Page 23

“ I t’s nice to have someone to talk to. It’s also nice to have someone who can fish and hunt as good as you do.”

The barred owl rotated its head to look at her and hooted in response.

A wide grin spread across Jayden’s face.

Three days ago, she woke up feeling surprisingly refreshed, only to be greeted by the sight of a dead rabbit staring back at her.

She had barely silenced the scream that threatened to escape her lips.

Only after she sat up did she notice the owl perched on a dead tree trunk; its eyes fixed on her from several yards away.

After she had skinned and cleaned the rabbit, she tossed the remnants out for the owl, who eagerly devoured the remains of the poor creature.

She cleaned the meat of the rabbit in the rain before building a spit over her small firepit.

While the rabbit sizzled over the fire, she diligently worked on cleaning the pelt and gathering a selection of tiny bones to repurpose as needles and hooks.

Every part of the animal would be used, leaving nothing to waste.

As she savored the moist, perfectly roasted meat, a comforting warmth spread through her stomach, lifting her spirits after days of feeling down.

The heavy showers persisted for the following three days, leaving everything drenched and muddy.

Jayden took the time to inventory her supplies, dry her wet clothing over the fire, and study the map she had taken.

Nature’s call was the only thing that could compel her to venture from her small, makeshift abode. Luckily, amidst the silver blankets, she stumbled upon a poncho that had been haphazardly thrown in. Once or twice a day, the owl would return, bringing gifts of food. This morning it was a trout.

“The rains have slowed. I need to continue on my journey today,” she explained, looking at the owl who pecked at the remains of the fish she had laid out on a large leaf.

The owl looked up and blinked at her before returning its attention to its meal.

Jayden studied the creature. She wasn’t concerned that the owl was a shifter.

She had seen them all her life in the forest. Her people thought of them as guardians.

The elders often told stories at night about how the owls would warn them if shifters were close.

She remembered asking them how they knew the owls were not shifters. Why would owls want to protect humans? Could shifters not change into birds?

Shifters can take many forms. There are said to be shifters who can change into the forms of the great eagle.

The owl is wise. He knows there needs to be balance.

The eagle is a predator who thinks only with its stomach.

It can be greedy like the shifters. Seeking only to destroy for pleasure. The owl is our brother.

She studied the owl. “You aren’t a shifter—are you?”

The owl continued to peck at the fish, swallowing some of the gut. She shook her head at her wayward thoughts. The owl simply wanted a dry, safe place during the storm. It wasn’t that unusual. She had witnessed other creatures doing the same.

But they didn’t bring you food.

Perhaps it was just dropping it to eat later and I took it as a gift. Once it realized that I wouldn’t eat it all, it was happy to share.

She argued back and forth with herself as she packed her meager supplies. Dousing the fire, she did what she could to conceal her presence. Once she was satisfied, she climbed out from under the tree and stretched.

After four days of mostly sitting or lying down, she was stiff. She worked her muscles while she scanned the surrounding area. The owl hopped out before lifting off and landing in a nearby tree.

“Keep watch,” she requested.

The owl’s head turned as if following her request. Jayden smiled and rearranged the brush to help hide where she had sheltered. Hopefully, the rain would do a good job of concealing her scent and the dirt she had piled over the firepit would hide the aroma of smoke.

The strange, heavy feeling was threatening to build again inside her. She shoved it down. Time was her enemy and distance was her friend. She needed to get moving. She had already lost enough time because of the weather.

She looked over at the owl. Its head was twisted around until it looked like it was stuck on backwards. A rueful smile curved her lips when it swiveled back around.

“I won’t even tell you how weird that is. I’m heading that way, just in case you were interested in going the same way. If not, that’s okay. I understand. Thank you for all your help the last few days.”

She pressed her lips together. She was beginning to sound needy.

Bending, she picked up her backpack, slung it over her shoulders and strapped it on before she grabbed her lance, which was leaning against the branches she had artfully arranged.

She released a deep sigh, scanning her temporary home once more before setting off.

