Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Humans have no reason to trust the Psy, but this is a crisis of unimaginable size, with millions of lives on the line—and I am prouder than you can imagine to see how our people have reacted in the face of that terrible truth.

We have given all we can to assist the Psy in staving off the collapse of their PsyNet, including creating places where friendship could blossom between our two races, because a bond of emotion is the only way to infuse the PsyNet with human energy. So many of you have held out a hand to a Psy, and the Psy Ruling Coalition tells us that a number of bonds have formed, that the PsyNet does now have a sprinkling of human energy.

However, to get such bonds back to pre-Silence levels will likely take decades, perhaps a century or more. And the PsyNet does not appear to have that much time left.

As such, I have spoken to the Coalition on the safety of those humans already linked into the psychic network. They have assured me that, should the worst occur, human minds will simply be cut free, and will experience no backlash. Only the rare human will even feel the disconnect.

The individuals most at risk will be those who have infants who are half-Psy and are linked into the PsyNet—or who are, at the time, pregnant with a child conceived with a Psy. Given the recent nature of renewed contact between our two races, your numbers are low enough that you should already have received a visit from a dual Psy/human team to go over your options. If not, please reach out to me directly.

It is a matter of unfathomable sadness that those same options are not available to the far larger numbers of Psy infants. It is simply a matter of scale. But we haven't given up, and will continue to search for ways to save every life we can.

Even as they do the same, the Ruling Coalition has also handed over all research done by their scientists on an effective way to shield human minds from Psy intrusion.

The Psy have kept their part of the bargain between us—so now I ask you to hold on as long as you can. And if there are Psy you could call friends, open your heart to them earlier rather than later.

The time left is now measured in a matter of months.

—Giovanni Somme, official head of the Human Alliance, to its membership (1 October 2083)

TAKING A DEEP breath once inside the bathroom, Auden thought back to her mother. Shoshanna had simply never had a maternal gene—Auden didn't blame her for that. What she did blame Shoshanna for was her choosing to have a child for the simple reason that she could use that child to control Henry.

Yet both of them were monsters of equal ugliness.

Now her mother's sycophants had created another child who carried Shoshanna's genes—but come what may, Auden's baby would have a far different life than Auden.

"Charisma," she said, cold and remote when she answered. "What is the emergency? I assume it must be an emergency for you to so flagrantly contravene my order not to disturb me."

The other woman had frozen for a moment, but regrouped quickly. "I am used to caring for you," she said with every appearance of sincerity. "Dr.Verhoeven's diagnosis of stress has me worried for the pregnancy."

Auden wanted to snap back an even colder response, almost stopped herself. But then she remembered that Charisma had worked by her mother's side. "That is no longer your concern," she found herself saying, even though the words weren't ones that made any kind of sense to her. "I am now in charge—or can you not see that?"

"Your mind is currently blanketed in a black shield," Charisma said instead of responding directly. "We can't get through…and to be frank, it appears to be an Arrow shield. Are you in trouble? Is the operation in jeopardy?"

What operation?

As for the shield, Auden kicked herself for not preparing for this. Of course Charisma had an eye on her mind in the PsyNet. Even as she thought that, her lips parted and words spilled out. "I have friends in many places, Ris." She held the eye contact until it was aggressive. "Do you not understand that even now?"

Charisma seemed to flush, as if Auden had flustered her enough to beat her Silence. "Of course, sir. But you must forgive me for being wary—it has been a long time."

Auden stayed silent, the words she'd just spoken an oily film on her mind that felt alien. Not herself.

Frost in the air, a shimmering blue web in her vision.

Another Auden in charge.

"So you're feeling fine, medically speaking?" Charisma's voice tore through the web. "Your pregnancy is stable? I can send a medic to do a checkup if needed. The biomonitors don't seem to be functioning."

"The monitors are functioning fine. I just didn't wish to use them during my meditation," Auden said. "I'll reinstate them today." Surely RainFire's hacker could work it so that it appeared Auden remained pregnant. "I'll be back home in four days regardless." It was the longest she could expect Charisma and the doctor to stay patient. "I'm getting too close to full-term to remain in such a remote region."

