I set the phone down after my last call and looked up to find Jace watching me from across the table. In the hall, Marc was in an animated discussion with one of the newly unemployed toms, who was not happy with his current assignment. All the others were still speaking into their own phones, so for a moment, I let Jace look. And I looked back, my heart aching with each labored beat.
After several bittersweet seconds, the rumble of a familiar engine outside pulled my gaze from Jace. Dr. Carver.
My father rushed toward the front door, cell phone pressed to one ear. Pull as close as you can to the porch. Well come out and get you. Because on his own, Dr. Carver would make just as appealing a target for any nearby thunderbirds as Charlie had. More so, if they knew who he was. Marc? Vic? my father called, out of sight now. But I beat the guys into the hall.
No, my Alpha said as I reached for the doorknob. He held up my arm by the wrist of my cast. If you dont give yourself a chance to heal, you wont do us any good when we go after Malone.
Good point, I said, and he looked surprised as I reluctantly stepped aside so Vic could open the door. Marc brushed one finger down my cheek and shot me a sympathetic smile before following his Alpha and his former field partner outside.
I watched through the tall, narrow sidelight window while they rushed down the front steps just as Carver swung open his car door. Two birds circled ominously overhead, low enough that their size and wing-claws were obvious. As Carver twisted to grab his bag from the passenger seat, both birds swooped to a sudden, staggeringly graceful landing in the middle of the front yard, Shifting even as their newly formed feet touched the ground. For several long moments, they faced off against Marc and Vic, with nothing but Carvers car and fifty feet of earth between them.
My father stood firm on the bottom step, and the doc sat frozen in his seat, staring in awe at our unwelcome visitors. Suddenly feathers sprouted across the arms of one bird and he stepped up onto his bare toes, as if to launch himself at the car. Marc slapped his empty palm with the gigantic wrench he carried, growling menacingly. The bird stood down, apparently content to remain a silent threat while they were outnumbered, and a soft sigh of relief slipped from me.
My father waved his men forward and Carver stepped from the car and was ushered inside by both toms. Our Alpha remained on the porch, alone and undefended as a show of strength. In truth, any one of us could have been at his side in less than a second. But sometimes appearance is as important as reality.
Kai is alive but in a lot of pain, he called in a strong, steady voice. If you want him back, put me in touch with your Flight. With that, he turned his back on the birdsa show of confidence as well as an insultand walked into the house.
He pulled the door closed, and I turned to find the hall packed with toms. Theres nothing to see, my father declared, and as the toms slowly dispersed, he turned to Carver. Good to see you again, Danny. Whats it been? A week?
Sounds about right. Carver hefted his overnight bag higher on one shoulder. I have less than a week of vacation left. At this rate, Ill be looking for a new job soon, Greg.
My father sighed. That makes two of us, he said, referring to his spot on the council, not his career as an architect.
Carver flinched and nodded. Hey, Faythe, he said as Marc locked the front door and Vic took our latest guests overnight bag. Hows the arm?
Ready to come out of the cast. I fell into step beside the doc and my dad, and Marc and Vic followed us.
Carver grinned. He was almost always in good spirits, no matter who he was sewing upor cutting apart. In his day job, Dr. Danny Carver was a medical examiner for the state of Oklahoma. He spent more time with dead people than with live ones. Give it a couple more weeks, then well cut it off and let you try Shifting.
We dont have a couple of weeks, Doc. I stopped in the hall, and he had to stop with me to maintain eye contact. Were going after Malone in three days. I whispered the last part, because I wasnt sure how much of our battle plans Blackwell had overheard. Or whether we could trust him, even with the investigation he was initiating against Malone.
Dr. Carver frowned and glanced at the heavily decorated cast I held up. You may have to fight in a cast, then. Itll protect your arm better, anyway.
But I cant Shift in a cast. Ill be stuck in human form.
Carver shrugged and tightened his grip on his medical supply bag. We could cut it off and let you Shift several times, but a broken bone isnt like a laceration, or even a torn rotator cuff. Both of which Id suffered in the line of duty. They take longer to heal, and if you dont heal properly, the damage could be permanent. And Shifting before broken bones have at least half healed hurts unlike anything youve ever felt. Just ask Marc.
