When I got back to the stronghold, I went straight to Donovan’s apartment to see if he was done, but he was still in the sitting room. His eyes were closed as he meddled with the pack bonds. I didn’t want to distract him, so I decided to dig through his files while I waited to hear from McTavish.
I went for Vivian’s file first. I didn’t want to seem like I was harping on her, but I couldn’t help but assume she was the killer.
Vivian was a mad wolf. Mad wolves did very evil, very irrational things. Setting Bhrunyz on her own pack could only be the action of a psychopath.
I knew I should keep my options open, but I couldn’t help it. I reached into the cabinet and pulled out the three file folders that held information about Vivian. I couldn’t believe three folders weren’t enough to get her kicked out of the pack.
I flipped through papers and clippings from newspapers filled with Donovan’s scribbles. There were cuttings from crimes in Shannon, Dublin, and Cork. In his notes, Donovan wondered if Vivian had anything to do with them. Then records of complaints from other pack members and visiting Weres: items reported stolen after Vivian had commented on them, threats she’d issued, and some slights she’d committed. Some of the accusations against her were just typical Were issues. Others were a little more severe. At the end of each report, Donovan had written “no proof.”
Shit. At some point, he should’ve accepted that she was rotten and called a tribunal.
The last report was Ciara’s. I closed the file and threw it on the ground. I didn’t need to read about that. I already knew enough.
Even if Vivian wasn’t responsible for what was going on in the pack now, she was a bad element and was probably buddy-buddy with the traitor. Shadowing her would be a better use of my time than sitting around the apartment looking through files. I could just as easily wait for McTav
ish to send me the information on the brooch somewhere else. Plus, following Vivian would give me a chance to check out the other pack members and see if anyone had jewelry that smelled fey.
I looked at the clock. There were only thirty minutes until the meeting. The idea of being around the rest of the pack made me nervous, but I had to do something. Clearly, I wasn’t very good at sitting around.
It took me twenty minutes to find Vivian. I circled around the castle a couple times, hoping to catch her in the dining hall, but never saw her. Her scent was everywhere, and I couldn’t tell the difference between the very fresh scent trails and the extremely fresh ones. But she was a Were. She was going to get hungry eventually.
The fourth time I went back into the main dining room, I hit gold. A laugh cut through all the chatter. It was too high, forced, and above all, made me want to hit something. Or more accurately, somebody.
Vivian.
She was sitting in the back, leaning on one of the men. This girl needed attention, and it showed by the way she was always causing some sort of a scene. She’d posed herself perfectly, laughing while she clutched her chest with one hand and caressed a guy’s shoulder with the other. Flirting shamelessly. Which would be fine, except she’d been going around saying she was someone’s mate. If she’d been acting like that the whole time everyone thought she was mated to Donovan? It made him look bad.
What an asshole. I was so going to enjoy taking her down.
I tucked my phone in pocket and wove through the tables. It was a little unsettling how much the pack stared at me. People usually watched Tessa, so when I was with her they watched me by extension. When I was on my own at St. Ailbe’s, people deliberately ignored me. Except for my small group of friends, no one wanted to be around the cursed werewolf.
I really preferred the “ignored” version of my life.
Strolling over to a buffet table, I grabbed a bottle of water and a chocolate croissant before moving to an empty table. For now, I was just watching Vivian. I didn’t have proof of any specific wrongdoing and she wasn’t wearing jewelry.
Sitting down, I relaxed with my drink and tried to look casual. I took my phone out and texted Tessa. How on earth did you survive the Imogene drama without murdering her?
Imogene hadn’t claimed to be Dastien’s mate, but she had been clingy. But she was actually Dastien’s ex, whereas Vivian was just a one-night stand.
The three animated dots popped up. Thank God she was texting me back. I was a terrible actress and wasn’t sure how long I could pull of sitting here alone.
You’re joking, right? I almost ripped her throat out.
I stifled a laugh. How did you handle it?
Uh. I tore my feet up running home in flip-flops like a crazy person. Remember? I pretty much handled it the worst way possible.
I snorted a laugh. It was kind of funny.
I hate you. Everything okay?
I glanced around the room, but Vivian was still flirting with that guy. I’m fine. I’m just in Ireland and… I don’t want to bother you. What are you up to anyway?
You’re my friend. You’re not bothering me. We’re in France at his place. Holy shit it’s amazing. Have you been before?
I took a sip of water and eyed Vivian again before texting back. No! But I’ve heard… Now I definitely want to go. Invite me over ASAP.
BTW why are you in Ireland?