Reflected (Silver Series) by Rhiannon Held Page A

frustration seep into her scent. It wasn’t Tom’s fault.
    “It’s not that he’s not answering. He’s not even in range to … hear me calling. I guess it’s not that surprising, up in Alaska.” Tom held something out to her. “But you can leave him a message. He’ll hear it when he’s next in range.”
    Silver hesitated a beat. She couldn’t leave her message with what Tom held without him hearing. “Don’t tell anyone else about this,” she said, closing her hand tightly around his wrist to underscore the order. Tom swallowed and nodded.
    “Dare…” Silver tried to picture him here before her, but she hated speaking at a distance in the first place, and speaking to nothing was even worse.
    “But you speak to me all the time. Wouldn’t Dare consider that the same?” Death murmured. He padded over and sniffed at what Tom held. “Tell him things are much more exciting around here without him. He should travel more often.”
    Silver laughed, and the sound broke her awkward silence. “Death sends his regards. Something’s come up.” Quickly, she outlined the situation with Portland and her beta and then nodded to Tom.
    Tom straightened and took an abortive step after her as Silver turned away. She paused. He smelled like he was bursting with an opinion. She suppressed the beginnings of a smile. She might as well make sure he didn’t strain himself. “Yes?”
    “Craig is fucking prey-stupid! I don’t think Portland—or Sacramento, or any other female sub-alpha in the future—should have to step down just because she’s pregnant.”
    Tom practically vibrated with his earnestness. She’d needed that reminder badly, Silver realized. Plenty of Were would agree with Craig, but plenty of others wouldn’t. She went on tiptoe and cupped the side of Tom’s neck to kiss the opposite corner of his jaw. “But don’t go telling him that. I need to handle this myself, puppy.”
    Silver settled back and examined matters with her new, calmer perspective. She didn’t know when she’d hear back from Dare, so perhaps it was best to continue as if he would not receive her message in time. A long delay strengthened Craig’s position. She already knew her decision about his petition. She could invite him and Portland to dinner tonight to announce it. Eating would keep everyone calmer and let her ease into it.
    “You’re released for the evening,” she told Tom and gave him a playful shove on his chest. “Find Susan for me, would you?”
    “Yes, Roanoke!” Tom bounded off.
    Silver slipped farther into the den and paced as she waited for her beta’s mate—or perhaps her beta, now John was away with Dare—to arrive. She could feed herself well enough with any of the food stored here, but preparing it for guests was different. She frowned, chasing after even a flicker of the knowledge she needed. Death sat and mocked her movement with his utter stillness. “Stare at the food a little harder. I’m sure it will grow so scared as to form itself into a meal on its own,” he said.
    “Silver? What’s wrong?” Susan’s entrance made Silver jump, focused as she was on proving Death wrong. He was right, though. Much as she wanted to control every aspect of the meal herself, much as Susan didn’t deserve to be ordered around like a low-ranked Were, she couldn’t see clearly enough to do it.
    “I’m going to invite Portland and her beta for dinner. I…” Silver hesitated and the shorter woman came to rub a hand along her back. She leaned her whole body against Silver’s back a beat later, cheek against her hair. The gesture wasn’t entirely natural, and a little too low ranked for her place as beta, but it was much closer to correct for their status than the hugs human women usually offered each other in the same situation. Susan was good at noting and learning those differences.
    “If the human can tell I’m tense—” Silver exhaled in a laugh.
    “You’re allowed, you know.” Susan stepped back