Marked in Flesh

  Erebus stood—and the meeting was over. Vlad led Simon, Elliot, Henry, and Tess back to where they’d parked the minivan. Four Sanguinati, still in smoke form, kept watch at the gate.

  They drove back to the Green Complex in silence. Henry parked the minivan in one of the visitors’ parking spaces across from the complex, and they all went to their apartments.

  Simon stripped and tossed his clothes on the sofa before shifting to Wolf and going out again. He sniffed around the complex, watered a couple of trees, then returned to the summer room below Meg’s apartment, shifting one paw just enough to open the door.

  “Hi,” she said.

  He stopped just inside the door. He’d thought she’d be asleep since there was no light on.

  “It’s going to be a busy weekend, isn’t it? The Addirondak Wolves will arrive in a few days for a week of people watching.” Meg laughed softly. “I don’t think it sunk in until Merri Lee, Ruth, and I were talking this evening that that’s what this is about—people watching.”

  Interacting, actually. The Others watched humans all the time. Not that watching had stopped things from going wrong.

  Nothing he could do about Toland. Nothing he could do about dead bison in Joe’s territory. But he could help Joe by sending books for the Others and the Intuits. He could help Jackson deal with the Hope pup. And he and Meg and the human pack and the terra indigene here in Lakeside could show the Elders who were watching closely that terra indigene and humans could work together to keep Thaisia a good place for all of them.

  He gave Meg’s hand a couple of licks, then settled down next to her lounge chair and fell asleep.

  • • •

  Jerked out of a light sleep, Monty grabbed the phone on the second ring, scrubbing a hand over his face as if that would make his brain function—or convince his heart that Lizzy was still safe. “Hello?”

  “Crispin?”

  Monty’s heart banged against his chest as he turned on a lamp and looked at his watch. “Mama? What’s wrong?” Had to be something wrong for her to call him at midnight.

  Twyla Montgomery sighed, a sad, tired sound. “I got handed my walking papers today. Security guard watched me clean out my locker, even checked my bag afterward to make sure I wasn’t taking anything that wasn’t mine before walking me out the door.”

  “Fired?” Monty couldn’t get his mind around that bit of information. “You were fired?”

  “Wasn’t needed anymore. Have to provide jobs for those more deserving.”

  “They said that?” Then it clicked. “They wanted you to join the HFL in order to keep your job.”

  “As if I need to belong to some organization in order to clean the toilets those fools mess up every day.”

  “Gods.” Monty rested his head against the back of the couch. “Mama, you did right not joining the HFL. They’re doing nothing but stirring up trouble.”

  “You think I can’t see that?”

  The dry tone made him smile. His mama didn’t tolerate fools—especially fools who wore suits that cost more than she made in a month. But his smile faded as he realized what losing the job meant for her. “When do you have to move out of your apartment?”

  “Soon. I can stay with your sister for a few days, but she’s got her troubles too.”

  How long since he’d talked to Sierra? His sister sent letters, breezy bits of news that, he realized now, didn’t actually tell him much.

  Monty looked around his apartment. Lizzy was spending the night with Sarah Denby, Eve and Pete’s daughter. He’d intended to crash at the efficiency apartment in the Courtyard, but Captain Burke made a comment about possession being nine-tenths of the law—a pointed reminder that his landlady had a key and could decide he’d abandoned the place, which she could rent for twice as much as what he was currently paying. He wanted to keep this one-bedroom apartment until his lease ran out at the end of the year—or until the Courtyard took possession of the two buildings on Crowfield Avenue and he and Lizzy could move into one of the two-bedroom apartments.

  “You often say that opportunities come out of bad moments as often as they come out of good.”

  “Where’s the good in me being fired?” Twyla demanded.

  “I need help taking care of Lizzy. Some friends are looking after her while I’m at work, but Eve has a job and her own two kids. I’ve been thinking about this ever since Lizzy arrived in Lakeside. She needs you, Mama. So do I.”

  A thoughtful silence. “Any chance of me finding work where you are now?”

  Monty hesitated. “Maybe.”

  “I’m not living off my children, Crispin. Not you, not Sierra.”

  He noticed she didn’t mention Jimmy, Monty’s younger brother. Then again, Jimmy still came around looking for a handout, despite being a married man with two children of his own. And he always left feeling resentful when he didn’t get that handout.

  “There might be work available, but I’m not sure how you’d feel about the employers.”

  “Are they more of those HFL fools?”

  “No, Mama. They are definitely not members of the HFL.”

  “Well, I’ll think on it.”

  “You have enough money for a train ticket?”

  “I’ve got enough put by. Might take the bus instead.”

  He bit back a protest. Plenty of people traveled by bus. “You let me know when you’re coming and where to meet you. I’ll be there.”

  A soft sigh. “Thank you, Crispin. Talking to you has eased my heart. I’ll say good night now.”

  “Good night, Mama.”

  She hung up first. She always did since he just couldn’t hang up on her.

  Monty stood up and stretched. He was already entangled with the Others at the Lakeside Courtyard. He wasn’t sure he wanted to ask Simon to give his mother a job.

