章 6: Chapter 6: A Fair Bargain

Jude POV

Two days later, Jude stared at the painted miniatures and thick files of several women, all close to his age. Even if people said age was just a number, he was NOT interested in someone as young as his children or even his Cresta friends. Having similar life experiences was a must, and Ravyn agreed. He knew that many of the Crestas had had more trials than most at their tender ages, but still. Mali would shave off all his fur if he brought home one of her peers.

"Weather Moon, tutor for the Evenide Pack, only a decade younger," Ravyn began.

"No, no, no. Nobody from the Evenhide Pack. Remember? I have nothing against Weather–I can have a decent conversation with her. But you Crestas are protective of her."

"Oh. Of course." Ravyn swooped the file and miniature over to the "NO" pile and directed his attention to the next woman. "Petrina, Crimsontail Shadows Enforcer. Lost her mate several years ago."

"Part of Jiro's and Garnet's personal security? No. Same objection. Jiro and Garnet would hurt me if she were unhappy. I didn't even know she was mated."

Ravyn's brows arched. "It doesn't matter, since you said no. I assume Crimsontail Shadows wolves are fine?"

He held up his hands. "There are many in my pack who still spew old hatreds. An alliance with someone prominent in the pack would help."

She grinned and handed him a picture of a short, muscular, gray-haired woman who he recognized. "Widowed Crimsontail Shadows hunter Vinessa Vermello, sister of Valentina Vermello–is that too close to Jiro?"

He rubbed his chin. "That's a gray area–she's related to the head of the council, and if I made Councilwoman Valentina unhappy, Jiro and Garnet wouldn't like it."

"You can't completely eliminate everyone with a connection to them."

Sipping wild bittersweet tea, he considered her words. "Then keep Vinessa. The five Vermello sisters have a reputation for making suitors cry, but that's fine with me."

Ravyn tossed Vinessa's file on the "YES" pile and presented him with another potential Luna, "Ginette Mond, former Luna of the Wintertail Pack."

A low growl formed in his throat, along with a throbbing headache. "Marcus Mond's mother?"

"Your alliance with them is even more strained than Evenhide's," she observed.

"True, but to have HIM as a son-in-law?"

"He has no witches in his territory and travel is a major undertaking," Ravyn pointed out. "You wouldn't have to see him much …"

The tea soothed his throat, if not the headache. "Thank the Goddess for the inhospitable mountains and the Ice Giants. I'm equally worried about what influence he might try to wield in our pack affairs … and then there's Azandra."

"She doesn't dislike him," Ravyn pointed out. "Even Ransome and Titania don't."

He rubbed his chin. "I suppose I should add her to the pile."

He approved three more potential mates from the Nightclaw Howlers and the Brokenridge Pack. Two were related to the ruling families of those packs.

Ravyn beamed. "You've made good choices … you're not shallow when it comes to looks."

He smiled nostalgically. "Emer wasn't a classic beauty when she was younger, but she was captivating and became absolutely breathtaking … and she's still beloved in the Oak Prowlers, so I'd consider a shifter from there as a last resort. What about non-shifters? Your daughter, Anneliese, and Thessi broke shifter, witch, and elf tradition."

Absently, Ravyn stared at the flags of every pack in the Shifter Federation that draped the Great Hall. Strung together with blue cords on both sides of the hall, the twenty-four flags spoke volumes about the Evenhide commitment to the organization.

Jude tapped her on the shoulder. "Ravyn?"

No answer. She seemed to have slipped into a witch trance.

Lifting her wrist, he nipped it to get her attention. She jerked out of her hypnotic state. "Were you trying to mate with me?"

"Not unappealing." He cringed at the husky, sensual note in his voice. "But you're Evenhide."

"AND even more off-limits according to the picture of your mate you've built in your mind."

He sighed. "I suppose I muddied the picture by kissing you earlier."

"Emer. You were kissing Emer."

"Right."

His wolf turned away from him in a huff.

To throw his wolf some scraps, he said, "It's a pity … I've always found those eyes of yours even more bewitching than Lilia's, but don't tell Dane I said so. I hope that kind of talk doesn't make you uncomfortable."

""Not at all. If anything, it makes my job easier." Her eyes sparkled. D*mn, they really could enchant a man. "You haven't lost the art of flirting."

"Can I flirt with you enough for you to tell me what has you in a fog?" he prodded. "Other than the nightmare last night."

"I don't want to bore you. Now, feast your eyes on this one." She slid a miniature of an orc female. Probably mature, though it was difficult to tell with orcs. "Lady Garakh Anagnostia, an orc noblewoman. Widowed, two sons serving in the Nauru Royal Army and a mage daughter."

He rubbed his chin. "I've been wanting a closer alliance with Nauru–but if she's a noble, would she really leave her life in her kingdom?"

"Rumor has it she wants to live somewhere where she doesn't have to worry about humans."

"Add her to my 'YES' pile. And by all means, bore me." His eyes pierced hers. "I'd think after last night I'd earned your trust–but I won't force you to tell me."

Strangely, he found her distress more interesting than the profiles of his potential mates!

* * * * *

Ravyn POV

Her troubles were irrelevant at the moment.

