me outright," I said.
"I wouldn't want to deny the Alpha the pleasure." She smiled, but it barely touched her brown eyes.
"That's generous of you." I gave her a shallow bow.
"Isn't it though?" she agreed. She seemed conflicted, like she really wasn't sure whose side she would be on if I did go up against Devlin. Fortunately I had no plans to do that, so she had no cause to worry.
"You're all heart," I said.
"That's what Bain says." She smiled. "At least you all realise I'm not just a pretty face."
"No one who has ever met you would think that," I told her. She was pretty, but she'd dig her knee into my balls if I suggested that was all there was to her. And rightly so. She was a badass.
"It would be the last thing they did," she said with a satisfied smile.
