My heart thumped as I made my way down three steps and onto the pale winter grass, politely nudging and tapping shoulders to make a path for myself. Fifty feet from the porch, the Alphas stood huddled around a masculine form whose face I couldnt yet see. My mother knelt on the ground by the toms head, but she seemed to be talking to him rather than administering first aid.
At the edge of the surrounding crowd, Manx stood with Des cradled in one arm, the other wrapped around Kacis shoulders as tears streamed down the young tabbys face.
A shallow breath slipped from me in relief when I saw that she was okay, if terrified. Until I realized Jace wasnt with her.
No
I edged toward the form on the ground, my pulse racing as I tried to remember whether or not he had a pair of brown hiking boots, which was all I could clearly see of the injured tom. But I didnt know Jace like I knew Marc. I didnt have his wardrobe memorized, nor could I predict what he would say or do in any given situation. Yet my relief was like aloe on a sunburn when Jace stepped up on my left, miraculously uninjured. His hand brushed mine, but he didnt take it, well aware that Marc was on my other side. And that we were surrounded by people.
Its pretty bad, Jace whispered.
Who is it? I made no move for a closer look.
Charlie. Charles Eames was my uncles senior enforcer. His older brother was John Eames, the geneticist whod discovered the truth about how strays were infected, and about Kacis double recessive heritage. Their father had been an Alpha up north when I was little, but none of his sons married. When he retired, his territory went to his son-in-law, Wes Gardner. Who was now firmly allied with Calvin Malone.
That particular tangle of family ties was just one example of why civil war would devastate the U.S. Prides. There were only ten territories, and everyone I knew had friends and relatives in most of the other Prides. Drawing lines of allegiance was very delicate work, and keeping them in place would be nearly impossible.
Charlie groaned again, and I steeled my spine, then stepped forward for a closer look. Marc came with me, and we knelt opposite my mother beside the downed tom. It took most of my self-control to hold in my gasp of shock and horror at what I saw.
Charles Eames lay with his head turned toward my mother, staring at her as if she were a meditative focal point. Perhaps the only thing keeping him conscious. Both of his arms and one leg were crookedobviously broken at multiple pointsand the bone actually showed through the torn skin of his left arm, where someone had ripped his sleeve open to expose the injury. Blood pooled from his arm, still oozing from the open wound.
Needed a cigarette, Charlie whispered to my mom. Was only a few feet from the porch. His eyes closed and he flinched as he drew in a deep breath.
My mother frowned and began unbuttoning his shirt. Gently she pulled the material from the waistband of his jeans and laid his shirt open to expose his torso. The left side of his chest was already blue and purple; at the very least, hed broken several ribs, on the same side as his broken leg and the arm with the open fracture. Hed landed on his left side.
How many were there? My father bent to help my mom pull the rest of the shirt loose, and Charlie started shivering.
Two. From the roof. He flinched over another short inhalation, as every single head swung toward the house, to make sure we hadnt just walked into a trap. But the roof was clear now. The birds wouldnt take on so many of us at once. Hopefully.
I crossed my arms against the cold as Charlie continued, and my father shifted into his line of sight so the injured tom wouldnt have to strain to see him. I heard this whoosh, and when I turned around, they were on me. He coughed, then swallowed, eyes squeezed shut against the pain. Then I was in the air. One had my arm, one my ankle.
I cant believe they could carry you, I said, thinking of how the first thunderbird had struggled with Kaci, as little as she weighed.
Werent trying to. Charlie closed his eyes again, and spoke without opening them. They took me up about thirty feet, then let me go.
My own eyes closed in horror. Theyd dropped him on purpose. And if hed weighed any less, they might have dropped him from higher up. They werent trying to take him. They were trying to kill him.
When I opened my eyes, I found my father watching me, and I saw the same bitter comprehension behind the bright green of his eyes. Thunderbirds were unlike any foe wed ever faced. They swooped in out of nowhere, then flew off once theyd inflicted maximum damage. We couldnt defend ourselves from their talons, nor could we Shift fast enough to truly fight them. And we certainly couldnt chase them across the sky.
