TWENTY-FOUR.

ROSE jogged at a brisk trot down the road. Her body ached.

There was clearly wisdom in all that running Declan did in the mornings. If she ever hoped to keep up with him, shead have to take up running, even though she hated it with a pa.s.sion. She walked a lot, but there was a world of difference between walking a few miles down the road and running for your life. And cleaning offices for ten hours a day didnat exactly improve her athletic ability. Shead have to ride better, too.

She did well enough at slow speed, but a canter would have her hanging on for dear life, and the gallop was right out.

She recalled Declan being all indignant about the boys not being able to ride a horse. Like everyone had a Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) d.a.m.n horse in the Edge. The only reason she knew how to ride was because Grandpa had insisted on keeping his half-blind old mare, Lovely. She remembered riding her as a child. Lovely died a few years back, and Grandpa had never replaced her.

She wondered if Grandpa Cletus wouldave approved of Declan.

Rose rounded the turn and glimpsed the house. She braced herself. There would be angry yelling and tears.

Shead get her way in the end, but it would take some harsh words.

A tall, dark-haired man stepped into the road from between the shrubs. He wore jeans and a black leather jacket over a faded T-shirt. Wild eyes looked at her, glowing like two pieces of amber.

William.

Rose halted.

He made no move to approach her. His face was grim, his mouth a severe line. aThe kids are safe,a he said.

aIave watched over them.a Fear trickled down her neck. She reminded herself that she could fry him with her flash at any moment.

aWhy are you here, William?a He shook his head. aI donat know.a She searched his face and saw a blank uncertainty tinted with wariness. Thatas exactly what Jack looked like when he blundered into the unfamiliar territory of human emotions and clenched up, not knowing what to say or do next. If Jack was any indication, William was stretched to his limit. He could snap and lash out at any moment.

aCome sit with me,a she said, keeping her voice calm. aWeall talk.a He followed her to the house. She removed the ward stones, letting him in, and pointed to the porch chairs.

Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) He sat on the steps instead, and she sat on the other side, keeping enough distance between them. She glanced at the kitchen window and saw two faces. They ducked, but not before she hit them with a first-rate scowl.

Rose looked back to William. He was at an emotional cliff, and one wrong word or look could push him over. Shead talked Jack from this same edge more than once.

Of course, an eight-year-old boy and a trained killer approaching his thirties were two different things.

Shead have to tread very carefully. Honesty was paramount. Jack instinctually sensed her lies, and William would probably do the same. It was best to stay away from subjects that might agitate him.

aI saw you with Declan,a he said. aAre the two of you . . . ?a There went the careful treading. aI love him,a she said.

aHuh.a He dragged his hand through his hair. aDoes he love you?a aI donat know. We didnat discuss it, so he doesnat know how I feel.a aWhy him? Why not me?a He had delivered the questions in a perfectly neutral tone, but she glimpsed the emotion behind ita"a lifetime of rejection. He deserved an honest answer, and she took a moment to think about it.

aItas difficult to explain. Weare alike in many ways. You wouldnat think it, but we are. He makes me feel wanted and safe, and he makes me laugh . . . He also irritates the daylights out of me. I almost flashed at him at one point.a She paused. aItas very hard to break love down to explainable pieces, William. Itas a force, a feeling. You know when you feel it and you know when you donat.a aSo you feel nothing for me?a The question was delivered in a flat, neutral voice.

Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) aThatas not quite right,a she said. aI donat know you well, but there are things I like about you. I like that youare honest. I like that youare patient and kind to the boys and that youave watched over them. I didnat like that you hung Emerson upside down on the tree and then scared me half to death.a aI was frustrated,a he said. aYou werenat happy.a He had made her a present and didnat understand why she wasnat thrilled. Just like Jack. aI appreciate the thought behind it. I still wish you hadnat done it.a William gave her a suspicious look.

aOnce George and an older boy got into a fight. The older boy hit George in the mouth and knocked him off his feet. Jack decided to jump in. He beat the older boy very badly. Broke his nose and knocked out a tooth.

