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Everyone else grumbles their agreement as I just sigh happily, excitement fluttering in my chest.

Cole looks at me last and huffs a frustrated sigh briefly through his nose, shaking his head and turning his attention forward to start the car. We’re bothverywell aware that I don’t need to be on this trip and that I pulled my “you make the rules, Nadia” card. Cole only gave in to appease me and probablywouldprefer that I stay here, safe and sound.

But I want to go. And he included Tommy on the trip roster for double protection, so how dangerous can it be?

“Seriously, Nadi,” Shayne whispers, bringing her mouth close to my ear. “Why are wedoingthis?”

“Because there might be people who need our help,” I whisper back.

“The town has been empty for days!” Rose calls over her shoulder, her wolf hearing letting her eavesdrop on our private conversation. “They assured that before they allowedmeto go!”

I glare, of course, but it’s wasted. Rose doesn’t look back at me.

Cole starts to drive, pulling the jeep out of the camp and heading into the darkness of the woods. I can see the tenseness in the back of his neck, the set of his shoulders, and I grin.

It’s fun, getting Cole Kincaid all worked up.

Shayne just sighs and leans against me, worried.

“It’ll be fun, Shay,” I say, quite cheerful. “Don’t you want answers about what’s goingonwith these people?”

She looks at me, worried. “Honestly, Nadi, I kind of don’t. I volunteered for this job because I wanted to do good things and be with you and Grace and meet the wolf boys. I don’tcareas much about the mysterious politics behind this war as you do.”

“Well, you’ve got two of those things,” Tommy says, peering over at us from Shayne’s other side, his face sympathetic.

I look around Shay at the tall, broad-shouldered wolf, taking in his dark brown eyes and the chestnut hair that falls into his face. He smiles kindly at her, not looking at me at all.

“What?” Shay asks, turning to him.

“What if it’s a date?” he asks, holding out his hand to her. “I mean, it’s pretty clear that Nadia just made you tag along for leverage –“

I huff, appalled, pressing an offended hand to my heart. I don’t let the fact that he’s right ruffle my offended little feathers.

“So?” He continues, smiling softly at her. “What if we leave the mysterious politics behind? Make it what we want it to be?”

“Whatwewant it to be?” Shay asks, slipping her hand into Tommy’s, beaming at the tall, handsome wolf boy, clearly delighted by this turn of events.

“Sure,” he says, grinning at her, not taking his eyes from her face. “We. I’d have asked you out long before now, Shayne – except there’s nowhere to go. Who knew a former war zone would present itself so conveniently?”

She laughs, turning to him completely, obviously charmed. I bite my lip, happy for her, pleased that this is working out. It was a little selfish to make her come – I just didn’t want to be alone with Cole and Stupid Rose. I need numbers on my side.

But if Shayne gets something out of this too? Then it’s a win all around.

Shayne and Tommy chat happily as we move through the woods, the car shaking a little more than is comfortable over the rough dirt paths that stretch between our camp and the Children of Solace. Any attempt to call them roads would be a stretch.

I take the next thirty or so minutes to admire the beauty of the desert, the stars that spread above us almost horizon to horizon, enjoying the feel of the breeze on my face.

But my breath hitches in surprise when we arrive at the Children of Solace town quite suddenly, driving around the edge of a huge shadowy rock structure into a clearing that presents itself out of nowhere – a town spreading itself out before us. I look around wide-eyed as Cole slows the car, pulling it to a stop beside a narrow stream. This place – it’s…bigger than I expected it to be. And much more elaborate, even if it is run-down.

“Wow,” I whisper, unbuckling my belt and standing in the jeep to get a better look. A full moon above quietly lights about forty buildings of several sizes and in varying states of repair. Between the buildings stretch well-worn dirt paths that make it clear that lots of people were living here.

Lots. Hundreds.

I had…no idea it was so big.

But…where are they all now?

“Oh, this is amazing,” Rose murmurs, standing in the front seat and lifting her camera, already taking snap after snap. “I’m so glad we got a clear night. This is fantastic, Cole.”