Nightsky Estate

Talon glanced up at the clock. He had postponed his meeting with Juliette four days earlier after his confrontation with Michaela. The grizzly shifter was more than a figure-head politician. She was shrewd and was as brilliant about human-shifter history as her brother.

He had underestimated her. That thought still burned.

He tapped his fingers on the list of names in front of him.

There was a mole at the SBSI and he was still no closer to discovering who it was than he was at finding out who employed the resurrected mercenaries he and the other Guardians had killed outside the human encampment.

The soft tap on the door alerted him that Juliette had arrived. He rose at the same time as the door opened and Olive peered in. He gave the housekeeper a reassuring smile and nod. Olive returned his smile and opened the door further.

“Miss Juliette for you, sir,” Olive said.

“Thank you, Olive. Can you bring a refreshment tray in,” he requested.

“Of course.”

“Thank you for coming. Would you care for a drink?” he asked.

“Of course,” she replied, walking over to the couch and sitting down. “Have you talked to the others?”

He shook his head. “Not yet. There have been some… unexpected developments that I’ve been working on. I thought it was best to have more answers than questions,” he replied.

She lifted a delicate eyebrow at his rueful tone. He poured her a glass of whiskey, walked over, and handed it to her before he sank down in the chair across from her. They sipped on their drinks.

Olive’s knock alerted them that she had returned with a tray of refreshments.

As soon as Olive set the tray on the table, the aroma of freshly baked bread and savory dishes filled the air, making him acutely aware of his hunger.

As she pulled back the cover, the aroma of succulent lemon-glazed trout, rice pilaf, and roasted vegetables wafted through the air.

“You need something a little more substantial than finger foods,” Olive said.

“Thank you, Olive. This looks magnificent,” Juliette praised.

“I’ll return later with a nice dessert and coffee,” Olive replied before she exited the room, closing the door behind her.

“I swear if Thaddeus ever fires Robert again, I’m kidnapping both him and Olive and taking them home with me,” Juliette threatened.

He chuckled when she took a bite of the delicious meal and moaned. He had to agree with her. The meal melted in his mouth and warmed his empty stomach.

“I may have to smother the old owl if he does. Has there been any word on the missing female?” he asked.

Juliette shook her head. “No. Van and Peterson have been searching for her. It hasn’t been easy with the weather, but I would have been shocked if they had quit. With the break in the weather, Grayson and Beau have gone to meet up with them. They will also have Rigo.”

He nodded. That was a good team, especially with Rigo.

If Juliette was correct and Jayden was the two wolf shifters’ mate, they would never give up on finding and protecting her.

The weather had hindered the use of any satellite imagery.

Searching for the woman was like searching for a specific pine needle in a forest.

“What have you found out?” she asked.

He sighed, touched his serviette to the corners of his mouth, and sat back in his chair. Reaching for his glass of bourbon, he was surprised to notice that he had cleaned his plate. He sipped his drink before he answered her.

“I’ve narrowed the list of suspects who could be the mole in the SBSI.”

She studied his face with a shrewd look. “But?—?”

He shook his head and twirled the amber liquid in his glass, studying the way the liquid formed a whirlpool. The corner of his mouth twitched as the imagery mirrored his current thoughts.

“My gut says I’m being manipulated.”

“Ah.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “And that means?”

“Ah.”

She chuckled and sat back against the couch cushion. He scowled back at her. She hid her grin by lifting her glass of whiskey to her lips and taking a sip. She tilted her head to the side and waited.

“Tell me why your gut feels you are being manipulated,” she said.

He rose and stepped over to the fireplace mantle. Staring into the flames, he thought about the report. He sighed again, walked over to his desk, and retrieved the report he had pulled. Walking back to the couch, he held it out to Juliette. She took the report and read through it.

“There are only four others besides myself that have access to the satellite that took the picture that you found in the helicopter.”

She studied the list and the description next to each one. “Do any of them have any personal financial problems? Gambling? Medical? New relationships?”

He shook his head. “That was the first thing I checked.”