Roses & Rye (Toil & Trouble Book 3) (6 page)

“Well
, this is awkward,” Tyr whispers to me.

That’s an understatement. Syana is on the couch, wrapped around Ajax, who looks like he wants to murder everyone in the room. Tyr and I are still next to the door, being very quiet. The mood seems to demand it.

At least I figured out why Krueger hasn’t declared war on the wolves. Funny thing about bruins. When they are at war, any member of the opposing faction is not only considered fair game, but
required
prey. Meaning that, if war is declared, Ajax will be honor bound to kill the woman in his arms right now.

I could’ve guessed that Syana would turn. Being bitten by a crazed werewolf in the light of a full moon was pretty much a guarantee, but I’d almost forgotten about her. My mind has been occupied with a singular goal these past few months. She looks pale, her eyes on Thomas, who won’t meet her gaze.

Stephen is talking to him in low, urgent tones. I can see the human swallow several times before nodding. Thomas’s ability to sense wolves is an odd one. Humans are usually worthless in that area. They can cozy up to a damn vampire and be none the wiser.  Even in the FTC world, unless you’re one of them, it’s hard to recognize a shifter as such when they’re in human form.

Tyr and I wouldn’t have had a clue without Thomas’s observation. Ignorance would’ve been a damn sight safer for everyone.

Finally the bruin’s attention turns back to Tyr and me, those eyes locking on us like lasers as he strides across the room.

“Thomas has promised to tell no one, no matter how the trial ends. I believe him. But you two…”

For once I’m glad the assassin’s here. I have a lot of faith in Krueger’s honor, but it would be a simple thing for him to ensure my silence—and Thomas’s—simply by finding me guilty. Tyr, though, is a wild card. Even at four bruins and one newbie wolf to one, the assassin might make it out of here alive. Assassins of the realm are slippery creatures and he’s one of the best.

“You can’t keep it quiet forever,” Tyr says evasively.

“Forever isn’t in the cards.” The dark look Stephen sends over his shoulder at the couple on the couch has me frowning.
What does he mean by that?

The bruin shoves me and the assassin outside, kicking the door shut behind him.

“She’s infected,” he grinds out.

“We gathered that.” Tyr’s tone is dry.

“I’m not talking about her being a werewolf. She’s
infected
. With moon madness.”

The assassin isn’t the only one to hiss in a slow breath.

I feel a pang of sympathy—for Sy, yes, but for Ajax, too. “How do you know?” I ask. I hadn’t noticed any white in those furious eyes.

“We can smell it. Well, Ajax can.” He leans against one of the carved oaken posts. “He’s known for a couple weeks now.” The incubation period of moon madness is months. Cerunnos wanted it that way in order to affect as many as possible. It’s a slowly progressing disease, at least at first. Once the eyes turn white, though…

“How long do you think?”

He shrugs. “A month, maybe two. I want to give them that much. But war is coming if I don’t find those fucking wolves soon. It’s like they dropped off the face of the earth.”

In a way, they have. It was part of Cerunnos’s deal with the wolves. He put a spell on their hideout in the Boundary Waters to conceal it. More for his benefit than theirs. He wants to keep his mice in their trap until his experiment is over. “Not really. In fact, they’re not that far away.”

“You know where they are?” Krueger straightens, that giant frame looming over both the assassin and I.

“I do. And I can take you there.
After
we’re done here.”

“Awfully confident, aren’t you?” The bruin stares at me. “This isn’t going to sway my judgment. What if I find you guilty?”

“Then I’ll take you there first, either way. I swear it.” More vows. I’m really racking them up. Not that it matters. Nothing matters except my end goal.

His gaze fixes on the assassin. “And you’ll agree to keep your yap shut about Syana for now?”

Tyr shrugs. “Fine. I see no gain to blabbing, but if that changes…”

Stephen rolls his shoulders. “It won’t. Let’s get started. And not a word to Sy about the moon madness, either of you.”

