Sebastian
Vlad and I get back to the cabin, and the soothing smells of dinner await us. Josie’s wheeling around the kitchen while Clarissa mind-numbingly sleeps on the couch. I’m worried about her. She’s been sick on and off for days, yet she won’t allow anyone to test her for anything. She’s convinced she can sleep it off, but I’m not sure that’s true. If she isn’t strong for this war, she’s going to have to sit it out. Which is going to start a fight between us.
And for once, it’s a fight I will not lose with her.
I limp over to the table and sit down in a chair. Toshi and Theo are eyeing me carefully as Vlad sits down beside me. He beckons for everyone to join and we all sit around, our mouths salivating as Josie begins to stack the table with food. A roast and vegetables and broth and bread. Ale and water and a dessert she’s only now popping in the oven. The four of us dig in and eat our fill as Clarissa continues to sleep on the couch. Her soft snores are comforting to me, but the cause of them is disconcerting.
She’s peaceful, but only when she’s asleep.
“We need to talk,” I say.
“I gathered a lot of intel from the edge of the forest today,” Vlad says
“Why is Sebastian limping?” Theo asks.
“I’m wondering that, too,” Toshi says. “Did the two of you get into it? Because honestly? I’ve been waiting for it to happen.”
“Shut your mouth, Cat, and listen,” I say.
“No need for the hostility. I thought we were past that,” Theo says.
“The Council is on the move. They’re preparing for war,” Vlad says.
“How is that news? Don’t we already know that?” Toshi asks.
“No, as in they’re heading to the war room. Tonight.”
> “Tonight?” Theo asks.
“According to what I heard. They’ve been sending guards to come in on all sides of the forest to scout out the woods. They know the humans and their village are back here,” Vlad says.
“They know?” Josie asks.
“They do. There was a bear trap set on the other side about four miles in. That was what Sebastian got caught up in. It was coated in a green sort of serum that’s preventing him from healing as quickly as a Wolf normally does,” Vlad says.
“So that’s why you’re limping,” Toshi says. “Not as exciting as I’d hoped.”
“Sorry to disappoint,” I grumble.
“So, wait. The Council’s meeting tonight about war?” Theo asks. “Then we need to get ready. If they’ve mapped out these woods up to our doorstep, they’re coming, and we don’t have the advantage.”
“And Clarissa’s sick,” Toshi says. “What are we going to do with her?”
“I’ll have to alert Joel,” Josie says. “He needs to know that we need to mobilize.”
“That’s a good idea,” Vlad says. “Because as soon as that meeting’s over, they’re coming.”
“How long is this meeting?” Theo asks.
“It depends. The last time the Council waged war, the meeting was only thirty minutes long. The time before that? The meeting was over four days.”
“Fuck,” I say. “So there’s really no way to know.”
“Welcome to the Council,” Vlad says.
“Did you get anything else?” Theo asks.
“Kyle’s still alive. They keep calling him the creature in the dungeon. He’s being moved into different cages every day and is constantly experimented on, according to the conversation I overheard.”