the pocket of un-reality and what the dark Fae voice had said.
When he finished, Peigi shivered, the ramifications hitting her. “They’re afraid of invasion?”
“A full-scale attack hasn’t happened for a long time, but the high Fae are always searching for ways to edge out the dokk alfar, to get rid of the iron that weakens them. Iron is why they haven’t been able to eradicate us completely, but if they use Shifters to help them …”
“Are you sure he meant Shifters?” Peigi asked.
“He said Horkalan, which is the dokk alfar word for Shifter. More correctly, Battle Beast, which is what the high Fae have always called you.”
A cloud eased over the sun, making the warm day suddenly cool. “I’ve heard rumors about Shifters joining the Fae, but …”
“But you didn’t want to believe them?” Stuart said. “I’m not privy to all the reports Eric receives, but he shares a lot with me. There was a Shifter in New Orleans recruiting Shifters to work for the Fae again. Convincing them Fae are better allies than humans, a better chance to get free.”
“That’s insane.” Peigi drew her feet up and wrapped her arms around her knees. “What Shifters are fool enough to believe that?”
“Unfortunately, plenty. In fact, the voice told me I needed to ‘talk to the red wolf.’ I’m pretty sure he means Dimitri Kashnikov, who helped break the recruiting ring in New Orleans. Dimitri went into Faerie and saw what was going on.”
“Does this mean you’re going to New Orleans?” Peigi tried to keep the catch from her voice but couldn’t quite manage it.
“I don’t know yet. I’ll make some calls, see if Dimitri can come to me.”
Peigi tried to make herself be reasonable. “It’s risky for a Shifter to travel. You should go to him.”
“I’d only do that if …” Stuart broke off, his gaze going to their cubs who were running, shifting, playing, yelling.
“If what?” Peigi prompted. “If Diego doesn’t want you to solve another jewel heist?”
“If you came with me.” His words were quiet, almost inaudible, but Peigi heard them just fine. “But you’re right. Too risky for Shifters to travel—”
“Yes,” Peigi cut through his words.
Stuart glanced over his shoulder. “Yes, what?”
“Yes, I’ll go with you.”
Stuart turned to study her, his sin-dark eyes pulling her in.
Peigi had no idea why she was attracted to a Fae. At first, she’d thought herself so traumatized by male Shifters she would chase anything not Shifter, but she soon realized this wasn’t the reason.
Stuart had a way of looking at her—at her—not the pathetic rescue the other Shifters treated gently, as though she’d go feral if they made too many loud noises around her. He treated her like a person, not a therapy case.
And, all right, she was attracted because Stuart Reid was seriously hot. There wasn’t a part of him not solid muscle, and his night-dark eyes held secrets Peigi wanted to touch.
“What about the cubs?” Stuart asked after the silence had stretched.
Leaving the cubs, who’d relied on her since Cassidy had led them out of that basement, wouldn’t be ideal. Peigi didn’t like the emptiness she felt when she thought about not being with them, but then again, she didn’t want Stuart running off on his own where anyone could kill him.
He’d have to seek Dimitri at Kendrick’s compound, where Shifters lived in secret without Collars and human restrictions. They had no love for anything Fae, and who knew what they would do when they saw Stuart among them? Better Peigi was with him.
“I’ll ask Nell to come. She and Cormac love the cubs. Shane and Brody are great babysitters too. No one will mess with them with Nell’s family around.”
“No argument there.” Stuart watched the cubs again. “They’re dependent on you, though.”
“You too.” Peigi met his gaze as Stuart turned to her in surprise. “Don’t look at me like that. They need us both. So like hell I’m sending you off in Marlo’s plane alone to deal with an enclave of un-Collared Shifters who are all paranoid about the Fae. I want you back in one piece.”
Stuart had the gall to let his lips twitch. “So, what—you’ll be my bodyguard?”
“Damn straight. No one messes with a she-bear.”
The twitch became a full smile—no, a grin. “You’re right about that.” He stood up and she did too. He drew closer to her, his body heat awakening her every need. Then his beautiful smile faded, and his somberness returned. “I’ll set it up with Eric.”
Peigi assumed he’d say something more, but