Page 38 of Visions, Paws, and Claws

“Sexy?” Dellan’s eyes sparkled.

Horvan snorted. “I was thinking more along the lines of exhausting.”

Roadkill cackled. “Some of us wouldloveto be in your shoes. So don’t expect sympathy.”

Horvan stroked his chin. “Maybe Doc Tranter knows.”

“Why him?” Saul asked.

“Because he usually knows more than we do. You can always give him a call and ask.”

“That’s a call I wouldn’t mind overhearing,” Crank confessed.

“Then let’s do it.” Horvan gestured to Hashtag’s laptop. “Do your stuff.”

Hashtag tapped on his keyboard. “Calling him now.” A moment later, he smiled. “Hey, Doc, you got a minute?”

Doc’s voice emerged from the speaker. “For you? Several minutes. What’s up?”

“Hang on.” Hashtag turned the laptop so everyone could see.

The first thing that struck Crank was the fatigue etched across Doc’s face, appearing more strongly in the late afternoon sun that lit up his study.

“You okay, Doc?” Horvan clearly saw it too.

Doc waved a hand. “I’m not sleeping too well, that’s all. And before one of you says ‘Physician, heal thyself’ and suggests I self-medicate with sleeping pills? Don’t waste your breath. I hate those things. Now… what can I do for you?”

“We’re discussing telepathic connections between mates,” Horvan told him. “Brick and Aric connected with their mate, Seth, last night for the first time, in a dream.”

“That sounds familiar. Didn’t Dellan do the same thing with Rael?” Doc asked.

“Yeah, that’s right, he did.” Rael gave Dellan a smile as bright as the sunlight that poured into the kitchen.

“I see. Then I’m happy for you, Brick, Aric—” Doc gave a tired smile. “—but all I can tell you is… it works.”

Crank burst out laughing. “Yeah, thanks for that, Doc.Reallyinformative.”

Brick let out a noise of pure frustration. “But Doc…howdoes it work?”

Doc’s salt-and-pepper whiskers were stark against his pale skin, and Crank estimated he’d lost about twenty pounds since the raid on the Bozeman camp.

Not sleeping my ass. There was more to this than Doc seemed willing to share.

Doc cleared his throat. “Until recently, no one even understood the concept ofmates. As far as telepathy is concerned, there are theories, but no one has any definitive answers. It could be biological, psychological, or, hell, even mystical.” He gave an apologetic shrug. “I’m sorry, but it’ll take people far smarter than we are to suss out an answer. For now, at least for me, it’s enough that it does work.” He peered at Brick. “I’m sure you’re grateful for it.”

Brick smiled. “Like you wouldn’t believe.”

“Horvan, are we any closer to locating more Geran camps?”

Horvan let out a wry chuckle. “No, Doc,weare not. The well of information seems to have run dry. Vic’s met with dozens of Fridan leaders in the last week, and he’s going to meet with more. The coalition is growing.”

Crank loved the note of confidence in Horvan’s voice.

“Then all we need is somewhere to deploy these ever-growing forces. And when we do?” Doc straightened in his chair. “I want in, Horvan. Okay? Include me on any medical teams.”

“You sure?”

Doc huffed. “It worked out well with the raid on the camp in Bozeman, didn’t it?”

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