I glanced at Marc, not surprised to see him nodding. Hed gotten several broken ribs at the same time I broke my arm. A chest couldnt be casted, so hed been Shifting twice a day for the past week, and his ribs were only just returning to normal.
So, what does that mean for Charlie? I asked as we moved toward Owens room.
Lets see how bad it is.
My dad and Vic followed the doc into our makeshift triage center, but I headed into the kitchen instead, and Marc followed me. Whats wrong? he asked as I poured the last of the coffee into my favorite mug. I raised both brows, and his head bobbed in concession. Okay, everythings wrong. But specifically?
This. I set my mug on the counter and held up my casted arm. Were days away from going full scale against Malone, and in the meantime, were under fire from above. And Im about as useful as a three-legged dog.
Youre much more useful than any kind of dog, mi vida. Marc purred and pressed me into the counter, his hands on my hips. I couldnt resist a smile. I was a real sucker for Spanish.
Except when he was yelling it at me.
I kissed him, and my arms went around his waist, my good hand splaying against his back. Feeling the restrained power, and loving it.
Better? he asked when we came up for air.
A little. I sighed. I just want to fight.
He grinned. I love that in a woman.
Stupid cast. I tried to twist and grab my mug, but he held me tight.
I kind of like it. You broke your arm saving my life.
I had to smile at that. And Id do it again tomorrow. I just wish it wasnt going to hold me back the next time.
Im sorry.
I shrugged and grabbed my mug, then followed him into the hall. Marc hung back to keep from crowding Owens room, but I pressed my way through the throng and stood against one wall with Kaci. My mother sat in a chair by Ethans bed, holding Charlies hand because she could do little else for him. Manx sat on the floor beside Owens bed, one mangled hand on his arm.
Carver headed straight for Charlie, whose clothes had been cut off but left under him, because lifting him again would have hurt him worse. The doc shook his head when my mother started to give up her chair, then he knelt to dig in his medical bag. Seconds later he pulled out a plastic-wrapped disposable syringe and a small vial of something clear. Carver drew some of the liquid into the syringe, then carefully felt for a vein in Charlies arm.
Lets give this a chance to help with the pain, then well see what we can do for you, he said softly as he slid the needle into Charlies skin. Charlie didnt even flinch. What was a shot, compared to being dropped from thirty feet in the air?
My mother took the used syringe, and Dr. Carver crossed the room to Owen, then sank into the desk chair to examine my brothers stomach. These stitches look good, Karen. She murmured her thanks, and the doc turned to Owens leg, which my mother hadnt been confident she could stitch up properly. These are deeper. Theyre going to hurt for a while, but if you Shift a few times tomorrow, you should be good to go in a couple of days. Lets get you stitched up.
The doctor talked while he worked, to set his patient at ease, and it helped. I could attest to that personally. This isnt so bad, he said when Owen flinched. Faythe had similar injuries a couple of months ago, but Brett Malone had it much worse than either of you.
But I missed the rest of what he said, because that name echoed in my head. Brett Malone. Jaces brother, whose life Id saved with a meat mallet. Brett had insisted he owed me, even after hed given us the heads-up about my fathers impeachment. Id tried to brush off his IOUI was just doing my jobbut he was insistent.
And now I knew exactly how he could repay his debt.
I ran one hand over Kacis hair and whispered that Id be right back. Where are you going? my father asked as I passed him, and when I gestured, he followed me into the hall, where Jace now stood with Marc and Vic.
Im getting evidence for Blackwell. Before he could press for details, I turned to Jace. I need your phone.
Jace dug it from his pocket with neither hesitation nor questions, and I smiled at him gratefully. No one else would have done that. Even Marc would have asked why I wanted it.
I took Jaces phone and headed toward my room, calling over my shoulder as I ran. Ill fill you in after I consult my source.
Seven
Hello? Brett sounded cautious and suspiciousand he didnt even know who was calling yet. Jace had his half brother on speed dial, as Id known he would. Other than his mother, Brett was the only family member in his contactswhich Id also guessed.
Hey, Brett, its me.
