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.“The visions, yes,” she laughed.“Zoe told you, I’m sure.They’re a bloody nuisance, really.I have these moments when I see things so clearly.Like that wolf of yours.I know what he looks like.But I have a suspicion that we’re not looking for a wolf shifter.”“So you don’t think it’s Dascha or anyone in your pack?”“No.I don’t.I’m not a fan of Dasch’s, not really.But he’s oblivious to everything that’s going on.I’m just as happy for him to stay out of the way.I think we’re looking for someone from out of town.”“Why’s that?”“I’ve had foggy visions of a man, of meetings.When they’re so nebulous and confusing usually it’s a question of distance.”“Sorry, but I need to ask something,” said Nash, pausing for a moment.He looked around at the group that had congregated in Zoe’s house.“There’s a shape-changer here, and a psychic.Do you all have superpowers?”Zoe laughed, and Colson spoke up.“I don’t,” he said.“I’m just a bear shifter.Though we’re learning more and more that every shifter’s got a talent.It’s just that most remain hidden.You’ll find that in you is something that you may not have extracted yet, Nash.”“I’m fast.That seems to be the height of my mad skills,” said Nash.“Well, don’t underestimate the value of speed.” Now the speaker was another large man who’d remained silent.“Nash, this is my mate, Maddox,” said Kyla.“He’s a changer.”“Like Zoe?” asked Nash.“Not quite,” said the large, dark man.“I’m a grizzly shifter who’s working on mastering changing.But I don’t have Zoe’s gift to shift into other people.That’s something special.”“But you can change into other animals,” Nash mused.“Yes.I can.”“All this time I’ve felt so weird, at college, for being different.I had no idea how damned normal I really am.I’m downright boring.”“Not at all,” laughed Zoe.“I suspect that before too long you’ll have worked out how interesting you can be.”“We’ll see,” said Nash.“Anyhow, we need to come up with a plan of attack, don’t we?”“We do,” said Kyla.“We had a thought.”“Oh?”“How would you feel about cozying up to the bad guys, Nash?” she asked.“We need someone on the inside.”“Um, I don’t see that happening.Not for me.I don’t think I’m exactly popular with those folks.”“Well, no, probably not.But you’ve been to Conrad Malcolm’s house.You’ve argued with him.You could offer to bring them information, or at least mention an affiliation with the man.”“You think they’d seriously go for that?”“Well, can you act at all?”Nash pondered this for a moment.“I’ve done some acting actually, in high school and college.Nothing big.”“Doesn’t matter.You just have to react to them.Let them know that you want your ranch protected.That Malcolm wants you gone and that you have nothing to lose.That you wanted his daughter but he’s forbidden it and you’re out for revenge.He’s likely to be their biggest target, you know.”“And you’re sure he’s not in on this whole thing?”“Positive,” said Kyla.“He’s not a sweet man, but he’s not in on the racket, I’m fairly sure.”“But what about Cecile?” asked Nash.“What about her?” asked Maddox.“I don’t…I wouldn’t want to hurt her.I’d have to lie to her.”“Are you two a couple?”“Well, no, not really.”“Nash, think about the town.The people, the shifters.We need to find out who’s in charge of all this.You have an in with the wolf pack and with Conrad Malcolm.You’re more flexible in all this, because you’re single.Any of us would have a problem because we’d be putting our mates at risk.”Nash realized as Kyla spoke that she was right.Things were precarious at best with Cecile; much as he wanted her, he knew that it wouldn’t, couldn’t work, though the thought caused him an indescribable agony.There was too much in the way.At least here he had a chance to make things right in Wolf Rock.“All right,” he said.“Tell me what to do.”Nash felt suddenly as though he was part of something larger than himself.After a life of solitude, of fending for himself and defending his territory and even his heart, he was working with others; no longer a leader or loner, but a collaborator.Something in it filled him with a sense of pride.They all sat on various chairs and sofas while Zoe handed out drinks.“You’ve met up with their thugs,” said Maddox.“And so naturally they’ll be wary of you.But if you tell them your parents are too stubborn to pay but that you want to get in on this money-making opportunity, it could work.At first they’ll probably test you.There’s no way they’ll let you know who’s the boss, for a while anyhow.But your job is to find out.”“Okay, that’s all nice and simple,” said Nash.“But one small thing: how the hell do I find these bastards?”“That’s where I come in,” said Kyla.“I told you some of my visions are fuzzy [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]