Ch. 231..240

Sasha tensed in his arm, but he didn't back down. When she straightened to look him in the eyes, she was measuring him.

She'd never liked his jealous side—never understood the need for it. She had no clue the thoughts males had, the ways they might take advantage of her. She thought he only wanted to keep her from other "men," as she called them. She didn't understand that he had watched some of the darkest and most brutal things men did to each other. He knew what could happen to the human body when a malicious man got his hands on it… and he refused to see that happen to her.

Though he was fairly confident that his brother wasn't a threat to Sasha, her attitude towards males—especially when she would need to work so closely with them—could put her in a position of danger. Especially in her world, but in other ways here in Thana.

"Zev," she said, her voice brimming with determination.

"No, listen to me, Sash. I might not like Lhars, or trust him. But I know he won't hurt you. But there are other males here we don't know. Males who were close to Xar. If you make a habit of hugging males, of sharing your scent… if you don't keep some level of separation between you and the males now that we're bonded, it will give those that might want to do you more harm an opportunity to get closer to you than is safe.

"Your humanness is an opportunity for us to use your differences as way to keep you apart—and we should do that until we're certain the hierarchy is stabilized, and no one is targeting you—or me, for that matter." He could admit to himself that it would also keep her away from Lhars who, for some reason was the only male he felt threatened by when it came to Sasha, but he knew she wasn't going to accept that his concerns were for his brother's trustworthiness, not hers.

"Zev—"

"Sash, I'm serious. You can do this. I want you to do this. I want to help you succeed. And yes, you should own who you are. But does that really have to include you sharing scents with hundreds of other males?" He pinned her hand against his chest again. "What we have… we have to protect it. We have to cherish it. I can't… Right now, while this is new, the idea of you touching another male—"

"I'm not touching them in that way!"

"I know, but they might not understand that!"

Sasha's brow furrowed, and her fingers under his bent, digging into his chest as if she wanted to take hold of the heart beating under her palm.

"Zev, you can trust me."

"I know I can. I told you, it's not you I'm worried about."

That connection between them glowed, pulsed with their heartbeats, and for a moment they both just listened to it. Zev took comfort that her face softened as she did. He tightened his grip on her hand.

"Please, Sash. I'm not asking you to not to be here, not to talk to them. I'm asking you to keep yourself out of their arms."

Sasha took a deep breath and opened her mouth—to agree, he hoped—but at that moment the door from outside swung open and the man of the hour stalked inside, his eyes falling on their little clutch. He raised a single eyebrow and locked eyes with Zev.

"Down boy," he smirked. "I'm glad you're awake. I need to take Sasha-don."

"Take her where, Lhars?" Zev growled. He was weary and in pain, and every instinct screamed at him to get this male away from his mate, but he could barely move.

Lhars rolled his eyes. "To be seen. She needs to be seen and understood before she starts making changes. Oh, don't growl at me, brother. She stinks of you too much. I wouldn't display for her if she was the last female in Thana."

Sasha turned to Lhars, her lips twisted like she knew something Zev didn't. "No, I'm sure you wouldn't. Don't try to make him believe you're sacrificing for him though, Lhars…"

Lhars cut her a glare, and Sasha grinned. Zev didn't know whether to kiss her for setting his brother down, or snarl about whatever they both knew she was talking about that was flying right over Zev's head.

He opened his mouth to ask what he was missing, but Lhars got in first. "The wolves are set for after dinner. Yhet's outside to take you to for a meal when you're ready—and maybe a walk around the village afterwards? If you're serious about moving back to the City, we need to start organizing a shift. I thought I'd come and bring some of the Alphas to your table to break the ice before you have to start negotiating with them."

Sasha nodded. "Good idea."

"Negotiating what?" Zev growled, wishing his eyes didn't want to drag closed.

"The way forward," Sasha said briskly. "I have ideas. I'll fill you in today so you can help me refine them before the wolf council."

"Okay, but—"

"She needs to be seen, Zev. She was acknowledged, then left a couple hours later. Everyone's curious, and the relief of losing Xar is wearing off. They need to see her in control and moving."

"I wasn't arguing with that," Zev growled, bracing against the pain that crackled through his side with every new breath. "I just want to understand—"

The door flew open again, and all three of them startled. Zev groaned and his breath stopped, Sasha reaching for him in concern as one of the Sentries slid to a halt on her other side, throwing a salute, then pleading with his eyes.

Sasha felt all their eyes on her and turned back to find the male, quivering, eyes wide.

He's awaiting your instruction to speak, Zev said in her head. He probably would have just told me or Lhars, but he doesn't know how you're going to lead. Xar held the reins tightly.

Sasha gave a tiny nod, then turned to the male. "Any time you have important information, just tell me. Don't wait," she said quickly.

The male nodded, his breath rushing out.. "A human came through the Gateway fifteen minutes ago and he's on his way here."

 

Chapter 232

Zev went rigid under her hand and Lhars immediately stopped smirking.

Sasha kept her hand firm on Zev's chest. It was a measure of how weak he still was that she was confident she didn't need help keeping him down.

"Who's on the team?" Zev asked, his hand tightening on hers.

"No team," the Sentry said. "Just a single male. I don't know this one."

Lhars and Zev looked at each other.

Who would it be? Sasha asked Zev in his head.

I don't know. I've never seen any of them come alone before.

Sasha frowned. It couldn't be a coincidence that they were looking for her and Zev and this was the first time they did something different.

"What's our risks, with just one of them?" she asked them all quickly.

Lhars frowned. "My guess is that someone has come through ahead of the others and is just waiting for them to arrive. They don't brave the walk alone."

The Sentry shook his head again. "Dunken sent me running," the male said, and Sasha realized his shoulders and chest were heaving. He spoke quickly and calmly, but his body was clearly still recovering from something. "The male arrived and immediately started towards the village. He's moving slowly, clearly afraid. But he's coming. The Captain's moved to intercept if he reaches the branch of trails before you've made a decision. But he's not waiting for anyone else."

Zev growled and Lhars cursed.

Sasha looked at Lhars. "You said Yhet's outside?"

"Yes."

"Okay, let's move. We'll go see who it is and make sure they're alone. If they are, I'll talk to them."

"What? No!" Zev growled, bracing on the bed.

She shot him a look. "This is exactly what we talked about. The strength I can bring is in dealing with the humans. What better way to start than with a single one?"

"They can't be trusted—they know who you are to me, Sash!"

