Page 83 of Shifter's Homecoming

Trent reached out to touch a branch. Remington and Rowan came outside and did the same. Remington’s mouth was wide open and his eyes said he just did not believe what he was seeing. Troy just grinned and hugged his female.

Trent was impressed. Amazed really, this was some crazy shit. “But what does it look like from the road?” he said. “It’s a good thing we’re out in the boondocks.”

Troy waved a hand. “Eh, if anyone sees it we’ll just say we’re making a movie.”

“What if they materialize right inside here?” Trent said.

A branch moved toward him and poked him in the gut.

“Ouch!” he said, irritated, but also convinced. “Ok. Ok. Ok. It’s a plan.”

The forestheavedagain, and the branches withdrew.

Remington was the last one left staring at the forest.

53 - Showtime

Another hour passed slowly, feeling like a full day. Nothing had changed, except Reed had gone back to sleep. Troy was patrolling again. Trent was up and pacing, watching the reservoir again, a pad of paper full of notes and ideas on the chair behind him. He’d told thefelenhe wanted one of them in the forest on one side of the reservoir, and the other in the forest on the other side, and for them to stay available. They’d seemed like they would comply. He’d quizzed them on their knowledge ofthe holdand found it satisfactory.

Troy came back as a wolf, shaking his head, making his ears fly.They’re coming, Trent. Something is about to happen, I can feel it.

I feel it,too.Trent said.Graeme,he called inruhi.I hope you’re on your way.

There was no response from Graeme.

Reed came out the door, her eyes wide, her steps unsure. She ran into the wall on the way out, then recovered, rubbing her shoulder.

“Khain is in the forest,” she said.

Showtime,Troy said in his mind.

An explosion ripped through the night, right in the middle of the forest where they could not see it, making Troy jump rather like a cat, then come down facing the other way in a predator’s crouch, snarling and biting at the hot, rippling air.

Trent put a hand on the railing, ready to jump it, but first he sought out his mate through the open window. She was inside, at her counter, with her hands over her mouth and fear in her eyes and she was staring at the place where fire and smoke belched from the treetops.

“Rowan,” he called to get her eyes on him. When she looked, he said. “You got this. We got this. Stay safe, keep working, fight like mad if you have to, and know that I love you.”

She nodded, but barely, her hands still over her mouth, panic clearly spreading in her eyes. Trent knew she would get a handle on herself, because really, she had no choice. He vaulted over the porch railing, landing on the cement below on booted feet.

“Lock this place down,” he told Reed.

The trees rushed in from all sides, making Trent step back. He shed his clothes and shifted. He ran for his brother, and they raced for the dam, side by side, just like the old days, except it wasn’t the old days. Nothing was the same.

The dam was empty and silent and not exploded. As one, the two wolves turned and raced into the forest, heading for the end cap. Trent called Trevor inruhi, but he only had time to say two words and he could not wait for a response:He’s here.

Above us,Troy said.

Trent saw it. Onefelen, in the trees, running along the branches, leaping from tree to tree, keeping pace with them. Good. The path they were on narrowed. Trent fell back and let Troy go first. They ran, noses to the ground, snarling, teeth at the ready.

They passed a sign, one that had not been there earlier. It had a dog on a leash, being choked by a cruel owner, and it said,All DOGS must be on LEASHES.Ten feet farther was another sign, this one had the silhouette of a tiny Chihuahua squatting and it said,Scoop Your Poop.They passed the signs and saw no more.

Troy twisted around a burning tree, running all out.We’re almost to the end cap, he said.Twenty more feet.

Then they saw him. Khain. The demon. The monster.

He stood as a man, in front of a massive hole in the ground, backlit by flames, wearing shitkicking boots, dark jeans, and a t-shirt that said,Somebody Call 911!

Neither Trent nor Troy hesitated. They knew Khain’s tricks. They’d fought him before. They knew that just the two of them against the demon almost certainly meant death for them, but none of that mattered as they did what they’d been born to do.

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