Ecstasy Untamed (Feral Warriors #6)(94)

Lyon lifted the remote, and the screen went black. "The address he gave is near Warsaw, the exact location of the power source that's feeding the Daemons. How the Mage are using the new Ferals in that power feed, I don't know. But it seems likely they are."

"How much of that six hours has passed?" Hawke demanded.

"The e-mail arrived half an hour ago."

Tighe frowned. "He knows we have Ilina travel."

"How in the f**k does he know she's a bird shifter?" Jag demanded.

Hawke met Lyon's gaze. "That's a damned good question."

Lyon nodded. "Any guesses?"

Kougar plucked at his beard. "The new Ferals were connected to one another through the infection carried by their animal spirits. A magic that allowed the Mage to control them. It's probable that they all felt her come into her animal. And could somehow feel that animal take flight."

"A connection severed when we cured her of the infection," Lyon said.

Kougar nodded. "We believe."

Lyon eyed Kougar sharply. "You think there's a chance that connection isn't fully severed?"

"Maxim wouldn't have sent us this invitation if he didn't have some sort of trap planned. There's no way to know what form it might take."

"We're f**ked," Jag muttered.

Kougar shrugged. "That's never stopped us before."

Lyon frowned, then sighed. "Paenther will lead the team to Poland accompanied by Kougar, Hawke, Wulfe, Vhyper, Fox, and Falkyn."

"No." Hawke squeezed her hand. "She's not going."

"Hawke . . ." Lyon began

Faith turned on Hawke, a warrior's fire in her eyes. "I have to go! He's going to kill them."

"Smiley . . . he's going to kill them anyway." She flinched, and he despised hurting her, but the words had to be said.

Silence descended on the war room. Faith pulled her hand from his and faced Lyon. "If Maxim is right about the warding, I'm the only one who can get into that castle. I'm the only one who stands a chance of stopping him, of stopping whatever he's doing to feed Satanan."

The thought of her going into that castle alone turned Hawke's blood to ice. "Faith, you heard the discussion. It's a trap."

She gaped at him. "So we're just going to hole up in Feral House while Maxim empowers the Daemons?" Her frustration left on a sigh, her gaze softening as she reached for him, touching his arm. "You've said all along that you thought I had it in me to be a Feral Warrior. That my marking wasn't an accident."

He knew where this was going, and he didn't like it, not one bit. "Yes, but . . ."

"It turns out you were right. I wasn't an accident. And now I'm the only one who can breach that castle. Don't tell me you wouldn't go if you could, even knowing it's a trap. Even if I weren't involved. You'd go because it's your job, because it needs to be done, because Maxim needs to be stopped. This time it's my job. My mission." She looked to Lyon, her eyebrows lifting.

His traitorous chief dipped his head in acknowledgment.

Hawke ground his teeth. "I can't bear for him to touch you again. To hurt you again."

Her eyes softened. "I know. Just as I can't bear the thought of anything happening to you."

He knew he was beaten. He turned to Lyon. "I'm going, too."

"Do you think that's a good idea?"

"It doesn't matter. If she goes, I go."

Lyon nodded, but his gaze was on Faith. "Can you still speak to us telepathically when you're not in your animal?"

Like this, you mean? Faith's voice rang in his head, clear as day, and he could tell by the expressions on the others' faces that they'd heard her, too.

"Good," Lyon said. "Practice to make certain you can target your thoughts to only those you want receiving them. Maxim doesn't need to know you have that trick. And hold back on the speed. Keep that ability to yourself as long as possible, too. He won't be expecting it. Once you're in the castle, you can relay what he says and find a way to get us in there. I want a solid hour of physical training out of you before you go."

Faith stiffened. "Paulina and Maria are in trouble. I need to go now."

"You need to be ready first. You showed some marked improvement in your fighting skills while you were under the thrall of darkness, but we need to see what you can do now. You must be able to defend yourself once you're in the castle because Kougar's right. You'll undoubtedly be flying into some kind of trap. Tighe, will you do the training?"

"Absolutely."

"I'll help, again," Fox said.

Jag snorted. "I'm not missing this show. Just wait 'til you see what she can do, Foxy."

Fox cut Jag an amused look. "Looking forward to it, Jaggy."

Jag hooted.

"I'm going to Warsaw, too. I owe that bastard." Grizz's voice rumbled over the table. "Lepard's fighting it."

Lyon's eyes narrowed. "Fighting what?"

"The darkness. Look at the start of the video, at the eyes of the new Ferals."

Lifting the remote, Lyon did a fast rewind to the beginning, showing all five new Ferals standing. Hawke watched Lepard's eyes and saw what Grizz had seen - the struggle in the snow-leopard shifter's eyes. A struggle absent in the eyes of the other three.