«Don’t really want to.» Walker grinned. «One more reason to keep on his good side.»
It helped with one of the nagging worries about what would come with the challenge tomorrow. «I’m glad I’m not sending him out to get his ass handed to him.»
The lion sobered. «Still might not be an easy fight. I heard some stuff about Hughes. Real nasty shit.»
«Never thought it would be easy. I just need to know Andrew has a chance.»
«Oh, plenty, provided he can hold it together in an actual fight.»
Julio ducked a swing and backed away with a snort. «We can hear the deconstruction. It’s very uplifting.»
Alec had no sympathy. «You’ll hear a whole hell of a lot worse during an actual challenge. At least we want to see your punk asses make it through in one piece.»
Andrew kept coming, and this time Julio landed a punch to his gut. It wasn’t enough to stop him, but it gave him pause. Julio danced back, panting. «I think Callaghan’s ready.»
«What about you, Julio? You feel ready?»
«Why wouldn’t I be? Y’all left me the easy one.»
«Don’t get cocky, kid.» Alec took a step forward and snapped to get Andrew’s attention. «Enough. You need to be fresh for tomorrow.»
Andrew growled and spun away, flexing his shoulders, his breathing so deep and rhythmic it had to be a conscious effort to calm himself.
Zola slashed a disapproving look at Alec, moved to Andrew’s side and murmured something too soft to hear. Then she raised her voice. «Julio, with me.»
She disappeared down the stairs with the two of them, leaving Alec alone with Walker, who asked, «Got time for a serious question?»
He should have seen it coming. Anyone who had the slightest interest in the power structure of New Orleans had found a chance to speak to him over the past week, starting with his father’s awkward attempts at reconciliation. No one knew if he was going to win, but they knew they’d better be prepared.
Walker was more straightforward than most, and Alec appreciated it. «Worried about the new world order and where the lions fit into it?»
«You hold my marker, mine and Zola’s.» Walker nodded slowly. «Just wondering if you plan to do anything with it once you snag this spot you’re after.»
Alec hadn’t allowed himself to envision a world beyond Friday — not yet. «Whatever I do, we’ll all figure it out together. The rest of the country may not be ready for it, but it’s about time the wolves in New Orleans started playing friendly with everyone else.»
«I’ll hold you to that.» He offered his hand. «Good luck.»
Clasping the lion’s hand, Alec could only hope he wouldn’t need it.
Chapter Twenty-One
Carmen recognized the clearing behind Alec’s house instantly. The place where he’d chased her, caught her.
Kissed her.
Now, people milled about, a dozen she knew and even more she didn’t. All here to bear witness to a fight that could end in death.
More than one death. Alec stood a few feet away in a loose circle with Andrew and Julio, their voices a low murmur. On the other side of them, Kat stood by Miguel, her face pale and miserable.
As more people filtered into the clearing, Alec broke away from the other wolves and strode to Carmen’s side. «How you holding up, sweetheart?»
She had her empathy locked down, everything and everyone shut out, even Alec. «I’m fine, I’m» At this point, only a resolution would make her feel better. «Jorge Ochoa just accosted me and said he’s always admired me. What is that all about?»
«Sucking up.» Alec slid an arm around her waist and tugged her close. «It’s good. It means he’s sure I’m going to win.»
Most of the gathered throng seemed to be, perhaps because they sensed Cesar only fought because he had no face-saving alternative. «Be careful. Promise me you will be.»
«You know it.» Heedless of the crowd, he leaned down and brushed his lips over her cheek. His voice lowered to a whisper. «I need you to do something. Something only you can do.»
«Anything.»
«When Andrew’s fighting, keep an eye on Kat.» His breath barely stirred her hair, but his body was tense against hers. «Empathically. If something happens to him, even if he’s just hurt… The last time she saw someone hurt him, she killed two men. Jackson can lock her down, but he needs to know if her empathy’s about to go nova.»
«I can ask her,» she murmured. «I’m sure she’ll want me to. She wouldn’t want to risk hurting everyone.»
«Don’t mention» He broke off, pulled back and smiled down at her. «Who am I kidding? You know how to handle it, and you have no idea what a relief that is.»
«We’re in this together.» She caught sight of her father across the clearing and quickly averted her gaze. «Has anyone figured it out yet? The other challenges?»
«Not that I can tell.» His smile faded. «And we shouldn’t give them a chance. Everyone who matters is here. It’s time.»
Fear spiked, intense and unavoidable, but she knew her shields would hold it in. She stretched up to kiss his cheek. «You’re ready.»
«Because of you.» He turned his head and caught her mouth in a hard, hungry kiss that promised it wouldn’t be the last. «I’ll be right back,» he whispered against her lips, then turned and strode toward the center of the clearing.
Carmen released a breath on a shudder and ignored two people who looked like they might try to talk to her. Instead, she walked over and slid her hand into Kat’s. «Can I stand with you?»
«Yes.» Kat’s fingers closed around hers, so tight and desperate Carmen’s hand ached. Power prickled against her shields, the pressure of an empathic gift as angry as it was vast. Next to her, Kat shuddered. «I don’t know what’s worse. Watching, or not watching.»
«Not watching.» Imagination combined with ignorance, and the waiting… «Not watching would be worse.»
«Maybe.» Kat didn’t sound convinced.
Quiet fell around them as Alec reached the middle of the rough circle of onlookers. He stood there for a moment, letting tension mount, then pivoted and found Andrew in the crowd.
Andrew stepped out into the circle. He spoke low, but his voice carried through the shocked hush. «I challenge Drummond Hughes for his seat on the Southeast council.»
Shocked silence.
Kat’s grip grew impossibly tighter, her breathing too quick.
Alec had pointed out Drummond Hughes to Carmen. He was a lean, sharp-looking man, made of hard angles and rough edges. Disdainful brown eyes narrowed as his gaze flicked over Andrew and jerked to the Alpha. «You dragged me here to face a farce of a challenge from a mongrel bastard who was human last year?»
John Peyton’s blank expression didn’t change. «Even new wolves are afforded the right of challenge, Hughes.»
Hughes lifted a hand and jerked at his tie, but his gaze found Cesar’s. «If you and your bitch niece planned this little misdirection hoping to catch me off guard, you’re going to be fucking disappointed. I accept the challenge, but he doesn’t deserve a clean fight as a wolf. I’ll pound his human face in.»
He peeled off his shirt, revealing a number of tattoos and scars scattered over his rangy form. He’d fought before, and hard, the kinds of fights that went down in littered alleys and underground clubs. The kind where people died bloody, horrible deaths.
Andrew tossed aside his own shirt and kicked off his shoes. «Yield or die,» he said simply as he walked into the circle.
Frantic murmurs rose around the perimeter as Alec backed away, leaving the space to Hughes and Andrew. Kat’s breath whistled out between her teeth, and her nails pricked Carmen’s hand. Andrew’s name left her lips on a heartbroken whisper that no one else would hear.