Fell shrugged. The male sure wasn’t into speaking.
“He just got back from the Mideast. He said the new unrest over there was instigated by the Scythe,” Patrin said.
Margery shivered. Although the Daonain had destroyed the Scythe compound in Seattle, the Director had escaped and their network of rich, influential humans was intact.
Whenever she thought about the Scythe, she wanted to hide.
From the shifter-soldiers’ deadly expressions, hiding wasn’t in their plans. Patrin leaned forward. “Don’t worry, Margery. We won’t let anyone hurt you.”
A corner of Fell’s mouth turned up as he looked at her, then Patrin. “Anyone?”
“Good point.” Patrin grinned at him and turned to her, his dark gaze dancing. “We’re the only ones who get to hurt you.”
She blinked. Was that a threat or was he flirting with her? “Ahhh…”
“Did Shay tell you that he’d asked us to teach you how to fight?”
“You?” She stared. “But Jody is—”
“Her, too. I think we’ll have the whole wolf pack there.” Patrin’s smile deepened. “We were hoping to have a smaller class. Of one.”
They’d wanted to give her…personal…lessons?
“Banfasa.” The Cosantir’s deep voice interrupted. He set a drink in front of her and handed one to Emma.
Next to him was Tynan.
Everything inside her reacted, as if she was hearing bone-shaking thunder, feeling a storm approach through her whole body. She licked her lips, and her voice came out husky. “Tynan.”
He smiled down at her and tugged a strand of her hair. “Meggie mine.”
Oh, she knew that “mine” was merely part of the common phrase. She shouldn’t want it to be true.
When she smiled up at him, he traced the backs of his fingers down her cheek. And her whole body blossomed with desire.
“Well, cat-scat,” Patrin muttered for some reason.
Before she could look over, Calum said, “Did you need to speak with me, Margery?”
Work. She pulled her thoughts into banfasa business. “Yes, if you have a couple of minutes, Cosantir.”
When he nodded, she pointed to an empty table. “There?”
“If you wish.”
Tynan lifted his chin in inquiry.
“Um, you, too, please?” A person’s medical needs shouldn’t be common knowledge, but the town’s law enforcement should know Generys had a problem. The elderly shifter had given Margery permission to share with whoever might be useful. Open hunting, she called it.
And Tynan was the kind who’d help anyone who needed him.
How could a female not lo…not care for a male like Tynan?
As Margery settled at the new table, Emma started a new conversation with the ones left behind, tactfully, distracting them from Margery’s group.
“I was visiting some of the senior shifters today. I’ve found help for two of them, but one needs more than I can find for her.” Margery went on to tell them about the older shifter. How her balance was poor, her hygiene worse, and her diet inadequate. Her daughter was in Canada with younger cubs, and Generys didn’t want to be a burden.
Calum tapped his fingers on the table as he considered. “I’ll talk with the Jasper Territory Cosantir. We can find out if the daughter knows about her dam’s problems and wants to be involved.”
Perfect. That was exactly what Margery had hoped for.
Tynan frowned. “Our wolf pack has a support system for those who need it—our seniors, new mothers, cubs, invalids. Perhaps the town needs something similar, Cosantir?”
“Aye, I think it’s time we took steps.” Calum smiled at Margery. “Now that we have someone capable of evaluating needs, we should be able to establish a support network.”
“That sounds like a great idea,” Vicki chimed in from the other table.
Beside her, Emma coughed politely. “Sorry, but I couldn’t keep the conversation going—not without help.” She frowned at the others at the table.
Calum gave Margery a rueful smile. “My mate has an insatiable curiosity.”
“Since we heard the end of your discussion,” Emma said, “Ben and Ryder are using some younger shifters in volunteer work and teaching them the construction trade. They can help out.”
“Perfect.” Margery felt her enthusiasm rising. “I’ve been researching ways to convert houses to be elder-friendly. I’d like to talk with both of them.”
“They’re still over at the bar. We’ll talk to them and get it set up.” Emma’s eyes held equal enthusiasm. “Historically, bards were used to recruit for wars. It’s time we drew people to something better—like charitable efforts. I’ll see if I can’t find you shifters, young and old, who have spare time on their hands.”
“The younger ones will probably want to be paid,” Patrin said.
“You’re so cynical.” Darcy thumped her littermate in the ribs. “Count me in for repair work. I bet Bree will cook if the clan’s budget would buy the ingredients.”
Margery’s heart skipped a beat. A support system was being born as she watched.
Darcy nudged her littermates. “Are you two going to help?”
“Chwaer, we don’t know where the shifter-soldiers will end up,” Patrin told his sister. “Not until we talk with Wells.”
The thought sent a chill up Margery’s spine. The human spymaster apparently still planned on involving the shifter-soldiers in eliminating the Scythe.
What would her littermate do?
Later that night, Tynan parked his car in the driveway and got out. His SUV pinged quietly as a cold drizzling rain splatted against the heat of the hood. Grateful for their bright porch light, he walked around the vehicle as Meggie slid out of the passenger side.
When he’d told her he was driving her home, she hadn’t argued at all. Progress.
He smiled. Everyone at the table—other than Meggie—had noticed the shifter-soldiers’ interest in her. And that the only male she’d reacted to as a female was Tynan.
Mine.
He glanced across the side yard at Meggie’s dark house. “Looks like Oliver hasn’t come home yet. Or he went to bed early.”
She shut the passenger door. “A rainy night in the forest doesn’t bother him in the least. He says he finds a dry hollow and enjoys the quiet.” Her voice was tight as she whispered, “I don’t understand. Why doesn’t he want to be here with me?”
Heedless of the rain, Tynan pulled her into his arms, the only way he knew how to comfort her. “After I left Seattle and came here, I spent days and weeks in the mountains. We shifters go into the forests when stressed—and even something as simple as change can be stressful.”
“Oh. I hadn’t thought of it that way.”
When she relaxed and laid her cheek on his shoulder, he felt as victorious as if he’d dragged home a moose for her supper.
“You needed the forests, and you actually like people. It must be worse for an introverted bear.” She gave Tynan a squeeze. “Thank you. I’ll try not to worry so much about him.”
“At least you’re not harassing him about what he might need or what he should do. Donal, as you can imagine…”