Page 47 of Visions, Paws, and Claws

“As far as we can tell, this was created in the early twentieth century.”

Vic’s head was spinning. “A forgery? But… why?”

“To cause a rift. Someone had obviously read the Missal of Godwin and decided to exploit it, to use it for their own ends.It had the desired effect. This document was created, news of it was deliberately spread, and thus the Fridans and the Gerans came to be.”

“But if it’s a forgery, then tell people! Let them know they’re being manipulated.” He pointed to the sheet. “This… if this got out, it wouldcripplethe Gerans.”

Orsini let out a sorrowful sigh. “It isone document. And we know from our sources that many similar documents exist. Ifthisis a forgery, then I have to believe they are too. I would be one lone voice adrift in an ocean of others.”

“But what happened to the shifter who came here? You didn’t finish that part of the story.”

“He spent a morning with me, he left, and when I tried to get in contact with him, I learned he’d disappeared. No one heard from him after his arrival in Rome, not even his wife. He simply vanished from the face of the earth.” Grief contorted Orsini’s features. “I did that. Because I have to assume someone learned of our meeting, learned what had passed between us and didn’t want that knowledge to be made public.”

“You think the Gerans got to him.”

Orsini nodded. “It was too big a risk to let him tell others about the forgery.”

The light dawned. “That’s why you haven’t told anyone about it, isn’t it? You’re afraid the same thing will happen to you.”

He glanced toward the door. “I never leave the museum. I have an apartment in one of the little houses we passed on the way here. I dare not set foot outside this place, because I don’t know who would be waiting for me.”

Orsini’s words hit home, and it was like a sucker punch to Vic’s gut.

“Oh Gods. What was his name? The shifter who disappeared?”

No, don’t say it. Please.

Orsini lowered his gaze. “He was a tiger shifter named Jake Carson.”

Chapter Ten

ORSINI STAREDat Vic. “You know that name.”

“Yes. And until recently, no one knew if he was alive or dead.”

“But you know now?”

Vic nodded. “He’s being held in a Geran camp, but apparently he’s okay. We don’t know where the camp is located, but the mate I spoke of? He’s with Jake.” He expected to see some indication of relief, but Orsini’s brow was still furrowed. “What’s wrong?”

“What troubled me at the time—and troubles me still, if I am honest—is how the Gerans had knowledge of Jake’s gifts. More importantly, how they were able to take him once he left the archive. Because as far asIwas aware, the only people privy to that information were the Fridan leaders I contacted about him when I learned of his abilities. It was they who arranged for Jake to visit me.”

“Then I’m troubled too, because that points to only one conclusion.” Vic’s mouth was suddenly dry. “Someone was feeding the Gerans information, and that someone had to be a Fridan. Maybe even a Fridan leader.” He didn’t want to believe that.

Orsini stroked his chin. “There is another part to this archive that I think you should see.” He rose and walked over to the huge wooden doors that covered part of the wall. Vic watched as Orsini unlocked them and folded them back onto themselves, like shutters on a window, revealing….

Vic got up and went to take a closer look. Two panels lined the wall, and one glance told him he was gazing at the depiction of a family tree. At the top were two names.

His mouth fell open. “These are Ansfrid’s and Ansger’s descendants?” So many shifters, spreading out like the branches of a tree.

“Not all of them—there isn’t enough space for that—but the heads of families, certainly. My ancestor began this work, and each new generation has continued to add to it.” Orsini pointed to the foot of the panels. “There is no room left.”

Vic peered at the last names. He noted some were circled in red, and others in blue. Then he looked higher up the panel, seeing more such names. “Why are these different?”

Orsini gazed at the panels. “The dates are important.”

Vic leaned in. “1904, 1909, 1910….”

He nodded. “Those shifters in blue became leaders of the Fridans, while those in red were Gerans. These details were added during the last century, the result of painstaking research.” He pointed to the names at the foot of the panel. “You may recognize some of them.”

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