Page 52 of Guardians

“He told Gabriel about the alliance and Gabriel was less than enthused. I wanted Diego to know that my brother does not speak for the entire village. There are many among us who are very interested in claiming a mate.”

“You need to speak to Zion about this.”

Raphael’s eyes narrowed to gleaming slits. “That would not be wise. Diego is our liaison for good reason. I will speak with him.”

“As I said, he’s not here, but I’ll let him know that you were looking for him.”

His gaze swept over her body for a millisecond, then he smiled. “How many of the females have already been claimed by cats?”

Unsure if he was friend or foe, she took an automatic step backward. “You need to talk to Diego.”

“You do not need to fear me. If I have my way, we will soon be allies.” He nodded to her again, then moved off the porch. “Until we meet again.”

Lexie watched in stupefied wonder as a strange rippling wave passed over Raphael’s body. It was as if the fabric of space distorted and reformed. His human shape was swept away, transforming him into an oversized eagle. He spread his massive wings, flapped a few times, and then propelled himself up into the clear blue sky.

He hadn’t even undressed. He just manifested wings and flew away.

“Did that just happen?” Tara said from the edge of the porch. “Please, tell me you just saw some guy turn into a giant bird.”

Lexie laughed and looked at her friend. “We better get used to watching people shift. According to Malik, almost all the hybrids can shapeshift.”

Lexie and Tara spent most of the day with the other human females. They comforted the ones who needed reassurance and answered everyone’s questions. No one seemed too upset about being confined to the cabin clusters. Lexie suspected that would change once boredom set in.

By the time Lexie returned to her cabin, she was more than ready for her conversation with Diego. She was intensely curious about the raptors. Why did Raphael hate Zion and why had Diego been chosen as their go-between?

Diego didn’t make it home in time for dinner, but he strolled into the cabin shortly after that. “Sorry I’m late.” The phrase made him chuckle. “Wow, that made me sound like an old married man.”

Lexie waited until he hung up his coat and poured himself a drink before she broached the issue of what she’d seen that morning.

Diego walked over and sat down on the sofa, extending his legs in front of him. “Did everything go okay with the potential mates? Are they settling in at the new dormitories?”

“They’re still dealing with the emotional aftermath, but that’s to be expected,” she told him.

“What about you?” Diego patted the seat next to him. “You witnessed it all too.”

She sat down beside him. He wrapped his arm around her, and she snuggled into the warmth of his side. “I’m trying to stay too busy to think about it.”

“It’s not a bad strategy. Put a little distance between yourself and the horror before you try to deal with what happened last night. But don’t avoid what you’re feeling for more than a few days. Burying emotions that strong makes them more damaging.”

“Voice of experience?”

His look confirmed her conclusion. He didn’t need words.

Unable to suppress her curiosity any longer, she said, “I had a visitor today, or actually you did.”

He looked down at her, concern narrowing his dark eyes. “What sort of visitor? Were you here alone?”

“Raphael stopped by to speak with you, but you’d already left.”

“Raphael came here?” Kane abandoned the dishes he’d been drying and moved into the living room. “What did he want?”

Not to be left out, Malik followed suit. Soon all three of her mates were looking at her expectantly. She focused on Diego. “Raphael wanted you to know that Gabriel’s reaction to the alliance was not reflective of the rest of the raptors.”

“Gabriel admitted as much, but I’m shocked that Raphael flew down here and?—”

“You knew he can fly?” Lexie cut in.

“They were created with eagle DNA,” Diego reminded. “Surely, that can’t surprise you.”

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