Page 85 of Primal Mirror

“We could still have the computronic aids to deal with the needs of the different ages, but we need a teacher to ensure they stay on track—and all the other stuff kids do together at school. Projects and art and music.”

Remi considered that. “Given the numbers, we’ll need two teachers—one for kindergarten, the other for elementary school.”

Lark made a face. “How are we going to lure two teachers out here? I love our pack, but we’re small and can’t pay anything like what they’re worth, and it would mean a move for anyone outside the region.”

“There’s something to be said for being at the ground floor of setting up a pack,” Angel offered. “Not many people ever get to experience that.”

“Angel’s right.” Rina leaned forward, her long ponytail sliding over her shoulder. “DarkRiver will always own a piece of my heart, but everything was set up by the time I came of age.

“Here, everything’s raw, unfinished in a way that means I can help shape the foundations of the pack. A certain kind of person will find that enticing.” She smiled. “Kit’s loving seeing the pack literally build and grow before his eyes.”

Lark was already on her phone, taking notes. “That’s it. I’m going to pitch it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help start a pack. I mean, it’s not like that happens every day.”

She frowned, looked up. “Wild Woman is one of the best places for an ad—we all know everyone reads that, even those people who pretend not to.” A speaking glance at Theo, who feigned a searching glance around the room.

“But it’s expensive.” Lark read out the rates with a wince.

“Do it,” Remi said. “This is a critical need, and we currently have a buffer thanks to that bulk security job.”

“Or,” Theo murmured, “maybe you can pitch it as an article?” Arms folded behind his head, he frowned. “I mean, we just talked about how setting up a new pack isn’t something that happens on the regular. People might be interested in reading about that, and you can sneak in how we’re in the market for teachers.”

Rina was nodding. “It’ll probably gain more attention than a straight ad, too.”

“Worth a shot.” Lark shrugged. “I’ll figure out how to pitch an article and report back. Who’s gonna write it, though? I’m not a writer.”

“Vessie,” Angel suggested, naming a packmate who’d been a journalist before she retired.

Theo gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up to that. “I know she said she’s all about her grandcubs now, but have you heard that woman take down smartass juveniles with nothing but her tongue? I bet you she’d enjoy the challenge of getting us into Wild Woman.”

All five of them were in a good mood when they closed the meeting, but Remi wasn’t done. Once his sentinels had left, he made another call, asked another favor.

Aden replied after a short pause. “Zaira says yes.”

Then he added, “Remi, we don’t have any intel on the Scott compound—it’s locked up tight, and we haven’t prioritized it as the Scotts have been keeping their heads down since Shoshanna’s death, but one thing I can tell you is that it’s crawling with Scott loyalists. Watch your back.”

“I will.” More importantly, he’d be watching Auden’s back.

He’d tear out the throat of anyone who tried to lay so much as a finger on her.

Chapter 34

The tests are definitive: none of the drugs in the trial offer long-term amelioration of the problem. As psychic remedies have already been ruled out, only one option remains.

—Classified Report to the Psy Council by PsyMed: Pharmaceutical Development & Testing. Project Manager: Councilor Neiza Adelaja Defoe (circa 2016)

AUDEN WOKE FROM a deep sleep to find Liberty lying skin-to-skin with her, both of them covered with a blanket. She smiled, cuddling her baby to her with one hand. Liberty’s pulse was a faint butterfly against Auden, her skin fragile. “Finn?”

“Over here,” he said softly from his workstation on the other side of the room.

After kissing and cuddling her baby, she said, “Why am I not scared of you? Why do I not care that you touched me while I was asleep?” She would’ve expected to wake at even the gentlest contact.

The sound of wheels on tile, as Finn rolled over his office chair. “It’s because I’m a healer—same effect as empaths as far as we can figure. Must be our pheromones or something. Pretty noticeable effect from childhood—future healers tend to help people calm down even without trying.”

That made sense to her. “How else could you work with growly leopards.”

Chuckling, he took out a scanner to check on Liberty. “You got it.”

She watched him as he worked, took in the kindness and compassion. “You’re a brilliant healer,” she said, needing to vocalize it. “Not only in your skills, but in how you treat your patients. I feel privileged that you’re Liberty’s primary medical carer.”

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