"I know. It's why I said we'll make sure he's alone." She turned to Lhars again. "We need two or three of your most silent, most reliable fighter types. I want them to get him without warning and remove his weapons, then free him. Just make sure he's completely disarmed—they'll need to smell him and search him for hidden blades."

Lhars nodded. "I know exactly who to ask."

"Good. Who's the best organizer and… who can get most of the people moving quickly and keep them moving?"

"To what end?"

Sasha looked at Zev, who was glaring, but not interrupting. "We're moving back to the City. Temporarily, under this circumstance. But get the males out of the village and heading for the City with just enough to keep them going for two or three days."

"Sash," Zev growled.

"Keep thirty or forty of the best fighters here—doing normal things. Not like they're ready for a fight. Just… living. If this guy makes it to the village, I want to hide that we've had everyone else move. So we need males that can look casual and do… whatever normal daily things are for you guys."

Zev sighed. "Use the hunters. They're strong, but most of them have other trades and responsibilities as well, for the months when there's plenty."

Sasha looked at Lhars, who nodded again. "I can pass the word."

"Okay. Tell them that anyone who can move is take what they can carry and head for the City." Then she had a flash of inspiration. "Yhet?" she called, pulling her hand out from under Zev's and stalking for the door.

"Yes?" his deep rumble answered from outside before she got the door open. He beamed when he saw her, and Sasha smiled back, forcing herself not to hug him. She didn't want to create more tension with Zev just then. "It's good to see you, Yhet. Can you get a message to Oksa, or… whoever heads up the messengers? We need to get some information moving quickly."

"I just saw Oska near the trough. I can find him again."

"Great. Tell him we need a couple to head to the City—ahead of everyone else arriving—and let the twins know that things are moving faster than we anticipated. That the people will start arriving today."

Yhet looked surprised but nodded. "I'll go now."

"Thank you, then find us—if we aren't here we'll be moving towards the trail to meet the human."

He nodded again. "I'll see you there, Sasah-don," he said quietly and saluted once before turning on his heel and pounding off across the clearing, his running steps shaking the entire building.

When she got back inside, the three males were gaping at her.

"What?" she asked. Had they been talking? What had she missed.

"You," Zev said, his shock giving way to a smile. "Being all… Alpha."

Sasha snorted, but inside her chest fizzed. He was right. She was.

Holy shit.

"I have a question," Lhars said, rolling his eyes.

"What is it?"

"Why are you making everyone leave now? If more humans are here, travelling is more dangerous. We can't know who they'll head off or get their hands on. We won't know until we have everyone together again and they're missing. The team always comes in threes or fours. Just one is… an anomaly."

Sasha nodded. "Good point. Have the Clans use the buddy contact system. We'll keep track of everyone who leaves and make sure they all arrive."

"But why now?"

"If we can fool them into thinking nothing has changed, we will," Sasha said shortly. "If it's me they want to talk to, that'll happen without interfering with anyone else. But if they figure out I've sent everyone else to the City, then they know it's going to be harder and harder to come back here. I'm not closing down communications with them, but I'm making it clear that they don't get to just walk in and run the place. And the easiest way to do that is to limit their access until we know how they've been controlling Xar. Just in case… in case they can do it to me."

Zev growled, but Sasha didn't waver.

"I want all of you to be completely clear with everyone you speak with: If anything happens to me, Zev is Alpha and Lhars, you're second. Dunken remains Captain. I don't know how you've done it in the past, but we don't have time for rituals or—"

"It's fine, Sasha," Zev said quietly. In her head he said, nothing's going to happen. You're going to be fine.

Sasha took a deep breath.. She hoped he was right.

 

Chapter 233

Zev watched as his mate got shit done, and if he hadn't been so weak, he would have grabbed her up and stolen her away to the house to worship her before she left.

If he wasn't so weak.

If he didn't have to lay here like a fucking puppy, watching her engage, eyes sparkling and mind whirring, with his brother and other males.

Fuck.

He'd had his hands resting on top of the furs and realized they were clenched to fists. He relaxed them, forced himself to take a deep breath.

But she smelled like Lhars already and it was making his hackles rise.

It was just the bond, he reminded himself. It kicked his instincts into high gear even without his own vulnerability and weakness.

She could be trusted. And his friends could be, too. They would protect her. But none of them would watch over her the way he would.

He tried to push up to sit while they were all distracted and making plans, but his entire side lit up in fiery pain and he slumped back down onto the pillows.

Zev whined in his throat and Sasha's head snapped towards him. She was immediately scanning him, her brows pinched together. "Are you hurting?"

"No," he lied. "I'm frustrated."

She stalked back to the side of his bed and leaned over him. "If you move from this bed, so help me Zev, I'll… I'll do whatever Alphas do to punish their seconds. I swear to God."

He gave her a flat look. "I can't even sit up. I'm not getting out of this bed. That's why I'm frustrated."

Sasha face smoothed a little bit then. "Good," she said. When he frowned she hurried to reassure him. "Not good that you're weak, just good that you're accepting that you need to let us handle this. But I want you to rest, because once we know what's going on, I'm coming back here and we'll meet with the Alphas and I need you in on that conversation. We'll meet here so you don't have to move."

Zev nodded, doing his best not to pout. And not to panic. She was really going to go out there and find a human. He cast a glare at Lhars and spoke into his brother's head.

You let nothing touch her. Nothing. If she comes back with a hair missing—

Relax, Zev. No one wants her to get hurt—especially not by the humans, Lhars grumbled in his head.

Zev wasn't as sure about that. He knew the males wanted free of the humans—but not at the loss of all their females. And Sasha was still an unknown quantity to them. It was Zev they'd gathered behind. And although the Chimera would view them as a pair now—essentially a single unit—he also knew that stress levels were high even without his injury. He needed to heal, and quickly.

"You're staying here, Zev. We can't move you to the city yet," Sasha said quietly.

Zev nodded. He didn't want to be shuffled away into hiding anyway.

They discussed the different possibilities—that the human would leave without coming into the village, that they'd insist, or that the rest of a team might show up.

Sasha sent the Sentry back to Dunken to double check that there hadn't been new arrivals, then she turned back to Zev and Lhars again.

A healer hovered over Zev's right shoulder, listening to all that was passing, and frowning, looking at Zev. He growled. He wasn't going to do anything to jeopardize his healing, but he didn't need to be babied either.

