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I study his words for a hint of emotion; he’s worked with Rev’s aunt for years. They are friends – according to Rev. But all I see are the cogs of logic turning. This is a puzzle to him. Nothing more than a puzzle to be solved.

“Your mighty Phoenix cannot use her powers without risking injury to herself and others?”

I nod, take a long sip of water, and lean back against the wall nearest the window.

“And the human is dead? The demon hunter?” Thornfield asks.

“I don’t think so.” Mack stands up, makes it to the sideboard, and pours himself a whiskey. He ignores the uncertain expression on my face, downs it in one big gulp, then pours a second. “But who knows what Zephyra will do with him.”

Thornfield nods slowly. His eyes are normal again, but I can’t stop seeing the way they flashed with anger.

“What a predicament we find ourselves in,” he says. “A predicament indeed.”

5

SAM

All the years I was kept captive in Spine, I dreamed of seeing the world.

Actually, mainly I dreamed of Nova.

Again, and again, and again.

Every night.

Every day.

I thought about her, and what she’d look like, and what she was doing.

I pictured us having a normal life. A family. Kids. Traveling to Paris and Italy and London.

I never thought my first trip to England would be on a cramped commercial flight with a bunch of disgustingly odorous humans.

How weres and other supers with strong noses manage to travel on public transport like this, I’ll never know.

Even now, standing in the rain outside the bus terminal in the middle of what is supposed to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world, I can still smell them; the sweaty, travel-weary passengers who sat crammed up either side of me for eight long hours.

I squint into the dark street then check my phone.

The museum is a ten-minute walk from here in human form or two minutes if I’m on four legs.

I check my surroundings.

A homeless man using the bus stop for shelter looks me up and down. I grin at him. He waves. Then I slot the phone into my mouth, hold it between my teeth, and shift.

His eyes widen. He slaps his thigh and stands up. “Well, I never…” he chuckles. “I heard about you lot. Never seen one around here before though.”

That’s what you think, I mutter to myself. But I guarantee you, sir, we are everywhere.

Turning away, I pace down the street, still clutching my phone between my jaws. It annoys me I have to bring the damn thing; I like to be able to shift when I want without considering things like that. But I’m anticipating an angry call from Luther any minute now, so I better be in a position to answer it.

I round a corner up ahead, and duck into the shadows.

Hardly anyone is about. The rain and the time of night seems to have locked the well-to-do Cambridge students up in their fancy accommodation. But if my friend at the bus stop was right, and wolves really aren’t common here, I’m guessing seeing one wandering through the streets would freak people out.

And I can’t afford a commotion right now.

I just need to find Nova.