Thick stone doors rumbled open. The castle exhaled hot, dry air. Amari blinked furiously. A sheen of pink and sweat traveled from her ears to her toes. Every shadowed corner threatened to reveal a childhood fable monster. Every turn, a labyrinth she'd never escape. Amari’s heart trembled with a new chaotic rhythm. One she desperately strove to calm, while every sense worked against her mind. The cloying gangrenous odor soaked her clothes and filled her lungs. Walls made of heat pressed in on her like a straight jacket.

  Amari swore the shiny vines of black ichor climbed over the ornate patterned red walls from the impossibly black wood wainscoting. The walls and floors both felt too close and too far away, messing with her balance. More than once thick fingers pinched her skin.

  “Keep up! Dragging your feet won't stop you from meeting Tanas Iveld.”

  Amari looked up at the deep warbled voice. Trimmed but dirty beard surrounded snaggled teeth. Packless. Her mind jolted, were these packless loyal to Mitchell or the supreme trickster fae? Looking closer, Amari saw no fear or trepidation in any of those surrounding her. How many times had they walked these halls? Amari shuddered, nothing looked unique or different.

  A few more turns, large black doors ominously loomed at the end of the hall. Like silent shadows, the doors swung open. Shadowy vague outlines of pillars and beams greeted them. Fuzzy carpets covered the floor. Alcoves lined the walls disappearing into darkness.

  “Be nice, he might actually keep you around.” Mitchell whispered forcefully at the top of the stairs.

  “Come in, come in my child.” A melodic baritone called from across the shadowed room. “We are all friends here. There is no need to be afraid.”

  Rough hands, shoved Amari forward. Her feet caught on the furred rugs and she fell into the face of a wolf. Amari’s limbs couldn’t move fast enough as she scrambled up. Fruitlessly wiping her hands on her thighs, her eyes scanned the room confirming her worst fears of Tanas Iveld. Corner to corner, edge to edge was a patchwork of pelts. Her stomach churned, who was she standing on? She spun on her heels, could Mitchell see what she could? A room lined with death? Amari’s heart clenched, her eyes followed Mitchell’s eyes as they stared straight ahead.

  A beautiful chuckle ran through the air as a tall, handsomely dressed man stepped from the shadows. “Well friends of friends is the same thing.”

  Amari’s eyes widened. Reddish orange hues emanated behind him as he circled her. Determined, Amari stood tall at his hummed appraisal. Her eyes darted over the impossible clothing. Gold seemed melted into intricate patterns from the high collar of his tailored jacket down to the hem at his knees. It was as if he was clothed in living leather, as it moved like a second skin.

  “Mitchell, tisk tisk.” Tanas smiled genuinely. His slicked back dark waves caught the ethereal reddish orange glow. “You failed to mention her beauty. I am sure she turns a few heads.”

  “I mentioned she is the whole package. Her results are off the charts.” Mitchell called from the last step.

  “Yes. I am excited to see if what you claim is true.” Tanas leaned into her side, his breath dancing the little hairs around her neck. “I can see why Benjamin likes you so.”

  Amari's heart sank. She swallowed hard against the growing threat of tears. Focused straight-ahead she let the silence fall.

  “Oh, come now child. There is no need for the silent treatment. I thought we could be dear friends.” Tanas lifted his hand and dismissed the guards. “You too, Mitchell. I have questions for the young lady.”

  Tanas lifted his arm again. Fires popped and crackled in each alcove dispelling the shadows. Soft groans of wood mixed with clinking of china and silver. A small table for two walked itself towards the middle of the room. Black shadow melted off the ceiling covering the polished wood. Two settings of flaming red china and polished silverware settled across from each other.

  Amari felt an inhumanly hot hand press into her lower back leading her forward. Slowly she lowered herself into the offered chair. Her back straight she kept her hands in her lap. Across from her Tanas slid into the other chair, legs crossing as he sat back comfortably. He snapped his fingers. Sloshing with ice, a silver bucket floated into arms reach. Amari watched blood orange liquid pour into the intricate goblets.

  “Drink my dear. I can whip up anything you would like to eat.” Tanas’s smile dazzled as he lifted his glass.

  “Long ago, I learned to never eat food from any trickster fae.” Amari’s gaze dropped down to the savory dishes. The sight and smell had her mouth watering.

  “Ah, I promise dear there is no string attached to the bounty before you. I simply wish to have a relaxed conversation with you. I know Mitchell didn’t give you much choice when he brought you here.” Tanas sipped his wine, eyes watching her over the rim of the glass.

  “Ask your questions.” Amari looked deep into his fathomless black eyes. The lack of any distinguishable feature unsettled her as the rest of him could pass for human.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  “All business and no fun.” Tanas raised one tidy brow. “Very well. I hear you are in the medical arts.”

  “I am a nurse by trade.” Amari smoothed her features. Her fingers twisted in the material of the tablecloth.

  “How do you like that?” Tanas swirled his wine. An air of boredom oozed off his movements.

  “Well enough. Like anything in life, there are days you love it and days that you don’t.” Amari picked her words carefully. Unsure what she might inadvertently reveal, but not willing to risk whatever tricks the trickster might have up his sleeve.

  “Dreadful place, the human world.” A fleeting sneer crossed his handsome face. Tanas shifted his posture without moving. “How you werewolves stand to continue to live there when you have the option to live here astounds me.”

