Ada slunk out of her den. She made her way up to the throne, where Lucaya sat. Ada parked herself right by Laika. The young sigma had often sought Ada out, asking her for advice over one thing or another. Ada rather liked her.
She took in the long faces. Lucaya looked p i s s e d, Vladimir looked worried and angry, and Laika was panting tiredly. ”Laika, are you alright?” she asked. ”You seem exhausted.”
Laika looked at her. "I’m fine. Just had to run across the territory. No, I’m quite alright.” Ada had to chuckle. Laika was sometimes too hardworking.
”Just don’t work yourself too hard, dear.” She turned back to face the queen.
Damian, Vladimir, Princess Skade, Prince Helheim, Bastian, Laika, Queen Lucaya, herself, Maverick, Nephilim. They were all here. Now the others needed to come. Ada expected if they weren’t here quite soon, the alphess would blow her stack. They didn’t need that. The Vampire Queen could be very nasty if she was upset.
Ada shifted her gaze to Skade. The princess wasn’t one Ada usually paid attention to, but she needed something to focus on now. She opted to stare at Skade’s feet. Ada had a habit of staring whenever she was antsy.


”Tracing of sparrow on snow-crested ground . . .”