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He knehere this was going, and he didn’t like it, not one bit "Yes, but"

"It turns out you were right I wasn’t an accident And now I’m the only one who can breach that castle Don’t tellit’s a trap Even if I weren’t involved You’d go because it’s your job, because it needs to be done, because Maxim needs to be stopped This time it’s

His traitorous chief dipped his head in acknowledground his teeth "I can’t bear for hiain"

Her eyes softened "I know Just as I can’t bear the thought of anything happening to you"

He kneas beaten He turned to Lyon "I’ood idea?"

"It doesn’t aze was on Faith "Can you still speak to us telepathically when you’re not in your animal?"

Like this, youin his head, clear as day, and he could tell by the expressions on the others’ faces that they’d heard her, too

"Good," Lyon said "Practice to hts to only those you want receiving them Maxim doesn’t need to know you have that trick And hold back on the speed Keep that ability to yourself as long as possible, too He won’t be expecting it Once you’re in the castle, you can relay what he says and find a way to get us in there I want a solid hour of physical training out of you before you go"

Faith stiffened "Paulina and Maria are in trouble I need to go now"

"You need to be ready first You showed so skills while you were under the thrall of darkness, but we need to see what you can do now You must be able to defend yourself once you’re in the castle because Kougar’s right You’ll undoubtedly be flying into so?"

"Absolutely"

"I’ll help, again," Fox said

Jag snorted "I’ this show Just wait ’til you see what she can do, Foxy"

Fox cut Jag an a hooted

"I’ to Warsaw, too I owe that bastard" Grizz’s voice ru it"

Lyon’s eyes narrowed "Fighting what?"

"The darkness Look at the start of the video, at the eyes of the new Ferals"

Lifting the re all five new Ferals standing Haatched Lepard’s eyes and sahat Grizz had seen - the struggle in the snow-leopard shifter’s eyes A struggle absent in the eyes of the other three

Lyon hit PAUSE before Maxi to Grizz "Explain"

Grizz’s big hand flexed and released on the table, over and over as he seehts "When I first ca me under I don’t reh, aware that soain Then the order to attack you blazed init blindly, unable to stop I fought it And lost"

"You didn’t lose, boyo," Fox murmured "Not completely, or you’d have bitten off ht it I think Lepard is, too"

Olivia, seated at Jag’s side, ood man"

"This kind of infection will affect each one differently," Kougar said calmly "Some will be pulled deeper than others It has little to do with strength or will A few ht it, but none will be free of the darkness until they’re cured"

Wulfe grunted "So, what you’re saying is that although Lepardto do us ood"

"Correct"

Lyon turned to Lynks "Do you feel the need to go, too?"

"Not at all I’ll stay here"

Lyon nodded, his gaze fanning out to encompass the room "Be ready to leave in an hour"

Hawke rose to his feet, his gut grinding A hundred things could go wrong A thousand If only he could breach that castle instead of Faith, but to do that he had to be able to shift And he was afraid he kneould happen if he tried Game over

He wanted to deny her this, to keep her safe and protected But she was right She had it in her to be a fine warrior The strength, the courage, and now the confidence It was time for her to seize her destiny

Even if it killed hio into that castle alone

An hour later, Faith stood deep in the shadooods with the other Ferals, staring at the huge centuries-old castle in the clearing ahead Maxih her had little to do with the cool drizzle falling in the spring woods and everything to do with the evil she knew she’d soon be facing Alone

Both the Ilinas and the Ferals had tried to breach the castle, but as Maxih the chiain access

Hawke stood beside her, his hand on her shoulder, lending her strength and courage But the thing that terrified her et out of that castle alive, he ht his protectiveness, knowing she had to go, she knew the thought of her battling Maxiht, literally, end up rending as left of his connection with his aniaze, his eyes dark wells of worry "I wish I could go for you" He curled his arainst him