Faythe? he whispered, then something scratched against the receiver as he covered it. A few seconds later, he was back, and the background chatter was gone, leaving only the winda hollow-sounding echo in my ear. My dad will kill me if he finds out Im talking to you!
Yeah, well, welcome to the game. He tried to kill me in November. I was too nervous and upset to sit, so I walked the carpet at the foot of my bed, occasionally running the fingers of my casted hand over the scarred posts.
Its not a good time, Faythe. What do you want?
I took a deep breath and tried to keep in mind how difficult this whole thing must have been for Brett. He knew his father was a lying, ambitious, hypocritical, sexist, bigoted bastard, and there was nothing he could do about that. Unlike Jace, he was Malones actual son and couldnt just walk away from his Pride. Not without leaving his mother and the rest of his family. And not without permission, which Malone would never give.
But the time for easy choices had passed.
I sighed and let a hint of true fear and frustration leak into my tone. Theres never going to be a good time, Brett. I need a favor. Information.
For a moment, I heard only the whistling wind and the heavy rustle of evergreen boughs. He was in the woods behind his house, hopefully out of hearing range of the rest of his Pride, because if anyone overheard what I was about to ask for, he could be locked up for the rest of his life. Or worse.
Finally Brett spoke, and each word sounded like it hurt coming out. Im all out of favors, Faythe. Things are bad around here. Theyre going to notice Im gone.
My heart ached for Brett. I knew what it was like to stand in conflict with the rest of my family. The rest of my Pride. But lives werent at stake when I argued with my parents. My Alpha wasnt psychotically ambitious.
However, as strongly as I sympathized with his position, I had to think of my Pride first. Of Kaci and Manx. Of my fathers precarious position on the council. If he lost it, hed lose the ability to protect us all. So I steeled my spine and forged ahead.
Are you enjoying life, Brett? Truly treasuring each breath? Because if it werent for me, youd be rotting in the ground right now.
I know, but
You owe me. You said, Let me owe you, Faythe. So Im going to let you.
His sigh seemed to carry the weight of the world. I already repaid you.
Yeah, well, that bit of information didnt come in very handy. When he woke from the attack that nearly killed him, Brett had warned me that his father would try to take the council chair. Your dad jumped the gun and challenged mine before I even had a chance to warn him.
I had nothing to do with that.
I know. I sank into my desk chair and picked up a novelty pen with a fuzzy purple feather sticking up from one end. Okay, forget the favor. Im asking you as a friend. We need this, Brett. You know whats going on with the thunderbirds, dont you?
Thunderbirds? What are you?
Save it. I dropped the pen on my desk. Dont insult me with lies. Youre better than that. Youre better than Calvin.
Bretts next exhalation was ragged, and twigs crunched beneath his boots. He was walking. Hopefully moving farther from the house. I only have a minute. What do you want?
The truth. Is your dad doing this? Did he sic the birds on us?
Faythe, I cantHell kill me.
Jake Taylors dead, Brett. And Charlie Eames may never walk again, if he survives. I shouldnt have disclosed our damages to the enemy; that was on page one of the dont-screw-your-own-Pride handbook. But you dont make gains without taking risks, and I believed in Brett.
Of course, Id believed in Dan Painter, too, but then his double agent act had nearly gotten me killed. But Brett would come through for us. He had to.
Im sorry. I
Apologies arent good enough, Brett. They almost got Kaci. You know what your father will do if he gets his paws on her.
He would never hurt her.
No, hed just whore her out to one of your brothers the day she turns eighteen. Earlier, if he can pass it off as in the best interest of the species. Are you going to let him do that? Are you going to let him sell her in marriage just so he can get his sticky hands on our territory? Or the Di Carlos? Because Umberto Di Carlo had no heir, thanks to his daughters murder, and once he retiredor was forced into retirementsomeone would have to take over his territory.
And in our world, he who has the tabbies has the power.
Is that what you want for Kaci? I asked when Brett didnt answer. Hell, is that what you want for Mel? Melody Malone was only fourteen, and already being courted by several toms handpicked by her father. By all accounts shed bought into his propaganda and believed that her decision had the power to make or break her Pride. She took the responsibility very seriously and would have done anything to please her father.