He thought he was a hero. I grounded him for a week. If he had punched the boy and left it at that, I wouldave let it go. But he had done too much. Hanging Emerson off the tree was too much.a She sighed.

aBelieve it or not, Declan and I had this same discussion. I donat want anyone to fight my battles for me. Itas my business, and Iad like to handle it myself.a He considered it. aFair enough.a aI do have feelings for you,a she said. aGrat.i.tude for trying to watch out for the boys and for checking on me when Iad lost my job. But they arenat the same feelings as I have for Declan. When Declanas gone, I miss him very badly. Itas like something isnat quite right with the world.a aI get it,a he said. aBut what does that make you and me then?a aWe could be friends,a she said. aFriends make the world bearable. Itas an honor of sorts. Of all the people that a person knows, they pick you to be their friend, and you try to be worthy of that friendship. Or at least Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) I try. I donat really know you, but I feel we could become friends if we had more time.a Williamas face darkened.

aYou can tell a lot about the person by the company they keep,a Rose said. aFor example, you have a friend a"Declan. You must be a glutton for punishment.a William said nothing.

aHeas been trying very hard to find you,a she said. aThat time when you were on the phone with me and I wouldnat give it to him, he almost bit my head off.a No response.

aWhatas the deal with you and Declan?a she asked gently.

aWe were in the Legion together,a he said. aDid he tell you that part?a She nodded.

aItas easy to be in the Legion.a His voice went dull and toneless. aThey tell you when to get up, when to sleep, when to eat. What to wear. Who to kill. All you have to do is be where they tell you when they tell you and donat ask questions. We were in for a long time. Most people donat survive that long. He kept to himself, I kept to myself. Wead talk once in a while. Never said much, but he had my back and I had his. He dragged me out of a burning ship once and swam through the night until a cutter picked us up. I was out of it, a dead weight. I asked him why he did it, and he said because Iad do it for him. I thought he was like me, you see? A damaged twisted sonovab.i.t.c.h with no place to go.a He looked up. His eyes were full of fury.

aDo you know he has a family? His parents love him. He has a mother, and she loves him. His father thinks the sun rises and sets on Declanas word. Theyare proud of him. He has a sister, and she loves him, too! I went to see them when I became a n.o.ble, and she hugged him. He stood there, and in my head I saw all the Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) blood we spilled dripping from him, and I knew that they wouldnat care. All this time I was thinking he was f.u.c.ked up and alone like me, just hid it better. But no. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d couldave left the Legion anytime and they would take him back and love him anyway. You tell me, what kind of a sonovab.i.t.c.h walks away from a family like that?a She didnat know what to say. aIt isnat his fault that he has a family, William,a she said finally.

aNo. But I canat forgive him for it. I have nothing. The clothes on my back? I stole them. What you see is everything I own. The Legion was everything I had, until they took it away from me. Even that Declan threw away.a Rage emanated from him. William would kill Declan if he got his hands on him; she was sure of it. She had to steer him away from violence. aDeclan didnat want to leave the Legion. He doesnat care for being a n.o.ble.

He doesnat want the responsibility. He did it to help you.a aI didnat ask him to do it,a William snarled.

aBut he did it anyway,a Rose said. aI didnat ask you to attack Emerson, but you did it anyway.a aItas not the same.a aIt is. Sometimes people try to help us even when we donat want the help. What would you have done in his place, William?a aI wouldave broken him out,a William said.

aAnd some people wouldave died in the process, you would be wanted criminals, and then Declan would be p.i.s.sed off at you.a William leaned back. A long growl reverberated in his throat.

aWhy did you follow Ca.s.shorn out here?a she asked.

aBecause you knew Declan would come and youad get a chance to fight him?a Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) aNo. Once Ca.s.shorn aadopteda me, he started hinting that he wanted Declan out of the way. I told him no.

The thing between me and Declan would happen on my terms. It didnat sit well with him. He gave me a house on the edge of some woods, made sure food was delivered to me, but other than that, he let me be.

Then three weeks ago he invited me to come with him aon a little adventure.a I declined. He smelled . . . odd.

