Page 111 of Visions, Paws, and Claws

He nodded, his face contorted. “The first one, he’d been beaten. Badly. His eyes were swollen shut, and his lips were chapped and bloodied. But as soon as he heard my voice, you know what he did? He screamed not to help them.Don’t tell them a goddamn thing.”

“But you agreed.”

“Yes. Every time I saw him, the damage was worse than the time before. They told me that as long as I helped them, they wouldn’t kill him. At least not outright. But if I refused, they would beat him to death while I watched.”

“And yet he was one of their own.” Aelryn couldn’t hide his disbelief—or disgust.

Rudy nodded. “And if they find out I’ve told you….”

“Especially if they discover you’ve passed on false information.”

Rudy stared at him. “What?”

“The information you leaked to them? It isn’t true.”

“But… there’s a mission. You’re here. It’s happening.”

It was Aelryn’s turn to nod. “Yes, it is—only not when wetoldyou it was. We had to know who was passing them information.” The implications weren’t lost on him.

They had to be all too clear for Rudy.

His face was the color of milk. “And when they find out I lied to them? They’ll kill Valmer.”

“Not if you convince them we changed our plans at the last minute. A spur of the moment decision. Because you’re going to keep doing exactly what you’vebeendoing. Only now, you’ll pass on vetted information.”

“Aelryn, I….” Rudy swallowed.

“What is it?”

“I got the impression I wasn’t the first Fridan they’d had spying for them.”

That wasn’t too much of a shock. Vic Ryder had said much the same thing in a recent message.

“And… I didn’t just tell them about the mission.”

Aelryn froze. “What else?” When Rudy didn’t answer, Aelryn lost it. “Whatelse? You tell menow!”

“I told them about Vic Ryder, how he was visiting all the team leaders.”

Oh gods.

“Are they keeping tabs on him?”

Rudy nodded. “I think so. But… what reason would they have to harm him?”

Aelryn could think of one reason. Vic’s mission was to convince leaders of the very real threat the Gerans posed.

And they won’t like that.

Rudy might have put Vic in harm’s way.

Horvan will need to know. And Vic’s mates.

“What will happen to me? You… you’re not going to….” Rudy’s voice shook.

“No.” Aelryn sighed. “Iwas, but now I know the truth? I’ve been asking myself whatI’ddo if I were in your position, and if I’m honest…. Where my mate is concerned, my emotions get thebetter of me.” He fixed Rudy with an intense gaze. “I’m not sure Vic’s mates would be so understanding.”

Rudy winced. “They’ll tear me apart.”

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