“I overheard Birch talking about meeting up with Fox,” Flint offers. “So yeah, we’re pretty fucking sure.”
Jet walks over to stand beside Flint, gaze landing on Grey. “I wouldn’t be too focused on a report, if I was you. If Birch is there, you’re about to go up against shifters with nothing to protect yourself. You think they’re gonna let you go running back to the council to report them?”
I don’t miss the way Grey pales. Can’t deny it’s not a little satisfying.
Jet huffs. “Bet you didn’t think of that when you were making yourshow of good faith.”
“You couldn’t have mentioned this earlier?”
“And why would we do that?” Jet rolls his eyes and turns away, muttering, “Not my fault you didn’t think this through.”
“Fuck.” Grey takes his gun out and checks it before sliding it back into its holster.
He smells of fear, and I don’t blame him. A bullet won’t stop a shifter for long unless it’s a head or heart shot. Kinda difficult to do that when they’re barrelling towards you faster than a human. Maybe he’ll decide to sit this out after all.
Instead of backing out, though, he squares his shoulders, lifts his chin, and looks me dead in the eye. “You got a plan?”
Kinda. Not that I’m gonna say that.
It’s looser than I’d like.
Something tells me this won’t be like the other fight rings we’ve infiltrated. I doubt it’ll be as easy as taking out a guard and sneaking in the back way. I think we have to assume they’ll be expecting us, or at the very least be better prepared for it.
“We split up.” I raise a hand at the hissed protests from Beth and Jet. “Morgan could be anywhere. In the cages or...” I swallow past the lump in my throat, forcing the words out. “Already in the fucking ring.” The crowd roars louder and it takes monumental effort to stay where I am. “There’s six of us. If we split into two groups, we can check the cages and the fight ring simultaneously.”
Beth’s eyes narrow as she studies me. “You’re going for the fight ring, aren’t you?”
“Yep. If Morgan’s there, we’re going to have to fight to free him. It’ll get messy.”
“We can handle that,” she says fiercely, Flint, Mal, and Jet backing her up.
“I know, but he’smine,” I growl. “I need to see for myself. I’ll be fucking useless anywhere else.”
Her expression softens with understanding. “Who’s going with you?” They all look at me, every one of them prepared to go in there and fight for me. For Morgan. I fucking wish I didn’t have to risk them like this, but I’ve never been prouder to have them as my pack.
It’s an easy decision in the end.
If I can keep Beth and Jet away from the ring itself, I will. They might have no choice in the end, but it’s worth a fucking shot. I’m also not leaving Grey with Jet. I need him in one pieceif we get out of this, and I don’t trust Jet not to let him die if the opportunity arises.
“Grey and Flint with me.” I inject a little alpha power in my words, letting them know it’s not up for discussion. “The plan’s simple. Find Morgan. Don’t get caught. Don’t die.”
Jet snorts. “Is that all?”
I grin at him, feral and fierce. “Nothing you can’t handle.” He grins back, a gleam in his eyes that promises pain for anyone he comes across. If he wasn’t on my side, I’d be fucking terrified.
“And if he’s not here?” Beth asks, voice quiet, like it’s the last thing she wants to ask.
But it’s a possibility, however much I fucking pray it’s not true. “If he’s not here, we rescue who we can.”
One by one, I pull them in close, needing their scents to ground me before we do this.
Grey gives me a wry smile. “No hug for me?”
I roll my eyes. “Not this time.” But it’s the oddest fucking thing. He’s a hunter, I should hate him. Idohate him... or maybe I hate what he stands for. Grey’s here, ready to head into a fight he’s not equipped for, and for that I can grudgingly admit he’s gained a little respect. “Thedon’t diegoes for you too.”
His eyes widen slightly, and he gives me a small nod.
I’m about to give the order to go in when Jet fishes something out of the front pocket of one of the rucksacks.