After he left, I went to his place and broke into his study. He had papers prepared blaming me for this entire mess in case things went sour. So I tracked him down, but he had too many hounds by the time I found him. He tried to hunt me, and I went into the Broken.a aSo youare here for revenge?a William shook his head. aNo. What heas doing is treason. I swore to protect the realm.a He looked at her.

aThere are rules I will never break. Theyare in me too deep.

Treason is unthinkable.a aDeclanas here to enforce the rules as well. If the two of you murder each other now, Ca.s.shorn will win.a William growled again, a purely animal sound of warning and contained aggression. Every hair on the back of her neck stood up.

Rose forced herself to sound calm. aCa.s.shornas gone insane.

He wants to eat the boys. I donat want my brothers to die. I donat want to die either. Is there any way you and Declan can act like adults and postpone your reckoning until we kill him?a William gave her a wary look. His eyes had cooled to an almost normal light brown.

aYouave waited this long. Surely you could wait a little longer.

Please?a He leaned back and sucked in the air through his nose. aAll right.a aThank you.a Rose smiled.

Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) Williamas head snapped up. He bared his teeth, his eyes flashing amber.

A moment later she heard it, too, a thudding of horseas hooves. A rider burst from around the curve: Declan atop Jeremiahas dark horse.

Rose stared, speechless. He just had to show up right this second.

Declan brought the horse to an abrupt halt and dismounted in front of the house. aHey, Will.a William inhaled deeply. aDeclan. How did you know?a aThe boy called me.a She whipped about and saw Georgeas face go white in the window when he saw her expression. Little fool.

Declan unbuckled his sheath and leaned it and the sword against a shrub. William pulled out a large bowie knife and thrust it into the porch. aYouare good?a aYes.a aGood.a William blurred. He struck so fast, she failed to see it. Declan dodged and rammed his elbow into Williamas ribs. William spun, snapping a kick. Declan jerked back, and they broke apart.

They clashed in a whirl of kicks and punches, too fast to follow, dancing across the gra.s.s, lethal and quick.

William hammered a savage jab into Declanas ribs. Declan grunted and smashed his elbow into Williamas face.

Whatever it was between them apparently couldnat be resolved with words.

Behind Rose, the screen door opened and closed carefully.

Jack and George came over and sat next to her.

On the lawn, William knocked Declan to the ground. Declan rolled up, and William sank punches into his face, one, two, three. Declan dropped to the ground, coughing, and kicked out, swiping Williamas legs from Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) under him. William crashed like a log, and they both leapt to their feet.

aWhy are they fighting?a Jack asked.

William jabbed his fingers at Declanas side.

aTheyare close friends,a she said. aLike brothers. Itas easier than talking things out.a Declan caught Williamas arm.

aOh.a Jack nodded. aLike me and George.a aLike that,a she said.

William hammered his elbow into Declanas stomach and broke free.

Rose put her arms around her brothers, and the three of them watched, cringing and making sucking noises when something crunched. What else was there to do?

Declan kicked William in the head. William staggered, shook his head, and launched a whirlwind of lightning-quick jabs. Declan blocked, and William sank a sharp punch into Declanas midsection. The blueblood grunted and rammed his head into Williamas face.

Blood poured. They staggered away from each other, out of breath.

Declan bent over, shielding his side with his arm. William rubbed his face and raised his b.l.o.o.d.y fingers as if to say something. His knees gave out, and he dropped into the gra.s.s.

Declan sank down.

aThat was awesome,a George said.

Jack offered no commentary, apparently too overcome with the coolness of the fight.

aAre you done?a Rose called out.