Lhars was about to leave to make sure the orders were carried out while they were gone to find the human, when Sasha hesitated.

Zev tensed and Lhars paused, watching her. Both of their ears pricked.

"What is it?" Zev asked her.

Sasha bit her lip, then looked at Lhars. "Do any of the wolves have good relationships with the… the creatures? The Chimera that live in the forest? Any that you can talk to… in your head?"

Lhars' eyebrows popped up. "I do. And some of the hunters."

Sasha nodded. "Good. Is there any way to get word to some of them? Ask them to come find us with the human—make themselves… present? I don't want them to hurt anyone or themselves. But… can they show up and look scary? We need to make this guy feel like there's more of us here than there is—and preferably that he'd under threat."

Lhars grinned. "I know just the Chimera for the job."

"Are they easy to get to?"

"I know wolves that can find them, quickly. I can send to them. I don't even need to find them directly."

"Okay. Okay, that's good," Sasha said breathlessly. "Let's make it happen. If they beat us there, have them hang back until we're there. I mean… if he's still alone, maybe they can spook him. But tell them to stay back and not actually engage until we're all there."

Lhars nodded. Zev looked between them both and wanted to bite something. He needed to be there! To help her!

But Sasha's cheeks were pink and her eyes bright. "That's too many things for one person. Zev, can you talk to the wolves in your mind without wearing yourself out?"

"Of course," he said, scoffing, though Lhars looked at him sharply.

"Great. You can spread the word with the wolves for me, and get them moving the others." She blew out a breath and ran a hand through her hair. So, this is where we're at: Zev, you're going to have the wolves send out the word that everyone who can is to move to the City, at least for the next two days. Lhars, you'll get a couple trackers who can sneak up on the human without being heard so they can disarm him. Then you'll talk to Oska about sending rab—I mean, hares to the twins to warn them that everyone's coming. And you're going to get some hunters placed around the village to keep things looking normal, as well as gather some of the creatures to join us out on the trail. I'll wait here until either Yhet or Lhars comes back, then I'm headed out to meet this guy."

Lhars and Zev both nodded.

Sasha looked back and forth between them. "Have I forgotten anything?"

Zev shook his head, his chest swelling with pride for her. "I don't think so."

"Good. Then let's make this happen."

Lhars ducked his head once, then darted for the door.

Chapter 234

While Zev reached out to as many wolves as he could find, Sasha paced the floor of the room.

He hated having his attention elsewhere. He wanted to hold her, to reassure himself that she was safe. He didn't want to think about what she was about to walk into. But there was no time. She was right to be agitated. He would have been pacing too, just waiting. There was nothing worse as a leader than the moment when you had sent everyone else off to do, while you had nothing to do but wait.

But as he touched minds with the wolves and sent images and thoughts, instructions from Sasha, the scent of her determination and the caution… one by one the wolves submitted, leaping to their respective tasks, and Zev's heart raised.

They were going to do this. They were going to make it happen. And Sasha was going to see that she did have a purpose here. That the males would follow.

While Zev concentrated on a discussion with one of the wolves who was at the furthest reaches of their link, the healer approached Sasha and murmured with her.

Zev could hear him easily, but his attention was on the wolf in his head, asking for instructions about getting word to the hunters—was it safe to use the calls when the human might hear them? So it wasn't until he'd finished the conversation that he could focus on Sasha, the stern look on her face, and hear her snap, "Absolutely not. And if he tries to, I don't care what you have to do to stop him. We aren't risking further injury."

Zev growled, knowing she had to be talking about him. The healer flinched.

"What?" Zev said gruffly. "What are you talking about?"

"You," Sasha said baldly. "How I don't trust you to be honest about your condition anymore. So the healers are going to make the call about what you can and can't do, until they're certain you can't hurt yourself by insisting that you're fine."

"What are you talking about? I'm laying here like fruit on the vine."

"And we're making sure it will stay that way. No matter what, Zev. One more day, they're saying. Your body needs a day to cleanse and heal before you should start moving. So you stay in that bed until tomorrow when a healer tells you otherwise."

Zev frowned. "I won't argue, but why are we even having this conversation? It's one human and they're going to disarm him. You're going to be back here in a couple of hours."

Sasha nodded and walked back to the side of his bed to take his hand. "Yes, I am," she said. "But you and I both know things keep happening that we don't anticipate. So… I need you to promise me that if something does happen, you'll let Yhet take care of me. And Lhars. And whoever else you want to send. You can't be a help to me if you're hurt, Zev. I'd be more worried about you than myself. And I can't afford the distraction. Not if I'm going to be watching out to avoid them manipulating me."

"If it's just one, you'll be fine," Zev said. "The others will be there. He's not going to be able to deceive all of you at once. But you get your ass out of there and back here if there's a team, Sash. They work together and they'll have you distracted and turning on your heels before you even realize it. Don't let them outnumber you. Get back here."

Sasha tipped his head. "Now who's being Alpha?" she said. But she broke the first smile he'd seen since the Sentry showed up.

"Sash," he began, a warning in his voice.

But she just flapped her hand. "Don't worry, don't worry. I agree with you. I don't think I'm up to managing a whole team, yet. If we can't turn them back, I'll have Yhet run me back here while the others travel. I'm not bringing them to you, though. I'm not risking them finding out how weak you are. Who knows what they'll do."

Zev had to reluctantly agree that she was right. "You keep talking to me, though," he murmured, looking around, praying the healer wasn't hiding on the other side of the wall to listen. "Don't tell the others about the bond yet. Keep that between us."

Sasha blinked. "Why? Is that—"

"If the humans find out about that, they'll be fascinated. I'm not aware of any wolf mind-linking with anything other than other wolves. We can't afford to motivate them even more to take you!"

Sasha patted his arm at the growl, trying to soothe him. "It's okay, it's okay. I agree with you. We'll keep it to ourselves for now. Don't worry."

She leaned over him, a small smile on her face and Zev's heart pattered faster as she leaned into kiss him gently.

Taking her lips was like sipping honey, and he didn't want it to end. But he knew he had to.

When she broke the kiss, she had a hand on his chest and she slid it up to cup his neck and stare down at him intently. "This is going to work, Zev. This is just the beginning. We're going to make some serious changes here, and things are going to change. For the better. I need you to believe that, and to rest when I walk out so that when I get back, you can help."

He nodded. "I'll try. That was a stroke of genius about the creatures, by the way. I'd never thought of asking them to help. I imagine they'll be more than happy to put the fear of God into this guy."

