Page 52 of War Games

“You were,” Jabari agreed. “But we’re not going to blame you for Jacky’s situation.”

You should. I brought this into her home.

I also promised to pick her over the werewolves every time, and I intend to keep that promise.

“When looking into their accounts, keep an eye on news or contacts from other werewolves?—”

“Davor can’t do it, then,” Subira said softly. “We can’t have a werecat acting in a potentially hostile way against the werewolves. It will weaken our unity against the witches. Dirk certainly can, regardless of his position with our family, since he’s not only a werewolf butyourwerewolf.”

“Jacky was hurt?—”

“But we can be certain she wasn’t the target,” Subira said, cutting off Jabari.

“Mother, you have never cared about these sorts of politics this much.” Zuri was the one with her and was able to look her mother in the eye.

Heath was actually unbothered by the idea that Dirk would have to work alone. If the werecat ruling family could only work to protect Jacky and help her, it was fine by him. He could handle other werewolves. He knew how.

Carey screamed. Heath was at the door before he could think. Dirk was thumping down the stairs as he rounded the corner to run up them.

“What happened?” Heath snarled.

“Jacky is bleeding. She’s got abrasions on her hands and elbows. It doesn’t make any sense.”

Heath ran past him to see Carey holding the same hand, but now she was staring at the open wounds on Jacky’s hand.

“Heath!” Niko called out. “Change in plans! Subira is coming instead of Zuri.”

20

CHAPTER TWENTY

Climbing down was dangerous, mostly due to the fact that I wasn’t a professional climber. My hands hurt as I fought to get down the rocky cliffside, leaving blood on different hand holds I was trying to use. I was lucky there were ledges I’d be able to stand on at different points.

Halfway down the cliffside, I wondered why I was climbing down, frowning as I looked down, unable to remember why I thought this had been a good idea. I had to finish getting down now, though. If I tried climbing back up, the fall I would inevitably have would be even worse.

With less than twenty-five percent of the climb down finished, my arms were shaking from overexertion. I was finally lower than the tallest trees and into the last leg of my task. When I reached my last safe ledge, I could see the bottom. A fall could still break bones, but the right landing wouldn’t be fatal. It was still a solid thirty feet, which meant I didn’t want to fall, but it wouldn’t kill me anymore.

I rested, staring at the glowing dawn through the trees, wondering if I had climbed all night. I couldn’t remember why I was even there or what possessed me to pick up rock climbing asa hobby, but at least the view was magical, the light catching on the leaves.

“Okay, let’s finish this and figure out what I’m doing out here,” I said, shaking my head in frustration at my situation.

It was harder, the cliffside slicker as some pieces were covered in moss or just wet. With ten feet to go, I couldn’t find a place to put my feet and knew I was going to fall.

I decided to jump instead, aiming to control it rather than slip and panic. With a hard thud, I hit the ground with my legs, sending me down to my knees, then into the dirt. I wasn’t good enough to do a fancy roll or anything.

That was a shit landing. Ouch.

I pushed to stand up, knowing my knees were going to be bruised and swelling before the hour was up. I looked over my surroundings, not recognizing the trees, not sure where I could possibly be.

That confusion only lasted for a second, then it clicked.

Oh, home is nearby. I’ve never been over this way with the sun up.

I started walking, knowing the area more as I went.

I must have left last night and fallen asleep instead of getting home. That must be it. I must have gotten into an argument with them again.

I reached the trail I needed and saw my house come into view. A simple suburban-style home built on a nice piece of property since my parents didn’t want to live in town now with Gwen and me in college.

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