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“An ear from each. Do we know anyone…”
“You let Hayden and I worry about that. If Hayden won’t agree, I will go get your friend myself. She can’t just go back to her normal life. She’d be too vulnerable.”
“I know,” said Nora, knowing Fallon’s life would never be the same.
“She’ll be fine, Nora. It might take her a while, but she’ll be surrounded by people who will help her. Do you know where she is?”
“My guess is the Master’s manor house on Lundy Island off the coast of Devon. But I’ve told him he’s to keep Fallon’s phone open. I don’t know that it’ll do anything to protect her…”
“It’s not the worst idea. Do you need me to approach Hayden?”
“Yes, but I want to run this past Colby and Hutch. They should be joining me for breakfast—” Nora hesitated as the door to Colby’s study opened. “And here they are. I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Hamish said you were upset; you didn’t sound that way,” said Hutch, joining her and giving her a kiss.
“I agree with Hutch,” Colby said, entering behind him. “Hamish was concerned, but—”
“I was, but only because I forgot for a moment I’m no longer alone. I have all of you, and I reached out to Deke Campbell,” Nora explained.
“You knew how to get in touch with Deke?” asked Colby before turning to Hutch. “I am so not losing her to you and the bakery. Being able to reach Deke is something not easily done.”
Nora grinned. “Besides the people I’ve met here in Mystic River, I’ve only ever had one friend, a human named Fallon…”
“Let me guess,” said Hutch, “The Master is holding her hostage until you kill Colby and I.”
“Bingo. I was a bit freaked out. Fallon knows nothing about shifters or the Shadow League or any of it.”
“You asked Deke to go after her?” asked Colby.
“Not exactly. I made a deal with the Master. In exchange for him sparing Fallon and turning her over to me, I will kill both of you, providing pictures and one of each of your ears as proof of my side of the bargain.”
“You’re not going,” growled Hutch.
“Of course not. I wouldn’t survive the encounter. But there’s only one other person that the Master is actually afraid of, and it isn’t either of you.”
“I’m crushed,” said Colby.
Both Hutch and Nora chuckled before she continued. “It’s the Hellhound. Apparently, Deke knows him.”
Colby nodded. “I know of him. Hayden North. Deke was going to see if he couldn’t get him to commit to our cause. I hope you know, regardless of whether North agrees, we won’t let the Master kill your friend—not if we can help it.”
She nodded. “I’m counting on that, but we’re going to need to doctor some photos of you two dead and steal a couple of ears that look like they could come from you to send him.”
“Neither should be a problem,” said Colby who seemed to be thinking. “Sean Campbell is the alpha of the snow leopards in the Scottish Highlands. He’s mostly been successful at uniting all the snow leopard clans in Scotland. My former second is his mate. Lundy Island is closer to Scotland than Alaska. If he needs it, we can probably offer North some support from the Scottish contingent.”
“North could be a huge coup if he would commit to us,” said Hutch.
Nora nodded. “Deke said as a hellhound he’s one of the few creatures who can stand up to a dragon.”
“And I know he has some connections to the Phantom Fire,” said Colby, “so he might be the tipping point for them to join us. If nothing else, it would be easier for North to get your friend to Scotland than Alaska. Once we have a plan, I’ll run it by Winter.”
“Do you think the Shadow Sisters might offer their support? I would think this is right up their alley,” said Nora, which caused Colby to smile.
“And therein lies the stupidity of the Master. He’s afraid of Deke and North, but not Brie and her avenging angels. Trust me, the Valkyries had nothing on the Shadow Sisters.”
“I think we need to wait to hear from Deke before we put our plan into action,” said Nora.
“Agreed,” said Colby. “I’ll get to work on figuring out a good place to photograph our deaths that will seem believable. I’ll also see if Doc can’t help us out with a couple of ears. Hutch, why don’t you and Nora go for a run or a drive or something? You’ve both been put through the wringer in the past twenty-four hours, and I need the two of you at your best.”