Sasha smiled. "I hope so. I just pray I can stand my ground when they're there. It doesn't do a lot of good if I look like I'm afraid of them, too."

"You'll be fine," he growled, raising his good arm to her face. "Just channel that inner alpha like you were twenty minutes ago."

She snorted. "I was just mimicking you."

Zev shrugged, though his side crackled with pain.. "Whatever works."

 

Chapter 235

Surprisingly, Lhars was the first to return, and with two wolves in tow that he claimed would be able to remove the weapons from a single male before the guy would even know they'd touched him.

Sasha was itching to get out there and find out who had come through and why, but she was worried about Zev, too. His eyes were bright, and his body tense. But she could see the pinch of pain in the corners of his eyes, and she worried that out of concern for her, he wouldn't rest.

While Lhars asked him to list who he'd spoken to in the mind-link so far, she tugged on the healer's elbow and asked the male to give Zev something to help him rest after she left. The healer sighed, but said he would give him something for a nap.

Then Zev and Lhars were clear and it was time to go.

With the three other males watching, Sasha leaned over Zev, kissing him, though she felt awkward doing it with an audience. The Chimera didn't seem to mind, however, and waited patiently.

"Please, Sash… don't take any stupid risks."

"I won't," she assured him. Then she said into his head, I'll send you images so you can tell me who they are if Lhars isn't sure.

Do that whether Lhars is sure or not, Zev growled.

Sasha nodded, then kissed him one more time, squeezing his hand and urging him to rest before she turned and started for the door, Lhars and the other two males at her heels.

She'd forgotten how much slower she travelled than the Chimera. As soon as they entered the trail out of the village, Sasha spoke to the two wolves, making certain they understood that she had no desire for them to harm the human, only that they disarm him.

"And check him for weapons that aren't metal or plastic. Do you all know what frisking is?" she asked, with a look at Lhars.

All three males looked confused. Sasha sighed. "It's running your hands up and down someone's body to feel if there's anything under their clothes. To make sure they haven't hidden something."

"The humans don't hide their weapons from us," Lhars growled. "They want us to be reminded of their strength."

Sasha wasn't so sure. "Can you just humor me and run your hands up and down his legs and back and under his sleeves? Just to make sure."

The two wolves agreed. Lhars gave a few more orders since the two would reach the human before they did, then he sent them ahead. With grim smiles the two wolves saluted Sasha, then shifted and ran, darting out of sight and into the trees in seconds.

Sasha shook her head. "I'm sorry you have to wait for me and my slow legs," she sighed.

Lhars shrugged, but didn't respond. They walked on.

"How do I stop them—all the Chimera—giving that salute? I don't need that. I know Xar was making everyone cower. But that's not my style. And Zev said he never needed it, either."

"I think there's more important things to focus on right now," Lhars said dryly. "But maybe once everything is settled down, just make an announcement at a gathering. Let the people know what they can do to show you respect. They will adjust."

Sasha sighed and tried to press herself to walk faster. But the snow was over her ankles on the path and she was already breathing heavily. She didn't want to arrive at the human looking flustered.

"Are there any wolves where the human is? Do we know where we'll meet him yet?"

Lhars' eyes glazed for a moment, the same way Zev's had when he was communicating with others at distances. Then he grinned. "He's going even slower than we are. He hasn't reached the intersection of trails. If we hurry, we might beat him there."

Sasha gritted her teeth and pushed forward. If she got there enough ahead of him she'd have time to rest and catch her breath before he showed up. But as they walked she had an idea.

"What we need…" she panted, "Is to get there before he does. Hide the guys in the surroundings to sneak up on him. And I'll sit in the trees, hidden, when he first arrives. Just until we're certain they've got his weapons. I want to ask him some questions." Then she added, "Any news on the creatures?"

Lhars grinned. "I think you'll be very happy. I was able to contact one of my… acquaintances. And he could hardly wait to do his part to serve the new Alpha. He was spreading the word with other as he travelled.

Sasha was about to ask why Lhars was smiling when the ground beneath their feet shuddered, and Lhars turned, looking over his shoulder as Yhet bounded up behind them.

"Sasha-don," he rumbled. Sasha rolled her eyes. "Please don't call me that unless it's like a formal occasion, Yhet. Just Sasha is fine."

Yhet smiled, his hair flying in every direction as he slowed to walk alongside her, just off the trail. "Whatever you say, Sasha."

She squeezed the sweet man's broad arm and smiled, surprised by how encouraged she felt just because he was there.

They were going to do this. As long as they weren't surprised by an army of humans, they were going to do this.

Niggles of nerves bubbled in her belly, but she pushed them away and reached out to Zev in her mind.

Can you hear me?

Yes, he replied immediately, sounding relieved. Are you okay?

We're fine. We're going to hit the intersection soon. Apparently the guy hadn't reached it yet, so I'm hurrying to try and beat him. I want to be there when he arrives.

Show him to me as soon as you see him.

I'll try, Sasha said, sending the rush of love and concern she felt for him with the words.

An image flashed in her mind, then, of them back in the ice cave, clinched together when Zev had her sitting on the table and Sasha's stomach flipped.

Come back to me soon, Sash, he said, his voice quiet and wistful in her head.

Clearing her throat, Sasha blinked and made herself concentrate, as Lhars murmured that they were almost there.

Sasha took the cue and slipped into the trees, being as quiet as she could, praying the guy's senses weren't much stronger than hers, so he wouldn't hear her tip toeing through the pine needles, trying to find a spot where she could see everyone who was gathering where the two trails met, all looking off to her right which was the direction of the gateway.

She forced herself to relax, breathing as deeply as she could as the shape of a person—walking slowly, steps jerky and uncertain, turning his head back and forth as if searching the trees for an attack.

Sasha smiled. She wondered if the creatures had already found him and been moving nearby to freak him out, or if he was just this scared being in Thana by himself.

What had brought him alone if this was what he felt?

She waited, peering through the trees, to get a closer look at him. But he was still fifty feet away when a low snarl from Lhars echoed through the trees, and right on the heels of it, Zev's voice bloomed in Sasha's head.

GET OUT, SASHA, RUN! THAT'S FUCKING NICK!

 

Chapter 236

Zev had been feeling drowsy and considering sleep. But when Sasha spoke in his head, it was a balm to know he could still hear her at that distance.

That made him think of Lhars and reach out for his brother.

