Forbidden

Summoned

Warmth washed over him. Price's words cleansed some of Luca's anxiety, and his lips curled up into the first genuine smile he'd worn that day.

"I promise. I haven't done anything. This is just a power play. A test of loyalty."

Not completely untrue. The Supreme's only complaint against Luca was that he'd texted Van, and from what Van said, he didn't see their involvement as anything serious. He thought his daughter was using Luca to annoy him, to continue her rebellious act, which is why choosing Luca for Shifter Day was actually fairly brilliant. It would put Van in a position to prove her loyalty.

It was precisely what they needed right now.

"You saw the other names, right?"

Luca's elation faded. "Livy and Bane."

"Interesting choices."

"Not really. The Asylum knows about the history between our family and the Forests. Livy is probably a leash-"

"Or a noose," Price interrupted. "If she ends up on the wrong end of a fight, I guarantee they're betting on you snapping."

Luca barked a laugh. "They clearly don't know Livy. When have you known her to lose?" He was more concerned with his cousin snapping. She'd been struggling more and more with impulse control, and the Slayers were quick to label any female her age as a Wildling. And in Livy's case, it wasn't necessarily an unearned label.

Price smirked. He'd been on the receiving end of Livy's temper on more than one occasion. It was a shame the pack had such antiquated ideas about women in power. Alphas were chosen based on power and prowess. Livy had both in spades.

"Maybe Bane will earn himself some time in lockup. Give us some breathing room. His crew has been getting out of hand. Last thing we want is another curfew or patrol posted here."

A patrol on their lands would ruin everything. Eventually someone would notice his frequent trips to the cemetery, and right now, it was the only place Van and Luca could communicate freely. He let Price's words roll around in his mind.

"That's not a half bad idea."

"It wasn't an idea so much as an observation."

Luca clapped his hands together, grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair, and jumped to his feet. Price watched the quick movements with a tilted head, but Luca didn't explain himself as he ushered his brother-in-law out of the room. This was another situation where the less his family knew, the better.

"I'm gonna head out and pick Livy up."

Price's grunt of acknowledgement followed Luca out, and though it was nothing but a sound, it stung. His brother-in-law was one of the best me he knew, and he didn't like feeling like he'd disappointed him. His fingers curled into his palm. It was for the best. If he kept repeating that, he would eventually believe it.

Within five minutes, he was idling outside of Livy's house. She bolted from the front door, waving at her mother before sliding into the passenger seat. Her mom didn't return the gesture, and when he looked in the rearview mirror, she remained standing on the porch, her hands on her hips and her lips flat with disapproval.

"Aunt Gwen didn't take the news well?"

Livy flinched and then tousled her short hair. "She's pissed. They don't usually ask girls my age. I think they're up to something. You sure it doesn't have anything to do with Van?"

He sighed and readjusted his grip on the soft leather steering wheel. She was asking the same questions as Price, but unlike Price, Luca had no intentions of keeping Livy in the dark. At some point, he would need her help, and she was tenacious as hell. She would eventually worry it out of him.