  CHAPTER 13

  Watersday, Juin 9

  “We don’t usually come up to Bennett more than once a week to pick up supplies,” Tobias Walker said as he pulled into a parking space at the train station.

  Joe Wolfgard tried to identify the tone in the man’s voice. “Are you complaining about this second trip because Bennett is a long way from Prairie Gold?”

  “Nope. Just providing information that you might find useful.” Tobias crossed his wrists over the top of the steering wheel. “We try to conserve fuel in the general way of things. It’s especially important right now because the fuel truck that fills up the underground tanks at the gas station didn’t show up yesterday when it was supposed to. We’ve got one emergency vehicle that’s equipped to bring someone here to Bennett if the person is too sick or injured for the doctor to handle at our little clinic. That vehicle gets its tank filled before any others. The dairy farm’s refrigerated truck also gets priority. Folks tend to fill up near the time when the next delivery is due so that we receive our full allotment of gasoline.”

  “Can we buy fuel for the pickup truck here?” Joe asked. Was finding out what happened to a fuel truck part of his responsibility now, or was it considered a problem between humans? Simon might know, although Blair might be the one he should ask because the Lakeside Courtyard’s dominant enforcer spent more time driving vehicles and probably had more experience buying gasoline.

  “We can—providing the gas station here received its scheduled supply of gasoline.” Tobias hesitated. “The guests you’re expecting. Do they know all we’ve got to offer is simple rooms at a motel?”

  “Jesse Walker told Vlad what was available, so he knows.”

  “Is there a reason your guests don’t want to stay at your settlement? Just asking.”

  “Vlad was specific about the living arrangements.” But not specific about who was arriving with the books. That made him uneasy, but there was no point howling about it until there was a reason to howl.

  They reached the platform just as the train pulled in. Half the station was a waiting area for humans. The other half was an area for merchandise and packages that came in by tr
ain. It made Joe think of Meg Corbyn’s office with a person at the counter and a separate room to hold packages until someone came to collect them.

  Humans hurried down the steps of the two passenger cars. Some looked pale, smelled weak. If he were hunting with a pack of Wolves, he would focus on the weak-smelling prey as the easiest to bring down.

  “Must have some la-di-da folks on the train this time,” Tobias said.

  “La-di-da?” Joe had never heard of such a human.

  Tobias lifted his chin to indicate the third passenger car. “Rich. Important. Don’t always see a private car.”

  Rich. Important. Or lethal, Joe thought as he watched a male with a carryall descend, then turn and offer a hand to the female. The male was dressed in a black suit with a pale gray shirt. The female wore a long, old-fashioned black velvet gown with draping sleeves. They both had olive skin, black hair, and dark eyes. The male, by himself, could have passed for human and blended into a crowd—at least for a little while. The female made no effort to hide what she was.

  “Gods above and below,” Tobias breathed. “Are they . . . ?”

  “Sanguinati,” Joe finished. “Come on.” He moved quickly, more to keep the humans from panicking if they realized who was now among them than because he was in a hurry to meet his guests.

  The male saw them and smiled, while the female glided down the platform to watch the men who were unloading the baggage cars.

  Joe smelled fear in Tobias’s sweat. Not a good way to begin with predators like the Sanguinati.

  “Joe Wolfgard?” the male said. “I am Tolya Sanguinati. We met a few months ago in Lakeside.” He moved his hand in a slight gesture that indicated the other Sanguinati. “Vlad told you to expect us?”

  “He did.” Joe glanced toward the men who were carefully unloading boxes near the female, stacking them as if to build a wall between the humans and her.

  The Sanguinati had been among the terra indigene who had destroyed the Controller and the compound where he had kept cassandra sangue like Meg Corbyn. Joe could appreciate them as predators, but he wasn’t sure he could be friends with one the way Simon was friends with Vlad.

  Now I know why Vlad wanted them staying near humans, although, when they’re smoke, they could hunt anything at night.

  “This is Tobias Walker, the foreman of Prairie Gold’s ranch,” Joe said.

  “We brought many books for Jesse Walker and Shelley Bookman,” Tolya said as the female joined them. “This is Nyx.”

  “Ma’am.” Tobias brushed the brim of his hat with a finger before turning to Joe. “Mr. Wolfgard, we should get the boxes loaded and be on our way.”

  Hearing wariness, Joe looked around. There were too many humans paying attention to them. “Yes, we should.”

  Tobias wrangled a cart from the baggage handlers. Joe helped him stack the boxes on the cart and roll it out to the parking area while Tolya and Nyx trailed after them.

  After they loaded the boxes into the pickup’s bed, Joe remembered Tobias’s comment about making trips up to Bennett. “Do we need to buy anything while we’re in town?”

  “Just gas for the truck.” Tobias shifted his eyes in Nyx’s direction but didn’t look at her. He simply opened the passenger door. “Ma’am.”

  She shifted to smoke from the waist down and flowed into the pickup.

  “There’s room on the seat for you, too, Tolya,” Joe said. “I can ride in the back.”

  Tobias shot him a panicked look before lowering his head enough for his hat to hide his face.

  “I can ride in the back with you,” Tolya said.

