"You think I care?" Winkler snorted. "The Grand Master almost laughed his ass off when I told him."
"Any word on Wildrif?"
"Not yet. I got communication from Wlodek, through the Grand Master, too. Remember Radomir?"
"Yeah," Trajan nodded.
"He tailed Curtis Roberts. Roberts was going straight to the media, to let them know that werewolves and vampires were real. Radomir disabused him of that notion."
"That vampire is badass," Trajan grinned.
"Almost as badass as Montegue."
"No argument, there. Seemed to develop a soft spot for the kid, though."
"Both of 'em did."
* * *
"One of your informants is dead," Calhoun laid a folder on Curtis Roberts' desk.
"Who?"
"Zeke Tanner, in Mexico."
"What? That can't be right," Curtis stood quickly, staring in disbelief at his assistant.
"I hear through channels that Matt Michaels has the location of Tanner's compound. It'll be bombed to the ground before daybreak tomorrow morning."
Curtis cursed and tossed his chair across the room. He'd gotten the best information from Tanner. Now, Tanner was dead and Wildrif, Tanner's informant, had disappeared.
"It's that kid," Curtis snarled. "Somebody miscalculated. What the hell is he, Calhoun?"
"I'm not sure, sir."
"Well, I'm no longer interested in forcing him to work for me. In fact, maybe we ought to do a little bombing of our own. See what excuse we might use to attack two locations in South Texas, come Monday night."
"I will, sir. Right away."
* * *
"How do I look?" Friesianna smoothed the skirts of an embroidered silk gown.
"Like the Queen you are," Parlethis flattered Friesianna. "We are to meet outside the gate in Kansas City. If things become untenable, it merely requires the opening of the gate so we might pass through. Easy enough to get away, if we must."
"Good. Who is going with me? I wish to leave Rabis here. He keeps prattling about that wretched H'Morr and I can get nothing coherent from him."
"I have five more waiting to travel, my Queen."
"Very well. Let us go." Friesianna placed her hand on Parlethis' arm.
* * *
"I am ready, Laridael," Baltis announced. "Do you have my Destroyers ready to accompany us?"
"I do, my King," Laridael bowed.
"Then let us go."
"As you say."
Chapter 18
"That's Alex, all right. What did they do to you, buddy?" Bear knelt beside the buffalo and leaned his forehead against Alex's jaw.
"Tanner's dead," Amos Thompson muttered. "Kid helped me get him."
"Good. Amos, where were you thinking about putting Alex? I got an offer from the Grand Master. He says we can bury him on his property, in North Dakota. He'll be the only shifter laid to rest, there."
"I think that's a good idea. How are we going to ship the body?"
"I can do it," Ashe walked in. "If you don't mind."
"Kid, you can do anything you want. You gave us closure, today," Mr. Thompson said. "Bear and I will dig his grave. It's fitting."
"Mr. Winkler?" Ashe turned to Winkler, who'd followed him inside the media room.
"Kid, we'll all go. I'll leave Ace behind, to watch the house."
"Okay."
"Give me ten minutes to warn the Grand Master, and we'll be ready."
* * *
"Sara, please pick up. Please. Mom's dead, and I need you to talk to me." Randy couldn't keep the sob from his voice.
"Randall, your mother tried to kill me," Sara said, reluctantly answering the call. Randy had phoned her landline when she refused to answer her cell.
"What?" Randy whispered.
"You heard. She was here, telling me she was either going to shoot me or let her werewolf tear me to pieces. I'm sorry, Randall, but we have no future."
"No, baby. Please. The werewolves took her down. I don't have anybody, now."
"Did you know she was on the run? That she might be headed this way?"
"I knew she was running, but I didn't know she'd—do this." Randy sounded defeated.
"If that man hadn't shown up, I'd be dead, now. Is that what you wanted?"
"No. Baby, that's the last thing I'd ever want. I love you. I mean it. Please don't shut me out."
"I'll consider it," Sara snapped. "I'm leaving for the airport in a few minutes. Mr. Wright invited me to attend the shapeshifter meeting in Star Cove. It's up to you, Randall, whether we have a future or not." Sara hung up.
* * *
"That's it—six feet," Bear lifted himself out of the large hole he, Amos Thompson and the Grand Master had dug on Weldon's property. "How are we going to lower him into the grave?"
"I can do it, if you'll allow it," Ashe offered. He, Winkler, Trace, Trajan, Sali, Florence Thompson and Marco had stood by while a werewolf and two shapeshifters dug Alex Thompson's grave.
"I'll allow it," Amos Thompson nodded to Ashe.
"All right." Alex Thompson's white buffalo was levitated gently upward and then floated through the air before turning on its side while being lowered into the ground.
"Ready?" Bear asked Amos, once Alex's body was laid gently at the bottom of the grave.
"Yes. Alex, we've missed you. I'll miss you as long as I live." Amos Thompson lifted a handful of dirt and let it fall in the grave.
"Alex, we did fine work together. You always had my back and were the best friend I could ever ask for." Bear let a handful of dirt fall.
"I only met you a couple of times. You, Bear and I got pretty drunk at a bar in San Diego. Happy trails, friend." Weldon dropped his handful of soil.
"I'll get the rest," Ashe said quietly. The pile of dirt from the excavation disappeared and reappeared, covering the grave. "Mr. Thompson," Ashe held out his hands and a folded American flag appeared. "This is for your brother's service."
* * *
"Ashe, does this mean you're back to normal?" Winkler asked.
"Mr. Winkler, there'll be no normal for me. If you're asking if the drug is out of my system, it's pretty close to being gone."
"Why do I get the feeling you're not telling me something?" Winkler accepted a drink from Trajan, who settled on the other end of the sofa inside the media room. Ashe had already dropped Bear Wright and Amos and Flossie Thompson off in Star Cove before bringing the others back to Winkler's beach house.