Page 18 of Catnip

“You looked as surprised, when we foundthem…”

“Because they had weird, glowing marks, and their eyes were bright as neon signs. That part, I hadn’tanticipated.”

He returned to his work, hoping that was the last of thedistractions.

“Exactly how smart are you?” Daunte asked, making himsmile.

He may or may not have graduated with a Master’s online at nineteen. The initial members of the pride knew that. They’d just forgotten it, or forgotten what it meant. Back when he had been a different person, before his banishment, he used to love solving puzzles, winning chess games in a few moves. Just because he was now their muscle didn’t mean he didn’t still have the highest IQ in the pride, at 144. They’d tested him in middle school, because he’d been so bored they’d figured he could stand to jump a fewclasses.

He knew better than to tell that to Daunte, though. The man would never leave it alone if he knew. Coveney justshrugged.

“Ace made a few calls already. The Flavia Dale are pretty big in Europe. Like, royalty big, amongst the shifters. They get visits from government officials; Rye’s father, our goddamn king, said they’re huge. If she manages to prove her family was right, if this whole First story is true, she might get back to her place, youknow.”

He didn’t actually. Recalling how she’d said she was done with Dale, he doubtedit.

“What will you do, then? You’d leaveus?”

Everything in him recoiled at that very idea. If anyone had asked him whether he’d planned to leave the Wyverns yesterday, even while they were about to get massacred, his answer would have beenno, never. He wouldn’t even havehesitated.

Now, he frowned, and stayed silent, utterlytorn.

“This is a pointless conversation. You’re asking about the end of a movie as soon as the opening credits haverolled.”

He was being vague as shit, because he honestly didn’t have an answer. Daunte might very well have called him out on it, but, thankfully, they wereinterrupted.

They all felt it to their bones when their front door opened. They rushed out of the Enforcer office at the same time as Rye and Ace came out of theirs; Christine popped her head out from the livingroom.

They all stared in silence at the stranger who’d just pushed past their wards without activating them. He’d entered their home like it wasn’t locked under deadbolts, simply pushing the dooropen.

The man seemed to be in his twenties, older than Daunte, a little younger than Coveney, perhaps. He had blond hair on the longer side; it fell in front of his cold, piercing grey eyes without botheringhim.

Anywhere, he would have stood out; not only because he looked like a goddamn movie star, but his presence seemed strange, eerie. He wore a fitted suit, and, more remarkable yet, there was a cane in his hand, although he walked easily, without a limp. He used it at each step, though. Each slow, predatorystep.

Ace crossed the room, her hand extended, smiling athim.

“Knox.”

Fight

He lookedat the hand like he expected it to bite him, but, finally, placing his cane on the crook of his elbow, he shookit.

“Aisling. Still alive, Isee.”

He inclined his head respectfully. She rolled her eyes. “So, you’ve heard about our little issue with thecouncil.”

He smiled, and from the top of the stairs, Ava definitely saw a flash of his whiteteeth.

“Hearing things is what I do. I’m surprised you didn’t think to come to me for aid,” he challenged, lifting abrow.

Ace was absolutely non-apologetic. “There was a chance you might have wanted to join our enemies, and, quite frankly, I didn’t need you enough to riskthat.”

The wolf chuckled low. “Clever woman. Now, I hear you have a little bird under yourroof.”

His cold, piercing gaze rose slowly, until he was looking right ather.

Shit.

Ava gulped, walking down thestairs.

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