In the span of a single hour, theyd injured Owen, gravely injured Charlie Eames, and killed Jake Taylor. We were down three men, at the worst possible time.
The lump in my throat was too big to breathe around. How could we fight Malone if we didnt survive the thunderbirds?
Greg Vic emerged from the crowd and my dad stood to take the phone he held out. I got him on the line.
Thank you. My Alpha turned to pace as he spoke into the phone, while my mother did what she could for Charlie. Danny? How close are you? He paused as Dr. Carver said something I couldnt quite make out over the static. Can you get here any faster?
I squeezed Marcs hand when it slid into my good one, and we followed my father away from the crowd to listen in on his call. If he hadnt wanted anyone to hear, hed have gone inside.
Depends. Do you want me in one piece? Carver asked, and my father sighed.
Just hurry. These damn birds dropped Charlie Eames from thirty feet up. At best guess, Id say hes got six or seven broken bones, and hes not exactly breathing easy.
Thirty feet? I heard astonishment and horror in Carvers voice, and faintly I registered his blinker beeping, unacknowledged by the distracted driver. Its a wonder he survived a fall like that.
He wouldnt have, if hed landed on his head. Or on anything other than the grass. Fortunately, last weeks ice storm had melted and dampened the ground so that it squished beneath our feet, no doubt softening Charlies landing somewhat. I think he has a concussion and hes in a lot of pain. What should we do for him?
Marc and I headed toward the gathering as my father nodded and uh-huhd the doctors directions on how best to get Charlie inside without damaging him further. Kaci caught my attention, still sobbing softly on the edge of the crowd. Manx had taken the baby insideit was still cold out, and Owen was alone in the houseso Jace had moved in to comfort the poor tabby, but he could do little in that moment to truly calm her.
You need your coat, I said, rubbing her arms when she started to shiver. But her problem was more than just the temperature.
Is that what they were going to do to me? Kaci stared straight into my eyes, refusing to be derailed by my concern for her health. Were they going to drop me? Her eyes filled with tears and her pitch rose into a near-hysterical squeal.
Jace frowned at me over her head, and I glanced to the left, where my mother and several of the enforcers were trying to follow Dr. Carvers instructions. Lets go inside, where its safer warmer, I said, thinking of Kais prediction and his fellow thunderbirds perched on our roof.
Is that what they were going to do to me? Kaci stared straight into my eyes, refusing to be derailed by my concern for her health. Were they going to drop me? Her eyes filled with tears and her pitch rose into a near-hysterical squeal.
Jace frowned at me over her head, and I glanced to the left, where my mother and several of the enforcers were trying to follow Dr. Carvers instructions. Lets go inside, where its safer warmer, I said, thinking of Kais prediction and his fellow thunderbirds perched on our roof.
No! Kaci scowled, and my heart ached to see a younger version of an expression Id worn time and again. You cant just tuck me away in some safe pocket and keep me in the dark. People were looking now, and my mother frowned at me, warning me silently not to let Kaci upset Charlie any more than his numerous broken bones already had. But the tabby wouldnt be quieted, and I recognized the determination in her expressionfrom my own mirror. That was almost me, so Im entitled to answers, she insisted. What do they want?
I sighed, well aware that nearly everyone was watching us now, including Charlie. They want revenge.
My fathers eyebrows shot up, then his forehead wrinkled in a deep frown. He pushed Vics phone into my uncles hand without a word and stalked toward me. I think its time I met this thunderbird.
My father stood just in front of the folding chairs, staring down at the prisoner, whod made no move to stand, even after my dad introduced himself as an Alpha. I understand your peopleyour Flight he glanced at me for confirmation, and I nodded thinks were responsible for the death of one of your own? A young man?
The thunderbird nodded but remained seated, his broken arm resting carefully in his lap, but not quite cradled, as if showing pain would be admitting weakness. Werecats had similar instincts. Weakness means vulnerability, and admitting such to an enemy could get your head ripped right off.
But his refusal to stand was an outright insult, and his bold eye contact said he damn well knew it.
Your name is Kai? my father continued; wed filled him in upstairs. The thunderbird nodded again. Do you have some kind of proof I can examine, Kai? Because to my knowledge, none of my men has ever even seen a thunderbird before today. And killing someone of another species is precisely the kind of thing I would hear about.
