Chapter 71 Terms on the Water
Kier’s POV
The river district always smelled like batteries and rain.
Our tires hissed through puddles as we cleared a third warehouse—same story: empty.
We breached the fourth bay, cleared the corners, checked the drain. Nothing. The kind of nothing that feels intentional.
I was about to signal the south alley when the wind shifted and brought a different stink—faint static prickle of wolves that don’t belong to anyone.
Rogues.
They came from the shadows. Three to my left. Two to my right. My men positioned themselves ready to fight.
“Hold.”
Last out of the dark came a woman in a charcoal coat, hair like oil slick, eyes coin-bright in the dock lights.
Rhea.
“Blane,” she said, like I’d kept her waiting for dinner. “You’re a hard man to surprise.”
“Not a fan of surprises,” I replied. “You’re trespassing.”
“On whom?” She twirled a finger toward the rusted bay doors. “Abandoned capitalism?”
I didn’t give her the smile she wanted. “What do you want?”
“Where’s your manners?” she said. “I have things that need to be said, that you will want to hear.”
“Say the part where you leave.”
She clicked her tongue, amused. “You know, I led you here.”
“So you could gloat?”
“So we could deal.” Her gaze sharpened. “Also—you owe me a ceiling. Your people caused a very dramatic plumbing emergency in my bar last week. I want reimbursement.”
“Send an invoice.”
“I prefer payment up front. A piece of land should suffice.”
That made me look at her twice. “You want territory.”
“A strip,” she corrected, stepping to the edge of the dock. “Three blocks east of the viaduct. River to rails. Neutral ground.”
“What do rogues want with territory?” I scoffed. “You live in messes.”
“Rogues live in the messes packs leave,” she snapped, voice losing its silk. “We’re done running. We want walls. Rules we choose. Call it a pack, don’t call it a pack—I don’t care.”
I exhaled slowly. “And what do I get in exchange for gifting a rogue kingdom inside my territory?”
Rhea smiled like a blade sliding free. “Information.”
I stepped closer. “About who.”
Her voice dropped. “Your mate, who else.”
A fissure cracked through the hollowness in my chest.
“Talk,” I growled.
She shook her head once. “Land first.”
My jaw tightened. “You think dangling this over my head gets you leverage?”
“I think you won’t spill rogue blood while your pack’s future is in jeopardy,” she corrected.
Isaac’s voice hit my mind like a static ping:
Three on her left. Two on her right. I’ve got shots if it turns sideways.
Stand by, I sent back.
I studied Rhea, weighing leverage, motive, and madness.
“Here are my terms,” I said. “Two miles. No recruitment inside your strip without approval. You turn over anyone hurting humans inside your border. No vampire deals. No witch circles. You keep it wolf.”
Her laugh was soft and sharp. “Four miles. Each direction.”
“Two.”
“Three.”
“Two and a half.”
A beat of rain. Then—
“Fine,” she said. “But understand, Blane—I’m offering peace.”
“No one offers peace out of charity,” I replied. “Give the intel.”
She crossed her arms, “Sam came to me early on. Looking for a place to vanish. But…” She paused, eyes narrowing. “Something about him never fit.”
“What are you implying?”
“I gave him knowledge,” she said. “Tools. Introductions. But someone more powerful gave him the rest. Because there’s no universe where Sam pulls this off alone. Not with that level of reach, timing, cover, and resource.”
She let that sink in.
“Men like him don’t climb ladders built of luck,” she continued. “Someone carried him.”
My pulse sharpened. “And who do you think is helping him?”
She shook her head. “I don’t have the who. What I have is the where. My people saw him. East. Four nights ago. Industrial spine between Halden and Redwick.”
My jaw ticked. “You’re sure it was him.”
“There’s a lot of Sam’s in this city, but I never forget anyone who crosses my path.” she said. “Yes. It was him.”
I held her gaze, unflinching.
“You want land?” I said quietly. “Then here’s the deal I check your lead. If it checks out… we talk. Until then, no deal.”
Rhea didn’t blink.
“Cautious alpha,” she murmured. “I respect it.”
She stepped back, coat whispering like wings folding in.
“Don’t Renege on our agreement.” she said over her shoulder before fading into the shadows.
I said nothing.
“You buying any of that?” Isaac mind linked.
“None of it,” I said.
Isaac snorted. “And the land?”
“No land,” I replied, already turning toward the vehicles, “I would be crazy to make a deal with a rogue.”
He grinned, even though I couldn’t see it. “Cold as winter, boss.”
“Colder,” I corrected. “The winter let her walk away.”