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“I’m not happy about you going to Rome on your own,” Doc murmured.

“I wouldn’t let the three of them go without protection,” Horvan announced.

“I’ll go,” Brick blurted, and Seth gave him a grateful glance.

“Are you sure you’re up to this?” Doc peered at Jake, his voice laced with concern.

Jake smiled. “No, but I’m going to do it anyway. When we’ve got all the answers,thenI’ll rest. I have to do this.”

“Can we go back a bit?” Crank’s brows knitted. “What about Theron?”

“What about him?” Horvan asked.

“Well, are we gonna leave the bastard alive? He’swaymore dangerous than Fielding ever was.”

“Theron will remain our captive.” Aelryn’s voice rang out. “But if Jake and Orsini are right, we’re about to deal him a blow that will leave its mark. And we might yet have need of him.”

Roadkill gazed at Aelryn. “You really believe that, don’t you? That whatever Theron’s hiding in those caskets is dynamite.”

Aelryn nodded.

“I can’t escape the feeling that in our world—the world of shifters, that is—this moment is where it pivots.” Orsini shivered. “May the gods watch over all of us.”

“We have medical facilities on the outskirts of Manchester,” Aelryn told them. “There’s a clinic where we’ll take Alec.”

“A clinic for shifters?” Crank arched his eyebrows.

Aelryn smiled. “For everyone, but yes, mostly for shifters.”

Crank peered at Doc. “The ole secret shifter network strikes again, huh?”

Doc’s eyes gleamed. “We’re everywhere.”

“Do you think the day will ever come when all humans can learn about shifters?” Saul asked.

“One day, perhaps.” Aelryn sighed. “But not yet. You’re not ready for it.” He turned to Doc. “What facilities will you require?”

“A lab, for one thing. And isolation for Alec. We’ll need to tranquilize him for travel. And glove up his hands as a precaution.”

Horvan winced.They turned him into a killing machine.

Something you need to think about, Rael interjected.They did this to Alec. Who’s to say they haven’t done it to other kids? What if there aremoreAlecs out there?

Horvan didn’t even want to contemplate such a horrific idea, but they had to know. “Aelryn, how are your people doing with the medical records we got from the Maine camp?”

“It’s been slow so far. My tech team is examining all the laptops and data recovered. As soon as we find something, I’ll report back to you.”

Jamie cleared his throat, and Horvan gave him an inquiring glance. “Something on your mind?”

His face flushed. “It’s just… look, I don’t think I can be of much use to y’all. So if it’s okay with you, I’m going to catch a flight to Boston and go to the school. I’m not a fighter, all right? But I might make a good teacher. And if there’s a chance of that, I want to try.”

“You won’t stay away too long, will you?” Dellan’s voice quavered.

Jamie smiled. “Don’t you worry. Now that I’ve found you and Seth and…. Dad, I won’t be away from you for too long. And I promise to stay in touch.”

“I’ll have one of my team take you to Manchester,” Aelryn said. “You’ll be sure of a flight from there.” He glanced around the table. “Before you all disappear to get some rest, I would like to say….” He smiled. “It has been an honor to meet all of you. There are no finer fighters, even among my own men.” He met Eve’s gaze. “Men being a generic term, you understand.”

She grinned. “I’d assumed as much.”