Sasha's hiding, Lhars told him briefly. We've got the wind in our faces. I can smell the guy. He's almost here. The Sentries are saying no one else has tried to enter yet.

Zev was comforted by that.

Send me an image, he replied to Lhars. I want to see if I know them so I can offer advice.

He felt rather than saw Lhars nod. There was a lull then. Sasha wasn't sending, and Lhars was distracted with someone else. So Zev waited, turning over in his mind who might have had the balls to come into Thana alone.

But suddenly Lhars said I don't know this one, do you? and an image bloomed in Zev's head that made his blood run cold.

A tall, strong, older man, sandy-blond hair that was threatening to dull into gray, but hadn't yet. He was dressed in thick snow gear that swathed his body and made him move oddly, so it took a second for Zev to believe what he was seeing. And when he did, almost leaped out of the bed.

THAT'S NICK, he screamed in his brother's head. Then without a pause he screamed at Sasha to get moving, to get out of there.

GET OUT, SASHA, RUN! THAT'S FUCKING NICK!

He felt Sasha's shock and confusion.

But… you said Nick didn't come into Thana?!

HE DOESN'T. THIS CAN'T BE GOOD. GET OUT. GET OUT OF THERE NOW.

But everyone went quiet in their heads, and no more images showed up, and suddenly he was alone in his head and frantic.

He pushed the furs back and tried to sit up, but the pain was so intense, he groaned and the healer came running.

"No, Zev," the male said apologetically. "It's not safe for you to move yet."

"The human, it's—"

"I don't care. Don't make me force you to rest."

"You're not understanding me!"

"I am, Zev. You've sent people with her to handle it, and the Alpha gave her instructions. If you don't cooperate, we'll knock you out to force you to rest."

"Don't even think about it!" he snarled. But the male only looked at him sternly.

"Even Alphas need to heal, Zev," he said, determined.

"And this Alpha needs to keep his mate alive, so you don't fucking touch me with drugs right now, or I'll take your throat."

The male paled, but took a deep breath. "Please, Zev. She'll be really upset if—" the healer reached for his good arm and Zev snapped his wrist, twisting it to pin the male's hand down on the bed and lean up into the male's face, though it made his side scream.

"She might not live to get back here and get upset with you unless I help her, so you do nothing to interfere with me right now."

The male frowned. "Why are you suddenly afraid. She has guardians with her to keep her safe—"

"Lhars just sent an image of the male, it's fucking Nick!"

The healer blinked. All of the Chimera had heard about Nick by now. Those that were old enough to remember Zev's rule knew him as their Alpha's father-figure. But the stories of his deception had reached all corners of Thana now. They knew that Nick had been involved in convincing Zev to leave the Chimera, and later using him to breed with the females.

The healer looked uncertain, but a growl puttered in his throat.

"Yes, that's right. That Nick," Zev snarled back. "Now, I need help. I need to be able to move. And quickly. I don't care what you give me, but it needs to cover the pain without making me drowsy. I need to get out there. She has no clue what she's dealing with!"

The healer stared at him, frowning.

*****

~ SASHA ~

Sasha's heart was pounding. Lhars and Yhet had both taken defensive stances, but Nick was still making his way close to them.

Sasha wasn't sure what she'd expected in Nick, but while he seemed familiar physically, his cowering, stumbling gait and clear fear of the forest felt all wrong for this figure that Zev had described—cold and calculating. Deceptive. Manipulated. Strong.

The man who had beaten Zev.

It was a temptation to just leap out of the trees and order the others to take him down, to confront him, and make him hurt for what he'd done to Zev and the Chimera. But Sasha knew Nick was armed—he had a gun his hand, though he hadn't brought it up when he'd seen the Chimera blocking the trail. As he stumbled towards them, he still seemed more concerned about the shadows under the trees, than the huge men standing in the winter sun.

Sasha waited until he made it to just a few feet ahead of where Dunken, Lhars, and Yhet stood, blocking the trail—even Yhet looked fierce.

Nick's throat bobbed but his knuckles were white, gripping the gun.

"Thank goodness," he panted, his eyes still sliding warily to the trees around them. "I need you to take me to Zev."

Lhars was the one who stepped forward of the others, his arms folded across his chest. "What for?"

"Look, you don't have to fear me. I know he challenged for Alpha and Xar's dead. They all know that, okay? And that's great. That's what I wanted for him. But Zev has to know what's going on from our side. If he doesn't handle this right, they'll kill him! I'm here to warn him. They need a compliant Alpha, or everyone's dead. Not just Zev!"

Lhars opened his mouth and Sasha knew he was about to tell Nick about her taking Alpha, but she hissed quietly and he caught himself. He didn't take his eyes off of Nick, but he had clearly understood that she didn't want him to speak of her position. So he took a deep breath and his fingers flickered in a strange little movement that drew Sasha's eye just enough that she missed the moment the two wolves slipped out of the trees behind him.

In a split second, one had the hand with the gun gripped and pointed away from the others. And even though Nick struggled, the two Chimera were quickly and efficiently able to remove the weapons from his hand, his belt, and two from pockets and a sheath on his black suit.

They tossed all the weapons to Lhars, who caught them easily, passing the guns to Yhet and keeping the blades himself.

"Just here to warn Zev, you said?" Lhars said, his voice low and menacing.

The two had Nick's arms pinned behind his back. The man struggled, but couldn't get free. "I have to protect myself as well! I've come here with no team. No backup! To save you all, you fucking idiot!"

All three males tensed and leaned in, baring their teeth.

Sasha's heart slammed against her ribs and she trotted quickly out of the trees to stand between Nick and her friends.

The moment Nick saw her his eyes widened and he stopped struggling. "Sasha? Holy shit, is Zev here too?"

 

Chapter 237

"Let him go," she said, ignoring Nick and giving all her attention to the two wolves that were holding him.

Lhars hissed something behind her, but she didn't look away from the two males until they both dropped their chins and released Nick's arms.

He stepped forward, closer to Sasha, but stopped abruptly and put his hands up when Yhet pressed in behind her, growling a low, shuddering snarl that made the hair on Sasha's neck stand up.

"I'm not… I'm not going to touch her. I'm just surprised," Nick said, his eyes darting back and forth from Sasha to Yhet and Lhars behind her.

"I find that hard to believe. You knew I was here with him," Sasha said coldly.

Nick nodded. "I didn't know you'd be here, here," he said pointedly, gesturing towards the Chimera around her. "I thought they'd hide you."

