Read Online The Leopard King by Ann Aguirre - Free Book Online Page A

things were gone. Briefly he rested his brow against the door. But it wouldn’t do for anybody to catch him being weak. The pride needed to believe he could steer them through the coming crisis.
    On a bracing breath, he entered the pin; the lock clicked open and he stepped inside. Somebody had obviously been cleaning, as the furniture shone, not a speck of dust anywhere. Same gray sofa with burgundy pillows, same overstuffed armchair, but the blood-stained carpet had been removed and replaced with a fluffy rug patterned in black and gray. Their wedding portrait still hung, and Dalena’s smile hammered him until he couldn’t breathe.
    This is where she died.
    He skirted that part of the salon and went to the bedroom, pulse pounding in his ears. But she was gone from here; his clothes hung alone in the wardrobe, and none of her powders or lotions remained on the shelves. For a moment, he breathed in and imagined he could smell the honey and lemon of her skin. But the room only gave back clean linen and chamomile soap.
    With effort, he forced down the sadness and got ready as quick as he could. Half an hour later, Dom inspected the loose fit of the charcoal suit he’d chosen. Still, with a fresh shave and proper clothing, he no longer looked like a scarecrow. As he left the apartment, he felt lighter, hurrying toward the main hall.
    Slay must still be talking to Pru because he only found Beren, Magda, and Raff in the lounge, which was now decorated in russet and gold. They had been offered drinks and refreshments, and he felt sure they both had been allotted private quarters where they could rest and curse him. Beren was an enormous man with a shock of silver hair; the years since Dom had seen him hadn’t been kind, weathering his face and giving him a perpetual air of irritation. Raff hadn’t spotted him yet, but the way he was smiling at Magda, he didn’t seem to mind the wait.
    “I apologize for the inconvenience,” Dom said smoothly.
    “Finally stopped contemplating your navel?” Beren rose and offered a hand for a crushing shake.
    Typical of the bear boss.
    “I thought you went up the mountain to die,” said Magda, slapping Dom’s shoulder.
    Mags had been chief of security since before his father died, and she was taller than Raff by a couple of inches, but the differential didn’t dampen the wolf lord’s interest. Raff came over to greet Dom; his dark hair was longer than it had been at the last meet, and he’d grown a full beard, shaped to partially hide a fresh scar on his right cheek. Dom didn’t ask; unless it impacted the alliance, he had no interest in wolf pack or bear clan affairs.
    “Good to see you. Finally,” Raff added.
    It seemed best to play host. “Have you eaten?”
    “Several times.” Beren waved an impatient hand. “There are far more important matters to discuss.”
    Nodding a dismissal at his security chief, he led the way to a cluster of comfortable chairs. This part of pride leadership didn’t trouble him. “Tell me.”
    “There have been skirmishes on the northern border.” Beren seemed sure he would immediately grasp the severity of the situation.
    “Golgoth?” he guessed.
    The bear leader nodded. “The same. Raff hasn’t spotted any yet in the east, but my scouts are picking up a lot of activity, troop movements and supplies being shipped.”
    Dom sighed. “That doesn’t bode well.”
    “They’ll wait for the treaty to expire,” Raff predicted. “If I had to lay odds, I’d say they’ll send someone to stall during peace talks and strike while we’re focused here.”
    “But where?” He didn’t necessarily expect an answer.
    “I’ve assigned my best to find out,” Beren said.
    “What do we know about the delegate the Golgoth are sending this time?” he wondered.
    Beren had the answer. “Alastor is the youngest prince, old King Theno’s get. I don’t think he’s set foot outside Golgoth lands before.”
    “Personality?” Dom glanced between Beren