rounded up by Shifter Bureau agents. Shifter Bureau would shove her into a Shiftertown at best, or at worst, execute her for being un-Collared and a rogue.
Peigi had stayed with Michael for lack of options. Michael was a powerful alpha, and she felt the tug.
Three years without him, Nell’s tutelage on female independence, and most of all, being with Stuart, who’d taught her that strength and intimidation were two different things, made Michael’s impact on her a lot less, but it still existed.
Peigi greatly feared she’d succumb to him again. Not because she believed obeying him was right, but because her brain might fall into its old habits. Do what Michael said, because the alternative was so much worse.
She made herself retain her snarl, the I’m-sick-of-putting-up-with-your-shit one Nell had taught her. He might know how to get us home.
Michael continued to growl, then he slowly shifted into his human form. “Why didn’t you say so? Hey.” He smacked the Feline across the jaw with his fist. “Shift and talk to us.”
With reluctance, the Feline morphed into a hard-bodied man with dark hair and blue eyes. As he unfolded himself to his feet, Peigi was struck by how much he resembled Dylan Morrissey.
Michael must have noticed it too, because he recoiled a moment before he stopped and eyed the man more closely.
The Feline wasn’t Dylan—that was apparent. He had the same coloring, and he was a black-maned lion, but he was younger and his face was softer and less square. But he had the defiance of Dylan, which Dylan had tamed into immense strength of will.
The Feline took in Stuart, Michael, and Peigi as she shifted back to her human form, and scowled. “Who the hell are you?”
“Who are you?” Peigi countered.
“None of your damned business,” the Feline snarled.
Michael grabbed the man by the neck and shook him. “Shifter fucking traitor. I should cut your balls off.”
Stuart regarded them both with his usual coolness, his steel blade held loosely. “He has a point. Give us your name, Horkalan.”
The Feline winced at the Fae word, and also at Michael shaking his head back and forth. “All right. All right. It’s Crispin.”
“Let him go,” Stuart told Michael firmly. When Michael glared at him, Stuart continued. “He gave us what we asked, so he gets a reward.”
Michael growled but released the Feline, if reluctantly.
“What clan are you from?” Peigi asked him.
Crispin sneered. “None of your damned business.”
“Guardian Network will have that info,” Stuart said. “Do you know the way to the closest gate?” He gestured to the trees behind them, which all appeared the same to Peigi. “Over there somewhere? Why was your master hunting in this area today?”
Crispin’s face screwed up even more. “He’s not my master.”
“No? He’s a Fae prince, right? Or a duke, or whatever they call themselves.”
“Prince. He’s a son of Walther le Madhug, who is in direct line to become the emperor.”
“I’m sure his mother is proud,” Stuart said. “They love their Horkalan, Fae princes do. Used to be white tigers only. I guess he had to settle for a lion, because the Fae pretty much wiped out the white tigers. All tigers.”
“Tough shit for them.” Crispin folded his arms but kept a careful eye on Peigi and Michael.
“That means he’s your master,” Stuart went on. “You’re running at his side, obeying his every command.”
“Like I keep saying, none of your damned business what I do. He might think he’s master, but that’s his problem.”
Michael lost patience. “Where’s the gate, asshole?”
“Why the hell do you think I’ll tell you?”
“Because if you don’t, the guy with the knife really will cut off your balls, and I’ll bounce you on your head all the way to the ley line. I can’t wait to get you back to Shifters on the other side and tell them what a traitor you are.”
Michael’s rage rolled off him in waves. The fact that Dylan and others were searching for Michael back home with intent to kill him didn’t seem to worry him at the moment.
“Do you know where the gate is or not?” Peigi asked.
Stuart nimbly twirled the knife in his fingers. “Think about the fact that this knowledge is keeping you alive,” he said. “If you refuse to take us, the bear is correct, you are a traitor Shifter. I don’t like your chances against the two of them.”
Crispin wrinkled his forehead in worry, but kept up his belligerence. “You’re one of those dokk alfar, aren’t you?” he asked. “Dangerous bastards.”
“That’s right.” Stuart’s voice