Charisma's shoulders relaxed. "I'll see you soon, sir."

Auden's heart thumped after she hung up, but she had no time to stress, no time to worry. Walking out as fast as she could, she met Remi's gaze. "I have another request for your hacker."

Remi gave a curt nod. "Just one question before I get him to work. What're you going to name this gorgeous cub of yours?"

Auden replied at once. "Liberty. Liberty RainFire." A name built of hope and heart. "Is that all right? To ask for her to carry the name of your pack until this is all over? Whatever happens, I don't want her to be a Scott."

Remi's eyes gleamed yellow-green. "It's more than okay, little cat. Liberty will always have a home in the heart of her pack."

···

AFTER getting the hack of Auden's own account and biomonitors underway, Remi turned to the specifics of Auden's security detail. It would have to be at least two people—Remi could catnap with the best of them, but he wouldn't be at full strength if he wasn't getting good chunks of sleep.

At first, he considered that his partner should be male—leopard females could be deadly opponents, but Psy could be stupid about changelings. And this was about making a big visual impact from the start.

Then again…Auden's mother had been the alpha half of the Scott pair. Auden hadn't said that to him, but he had eyes—and even though he hadn't been too interested in Psy politics before becoming an alpha himself, he'd seen enough news reports over the years to come to his own conclusions.

Shoshanna had been smart and vicious—behind a veneer of elegance. A slender brunette, she also hadn't been imposing on a physical level. So yeah, maybe he could play on that. It was with that thought in mind that he called a meeting of his sentinels after Lark had had time to get a few hours of sleep.

It wasn't that the pack kept putting her on night shift—it was that she loved the night shift and requested it more than any other person in RainFire.

"Why be born a leopard if I can't slink about like a shadow?" she'd whispered while wiggling her fingers as if casting a magic spell. "Try to spot me in the dark. I dare you."

Remi could of course spot her—but he was her alpha. She truly was a ghost to most people, even most cats, had made an art form out of using her leopard coloring to meld into the shadows. Now, she walked into their meeting in his aerie bright-eyed and freshly showered—and dressed in an adult version of Jojo's purple overalls paired with a sparkly pink T-shirt.

"Hello, people!" She threw out her arms. "Alpha man, I need food."

He groaned and threw her a croissant. "I told you I'd strip your fur if you called me that one more time. Also, where did you even get that outfit?"

Unrepentant, she blew him a kiss and slumped down in one of the large cushions on the floor that comprised most of his furniture in this section of his open-plan aerie. He did, however, have a small sofa for anyone who didn't feel like doing the leopard sprawl.

"Online bargain—Jojo likes me best now." She smirked, striking out her hand and making clutching motions. "We did a twinsies photoshoot."

Her hand motions should've been nonsensical, but he'd known her too long. He put the mug of coffee he'd already doctored to her requirements in her hand. "Here you go, Madame Purple Queen."

A wicked grin and a salute just as Theo flowed into the aerie in leopard form. The biggest leopard in RainFire was light on his feet when he wanted to be. He brushed his body against Remi's before wandering off into the bathroom where Remi had already put a change of clothes for him after the sentinel mentioned he was going for a run in leopard form before their meeting.

Changelings weren't shy about nudity, but neither were they exhibitionists, and every one of them had a different comfort level. Theo could be as pragmatic about wearing his skin as the rest of them—but he didn't like getting naked in front of Lark when he could as well change out of sight.

"Too weird, since she's basically like my sister," he'd said of his cousin.

Meanwhile, other changelings were never more comfortable in just their human skin than with family.

When Theo walked out after shifting, he wore jeans and a black sweatshirt, his feet bare. "Are you being a brat again?" he said to Lark after grabbing coffee and a sandwich for himself.

"I am beloved , never a brat." She chomped down on her croissant.

Used to their sibling-like bickering that never amounted to anything—touch one and the other would gut you—he nodded at the tiger in human form who'd just jumped onto the balcony from above. Eyes of deep ultramarine met his, the color reflected in the short-sleeve shirt that had been a gift to Angel from Finn.

