Page 151 of Moon Claimed
Wade spun back. “Huh?”
Holding a finger to my lips, I crept forward, tilting my head.
“Keep it to yourself. Hardly anyone knows. Andie’s working really hard to tear Rhona down. We have to strike at the right time.”
My mouth dried, but the whispered conversation was apparently over. “Rhona’s been at work.”
Wade glanced around for company. “What?”
“I just heard people talking about me in Sandstone. They said to keep it quiet and that they’re waiting for the right time to strike.”
His eyes widened. “You’re fucking joking. She’s told people about Herc? Why now? She’s kept quiet all this time.”
I shared my theory. “She thought she could win without it. In the first head team meeting, she realised it wouldn’t be that clear cut. Guess demoting her after Clay was the final straw. She’s going for the throat.”
“You need to stomp on this, Andie.”
We picked up the pace to the manor.
“I’m not sure who was speaking.”
He hurried after me. “You can guess from those who took real guns to Clay.”
“Proof, Wade. I won’t accuse anyone without it.”
I waved at a group of training stewards, beaming. My smile dropped the second I passed.
Yeah,my good mood was officially gone.
Wade was breathing hard when we entered the manor. He lowered his voice. “What will you do?”
I turned to him in the hall. “The stewards have settled down after Clay. I can’t upset things so soon, particularly after overhearing a conversation fromtwo hundred metresaway. How do I explain that? Whatever I do has to be done quietly.”
Just what, I had no idea.
“In the meantime,” I said, “we ramp up the one-on-one introductions with stewards. I can smell those who don’t like me. It’s a start to get a list going. And me strengthening the bond with tribe members might help to counteract Rhona’s efforts.”
“Areyouprepared for this to come out, baby girl? You can’t only think about countering her efforts. What will you do if you wake up tomorrow and every steward knows the truth?”
I tilted my chin. “Exactly what I did the day after telling Rhona the truth. I’ll face the music and do whatever I can from whatever capacity I’m given. Every person plays a part in the win, no matter how big or small. I never wanted to play the big part, Wade, and I have no problem with playing a small one.”
His salted caramel scent was bittersweet. “But that’s exactly why youhavetoplay the big part, Andie.”
* * *
Nathan stared across the table. I smelled the sourness to his apple scent.
He knew the truth.
Rhona was digging at the head team—probably via Valerie, who I could almost say with certainty was in on the truth as well.
The scent in the manor had changed, gaining the sourness and decay I’d learned meant nothing good.
“Sandstone is a big one for us,” I said calmly. “This win is important for morale and to honour Herc’s memory.”
Nathan’s sour apple scent tripled.
Yep,he knew for sure.