  Joe shook his head and patted a hand against his leg. “This clothing fits in with riding in the back of a pickup. Your clothing does not—at least while we’re in the human town.” Once they left Bennett, it wouldn’t matter, and he thought Tobias would feel less threatened if there was only one Sanguinati riding up front with him.

  “You are more familiar with the customs in this part of Thaisia.” Tolya got in and pulled the passenger door shut.

  Joe jumped into the back and settled in the remaining space. Lots of books. More than he’d expected Simon and Vlad to send to the humans. Then he noticed his name on two of the boxes and happily realized they had sent books for the terra indigene settlement too.

  Tobias came around and closed the tailgate. “Mr. Wolfgard . . .”

  “They aren’t going to feed on you,” Joe said, then added silently, At least not while you’re driving.

  Tobias got behind the wheel and drove to the gas station. As he pulled in, Joe studied the human males who were gathered around watching a man in overalls tape a hand-printed sign above the pumps.

  Tolya said.

  As soon as Tobias pulled up to the pumps and shut off the truck, Joe vaulted over the tailgate and came around to stop Tobias from biting the man with overalls. Or punching him. Punching was more likely, since Tobias had strong hands from ranch work but small teeth.

  “What kind of crap is this?” Tobias demanded. “You doubled the price of gas when you saw us coming?”

  “Supply and demand,” Overalls said, giving Tobias a nasty smile. The smile slipped away when Tolya opened the passenger door and stepped out of the pickup, but Overalls focused on Tobias. “You should know about supply and demand.”

  “We do,” Tolya said so pleasantly it made Joe shiver. Then the Sanguinati gave Tobias a look that warned the human not to make trouble. “Since you had to make the trip on our behalf, I will pay for the gasoline.” He took a wallet out of his suit coat, then held up two fifty-dollar bills as he focused on Overalls. “So that you know we can pay.”

  Wanting to get away from the town and this pack of humans who seemed ready to attack, Joe opened the gas cap and snapped, “Tobias.” Then to Tolya,

 

  The ominous words made him uneasy, but the scent in the air—there and gone as the wind shifted—was more disturbing.

  “What they’re doing isn’t right,” Tobias said as he started to pump the gas.

  Joe growled at him because this wasn’t the time or place to discuss human meanness or greed—not when the Elders were so close to the town their scent was in the air.

  Tobias filled the tank, Tolya paid for the gas, and they drove away as the pack of men made what Joe assumed were insulting comments.

  Joe asked Tolya.

 

  As soon as they crossed the Bennett town line, Tobias pulled over and Nyx and Tolya got out. Joe, riding in the bed of the pickup, removed his shirt, then pulled off his shoes.

  “I need to be Wolf.” He stood up and unbuckled his belt.

  “Wait a minute,” Tobias protested.

  Joe shook his head. “I need to be Wolf.” He pushed the jeans down his legs and stepped out of them, kicking them aside before he shifted into a form that felt natural and had sharper senses. He gave his fur a good shake, then sat down and looked at Tobias, who had turned his back to the truck.

  “We can continue now,” Tolya said politely.

  Tobias looked over his shoulder, then turned to face them. “I’ve got things to say.”

  When he didn’t continue, Tolya said, “We are listening.” Then to Joe,

  That was Joe’s opinion too.

  Tolya relayed the message.

  “They expected us,” Tobias said. “Maybe they knew the fuel truck hadn’t reached Prairie Gold yesterday, and anyone coming up to Bennett would be looking to buy gas. You could afford to pay that
price today, and I do appreciate it. But tomorrow the price might double again, and what’s the next person coming to town supposed to do? Gamble they’ll have enough fuel to get home because they can’t afford to pay those prices? Hope the fuel truck will have made the delivery to our gas station?”

  “I can assist Joe in finding out why the fuel truck didn’t arrive in your town,” Tolya said. “Between us, we should be able to find a more reliable vendor—in other words, an oil refinery that belongs to the terra indigene and is run by Intuits.”

  Tobias blinked. “There are such places?”

  “One or two. Enough to ensure that Intuit villages have what they need for essential transportation and machinery. Production is limited, but I think we can arrange for your town to be supplied that way from now on.”

  Joe tried not to growl. Had Tolya come to Prairie Gold to take his place as the leader of the terra indigene settlement? If that was the case, he should have been told, since he’d been selected as the new leader here less than a month ago. Although having a terra indigene around who knew about these human things like refineries would be useful. He had been among the terra indigene who could pass for human, and he’d had some human-centric education, so he could deal with humans on behalf of his own kind. But unlike Simon, he had never wanted to run a Courtyard or even live in one.

  “We understand about supply and demand, Mr. Walker,” Tolya said. “When there is a glut of prey, predators come in from other territories to hunt and feed. There is enough for all of us, and our young survive and grow strong and, in their turn, learn to hunt. When the prey becomes thin, predators travel back to their own territories, or else they end up fighting among themselves for a share of the kill. Not all of their young survive, nor do the weakest among them. Eventually Namid’s balance is restored, and there is enough food for both predators and prey.”

  Tobias swallowed hard. “So you’re saying there’s a glut of prey in Bennett?”