"We'd never hide our—" Yhet began, but Sasha snapped her head around glared at him to stop. He snapped his mouth shut, but his expression was surprised.

"Your what?" Nick asked carefully.

Sasha sighed. "I suppose you're going to find out anyway. I'm Zev's mate. We're bonded. You won't be using him for the breeding program anymore."

Nick's brows popped high and his face lit up. "Already? That's wonderful!"

Sasha narrowed her eyes. "You'll forgive me if I'm not ready to believe you're celebrating with us," she muttered.

"No, seriously, that's… that's part of what I was… where's Zev? Is he here? He'll understand, he'll tell you I'm telling the truth—"

"My mate has no desire to see you, Nick," Sasha snapped. "You'd done enough damage to his life and his position here in Thana."

"Sasha, I'm not here to hurt him. For goodness sake, do you think I would have come alone if I was trying to do harm? I could have led an entire team in here and taken you all the moment you showed your faces—I didn't even need to come if that's what we were doing. I'm not trying to hurt Zev, I'm trying to help him! So they won't hurt him! And if we don't get moving the team really will show up and then we'll have a clusterfuck of proportions none of you prepared for. So please… take me to Zev. Or bring him here. I need to talk to him, to explain—"

"Zev would be the first one to kick your ass out of Thana, Nick," she said curtly.

"Only because he thinks I'll hurt you—which I won't. That's why I'm here. He needs to know what they're planning so he can work around it. So you stay safe!"

"Well, then, why don't you tell me what they're planning and I'll pass it on to him."

Nick gave her a patronizing look, like she was a teenager speaking about things she didn't understand. "Sasha, I understand that you care about him. I really do. But I do too—there's no way you understand enough of his life to accurately communicate this to him. I need to do it."

Sasha huffed a humorless laugh. "I'm not giving you another chance to manipulate him."

"Manipulate him? Now, you wait just one fucking second, Sasha, you weren't even there—" Nick stepped forward, apparently forgetting where he was for a moment, because one of the two wolves who had stepped back when Sasha gave them the look, stepped forward and stopped him cold. Then the other slid between him and Sasha.

Nick shuddered and raised his hands. "I'm not… okay, okay, I won't go any closer to her. Dear Lord you people are so fucking twitchy."

"No, Nick, They're sick of being deceived and used and stolen from. It's not happening anymore. Period."

Nick snapped his head to look at her, his eyes alight with anger and although the wolf man stood between them, he raised a hand to point at her.

"You've been here what, a week? You be careful deciding you understand any of this." Sasha was about to put him in his place, but he kept talking. "Zev is my son. I don't care about anyone as much as I care about him. If it weren't for me he wouldn't even be here—and neither would you. I've saved his life more than once—you ask him! For that matter I've saved both your lives."

Sasha folded her arms. "When it suited you. You also threatened my life in a dozen ways to control him."

"For his own good. It got you here, didn't it?"

Sasha narrowed her eyes. "What are you talking about?"

"C'mon Sasha, you really think you're here by accident? You think I just lost track of Zev? He's the most valuable asset we own. We don't lose him, ever."

Something about the ring of truth in those words turned her stomach. Remembering all their technology, she made a mental note to find out if he'd had any shots, might have a microchip or some kind of tracker on his body.

But if that was the case, why would Nick be asking where he was?

"Nick, no one here is going to trust you. And I won't be bringing you to Zev. I might not know everything that's happened, but I know you're in his head. I'm not going to let you keep using him."

"I'm not using him! I'm helping him!"

"If you really want me to believe that, tell me the message, and I'll take it to him."

Nick shook his head, his jaw tight and twitching. "It doesn't work that way. They're too used to seeing Xar in the flesh. They aren't going to settle for a message or—"

"They? Who is 'they'?"

"The team. Xar's been visiting with them and working with them for years. If Zev's taking over as Alpha he'll need to do the same, or they'll exterminate him. It's that simple. The moment they think they've lost control here, they'll kill you all. And none of us wants that. But they're already nervous, they don't trust him. He needs to come back with me and negotiate how we're going to do this. They'll leave you all alone if they're sure they have the Alpha under their control. But if they aren't sure, it's the death knell of every single Chimera that looks human.. Period."

 

Chapter 238 -

"Just the human looking ones?" an eerie voice said from her left. Sasha took one look and her heart stopped.

Everything happened in slow motion.

Nick's head whipped to the side and his eyes went wide. Then, he was scrambling backwards, a strange noise erupting from his throat, as the two wolves stepped in, grabbing his arms, struggled to keep in him place.

They didn't care about the Chimera that had appeared, but Sasha stood, gaping, her body trembling so hard she might have actually wet herself if Zev hadn't warned her about the creatures.

Fighting not to react, not to recoil in horror or scream, she let the wolves struggle with Nick while she forced herself to stare at this… thing.

They all stood at the intersection of trails, the trees a good ten feet away from its edge so they were all bathed in sunlight—the filtered sunlight of a cloudy winter day. But it was plenty bright enough for Sasha to see the creature that must have crept out of the trees when she was paying attention to Zev.

She supposed walking on those eight long, long legs that ended in little more than points must have made being quiet easy.

Eight legs. Sasha wanted to scream.

The first thing her brain cobbled together when she saw this thing was a bear with spider legs, but it wasn't right. The head was too human, the neck too long, the body not thick enough, and yet those legs…

Yhet had told her there were no insect Chimera! And yet what stood in front of her…

Behind her, Lhars cleared his throat as if he were trying not to laugh, and if things hadn't been so serious she would have turned around and whacked him. He must have known. That must be why he'd smiled when she asked for creatures that would scare a human.

He could have fucking warned her.

Sasha forced herself not to move as the thing stepped forward, towards Nick and lifted one of those long, thin legs—covered in very fine hair. "Do you have a warning for me, Nick?" it said, biting off his name like it wanted to eat him.

Nick was jittering with terror, his eyes wide, trying desperately to scramble away, but the wolves held him in place.

Sasha was just glad she'd met Minos and learned that these people could speak, though the voice from this one was higher and more childlike than she ever would have guessed by looking at it.

It was a walking nightmare, and Sasha prayed she'd still be able to sleep when this was all over.

"Come on, Nick, we're old friends. Aren't you glad to see me?"

"S-stay away from me! I never did anything to hurt you!"

