Wild Hunt - Kali Argent Page 0,60

offense, but you’re no soldier.”

“She’s non-threatening,” Roux added, though she seemed to do so reluctantly.

Cade glared at her. “No. It’s too risky.”

Roux chewed her bottom lip as her gaze flitted between him and Mackenna. “I don’t think they would suspect her.”

“I said it’s not happening.” With every word, his voice rose, and he had to will himself to remain seated. “Did you forget that it’s going to be the full moon? She’s going to have to shift. What if she shifts in front of the Coalition?”

“She won’t,” Rhys interjected.

Deidra nodded her agreement. “We can fight it if we want. It’s not exactly compulsory unless we go too long without shifting. Just uncomfortable.” She shuddered visibly. “That’s why the virus is so bad, and Ravagers progressively get worse.”

“Have you all lost your minds?” Forfeiting the battle for self-control, Cade surged to his feet, spittle flying from his mouth as he shouted the words. “You’re all willing to risk her life on a maybe.” He shook his head. “No. It’s not going to happen. I won’t let it.”

Luca shifted in his chair, just a small, subtle movement, but all attention in the room turned to him. “I haven’t heard anyone ask Mackenna what she wants.” His piercing gaze cut across the room to land on Cade’s mate. “What do you think?”

“I think…” There was an apology in her expression when she looked up at Cade. “I think I can do this. I want to help, and they’re right. I’m the best one for the job.”

Sacrifice the few to save the many.

He couldn’t count the number of times he’d said those words. It had been his motto, the creed he’d lived and led by when he had commanded just a small faction of human rebels. If one of them fell behind or was captured, they were on their own. He couldn’t risk the entire group to save one person.

That had all changed when he’d—unwillingly and unofficially—joined the Revenant. They never left anyone behind, something they’d proven time and time again. No life was more or less valuable than another. The Revenant had saved him from the Abraxas coven. They’d risked everything to rescue Abby from a pride of lion shifters.

They protected everyone the moon touched, fought for every person who couldn’t fight for themselves. Every member of the group knew what they were getting themselves into. They all lived with the understanding that the next mission might be their last.

Mackenna wasn’t naïve or ignorant. She knew the risks. Like the rest of them, she knew what she was signing up for, and she’d made her decision with eyes wide open. To deny her that right, especially in front of the entire group, was to say that he didn’t trust her. He would essentially be telling her that he didn’t think she could do the job, that she was weak and incapable.

Nothing could have been further from the truth. He had no doubt that she could accomplish anything. It was only his fear of losing her that held her back.

“I need some air.”

Mackenna didn’t follow when he left the room, but he hadn’t expected her to. Christ, he didn’t know how the others dealt with it. He didn’t know how Deke and Rhys watched their mates race into battle and not completely lose their shit. Maybe they were just more evolved than him. Maybe they weren’t as selfish.

He truly believed everyone had the right to fight for what they believed in, even his mate. He just wished what she believed in was rescuing kittens or eating an organic diet.

Wandering toward the rec room, he stopped at the mouth of the hallway when he noticed Abby seated at a large, round table with three of the children who still remained at the safe house. Crayons and markers had been scattered across the tabletop, and the kids chattered excitedly about their works of art while Abby listened and nodded. She smiled often and exclaimed over their drawings with genuine enthusiasm. It was the most relaxed, the most normal Cade had seen her since her rescue.

“Look!” A little boy no older than six with a mop of golden hair held up his drawing. “Do you like it?”

Cade couldn’t see the picture, but he did see Abby’s eyebrows pull together briefly before her face transformed into a brilliant smile.

“I love it! Just look at those wings. Good job, Conner.”

A little girl about the same age wrinkled her nose. “What’s that supposed to be?”

“It’s the Others,” the boy, Conner,