Declan glanced up. aWill?a William waved his b.l.o.o.d.y hand.

aYes, weare done,a Declan said.

aGood,a she said, getting up. aJack, help William inside the house to wash the blood off his face.a Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) She crossed the gra.s.s to Declan. aHow are you?a aPerfectly fine,a he said.

aAre your ribs broken?a aProbably not. Cracked at most. We fought very carefully.a aDid this settle anything?a aIt made me feel better,a he said, sitting up. aDid you see me kick him in the kidneys?a aI saw.a Declan gave her a sharp predatory smile. aHeall feel it tomorrow morning.a JACK watched William wash his face in the sink. The water ran red. The scent of blood, sharp and salty, was everywhere in the room. Jack didnat care for human blood. It made him jumpy. The skin under his bracelet itched. He scratched at his wrist and fought the p.r.i.c.kling pain of his claws wanting to come out. He couldnat help it. William was bigger and stronger and b.l.o.o.d.y.

He was a threat. A very nasty threat.

That fight was the best thing he had ever witnessed in his whole entire life.

aYou got a towel?a William said.

Jack pulled a towel from the kitchen chair and brought it over to him. William pulled it from his fingers, wiped his face, and glanced at him. Williamas eyes flared with gold. Wolf, shot through Jackas head. Head known William was some kind of changeling because he saw his eyes glow while he and George watched William talk to Rose, but he didnat know what kind. Now he knew.

William lunged at him. Jack jerked back, but William caught him and dragged him up to his face.

Jack jerked, but Williamas hands held him like big iron pinchers.

William stared into his eyes, his face completely white.

aShow me your teeth.a Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) Jack hissed.

aYouare like me,a William whispered. He looked like someone had hit him in the gut.

aNo,a Jack told him to make him feel better. aYouare a wolf, and Iam a cat. Weare different.a William swallowed. aYou live here?a Something was wrong with him, Jack decided. Of course he lived here. But William was a big wolf, and it wasnat wise to make him mad. He simply nodded.

aDo you have a room?a Jack nodded.

aWhere?a Jack pointed with his head. His arms were still clamped to his sides by Williamas hands.

William strode through the house, carrying him, stepped into his room, and sagged against the door. All the strength must have gone out of his arms, because they let go, and Jack squirmed out and landed on the floor.

William stared at his room. Jack looked, too, just in case there was something surprising there that William saw and he didnat. It was a regular room. Two beds, one for him, one for George. Rose had made them both blankets with a crochet hook. His was blue and black, and Georgeas was red and black. He liked the blankets because even after you washed them, they still smelled like Rose.

He looked past the beds to the windowsill, where the seven-inch plastic Batman duked it out with Superman. In the corner, a beat-up shelf held some matchbox cars, books, and more figures. Jack went over to the shelf and pointed out the guys. aThis is He-Man,a he said. aHeas my favorite. Rose bought him at a flea market, because I liked him.a Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) William just watched him. His eyes looked huge, and they were glowing.

aThis guy, I donat know what he is, but I like his armor. I think he might be like a knight. Only I donat have a sword that fits into his hand, so he has a gun. So heas a gun-knight, I think.a Jack made He-Man and Gun-Knight fight a bit and looked at William. William didnat look any better.

aI think you might be not right,a Jack said. aThatas okay. I get like that sometimes. When Iam real scared and I just want to hurt something. Itas okay. The important thing is donat panic.a He came over and took Williamas hand. Rose was better at this than he was, because he never had to do it for anybody else, but he remembered what she did. aYouare safe,a he said. aYouare in a good place. n.o.body can hurt you here. You donat have to be afraid.a He hesitated.

aThere is some mushy love stuff that goes here, but it probably wonat work for you. The important thing is, this is a good place. Itas safe and warm, and there is water and food. And you donat have to be scared, because there are ward stones and they keep bad people away. And Rose wonat let anybody hurt you.a William looked like he might be sick. This called for emergency measures. aStay here,a Jack told him, ran over to the fridge, and brought him a chocolate bar. aEat this,a he said. aRose gives me one when I get not right. It makes you feel better.a Williamas hand shook.

aIall get Rose,a Jack said.

aNo.a Williamas voice sounded like he had eaten some rocks.

aIam good. Iave got it.a He got up to his feet and handed him the chocolate. aYou eat it,a he said and walked out onto the porch.

Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) Jack looked at the chocolate bar. It smelled so good. But chocolate was for emergencies. He sighed and went to put it back into the fridge.