The chimera's face went dark and its eyes—utterly black in a face covered in the same fine hair as its legs—narrowed. "You want to try and say you never—"

"I'm very sorry, uh… friend," Sasha said faintly. "Do you know Nick personally?"

"Forgive me for not greeting you, Sasha-don," the thing said without looking away from Nick. "But my business with Nick is as personal as it comes."

Sasha swallowed the lump of fear that didn't want to go down.

"Of course, I'm not the only one. Right, Nick?" it hissed.

Nick tried again, pulling away from the thing, his boots scraping in the snow on the trail, but he wasn't strong enough.

"Stay away from me!" he wheezed. "I'm here to help you all! Help you!"

"I don't think I'm the only one who finds that hard to believe," Sasha said as dryly as she could. There were shadows moving among the trees behind their visitor that made her skin crawl. "But please, do your best to explain. Our friends here came to stand between whatever humans were attempting to enter the village, and Zev. So, they're really the ones you need to convince."

"I came to warn you. They're starting to give up! If they come in here and they don't leave completely confident that they have the Alpha in their pocket they're stopping the experiment and killing you all—all of you!" Nick bellowed at the Spider-thing, that raised its front legs and hissed, sending Nick bowling back into the wolves that were still holding him. "Zev needs to come with me—just for a day or two at the most. They just need to talk to him and believe he's going to work with them. That's all! But I know he won't believe me—I need to explain it all. What's been said. What's planned. He'll understand that. No one else will!"

Sasha was very aware of Yhet and Lhars' eyes on her back. But she didn't react.

"Zev's not going anywhere with you," she muttered.

"He doesn't have any choice—not if he wants to keep you and his people safe." Nick eyed the Spider-thing and his face paled. "All of the people," he said faintly. "If he comes with me, I can convince them to soften their requirements—use him as an example of what can be done if we work with you. All of you. If they realize he came willingly, they'll work with him instead of freaking out."

"Zev is never returning to the human world. It's done him too much damage."

"Zev is leading his people and this is the only way he can continue to do so!" Nick snarled. "I'm not lying. Let me talk to him—tell him the names, and their plans. He's been there. He'll understand!"

Sasha swallowed as an idea occurred to her that… could she do it? Could she bring herself to? "So this isn't about Zev personally, it's about being Alpha?"

"Exactly. If he weren't Alpha, I'd come for the new Alpha to explain—to save him! He's my son!"

Sasha's stomach turned hearing that come out of this man's mouth, despite Zev having echoed the sentiment. She still believed this man was the one who had messed with Zev's head and made him so sick and unsure about himself.

"You want to take the Alpha back to the team, to… negotiate communications?"

As Nick laughed a weird, hysterical giggle, his eyes still locked on the Spider Chimera, Sasha's stomach sank, and she knew. She knew what she was going to have to do.

She knew, then and there, before Nick even spoke the words.

Though Nick didn't know it, he had actually come to Thana for Sasha, not for Zev.

 

Chapter 239

Sasha. Sasha please… please tell me you're okay.

Zev's voice in her head spread welcome warmth through her chest and made some of the creeping terror of their Spider friend ease.

I'm completely safe, she sent back. But tell me, does Nick know about the ardent bond? Does he know it's possible for us to speak with our minds?

No, of course not. I didn't even know—Sasha, you have to get away from him! Completely! Let Lhars and Dunken take care of him, tell them I said the time has come. You have to get out of there. Now!

Sasha shook her head, but made herself show him what she could see, sending the picture of Nick in the arms of the wolves, the Spider Chimera to his right, and showing his terror.

I don't think he's the risk just now.

Zev muttered a curse in her head. Lhars should never have brought Ernie in on this! He's really unpredictable—especially when it comes to the humans.

Ernie? That things name is Ernie? Sasha almost laughed out loud.

But then Ernie moved suddenly, his entire body sinking down on those legs and his eyes locked on Sasha. She tried to ignore it, to pretend every inch of her skin wasn't crawling at being so close to him, tried to remember there was something of a human head and heart inside that nightmare of a body.

But Nick startled at the movement and let out a tortured wail and twisted in the hands of the wolves.

"Look, look! Please! I'm not lying. I'm not trying to kill anyone—I'm trying to keep you all alive. I mean it! Please, god, believe me. I mean it!"

Fucking coward, Zev growled in her head. He is terrified of the creatures. Even avoided working with them when they were tiny babies.

Sasha cut off the images. She couldn't afford for Nick to say something that would let Zev know what she was thinking. Considering.

Was she actually considering this?

She licked her lips nervously, praying she didn't look as terrified as Nick. "Zev doesn't want to talk to you. And I know he sure as hell doesn't want me around you," she said.

Nick groaned. "You don't have to be around me. You have to listen to me—he does! Look, we're all smart people. I know you know this is about more than communications. But if Zev wants to live through it and be in a position to keep you safe, he needs to come with me. Right now. If we're lucky, they won't cross for another few hours. But if they realized I left… they could be here anytime."

Nick was a liar and a manipulator, Sasha reminded herself. "Well, I guess we better pray you're better at sneaking out of your world than you are at sneaking into this one. Why are you really here, Nick?"

"I told you! I have to take Zev back so they won't just show up and kill him—and the rest of you!" He cut Ernie a glance that made Sasha certain Nick wouldn't mind if they got rid of that particular Chimera.

"They'd have to find him first."

"Sure, but they've got the time and the… look, it doesn't matter what you think Sasha. I get that you're protective of him. I am too. That's why I'm here." Sweat dripped down his brow. "Everyone's under threat until the powers that be feel certain the Alpha is working with them. Talk to Zev, he'll tell you that he knows this already."

Sasha tilted her head. "Zev was shocked by how closely Xar was working with the team."

Nick grimaced. "The tiger went too far. But even Zev had meetings with us when he was leading. He can do it again. I'll personally guarantee his safety. He'll come back to you, Sash. I won't let them keep him."

"I don't believe you."

"Tough shit. It's the truth. If I told you anything else it would be a lie."

SASHA WHAT IS GOING ON?

Sasha shivered with the force of his voice in her head, as if she were compelled to answer him.

That's what he meant about using an Alpha voice, she thought wonderingly.

She quickly sent him back an image of the wolves still holding Nick.

Negotiations, she said in his head. Don't worry. I'm not bringing him back to you—which is what he wants. We're just trying to get information from him before they return him to the gateway.

