"Maybe he's just being nice."
Marcellus snorted.
Perse looked offended.
"Well, you could be!"
"How generous of you to believe that, Persefone."
I folded my arms.
"The catch?"
He glanced toward the valley.
"The territory belonged to a pack that dissolved a long time ago. I acquired the property afterward, but the old pack registration was never formally reactivated. Your Council friends will have to approve a new charter before you can establish Inferno here."
"That's manageable," I said. "Who holds the title?"
"I do."
"Any outstanding claims?"
"None that I'm aware of."
"Debts?"
"No."
"Disputes over the boundaries?"
"A few historical ones. Settled years ago."
"And why haven't you done anything with it?"
Marcellus looked at me for a long moment.
"Because I never needed it.
