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I shrug as both my friends turn their eyes to me, but there’s no room for further consideration as my dad moves to the front of the room, Captain Stanzor standing behind him and glancing at his watch.

“Thank you,” dad calls out, his way of getting everyone to quiet. We all settle down, eager to hear what’s going on. “We’ve called you all today for several reasons. But the first is to let you know that what scanty cell connections you’ve been able to get over the past few weeks will be cut to nothing today.”

A few whispers go through the room, but I just keep my eyes on dad. This news makes no difference to me, though I know at least three of the nurses have been climbing up the cliffsides in an attempt to get a signal and stay in touch with loved ones. Everyone I love is here, except for my mom and sister, whom I talk to on dad’s satellite phone.

“It’s a necessary step,” dad says, “to keep what I’m about to disclose to you inuttersecrecy.”

The tent falls silent.

“As you’re aware,” dad continues, “our patient numbers have been down lately. That will change tonight. I need absolutelyeveryoneon their toes this evening, so no…foolery. No distractions. Nocontraband.”

He says this last word with particular care, letting us know that he’s well aware that some amongst us have indeed been indulging a little in these quiet times. I swear his eyes linger for a moment on Shayne, but not enough to truly signal her out. But Shayne just straightens her shoulders, and I smile, proud of her. Shayne likes to have fun, but she’s one hell of a worker when she needs to be.

“Captain Stanzor will tell you what he can about the reasons for this,” dad continues, his face grave. “There will be no questions, but you should beverygrateful for his time.”

Dad steps aside, and Stanzor steps forward, nodding to us. “Tonight there will be an important assault on the Children of Solace,” he says, words fast and clipped. “You don’t need to know the details, except that it is well planned and that our military expectsnecessarycasualties on both sides. The positionof the assault is such thatthiscamp will be our first point of medical care for both our militaryandwounded members of the Children of Solace. They will be seen in separate tents, thoughbothmust be fully manned at all times.”

Silence runs through the room, and my heart beats fast. I exhale slowly, trying to calm the dread that crawls through my body.

“You’re going to have a sleepless night – perhaps many of them,” Stanzor says, looking around at all of us. “But your service is appreciated. Thank you.”

Stanzor turns sharply to my dad and nods. Dad nods back, and Stanzor strides around all of us, heading briskly for the door of the tent as if he can’t spare a single moment. All of our gazes follow him in silence until dad clears his throat.

We turn back to him.

“We need Counselors – especially wolf-born – present majorly in the Children of Solace tent,” he says, even and calm as he always is. “Everyonewillremember that though these two groups are fighting each other, every single person you treat is a citizen of Clythera. We owe them all our service. Now, if you’ll –”

“Are we going to get more nurses? Maybe somewolfnurses?”

Dad slowly turns his gaze in the direction of the voice, and I grimace when I see dad swallow.

“This is not a meeting that is going to devolve into a bunch of shouted questions,” dad snaps, his tone withering. My shoulders hunch in sympathy for the nurse who asked – because dad, when he talks like that, means business. “However, this once, I will oblige you with an answer. No. No more nurses will be coming into this camp so that we can keep our presence here as secret as we can.”

I shake my head, wondering when that began. Do the Children of Solace alreadyknowwhere we are?

“You will be briefed further on your individual tasks. Do your best and keep yourheadsabout you tonight. This will…not be easy.”

Dad pauses, looking around at all of us, his expression a mixture of pride and worry. One that’s actually very familiar to me. I can’t help but smile.

“All right,” he says, lifting his chin towards the tent. “Your names and duties have been listed on the facility to which you have been assigned. If you have any questions, address them to your Chief Nursing Officer, who will answer or relay them to me. Good luck.”

Dad turns away, and we all move as one, eager to discover our names and roles.

“Oh geeze,” Shay says, looking between Grace and me. “I hope we’re all together.”

“That doesn’tmatter, Shay,“ Grace says, frowning at our friend as she ties her hair up in a bun. “It’s not a sorority. We’re all going to be put in the roles in which we can best help.”

Shay pouts a little. “I can best help when I’m with you.” We turn together and head towards the door. “Also,” Shay whispers, true anxiety in her words now. “I hope that I’m in the human medical tent. I don’t…I didn’t like treating the Children of Solace wolves.”

I glance at her as we reach the door, nodding, hoping the same. They really made it hell for her, with all the red hair stuff.

Cole turns with us at the door, stepping out into the sunshine. I glance up at him. “Are youassignedto follow us around like a little lost kitten?”

“Yes,” he says, dry, glancing down at me.

I laugh a little, but then…kind of wonder if that’s true. Honestly, in times like this, I wouldn’t be surprised if Cole found some way to assign himself as my personal bodyguard. His instincts and personality run toward the overprotective.

But I put the thought from my mind, my eyes focusing on the job sheet posted on the wall of the new tent. It takes us a moment to get to the front, all the other nurses looking first, but we wait patiently and in silence for our turn.