“She doesn’t know?” I stare at him as Tyr shakes his head.

“No. And you’re gonna keep it that way.” The bruin opens the door, striding back inside without waiting for us or our agreement.

“You’re just full of surprises tonight, Frost.” Tyr gives a low whistle before he follows Stephen over the threshold.

You ain’t seen nothing yet.

Bruin court is pretty informal. There’s no pretrial, no jury. Just the accused, his witness, anyone with relevant testimony, the judge and at least one other bruin to stand as witness to the proceedings. Most trials are over in an hour or two, and that includes the execution.

The fire crackles as we arrange ourselves around the room, its bright cheer at odds with the tense mood. It’s a small group; only the three bruin males and Syana frequent the Den these days. After Kivistö’s death, his aunt went back to Russia and except for Ajax, none of the bears are attached. Or so they want people to think.

I eye Krueger, knowing I’m about to put my life in the hands of a man who just might lose it when he hears the truth. Something tickles the back of my neck, like a whispered warning, but I shrug it away as Stephen gets to his feet.

As per usual, the proceedings start with the judge declaring the facts of the case. Unlike what I’ve seen of human court, bruins spend little time on the victim. Their character, morals and history are considered irrelevant. After all, they are not the ones on trial. Krueger does spend a moment clarifying Seph’s place in their world, since this is an unusual situation.

“Persephone was a witch, but also a bruin under the law. Georg Kivistö declared her his mate of intention. To me, his second, almost one year ago. I swear this, with my brothers as witness.”

Ajax and Dominic nod tightly. Neither looks surprised in the least. Georg may not have said the words to them, like he did Krueger, but shifters share a bond that makes it impossible to keep any real secrets. Tyr leans back in his seat with another low whistle, which earns him a frown from the judge. I ignore them both, my eyes on Syana, who is staring at Krueger open mouthed.

“But she said no,” she says, the confusion clear in her voice.

“Doesn’t matter to them,” I answer before Krueger can. “It’s the male’s decision that carries the weight of the law; the female’s is irrelevant.”

“That’s bullshit.” She straightens, her voice biting. I smile innocently when Ajax glares at me.

“It’s our way,” Krueger says simply.

“It’s meant to protect the female,” Ajax says softly, turning Syana’s gaze to him. “Once intention is declared, there is no backing out. No changing your mind and taking a different female. Ever.”

“
Ever?
” Syana looks floored.

Ajax shrugs in answer. Next to me, Tyr mutters something about shifters being bloody nutters. Thomas only looks dazed, still staring at Syana like he’s never seen her before. I’m not sure he’s even paying attention to the trial.

Syana blinks. “So Georg couldn’t… Wow. No wonder he was pissed when she said no.”

“That’s part of it,” Krueger acknowledges. “But Georg also never told her he made the declaration. Usually a male would make sure of a female’s acceptance before taking that step.”

“I bet,” she whispers, then straightens. “Wouldn’t that have made her queen, then?”

“No.” Krueger’s tone is short. “They never consummated anything—”

You’re damn fucking right they didn’t.

“—and she would’ve had to bear him a child to be officially queen in any case. His intention alone, though, is enough to entitle her to protection under bruin law. Which is why we’re here. Let’s get on with it.”

“I request the right to choose the venue,” I say before he can move on.

Krueger gives me a startled look. “Not granted. Thomas—”

I’m not letting this go. If I don’t get this concession, I’m fucked. “I need to do this in front of Persephone’s families, Krueger. Both of them. I want to be in her home when I tell you all what happened that night.”

“You son of a bitch,” Dominic breathes. “Haven’t they been through enough?”

I keep my eyes on the heir to the throne. “They’ve a right to hear this, too. You know they do.”

The bruin frowns. “They’ll never agree. If you show your face within a mile of that house, they’ll come at you with everything they have.”