However, from the stubborn set to his jaw, Jude wouldn't be discouraged. He wanted an answer and he wanted it now.

"Lilia's father may be in Evenhide lands looking for us," she said, shocked at her even tone.

Jude's claws came out and he raked them in a neat curve across the conference table where generations of Crestas had already expressed their ire and frustration that way, from a few prominent nicks and gouges that no one would dream of repairing.

"And he lives? He's not in a prison cell?"

"Well, they didn't know it was him for sure. I said 'may be.'"

Not appeased, he huffed. "Patch must be slacking if that's the case."

She glared at him. "It was foggy, and they didn't get a good look at him. And I don't have a wolf's sense of smell, so I couldn't identify his scent–Patch's spies said that he just smelled filthy, anyway. Patch's people have been scouring the territory, but no sign of him. They're excellent, and he is rather good at vanishing."

Jude sucked air through his sharpened teeth. "And you pulled this impressive list together, even with that on your mind?"

She stared at him with an earnest expression. "I spent too long wasting away after he left. He is NOT going to keep me from my duty. Not anymore."

Admiration glowed in his eyes. "You're a remarkable woman, Ravyn."

She cleared her throat, feeling warm under his gaze. "Patch is exceptional at what he does."

"I know. Believe me." He smiled. "And you're a mother wolf when it comes to your family."

"And I grab them by the scruff of their necks, too."

"As I said, you're a mother wolf." He collected the six profiles. "Let's start with these."

Ravyn added two more. "Ember Faerie Queen Ylavi Crystalsprite–lost her husband four years ago. Fildarae Yelna, a High Elf and a cousin of our ally Prince Orrian Krisren." A sad smile tugged at her lips. "If Thalira Glynthyra hadn't just seen her husband killed–justifiably–I would suggest her as a potential match … you'd do much to help her regain her faith in men."

Jude growled in sympathy. "She's a beautiful and intelligent woman of character who had the misfortune to be married to someone who embraced the Dark Goddess … like you, a waste of a good woman."

She went from warmth to molten lava. "Thank you."

They both looked away, staring at the many flags.

Jude coughed, bringing her attention back to him. "Is this Fildarae Yelna like you and Thalira?"

"Five hundred and five years old, one son, and her husband left her for a human," Ravyn said. "Elves don't usually end their marriages, but they were mismatched."

Jude grunted in sympathy. "So, eight candidates. That's a good start."

She felt both relief mixed with a bizarre disappointment. "The next step is to arrange meetings with these women. Let's start with Vinessa Vermello since she's closest–perhaps you could return with Jiro and Garnet to Crimsontail territory when they go. Let's speak to them."

When she stood, he grabbed her by the arm. "Not until we discuss payment for your invaluable services."

She sat back down. "You're an ally in need."

His eyes shone yellow like the sun. "Don't think of me that way. Think of me as someone who came into your shop wanting to hire you."

"I helped people without expecting anything in return for years. I don't need your gold–"

He bared his teeth. "I'm offering something more precious than gold. Helping you hunt down that miserable excuse for a man and pinning his wretched hide to the wall. Even though Patch is excellent and loves you, he has the entire pack to worry about."

"You'd do that for me?"

He pressed a hand to his heart. "I am an Evenhide and a Crimsontail ally, aren't I? You're the mother of some of my closest friends." He lowered his voice. "And I've enjoyed your company these last two weeks, more than I've enjoyed anything since Emer was taken from us."

She gave a little laugh. "I had no idea anyone else shared my passion for dwarf opera."

He looked around, guiltily, as if being watched, and then said, "Emer couldn't stand dwarf opera. It was too loud and boisterous for her. But she got the greatest dwarf tenor to come and perform for my birthday … I told you this, though."

She grinned. "And I didn't tell YOU that that dwarf tenor, if it's who I'm thinking of, wanted to court me over a decade ago."

Jude whistled appreciatively. "He has good taste–he was also flirting with Emer."

Ravyn laughed, feeling the dark cloud of Daxius' possible intrusion slip away. "He's notorious forhis love affairs … but Emer had the love of her life and I … well … I had Lilia."

"And Lilia is one reason why I want to help you." Jude's eyes were intense. "You haven't been privy to all the nights of friendship between Dane and me, but believe me when I say he wants to punish Lilia's father worse than I do."

"Oh, I have no doubt." She leaned forward. "But I want to deal with Daxius myself. Dane has pups that need him. He's found true happiness after the pain he and his brothers went through. I want him to concentrate on joy." The Cresta brothers had lost their parents nine years ago and only started to live again when Dane met Lilia.

He snorted. "Dane Cresta, give up a good hunt? Impossible."

"I know. I know what he's like. Which is why I'm taking you up on your offer." She held his hand. "That way, Dane can have his hunt, but you'll be tracking my wayward husband on his behalf–and you won't go overboard."

"Don't be so sure, Ravyn." His eyes blazed wolf gold. "I protect what's precious to me …"

She wanted to melt into a puddle.

"And a family friend is very precious," he added hastily. "Do we have a deal?"

With a sassy, confident nod, Ravyn gave her best wolf howl, and Jude's full-throated, beautiful howl joined hers.