Wild Country (The World of the Others #2)- Anne Bishop Page 0,132

gas station to fill her tank and then headed to Bennett at a reckless speed.

* * *

* * *

“Jackson and Grace are out hunting with the pack,” the male voice said. “Should we find him?”

Virgil hesitated. “Where is the Hope pup?”

“Probably still at the den. She will be going to her lessons soon.”

“She’ll be watched? Will be with someone who will recognize … signs?”

“You think there will be signs?”

“Yes.” Maybe. Bennett’s prophet pup was untrained and untested. All her cutting had told them was that something was going to happen somewhere.

The male sucked in a breath. “We’ll make sure she is watched. And we’ll tell Jackson. The pack may need to hunt without him.”

Virgil hesitated again. Couldn’t depend on the warning given by the Maddie pup but couldn’t ignore it either. “No reason to summon Jackson unless the Hope pup starts drawing pictures.”

“We’ll keep watch.”

Virgil hung up.

We are here, he thought. We are here.

But where was the danger? And would any of them recognize it in time?

* * *

* * *

Barb fed the dogs and cats and birds. She waved at people and gave everyone a big, big smile as she walked around the town square, stopping at Move ’Em Out to buy a book she didn’t want, lingering over a cold coffee and a breakfast sandwich at the diner. She wasn’t fooling anyone. She saw that truth in the rictus smiles the Intuits offered in response to hers. They didn’t know that a blood prophet had cut herself that morning, didn’t understand feeling weighed down by a storm on the horizon, but they knew something was up when none of the terra indigene except the Sanguinati reported for work. The Others were flying around as they monitored the town, paying special attention to the roads and the railway station in a way that made the humans realize how easily the town could become a prison.

But Barb, who knew a little more than anyone else, walked around the square and smiled, and the people she saw pretended it was a normal day while they watched the Others, looked toward the Elder Hills—and waited for something they couldn’t see.

* * *

* * *

After dropping her bags in her hotel room, Jesse headed for the mayor’s office to meet with Tolya. When she first stepped out of the hotel, no one noticed her and Cory beyond a smile for the puppy and a “Good morning” to her—words that held too much anxiety to be sincere. Then …

She told herself there was no reason to feel embarrassed when all the people walking within sight of them froze in place because Cory started yapping at the Wolf who approached them. Having the puppy’s butt parked on her boot while doing all the yapping? That qualified as ridiculous.

“Stop,” Jesse said firmly. Like that was going to have an effect. She couldn’t even make the “no cookies” threat she used to use on Tobias when he wouldn’t settle down, because all the puppy would hear was “cookie” and that would provoke a different kind of frenzied excitement.

Why did children, regardless of species, learn the word “cookie” before words like “stop” and “no”?

After listening to the yapping for a minute, Virgil simply lifted his head and howled.

The bus and a couple of cars pulled to the curb as if responding to a siren.

Jesse sighed. Acting victorious, Cory pranced over to sniff Virgil, who gave the pup licks of praise. Or was he trying to smooth down some sticky-up fur? Who knew?

Glad Tobias wasn’t there to make some smart comment about the similarities between Wolves and mothers when it came to sticky-up hair, Jesse said, “I’m on my way to talk to Tolya.”

No warning. Virgil lunged at her, his teeth closing on the leash inches below her hand. He looked at her and growled softly.

Jesse let go of the leash. “I guess you’re taking Cory for a walk.”

“Roo.”

She watched Wolf and puppy trot across the street and into the grass on the square.

“She gets tired quickly,” she called after them.

“She’ll be fine,” Tolya said, coming up beside Jesse.

“I know.” As she looked at him, her right hand closed over her left wrist. Couldn’t stop it.

He closed his hand over her arm. “Let’s go up to my office.”

“We need to help,” she whispered. “If we help, we won’t die.”

“Come with me.”

As they reached Tolya’s office, he released her arm in order to rush to answer the phone.

“Tolya Sanguinati.”

Jesse watched his face, watched the veneer of humanity fall away until