Page 86 of Visions, Paws, and Claws

Brick snorted. “They’re prisoners, isn’t that obvious?”

“Yeah, butwhyare they prisoners?” Crank demanded. “For political reasons? Are they anarchists? Activists?”

“Let me askyoua question.” Milo took a drink. “Do the Fridans know how many shifters are on this planet?”

“No,” Horvan replied. “I don’t think anyone’s ever researched it.”

Milo nodded. “Well, the Gerans have—and they came to a conclusion. The world needs more shifters.”

“Can’t argue with that,” Horvan acknowledged. “Humans outnumber us, but I guess that’s the way it’s always been.”

“Where you and the Gerans might disagree is the type of shifters we need more of. The ones in the camps have traits the Gerans want to replicate: strength, agility, dexterity, intelligence…. Hence the breeding program.”

“So you’re saying you only incarcerate the crème de la crème?” Saul gave Milo an incredulous stare.

Crank shook his head. “That doesn’t fly. What about all the shifters they abandoned in the Bozeman camp? They were gonna shoot them all.”

Milo stilled. “How many shifters were left there?”

“About a block full,” Dellan told him.

“Well, the average is about one hundred fifty detainees, so I’d assume they….”

“They what?” Rael stared at him. “Say what you think.”

“Look, the breeding program was nothing to do with me, okay? But if they were trying to create better, stronger, faster shifters, then I’d guess some genes weren’t passed on.” His cheeks grew red. “And I had no idea they’d left instructions to eliminate the remaining shifters. I was already in Maine at that point.”

“I don’t know whether to feel insulted or fortunate,” Aric announced. “So my genes didn’t cut it, huh? Then again, if they’d taken me along with Seth and his dad, Brick might never have found me.”

“I’d have found you,” Brick stated quietly. “Even if I had to scour the fucking planet.”

Aric flushed and kissed him on the cheek.

“Until I met Jana, I believed we were simply breeding more shifters to even the balance, but now?” Milo’s face contorted. “She made me question why the Gerans were forcibly breeding shifters, and I didn’t like where that question led me.” He leaned back. “Your friend, Jamie Matheson—”

“He’s my half brother,” Dellan said quietly.

Milo blinked. “I didn’t know. While it’s true Jamie could’ve ended up at the camp because they caught him, he’s also a tiger, and they can’t get enough of the big cats.”

“Which is why they left Aric.” Brick gazed fondly at his mate. “House kitties don’t make good killers.”

Crank snorted. “You won’t be saying that the next time he sticks you with those murder mitts.”

“But that’s not why they’ve got Seth and Jake, is it?” Dellan’s voice rang out.

“No, I don’t think so. They’re the icing on the cake. That’s why the scientists are doing so much testing.” Milo scanned the faces of the people sitting around the fire pit. “I know how it sounds.”

“You mean, as if they want to use Jake and Seth’s abilities to their advantage. Make them into some kind of weapon.” Dellan was pale.

Milo broke eye contact, lowering his head.

“You’re seeing everything differently now, aren’t you?” Eve said in a gentle voice.

“And then some.” Milo swallowed. “How could I have gone along with all this?”

“Because you believed what they’d been telling you since you were old enough to listen.” Crank stared at Milo, unable to miss his discomfort. Except he couldn’t leave it there.“Something I don’t get. If there are about one hundred fifty inmates and seventy guards, why don’t the prisoners just shift and kill the fuckers? No offense intended.”

“None taken. And all the guards are armed.”

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