Page 133 of Visions, Paws, and Claws

“Yes. Wait—no. He’s older than that. He could be in his teens. Who is he?” Except he already knew, and the knowledge gripped his heart in an icy hand.

Saul let out a sigh. “You’re seeing your grandson, Alec. And if you’re right, then… he’s aged since I saw him.”

Jake froze. “But if he’s Dellan’s son, and taking into account how long the Gerans had him imprisoned in that cage…” It didn’t compute.

In real terms, he couldn’t be more than two years old. What the fuck did they do to him? More importantly, how could they do that to achild?Scrap that—he had to have been still little more than a baby when they did whatever they did. Jake wanted to grab Alec and cradle him, to run with him as far away from that bland room as they could get.

A calm voice in his head dragged him back on task.Later. There’s stuff you need to discover.

Jake took a deep breath, forcing himself to think clearly.

“I don’t know where he is. Not yet.” Then he was walking back to that first room.

Something important in here.

“Can you see Vic?” Jake couldn’t miss the anxious edge to Saul’s voice.

He sighed. “There are limits to what I can see. If it’s not in Fielding’s memory, then no.” And right then, Fielding’s memory was fixated on a door.

So what’s in there?

“The room has a walled-off section with a door in it. Walls of glass. I can see stone caskets.” He stilled. Familiar caskets…. Jake pulled back and looked Fielding in the eye. “You know about the Missal of Godwin, don’t you? Theron saw it at the archives.”

Fielding froze. “No. Get out of there.”

“What’s that?” Horvan asked.

Without breaking eye contact, Jake answered him. “The oldest document we have about shifters—well, to date at any rate. It was written in 1050. I saw it in the archives in Rome. It mentions the brothers. I also saw other artifacts, but that was where things got interesting.” Fielding moaned, and Jake moved in closer, his fingers pushing into the flesh of Fielding’s temples. “You don’t like me looking at this, do you? Why does Theron keep these caskets from prying eyes? What do they contain? More forgeries?” He stilled. “Or maybe not. Maybe they’re the real thing.”

“Search his memories for Berengar,” Aelryn suggested.

Fielding jerked beneath his fingertips, and Jake smiled. “Jackpot. Who is Berengar?”

“An ancient shifter whose tomb was recently discovered. Whatever they found in it, the Gerans want it to remain hidden.”

The fear Jake had sensed when he first touched Fielding had blossomed, creeping through his body like corruption.

“You’re afraid of Theron, aren’t you?” Jake said softly. “Whatever Theron is hiding, he’s not just keeping it from the Fridans, but the Gerans as well. He doesn’t wantanyoneseeing it.” Then Jake froze as the memory of a conversation came to him, as clear as if he’d been present at the time. “You asked Theron why he hadn’t destroyed whatever’s in there when they were first discovered.”

Fielding’s eyes widened.

Jake nodded. “He told you they may yet prove useful.” Then he recited Theron’s reply, word for word.

I can understand your confusion. Why keep something that would lead to peace when we wish to sow nothing but discord and chaos? But the day will come when we have won this war. The Fridans will be nothing but a memory, and all shifters will be bereft. Then it will be time to ‘discover’ these artifacts. Then we’ll tell everyone that we never knew. How could we? The truth had lain hidden, undisturbed for centuries. Can’t you just hear the words? ‘But now we can see that all shifters and humans must work together, as they were meant to. We must strive to forget what has passed and live in peace and harmony.’ After all the bloodshed and heartache, such words will ensure no one seeks to resurrect the past, and we shall live out our days the way we always intended—as the rulers of all.

Fielding stared at him openmouthed, his upper lip curling back, his face twisted in a grimace.

“Now Ireallywant to see what Theron is hiding,” Aelryn murmured.

Saul’s voice broke through. “Fielding said wherever Alec is, Vic is there too.”

Jake removed his fingers, straightened, and glanced at Seth. “I think a little Remote Viewing is called for.”

Seth nodded, his eyes bright. “I need something of Vic’s. Something personal.”

“I’m on it.” Saul glanced at Aelryn. “Can you take over here?”

Aelryn grabbed hold of Fielding’s arm, and Saul was out of there.

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