“Reed’s inside,” Ella said. “She’s going to be so excited you’re here; she’s been talking about you for days. Go on in—I’ve gotta take this one to the forest and tire her out.”
She put Treena on the ground. Treena took off like a shot and tried to climb a tree. Ella followed.
Canyon opened the front door for her. “After you.”
Sage smiled at him and went inside.
***
“Sage!”
As soon as Sage’s eyes adjusted to being in the house, her friend Reed was already pulling her into a body-crushing hug.
“Girl,” Sage said, hugging her friend back, feeling light and happy. “I missed you.”
Reed looked good, her caramel skin was clear and her eyes were flashing. Her black, shoulder-length, coily hair looked longer than Sage remembered it. She had a streak of red hair at her hairline.
Sage motioned to the red streak. “I love your hair.”
Reed touched it, smiling. “I didn’t do it. I got knocked out and Rowan healed me.” She inclined her head, pointing at her scalp. “See the scar? It grows in red there now.”
“Rowan?” Sage asked in amazement.
“She’s our sister. She’s even newer than me, but her power is healing.” Reed held her at arm’s length. “I've been texting you for days, trying to get ahold of you.”
Sage considered what to say. “I ah… I've been hiding from Khain with my family.”
Reed’s eyes grew large and she pulled Sage into another hug. “That’s right.” She dropped her voice. “You knew, didn't you?”
“What?”
“You knew what Troy was,” Reed said. “You knew what they all were when they came into Mugshots, and when he bit me.”
Sage’s cheeks heated. “I did. Sorry, I didn't tell you.”
Reed laughed. “Don't be sorry. I would’ve thought you were crazy.” She looked up at Canyon, gave him a little wave, and said, “Hi.” He nodded back.
“I’m just going to talk to Sage over here, okay?”
He nodded again, a small smile on his lips. Reed pulled Sage down the hallway. “Are youfoxen?”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t know all the ins and outs but everyone’s talking about it—and about you. Most everybody is behind you, especially all your sisters,” she said, squealing on the word sisters and hugging Sage. Sage smiled and hugged her back. She’d missed Reed a lot and having a friend here would help. The fact that she and Reed were half-sisters was too much to fathom at that moment. Reed’s face grew serious. “There’s a couple though who are… holdouts.”
“The bosses,” Sage said.
Reed nodded. “Wade mostly. Trevor seems unsure.”
Sage swallowed hard. Wade Lombard was the Deputy Chief of Serenity P.D. She’d been taught in school that he couldbindher, which would immobilize her, and then he could force her to tell him anything. Her hands fluttered to her throat, and she turned to look at Canyon. He moved to her side immediately and took her hand. She squeezed it and held his arm, telling him, “She says Wade thinks I can’t be a One True Mate because I’mfoxen.”
Canyon lifted his chin, his mouth set in a grim line. “Not surprised.”
“Do you know your power?” Reed asked. “Because that would shut him up. Ooh, and what about your pendant?”
Sage shook her head, not knowing what to say, still unsure about revealing the thing in Abigail’s cavern that had called her name.
“When you figure out your power, it’ll help you find your pendant,” Reed said.