Step carefully, Sasha. He's a powerful man on the other side of the gateway. Don't give him any information you can avoid. Knowledge is power.

She nodded again.

Then she blinked.

Nick was still stammering, trying to convince them all that he'd come with noble intentions for Zev while Ernie watched him, his black eyes and brown-and-black body incredibly still.

Then the shadows in the trees moved again, and Nick looked past Ernie and made a strangled noise. "No, please… please… I can't… please—you have to believe me!"

Three more forms stepped out of the trees, and Sasha forced herself to keep her eyes on Nick, not allowing her body to tremble as her eyes strained to turn and see what was coming. But Nick looked like he was falling apart—his face pale and sheened in sweat.

Where was the hardass that had spoken to Zev on the phone and been so cocky?

Where was the brutal man who'd threatened her life?

"Is he faking?" she asked Lhars and Yhet, suddenly.

"Faking what?"

"His fear. Can't you smell it, or something?"

"He's not faking," Yhet said, his voice low and ominous. "He fears to the point of wetting himself."

Nick's face was pained and terrified. He rolled his eyes to meet Sasha's, but those Chimera were approaching and his eyes snapped back to them, unable to watch anything but his apparent doom. "Please, don't let them—dammit!" His voice broke as a large, head with a long snout, bristled like a boar's shoved between Ernie and one of the wolves.

Sasha flinched, but caught herself as a voice thick—like its owner had adenoid issues—said suddenly, "He isn't just afraid as if he will wet himself… he already has."

The Chimerans laughed.. But Sasha's blood ran cold.

 

Chapter 240

While the others all chuckled and sniggered at Nick's fear, Sasha had a very, very bad feeling that she understood something they didn't.

"Stop crowding him," she said quietly.

She knew they heard, but she wasn't sure how much authority she carried with the Chimera who didn't live in the Clans. But she gave a pointed look right in Ernie's eyes—though it made her shudder, and the pig-snouted man, too. They both took their time backing away, but they did it as the others quieted.

Nick's chest was heaving, but she stepped between him and the creatures and forced him to look at her. Turning her back on Ernie was perhaps the bravest thing she'd ever done, but she was reassured by the fact that he'd backed off when she asked him to.

Swallowing hard, she forced Nick to meet her eyes and spoke quietly for him.

"If they release you and you run, our friends here won't be able to… curb their instincts. So my advice is that, no matter how wet your pants might be, that you stay here and finish our conversation."

Nick nodded quickly, his shoulders rising and falling with his heaving breaths.

Then she looked at the wolves and though they rolled their eyes, they released him.

He stumbled back a step, but caught himself, then stood there, facing her, hands fisted at his sides, his eyes darting around at the Chimera.

She didn't have any sympathy for him, if her suspicions about why he was so terrified of the creatures were right, she hoped he actually shit himself.

"I don't get it," Sasha said bluntly. "Why put yourself through this? What is it you think you're gaining by being here yourself?"

"I told you!" Nick snarled. "He's my son and his life is in danger—and if he's in danger, you're all in danger. And if you're in danger, Sasha, I know he won't leave you or do anything except try to keep you close and safe. So if I save him, I save all of you."

One of the wolves growled, but she turned to Lhars and Yhet. "Can you tell if he's telling the truth?"

Lhars shrugged, but his eyes were sharp and bitter. He didn't like Nick. At all. "It's impossible to know with a snake like him. He can mean what he says, but his motives? Who knows?"

"Does he mean it?" she persisted.

Yhet was the one who answered. "He doesn't smell of nerves or suspicion. Usually if a human deceives there is something of fear or tension in them. But he's already so afraid, it's hard to decipher."

Sasha turned back to the man whose body trembled, but he stood there, facing her.

"Look," he spat. "We can stand here and you can question me until the others get themselves organized and turn up as a team and all hell breaks loose. Or Lhars can call Zev and he can come with me and we can get this under some control before everyone starts dying!"

Ignoring him, Sasha asked, "If I bring you the Alpha, what are you going do? Specifically."

Nick's jaw twitched, but he kept his voice low. "I'm going to explain to him what the response to Xar's death has been within the organization. Their fears, and their hopes. I'm going to coach him on what to say, and when, and to whom. And then I'm going to take him back with me and present him to them—willingly. So they'll believe it. And pray that he can convince them. Because if he does, things continue as normal and no one gets hurt."

"Why would they believe him if he fled?"

"Because if you're here, they know you're where he wants to be. He'll do anything to keep you safe."

Not anymore, she hoped.

"How long will all of this take?"

"I told you, a day. Maybe two. Then I'll personally bring him back to the gateway and let him come back on his own. I won't even come back here myself," he said, flinching when someone behind Sasha moved.

"If it's just a meeting, why come yourself? Why not just send a messenger and call for him? You're clearly terrified. If you really thought Zev would just come because you called, why did you need to brave this?"

Nick gave her a flat look. "We are not stupid people, so let's not pretend, Sasha. You and I both know he's going to be very reluctant to leave you. I had to come. It's the only way he'll know how serious I am." When she didn't respond immediately he kept going. "They're convinced he's gone rogue. They think they're coming back here to take over. Even if he surrenders, they're shooting first. They think they're putting down a rebellion. Chimera are going to die! This is my life's work. I'm not giving them an excuse to kill my son and my people because they've lost patience!"

"They aren't your people."

Nick snorted. "That just shows how little you know."

Sasha's stomach turned over.

Then Nick's hands went white-knuckled, and forcing himself, trembling, he stepped forward, towards Sasha—and towards the Creatures behind her. He was close enough then that even Sasha could smell his stress sweat.

"Look, believe me or don't. But even if I was exaggerating the danger—and I'm not!—you have to have seen enough to realize they won't just let Zev take Alpha without talking to them about it. And how happy do you think they're going to be about having their submissive Tiger replaced with a rogue wolf? They've already lost the use of him in operations. I'm not making this up. They're headed here with a full team and enough weapons to bring down the mountain. You won't even know they've stepped through before they'll be taking control. You guys aren't worth the work to them anymore. They'll take the ones they want and kill everyone else."

"Take… why would they take any if they aren't concerned about the experiment anymore?"

"Because these people are sick and the Chimera are their toys. Wake up, Sasha. You've walked into a man-made lab. These people are not animals. They're far more valuable. Far more fascinating." He leaned in again, his eyes fixed on hers. "Those people aren't accustomed to losing anything. To anyone. Let alone one of their own creations."