Page 59 of Visions, Paws, and Claws

She bit her lip. “Events took place this year that challenged my beliefs.”

Saul cocked his head. “The raids on the schools?” Hashtag could understand that. According to what Aelryn had told Horvan, it seemed to have shaken a lot of people’s beliefs.

Eve nodded. “I think they tried to suppress the facts, but word got out.” She shivered. “Those poor kids…. What they did was horrific, both the teachers and the parents. And then I heard about the camps, how they’d left shifters to their fate, how they’d told them the Fridans would kill them all.” Her face tightened. “That wasn’t right.”

“But you still think humans are inferior,” Hashtag pressed. For some reason, knowing Eve’s stance was important.

I want to believe she’s different.He was clueless as to why it should matter to him.

Eve studied her clasped hands. “I have to be honest. All those years of indoctrination tell me yes, but what if the stories I’ve been hearing are true? What if humans are our ancestors? How could they be inferior to us if we came from them?”

Fuck, it was so tempting to put aside his doubts.

Then Hashtag thought about his friends—hell, hisfamily—who might be at risk if they let her in.

He stood and walked around the table to where she sat. “Let’s cut to the chase. Why should we trust you? What’s to say you’re not still working withthem?”

Eve gazed up at him and sniffed, her brow furrowing,

“Answer the question, please,” Saul said in a firm tone.

She locked gazes with him. “It’s true, I’ve done things I’m not proud of. Thingsno oneshould be made to do. But I did them because Ibelievedin what they were saying—until I found out what they were doing in the shadows. Suddenly everything I’d thought was good and right became dark and sinister. So I resigned. Told them some crap about wanting to start a family. They weren’t happy about it, but I wasn’t going to change my mind.” Eve bowed her head. “It’s okay, I get it. You’d have me on your team because I’m a damn good fighter, and you need as many of those as you can get, but—and it’s a big but—you’d never trust me. And there’s nothing I can do about that.”

The anguish in her voice cut through Hashtag like a scalpel. He laid his hand on her shoulder, unable to refrain from doing so. “Hey….”

Eve gave another sniff, and her eyes widened. “Whoareyou?”

He chuckled. “You got amnesia or something? I’m one of the guys who’s been asking you questions for the last half hour.”

At the rear of the room, Crank chuckled too.

She shook her head. “No, I mean, who are you tome? There’s this strange smell about you, that—”

“He has a smell?” Saul interjected. He blinked. “Kinda spicy and sweet, all at the same time?”

She gaped at him. “How did you know that?”

Hashtag turned to stare at Saul. “What she said. Because you lost me. What does the way I smell have anything to do with this?”

Saul grinned. “Oh, Hashtag, my friend. Your life is about to get really interesting.” He glanced at Eve. “Do you have any idea what’s going on?”

“You didn’t answer my question.” Eve didn’t break eye contact. “Tell me how you know that.”

Saul leaned back. “Because I smell that same smell—every time I’m around my mates.”

Crank jerked his head up, his eyes round.

Eve’s mouth fell open. “Mates?”

“Before you say mates are a myth, I should point out that he has two,” Hashtag volunteered. “One human, one shifter. And he’s not the only one. I know of at least two more….” He frowned. “What do you call it? A throuple? A triad?” The interview had taken a weird turn, and he was struggling to keep up.

“Mates?” Eve repeated, her brown eyes huge. She lurched to her feet. “No. No. This can’t be real.”

Hashtag threw his hands in the air. “Willoneof you tell me what’s going on?”

Saul stood. “How does she smell, Hashtag?”

“How does she—what the fuck kinda question is that?”

---