Though, there were always surprises. Toms like Kevin Mitchell, whose crimes went unnoticed until it was too late.
Kai sat straighter, though it must have hurt the stilloozing gashes across his stomach. We accepted evidence in the form of sworn testimony from a respected member of your own community.
Wait I crossed both arms over my chest and ventured closer to the bars, confident that the bird was now too weak and in too much pain to lunge for me. And that if I was wrong, I could defend myself from one caged bird with a broken wing. Someone told you we killed yourcock? I resisted the urge to grin. What was a crude joke to us was serious business to him, and making fun of our prisoner would not convince him to cooperate.
Still, that joke was begging to be told. Later, when we needed a tension breaker. Where Kai wouldnt hear.
Who? I demanded, frowning down at him.
Even if I wanted to tell you and it was clear that he did not its not my place to say.
So you wont even tell us whos accusing us?
No. He turned slightly, probably looking for a more comfortable position on the floor, but flinched instead when the movement hurt.
How is thatjust? I almost said fair, but bit my tongue before someone could remind me that life wasnt fair. Few enforcers knew that better than I did.
The bird heaved a one-shouldered shrug with his back pressed against the cinder blocks. We gave our word that we would guard his identity in exchange for the information he offered. We swore on our honor. He looked so seriousso obviously committed to keeping his promisethat I couldnt bring myself to argue. Instead, I turned to my father, shuffling one boot against the gritty concrete floor.
Its Malone. To me, it seemed obvious. Of course, in that moment I was just as likely to claim that Calvin Malone was the worldwide source of all evil. So maybe mine wasnt the most objective of opinions.
For a minute, I thought hed argue. But then my Alpha nodded slowly, rubbing the stubble on his chin with one hand. Thats certainly a possibility.
Its more than that. I unfolded my arms to gesture with them, careful not to turn my back to the caged bird. Who else would try to frame us for killing a thunderbird?
Marc raised one brow in the deep shadows, silently asking if I were serious. Milo Mitchell. Wes Gardner. Take your pick.
If it was either one of them, he was acting on Malones behalf. Its all the same.
My father waved me into silence and turned back to the thunderbird. If we dont know whos accusing us, how can we defend ourselves? Or investigate the accusation?
Kai stared back steadily. That is not our concern.
Its in the interest of justice, I insisted. If you guys value honor so highly, shouldnt you be interested in justice?
For Finn? Yes. The bird nodded without hesitation, his good hand hovering protectively over the open wounds on his torso. That is our only motive. For you? Not in the least.
But youre not getting justice forFinn? I raised my brows in question, and he nodded. if youre attacking the wrong Pride. Not that I was trying to pin the tail on another cat. I was just trying to get the name of our accuser. Right?
Kai actually seemed to consider that one. I agree. But thats not my call.
Whose call is it? My father stepped up to my side. Marc was our backup, a constant, silent threat.
The Flights.
I frowned, uncomprehending. So who decides for the Flight?
Kai scowled at my ignorance. We do.
All of you? I couldnt wrap my brain around it. Without a leadersomeone to spearhead the decisionmaking process and keep the others in linehow could they function?
My father had gone still, and I couldnt interpret his silence, or his willingness to let me continue questioning the bird on my own. But I wasnt going to complain. If I messed up, hed step in. What if you disagree? Isnt there some sort ofpecking order?
The thunderbird nodded reluctantly. It is only invoked in extreme cases.
Like this one? I spread both arms to indicate the birds assault on our entire Pride.
That time Kai smiled, showing small, straight teeth he hadnt possessed in bird form. We were unanimous about this.
I shook my head as if to clear it, and my hands curled into fists. You unanimously decided to hold an innocent child responsible for an unfounded allegation of murder that has nothing to do with her? How is that honorable?
The prisoners expression twisted into a mask of contempt. We would not have hurt the child, even if she is our natural enemy. Nor would we have hurt you, if it could be helped. Finn was killed by a male cat, and in exchange for that information, we also agreed to try to remove the female cats from your encampment before the true melee begins.