“It’s not, to be honest. Your pack is on the verge of being wiped out by a threat as grave to supernatural peace as many living shifters have ever known. Do you think your prejudices about those who aren’t exactly like you are more important?”
“No—”
“Then perhaps you, a highly revered soldier, should do more to educate the masses. That is, if you have truly changed your mind and you haven’t merely developed a fetish for me.”
“Wow.”
“What?”
Zio squeezed Devan’s hands. “You really are pissed off.”
“Am I?”
“Yes. I can’t feel your emotions the way you can mine, but you’re doing a pretty good job of projecting.”
“Sorry.”
“Nah. I like it better than never knowing how to read you.”
“I wasn’t aware you spent much time trying.”
Zio chuckled. “You’d be amazed what I do when you’re not paying attention.”
Devan closed the minute distance between them, his lips tantalisingly close. “I think you’re overestimating my ability to ignore you.”
Kiss him. But Devan’s phone rang, once again interrupting them. He fished it from his pocket and checked the screen. “It’s a Bratislava number,” he said. “I have to take it. Go on with your work. I’ll find you at home before it’s time to leave.”
Home.“Leave?”
“For the border mission.”
“How do you know about that? It was only planned an hour ago.”
“Wolves talk. I listen.”
Devan’s impish grin returned, and he backed away from Zio, gone as suddenly and silently as he’d appeared, leaving Zio to contemplate the notion that home was a state of mind they shared.
I like that.
Chapter Thirteen
Devan perched on the branch of the weeping willow tree, surveying the efficient activity on the ground. With Zio in charge, the defence force deployed by Varian to protect the border had wasted little time setting up camp. The operation was different to the last—less guerrilla and far bigger. Fifty northern wolves had accompanied Zio’s unit to the border, soldiers, apparently, though they lacked the edge of Zio’s fearsome crew.
The base was imposing and well equipped. Sleeping quarters and a makeshift medical tent were set up.
“What about the human authorities?” Devan asked. “They won’t object to a military camp like this?”
Danielo shook his head from his position at the foot of the tree, using his gift to seek out a fresh-water source in case the enemy cut the current supply. “They don’t know where the border is. As far as they know, this is a training camp. We’re allowed those.”
“To what end?”
“To keep our protection forces viable. Not even humans can deny our right to defend ourselves.”
Devan absorbed the information. Coexisting with English humans seemed far more complicated than it was in Slovakia, where Dash’s healer’s commune was nestled deep within the densely populated capital city. In Bratislava, humans were openly fascinated by shifters. Not so afraid of them that they imposed draconian rules to control them.This is war, though, remember? And war breeds fear.
Fear that had been worryingly absent in Zio as they’d prepared to head south. They hadn’t had much time before the mission had called them away, but they’d managed to eat—more pizza—and Devan had slept on the couch while Zio had packed.
He’d woken to Zio’s hand on his shoulder, his whisper that of a dream:“It’s time to go.” Staring down at the operation below, it seemed to belong to a different lifetime. Zio was in his element here, shouting orders, directing wolves, demanding respect without ever expecting that it wouldn’t be there. Devan thought back to the blissful half hour they’d spent in Zio’s bed before Devan’s duty had interrupted them. Zio had been in his element then too. Was that what he’d needed all along? To take what he desired rather than Devan simply giving it to him?