Ask for a meeting, Gabriel instructed.The sooner the better.
Understood.
There was a brief pause, then Gabriel said,We have a visitor. I need you here now.
I’m on my way.
Patrick looked at Zion, unsure how the cat would react. “The wolves just scurried away like the cowards they are, but Gabriel would like to meet with you as soon as possible.”
Zion narrowed his eyes and just stared at Patrick for a long, tense moment. “I’m not fucking good enough to ally with one minute, but I’m the first person he runs to for help?” Zion shook his head, illustrating his disgust. “Even you can see the hypocrisy in that.”
“Tonight was a wakeup call,” Patrick admitted. “That’s why Gabriel wants the meeting. Despite his hope to the contrary, the wolves will never change.” And who the hell was this mystery visitor? Gabriel indicated that the wolves left.
“I’ll make time for him tomorrow morning, but he comes to me. And I’ll accept no half measures. He’s either in or out. Period.”
“I understand.” Patrick handed the blanket back to the guard and then released his eagle. The transition was smooth, nearly instantaneous. He spread his wings as his legs disintegrated and he took to the sky once more.
Brisk wind and cool darkness allowed his mind to calm. The conflict surrounding the wolves wasn’t going to resolve overnight. Hostilities had been brewing for months and more bloodshed was inevitable. Alex seemed more reasonable than his predecessor. Still, Patrick didn’t trust him. Alex’s actions tonight proved that he was ruthless and self-serving. The deeper the eagles were drawn into this conflict, the more Patrick agreed with Raphael. An alliance with the cats made more sense than interaction with the wolves.
Patrick eased his attention away from politics and a tantalizing image formed within his mind. Silky blonde hair, vivid blue eyes, and delicate features. Heather, his mate and sometimes enemy. They had abandoned themselves completely to passion ever since returning to Eagle Village. He was actively courting her, yet twinges of frustration and pain still intruded from time to time. He wanted a mate, had spent endless nights in captivity fantasizing about a life with Heather. But her abrupt departure had torn him apart. He felt abandoned and betrayed by her apparent desertion. He now knew that his memories weren’t accurate, but that didn’t make the emotions any less real.
Learning about her sisters and all Heather had risked exposing the abuse at Nuevo Biotech helped Patrick understand her actions. Holding on to the bitterness wasn’t hurting anyone but himself. Still, Heather had been the personification of his pain for a very long time. He wanted to release the past and focus on the future, but that sort of pain took time to heal.
He sent a telepathic ping to the guards as he approached Eagle Village. Everyone was jumpy after the standoff with the wolves.
The lead guard offered him a distracted wave as Patrick flew past.They’re still in Raphael’s cabin, the guard advised.
Understood.
Smoke curled from the chimney of the cabin Raphael shared with his mates and light filtered through the shutters. Patrick released his shift and came to rest in the yard in front of the cabin. He hustled up the stairs and knocked firmly on the door. The night felt significantly colder against bare skin than through the thickness of feathers.
Victor opened the door and Patrick rushed inside.
“Your clothes are right there.” He motioned toward the garments draped over the back of a chair.
Patrick snatched his jeans off the pile and pulled them on.
“Did Zion agree to the meeting?” Gabriel asked as Patrick finished dressing.
Patrick looked at the table where most of the people sat. Gabriel and Heather faced him. Raphael sat at the head of the table, Claire on his right. A female Patrick had never seen before sat beside her. Was she the mystery visitor? She must be. Patrickknew everybody else. They all seemed relaxed and comfortable as they sipped steaming beverages out of pottery mugs.
The scene was so shockingly domestic that it took Patrick a moment to register Gabriel’s question. “Zion will see you in the morning, but he made it clear that he’s not interested in neutrality. If you’re not ready to commit to the alliance, don’t bother flying down there.”
“After the shit Alex pulled tonight, I have no interest in assisting him.” Gabriel pushed back his chair and crossed his legs. “You don’t spit in the face of your allies. Alex needs to figure that out.”
“I honestly hoped Alex would lead the wolves in a new direction,” Patrick said as he crossed to the table. “Obviously, that’s not going to happen.” He looked at the newcomer, wondering when someone was going to explain who the hell she was and where she’d come from.
“Now that everyone is here,” the stranger said with a tentative smile, “would you like to hear my proposal?”
“Who are you?” Patrick asked. “Did you arrive with the wolves or hike all the way up here from the feline village?”
“My name is Natalie Morgan and I’m an emissary from Earth.”
“She’s responsible for all the spy bots,” Gabriel explained.
“This planet has been targeted as a test site for a variety of correctional facilities,” Natalie said, her tone calm, non-confrontational.
“You want to turn Rydaria into a prison planet?” Victor loitered in the background several steps away from the table.
