After a fleeting pause, Varian inclined his head to the left. “Take a seat then.”
Zio stepped out of his grasp and moved to sit at the table. A lungful of Devan’s scent stopped him in his tracks. Devan was at the table, sitting with Gale and Xan, heads bent as they talked, apparently oblivious to Zio’s presence.
Resentment unfurled in Zio’s gut, at Gale and Xan for welcoming a stranger so easily, at Devan for existing at all, but with Varian’s gaze drilling holes in the back of his head and his eagerness to pick up where they’d left off in the south, he swallowed it down. Claimed his seat between Bomber and Devan and resolved to breathe through his mouth.
Devan ignored him, his body angled so he didn’t even have to look at Zio by accident.
Zio clenched his fists.
Gale laughed at something Zio had been too caught up to catch, and Zio wanted to rip his goddamn throat out.
Figuratively.
Or maybe literally, the mood he was in.
Varian called the meeting to order. “We’ve had a tough time,” he said. “And we’ve taken advantage of the lull in aggressions to recover and regroup, but that time has come to an end. Drone footage from our intelligence unit has shown enemy activity as far north as Leicester. We need to act now to protect our border.”
“How fluid is the division?” Devan asked. “It’s not a hard border, right?”
Varian shook his head. “It wasn’t until we lost London. Now we have gone back to ancient lines that existed long before this war, and so far the enemy have honoured them, though I’m not confident that they will for long.”
“By now they’ll know I’m here,” Devan said. “Dash had to inform them to hold clan treaties and also promise to send healers to them if they should find themselves in need.”
“So you’re on both sides?” Zio spat as a collective growl rumbled through his unit.
Devan spared him a glance. “I’m committed to this pack for as long as I’m needed, but that couldn’t happen without Dash giving the southern packs assurance that the clan wasn’t invested in their enemy.”
Bomber snorted. “How can you be committed to our pack and still have loyalty to your own?”
“Easily. Before I came here, I didn’t have a pack. I’m loyal to my clan. It’s different.”
“Your alpha could still pull you out at any moment,” Zio said. “Send you to the south. How can we trust you?”
Devan shrugged. “That’s up to you, but if you’re truly worried the southern packs might claim me, the simple solution would be to not kill their healers. That way Dash’s agreement with them will hold.”
Zio swallowed a growl. It was wrong. All of it. Devan didn’t feel like a liar, but he wasn’t pack. Whatever he said and everything about the exchange made Zio’s skin crawl.See? Definitely the booze.
The meeting moved on. Surveillance footage was reviewed, and plans were drawn up to flank the enemy’s recon crew and take them out.
“We move tonight,” Varian said. “Zio’s unit will lead; Gale’s will back them up.”
“Where do you want me?” Devan asked.
“Somewhere behind,” Varian said. “I don’t think they’ll target you, but I can’t risk losing another healer with my entire elite squad deployed.”
Devan nodded his ascent. “Works for me, but before then, I need to scout your countryside. Gather some supplies.”
Varian’s gaze flickered to Zio and back again. “Did you not find what you need in Emma’s room and her clinic?”
“Powers are individual to each healer,” Devan said. “Emma used many tinctures and fruits of her native forests, but I have no connection to many of them, so they won’t work for me.”
“Sounds wacky,” Bomber muttered.
Devan laughed. “Forest magic can be that way if you don’t understand it.”
“Where do you need to go?” Varian asked.
“Everywhere.” Devan drew a map towards him and traced his finger along the wooded areas that surrounded the township and beyond. “I need herbs and ferns. Tree sap and heathers.”