That Angel actually wore it was a testament to Finn's ability to read his packmates.

"Thanks," the tiger said when Remi handed him a black coffee, before serving himself from the tray of food.

"Um, I could do with a sandwich." Lark batted her lashes at the tiger, her croissant long gone.

Angel, as quiet as Lark was not, rolled his eyes at her, but his lips twitched as he passed her the sandwich with her preferred filling.

Lark beamed. "You're my favorite, Stripes."

Twitching lips curving into a rare deep smile, Angel just shook his head before he went to sit in the window seat, long legs sprawled out in front of him. "How was it last night?" he asked, his voice a quiet rumble. "Any surprises?"

"Nope. Borders were quiet. Auden's cabin, too, with no new scents anywhere in the vicinity." Lark paused. "Though I suppose they could've teleported inside…"

Remi considered that. "Not a big risk. We can sniff it out if Auden needs to go in there for any reason."

A sound on the balcony, then in walked Rina.

The blond sentinel grinned at seeing how Lark reclined on her cushion, Theo on the one next to her. Her nod at Angel was more muted, but that didn't mean anything when it came to their work together. On the whole, Rina had melded into RainFire as if she'd been part of their pack from the beginning.

She'd almost brought a senior soldier with her—a man named Barker. Remi had had the feeling the two were linked romantically, but in the end, Barker had chosen to remain behind in DarkRiver, and as far as anyone was aware, Rina was single.

Remi didn't know the whys of it, but there didn't seem to be any bad blood.

After all four sentinels had settled in with coffee and a snack, Remi leaned his shoulder against the wall and said, "Auden is going to hire us when she goes back in."

Surprise from everyone but Rina. "Makes sense," she said from her position on the sofa. "I learned how the big Psy families operate from Sascha—and I wouldn't be taking my newborn cub into that situation unguarded, either."

"Oh, her cub's staying with us."

That set them alight, questions flying every which way. He told them what they needed to know to protect Auden—but he didn't tell them that her pregnancy had been done without her consent, or that the baby was technically her half-sibling. That was for Auden to share if and when she wished.

"I'll be going with her," he said—and raised an eyebrow when no one argued.

Theo shrugged. "You're growly protective of her. We got the memo." A grin that was a masculine echo of Lark's. "Sooo, anything to share on that front?"

"She just gave birth, you big dumbo." Lark pretend-slapped him on the back of the head. "Give her space before thinking of amorous feline intentions."

"Amorous feline intentions?" Angel shook his head.

"Who're you taking as your partner?" Lark asked after scrunching up her nose at Angel. "I won't work. Psy don't take me seriously because I'm small." Matter-of-fact words. "I could claw off a few snooty faces to make my point, but I figure you don't want a bloody scene."

"No." Remi turned to Angel. "I need you to stay here. We can't both be gone."

Angel nodded in silent agreement.

"That leaves me and Theo or a senior soldier," Rina said. "Theo's big and can be scary looking, but you're going into Shoshanna Scott's domain. I say take a woman."

Yes, RainFire had lucked out in getting Rina.

"And," the sentinel continued after a sip of her coffee, "I say take me and not one of the senior soldiers because, quite frankly, nobody in this pack knows as much about how Psy work as I do. I might be able to figure out vulnerabilities that wouldn't occur to the rest of you."

"Hey," Theo protested, twisting his head to meet Rina's gaze. "We're not total country bumpkins."

Rina smiled at him—it was obvious she had a huge soft spot for the big sentinel. "No, you're just in the middle of nowhere with not a single Psy packmate. While I was, until recently, part of a pack with not only Psy packmates, but in a city that thousands of Psy call home."

"Rina's right." Angel's voice. "It should be her."

Remi nodded in agreement. "We won't have much prep time—four days. After that, RainFire takes official custody and protection of little Liberty—"

"Liberty?" Lark's face lit up. "Is that the kitten's name?"

When Remi nodded, she sighed. "I love it. It's so meaningful and pretty."