Tyr leans forward, that damn fang glinting in his fingers. “I don’t know, they might be tempted when you tell them you have his balls in your fist.”

Both the bruin and I glare at him. Tyr only grins. “Magically speaking, of course. I think that oldest sister—what’s her name? Oh yes, Anastasia. She might agree. It’s worth a call, don’t you think?”

Krueger glares at both of us, looking suddenly suspicious.

“I know witches have been disappearing, Frost. Do you think I’m stupid? Perhaps Persephone was only your first kill. Perhaps the assassin is in on all of this with you. Perhaps this is all just some fucked-up plot get to her sisters.” He’s working himself into a rage.

Not that he’s entirely wrong, but I hold up a hand as the other bruins get to their feet. “Now you
are
being stupid. If I wanted to go after the Gosse sisters, Krueger, I’d take them out one by one. Not put myself at your mercy, invite along an assassin who can bleed my powers and request to be tried at a house that’s enchanted against me. Despite what you might have heard, even I’m not enough of a badass to court those odds. I’m just looking for justice here. If I was after anything else, do you honestly think this is the route I’d take?”

He rubs his chin, considering. Some of the fire fades from his eyes, though he still looks wary. “Fine. I’ll call Ana. But we’re using that fang on you before we go.”

Relief makes my vision go briefly hazy, but I keep my expression neutral. “Of course.”

I step outside while he makes the call, needing the air. Tyr follows, pulling a pack of cigarettes from his pocket.

“I’m liking the performance so far, Frost.” The assassin reminds me of Loki. Probably why he irritates me so much. “I’m curious how they’re going to take the finale, though.”

“I told you, I have proof.”
I think
. “You aren’t going to be collecting on that hangman’s fee.”

“I’m not fussed. I got one person paying me for your life, another for your blood. You’re a regular cash cow, Frost.”

That stupid vial slipped my mind.
Again
. That’s why the fucker was late getting here. He made a stop first. Son of a bitch. “Who’d pay you for my blood?”

“There’s a rather interesting answer to that.” He grins before lighting his cigarette. “Not that you’ll be hearing it.”

“Cerunnos?” I guess anyway.

He takes a drag, blowing it out slowly into the night, his expression giving away nothing. Fog is rolling in from the big lake, slow and heavy, dragging its soft underbelly along the ground.

Unease tightens my lower stomach just as a shove from behind knocks me down the steps. I keep my feet, but barely, grabbing the railing and turning with a curse.

It’s Syana, her face tight. Ajax looms behind her, arms folded and teeth bared in warning. I don’t need it. It’s not as if I’m going to hurt her, no matter what she says.

“You rat
bastard!
I don’t get why you’re pulling this crap. Everyone knows you killed her.”

My lips tighten. “Everyone is wrong.”

The slap is loud in the night air. She was a strong woman before and now she’s got the power of her wolf behind the blow.

I stagger, Ajax growls, and Tyr lifts an eyebrow. I tighten my fingers on the railing and turn away. Which seems to piss her off more.

“Ajax told me about your agreement with Stephen,” she hisses. “About Luna and her pack.”

“I’d think you’d be thanking me for that.”

To my surprise, she touches my arm, her fingers light. I look back at her, puzzled.

“They’ll kill them all, Jack.” She glances back at Ajax, whose expression doesn’t flicker. When her eyes come back to mine, she looks worried, chewing her lower lip.

“And?” Considering what Sy is now, maybe her sympathy for the wolves is inevitable. But it’s not a sentiment that I share. I like wolves even less than I like humans.

“That’s cold, even for you.”

I shrug, looking up at the laser-sharp edge of the fingernail moon. “It’s not me that’ll be killing them.”

Her eyes follow mine to the sky. She shudders, stepping back from the moon’s rays before continuing in a whisper as if Ajax can’t hear every word, “No matter what she’s done, Luna was Seph’s best friend back in the day. They were like sisters. Seph wouldn’t want this, Jack.”