  “I know a lot of wolves choose to live here. But our pack is our pack. It is where we belong.” Amari clenched her fists under the table. Releasing her hands, she forced her muscles to relax.

  “And would you choose, if you could, to live here?” Tanas gently set down his goblet. His eyes held her own without a single blink.

  “What I want,” Amari forcefully smoothed the edge from her voice before continuing, “is to be with my family.”

  “Ah the adopted band of misfits. I heard you were a mighty little pack. Mitchell simply vibrated with excitement at the prospect of you all being the key.” Tanas’ observant gaze washed over her.

  Amari’s brows peaked. Key? Key to what? What could a powerful Trickster fae need with wolves in the human world? Questions whirled around her mind, some solidifying while others morphed together. She subtly shook her head. As powerful as Tanas was, he was trapped by the rules of the fae world. She smiled. “We are misfits, but we love each other. Serve and protect each other. Our connection is something special.”

  “Special. Does that mean your siblings have the potential to have scores like yours? Is your connection with them what gives you these special scores I have heard about? Special abilities?” Tanas popped a grape in his mouth. Chewing deliberately, he watched her.

  “From what I heard, you haven’t had that many subjects. I cannot be that much of an outlier.” Amari shrugged a shoulder as she tilted her head to the side. Her eyes swept around, the imposing silence around them unnerved her. The fires didn’t crackle or pop. It was as if sound was swallowed into nothingness immediately. Even the sound of her own beating heart seemed to disappear into the silence outside their voices.

  “You sell yourself short, my dear.” Tanas leaned forward, hands steepled before him. “It leads me to believe you know exactly how special your gift is and perhaps your siblings have abilities as well.”

  “I am not selling myself short. However, –” Amari paused. Opening her mind and heart, she waited to feel Ruac’s strength run through her. A sudden hope blossomed in her chest. “Have you not had many subjects test as well as I have?”

  “No. You seem to be one of the few that has been revealed to have a special gift beyond the higher scores across the board.” The dimple in Tanas’s chin bobbled. “I would like to know why.”

  “Connection to a pack is a powerful thing.” Amari smiled to herself. Being a member of a pack gave them extras across the board. “You have been primarily testing the Packless. Of course they wouldn’t be as strong as a Packed Wolf.”

  “Perhaps. I have heard that pack membership is a major component of the power of a wolf.” Tanas’s lids tensed. Bringing the goblet to his lips he sipped as he hummed to himself. “Though, Mitchell mentioned you like to be honest but not forthcoming with all pertinent information you have.”

  “Mitchell has a particularly dismal relationship with me.” Amari felt her lips pull into a frown momentarily. That man didn’t deserve his own pack and for that matter neither did his son.

  “That much is evident. Yet, I don’t think that he is wrong about this. Your ears twitch when you are selecting your words with care.” Tanas lifted a finger from the silver, pointing to her. “I wonder if you would do me the honor of speaking plainly, or this friendship will sour quickly.”

  “We do not have a friendship. We cannot have a friendship.” Amari leaned in, her voice in a forceful hushed tone. “However, I have been permitted to speak with you.”

  “Permitted, so there is something more to you than what meets the eye.” Tanas leaned back, one hand laying lightly on the table. “Where is it that you and your family get their gifts?”

  “Well not everyone in the family has gifts. Only a few of us do.” Amari leaned into the strength filling up her chest. Ruac’s presence pressed a calm deep into her bones.

  “Ah, now we are getting somewhere.” Tanas smiled brightly. Fangs slightly exposed and shining white against the subtle pallor of grey to his skin. “Would you enlighten me, in your own words, about the gifts you and your siblings have?”

  “I can smell disease, including the reek of your magic within someone. Diana smells emotions. Orion can calm while Rema has an uncanny persuasion.” Amari smiled fondly as she spoke of each sibling.

  “And Max and Elias don’t have enhanced abilities?” Tanas pressed further.

  “Not more than what I would assume pack members get from being part of a pack. Though it is said the strength of the Alpha plays a role in pack strength.” Amari shrugged a smile playing at her lips. Her mind drifted to Asseric.

  “How did you and your siblings gain extra gifts?” Tanas raised a brow.

  “We always had them. I believe most wolves do, they simply don’t know how to grow them to be as developed as we have.” Amari relaxed into the chair.

  “A gift such as yours should be cultivated and applauded.” Tanas leaned in, fingers steepled again.

  “Cultivated. Perhaps. All in good time.” Amari looked to her other side. Nothing hid in the silence there either. “Applauded. Unnecessary. I enjoy an ‘atta girl’ most like anyone else, but I don’t use my gift for the applause.”

  “I am sure you don’t.” Tanas’s eyes flickered across her face. “What if I could offer you new gifts and help you hone the ones you have further.”

  Amari tilted her head. She watched a smile play on Tanas’s lips. A chuckle bubbled in her chest, this is how he convinced so many to side with him. Power, prestige, even purpose. It would certainly be alluring if she didn’t already have the real deal as a member of the Alpha King pack. “I have all that I need or could even want, Tanas. Besides, I can see the pelts.”

  “You are a special woman. Too bad. We could have made a wonderful team.” Tanas’s smile fell. “I am sure we will be seeing each other again. Or perhaps not.”