"What about the cub's psychic needs?" Angel asked.

It was Rina who answered. "I think Auden can take care of that from a distance." She frowned. "When Sascha had her and Lucas's cub, she mentioned that the cub was inside her own shields. It's like how we keep our cubs close before they get smart enough to avoid dangers and obstacles."

"That sounds right," Remi said. "But I'll ask Auden for clarification. I'll also do everything I can to make sure she can come back and see her cub as much as possible."

"Good." Angel's quiet but firm agreement, a slight growl in his words. "Cubs need that contact."

Remi understood as the others wouldn't, Angel a closed book to most people when it came to his emotions. But he and Remi had taken on the world together as youths, a lone tiger, remote and quiet, and a leopard with too much anger and confusion inside him to stay put.

Angel had vanished for weeks at a time during that initial period. But he'd always come back; and in the end, he'd stayed. He'd even picked up his first security gigs so he could travel with Remi to his races. And he'd trusted Remi with his story, a story of a cub lost and in pain whose psyche had been forever damaged one dark winter's night.

"We'll talk to Auden together, get a full briefing on the compound," Remi told Rina, to her nod. "Any other pack business before we break?"

"We need a school of our own for the littlest cubs," Lark said, her acute intelligence a clear light in her eyes. "We've gotten away with computronic teaching so far, but with the new families who've joined us, we've got enough to start up our own small school.

"We could still have the computronic aids to deal with the needs of the different ages, but we need a teacher to ensure they stay on track—and all the other stuff kids do together at school. Projects and art and music."

Remi considered that. "Given the numbers, we'll need two teachers—one for kindergarten, the other for elementary school."

Lark made a face. "How are we going to lure two teachers out here? I love our pack, but we're small and can't pay anything like what they're worth, and it would mean a move for anyone outside the region."

"There's something to be said for being at the ground floor of setting up a pack," Angel offered. "Not many people ever get to experience that."

"Angel's right." Rina leaned forward, her long ponytail sliding over her shoulder. "DarkRiver will always own a piece of my heart, but everything was set up by the time I came of age.

"Here, everything's raw, unfinished in a way that means I can help shape the foundations of the pack. A certain kind of person will find that enticing." She smiled. "Kit's loving seeing the pack literally build and grow before his eyes."

Lark was already on her phone, taking notes. "That's it. I'm going to pitch it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help start a pack. I mean, it's not like that happens every day."

She frowned, looked up. " Wild Woman is one of the best places for an ad—we all know everyone reads that, even those people who pretend not to." A speaking glance at Theo, who feigned a searching glance around the room.

"But it's expensive." Lark read out the rates with a wince.

"Do it," Remi said. "This is a critical need, and we currently have a buffer thanks to that bulk security job."

"Or," Theo murmured, "maybe you can pitch it as an article?" Arms folded behind his head, he frowned. "I mean, we just talked about how setting up a new pack isn't something that happens on the regular. People might be interested in reading about that, and you can sneak in how we're in the market for teachers."

Rina was nodding. "It'll probably gain more attention than a straight ad, too."

"Worth a shot." Lark shrugged. "I'll figure out how to pitch an article and report back. Who's gonna write it, though? I'm not a writer."

"Vessie," Angel suggested, naming a packmate who'd been a journalist before she retired.

Theo gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up to that. "I know she said she's all about her grandcubs now, but have you heard that woman take down smartass juveniles with nothing but her tongue? I bet you she'd enjoy the challenge of getting us into Wild Woman ."

All five of them were in a good mood when they closed the meeting, but Remi wasn't done. Once his sentinels had left, he made another call, asked another favor.

Aden replied after a short pause. "Zaira says yes."

Then he added, "Remi, we don't have any intel on the Scott compound—it's locked up tight, and we haven't prioritized it as the Scotts have been keeping their heads down since Shoshanna's death, but one thing I can tell you is that it's crawling with Scott loyalists. Watch your back."

"I will." More importantly, he'd be watching Auden's back.

He'd tear out the throat of anyone who tried to lay so much as a finger on her.