Celtic Moon Read Free

ties to their old life.
    Full loyalty or else they must leave.
    No exceptions.
    Not even for the one woman who had deserved leniency. A human, no less. An innocent in his dangerous world.
    Sophie.
    Again, her name whispered through his mind, muddling his thoughts with poisonous emotions. Anger. Temptation. Betrayal. Hatred.
    Need.
    He got up and poured himself another glass of scotch.
    “You will find them,” Elen offered as solace. “She can’t hide forever.”
    Dylan turned and frowned at his sister, more annoyed than angry at her insight. “When have I become so easy to read?”
    “Only to me.” Her eyes fell to his glass. “I know what your loyalty to our people has cost you. Others don’t see. Or choose not to.” She shrugged. “Too many count on your protection.”
    He shook his head, uncomfortable with her words. “Our numbers only make us stronger.”
    Elen sighed, but allowed him to veer away from his painful memories, switching to hers instead. “That is not how the Guardians view me. Or others like me. To them, if we cannot shift then we are weak.
Forsaken.
To them, we will always be . . .” She whispered a word in the old tongue,
“Drwgddyddwg.”
    Evil Bringer.
A vile name created out of fear by ignorant leaders.
    Dylan growled. “
Never
use that name in my house.”
    Her profile did not conceal the mordant smile. “I’ve earned the right.”
    Annoyance made his tone harsh. “We will be hosting a small gathering of leaders who have fertile land. Potential allies against the Guardians, those without loyalties to the old ways.” He gave her a moment to process that information, knowing that the news would unsettle her. And with good reason. “In numbers, our strength would be unmatched.”
    She hissed, snapping to face him. “If word reaches Cymru that we’re even discussing this—”
    “You think I have not considered those consequences?”
    “Does Luc know of your idea?”
    “Yes.”
    Elen waited in reserved silence. Finally, with obvious hesitation, she asked, “Who are you thinking?”
    Dylan had considered territories first—the ones that had the most to lose under Guardian rule. “New York, Montana, Idaho, Virginia, Ontario, Alaska and Minnesota.”
    Elen counted off the leaders of each of the territories on her fingers. “Nia, Madoc, Ryder, Drystan, Daron, Kalem and Isabeau.” She held up her hands. “Seven. What about Llara? She will join us. I know it.”
    “Yes, I don’t doubt that Llara will stand with us, but she has her own battle at hand. Her territory is
inconvenient
.” The humans in Russia were too observant of their surroundings, or perhaps more open-minded about old superstitions. When the Soviets were in power they almost eradicated the wolf population—and not all of them just wolves.
    Elen frowned. “We should give her the choice. And the Himalayas? Both Mabon and Sioni will join our cause.”
    “Let’s start closer to home. If all goes well, we can proceed from there.”
    With a jerky nod, Elen picked up her glass, rolling it in her hands. Potential disasters raced behind keen blue eyes. “When are you planning to hold this meeting?”
    “Five days from now. Messages have already been sent. I will call tomorrow to confirm. I don’t want to give them too much time to think.”
    She let out a deep breath. “But enough time to respond.”
    Dylan studied her face. “There will be powerful wolves around us, some who’ll remember.”
    She met his eyes, unflinchingly direct. “I’m stronger than I once was.”
    “I know that.
They
don’t.”
    Her lips tilted upward, mocking. “Are you asking me to behave?”
    “Do I need to?”
    “No,” she clipped.
    “Good.”
    “And I don’t want you
or Luc
hovering around me either.”
    “You’re our healer. We need you safe.”
    She rolled her eyes. “That excuse has become tiresome. I can do more.”
    Dylan shrugged, unapologetic. “Then prepare the clinic for what will come if this gathering proves