Wildfire Griffin (Fire & Rescue Shifters: Wildfire Crew #1)(45)

“It is just a squirrel, isn’t it?” Rory asked Callum.

The pegasus shifter shrugged one shoulder. “As far as I can tell. But I didn’t sense anything strange about the hawk either. And look.”

Callum pushed feathers apart on the hawk’s head, exposing two black, bony nubbins. They looked like baby goat horns, pushing through the bird’s skull.

“Well that’s not creepy at all,” Blaise commented, shuddering.

Rory studied the bird more closely. There was an odd reddish tinge to the glassy, staring eyes. The beak was wrong too, serrated and jagged, like fangs. Even though the body was fresh, a fetid, rotting smell hung around it.

“Definitely not a normal animal,” he said, standing up again. “Let’s take it back to Wystan. Maybe he can do an autopsy or something.”

“What a treat for him,” Blaise said dryly. “And who’s going to carry it?”

They all looked at Fenrir. The hellhound wrinkled his lips back from his fangs.

No, he said, his mental tone final. Bad meat.

“This from the shifter who considers week-old raccoon a delicacy.” Joe sighed, pulling off his shirt. He rolled the bird into it to make an anonymous bundle. “I’ll carry it. We should be getting back, we’re already late for dinner.”

“I’ll take Blaise,” Rory and Callum said simultaneously.

“I’m not that heavy,” Joe said in a wounded tone.

“You’re nearly seven feet tall and built like a cathedral door,” Blaise informed him. “Also, you’re carrying a dead monster that stinks to high heaven. I’ll go with Rory. Cal’s a stronger flier, after all.”

Rory wanted to object to this assessment, but that would have gotten him stuck with Joe and his evil-smelling bundle. Pride took a back seat to pragmatism.

“We’ll meet you back at base,” he said to Fenrir. The hellhound had his own ways of travelling quickly. “Let’s go, squad. Edith and Wystan will be wondering what’s happened to us.”

He shifted, holding still as Blaise swung herself up. When she was safely settled on his neck, gripping his feathers, he took off. Callum followed, carrying Joe with a resigned air.

*You really should fly yourself, you know,* he sent privately to Blaise.

“No. I can’t.” Her flat tone of voice told him there was no point trying to talk her round. “Got any theories about the hawk?”

None whatsoever. I’ve never even heard of anything like it. His wings ached, still tired from the hours chasing the hawk across the mountains. Maybe your dad will have some suggestions. He’s seen a lot in his time.

“Maybe.” Blaise sounded dubious. “Though he hasn’t been able to track down any leads on your lightning-throwing arsonist yet, last time we talked. I’ll call him again tonight, anyway.”

All these weird things skulking around. Rory’s talons clenched in frustration. *If only they’d just come out and attack already. That I would know how to handle.*

“Be careful what you wish for.” Blaise poked the side of his neck, where the feathers blurred into fur. “Speaking of things you don’t know how to handle, how are things going with Edith?”

Don’t ask.

“Ouch. That bad, huh?”

*I’m going out of my mind. It’s taking everything I’ve got to control my beast. But no matter how slowly and gently I try to take things, she isn’t relaxing around me at all. Around any of us. She can tell there’s something off. She knows there’s something different about us.*

“Edith’s no fool, Rory.” She stretched out along his back, tucking her feet up. “You really should just tell her, you know.”

Rory thought back to his earlier conversation with Edith. She’s looked so small and lonely, huddled on the log next to him. I don’t fit in. I never will.

She felt alone. She felt so alone that she’d given up on ever not feeling alone. She thought that the best she could hope for was to do a good job and maintain a professional relationship with the squad. No matter what she claimed, that couldn’t really be the fulfillment of her dream. Yet somehow she’d persuaded herself that it was good enough. That it was all she deserved.

He’d been avoiding telling Edith the truth because he’d been worrying it would change how she saw him. But not telling her was worse. It was changing how she saw herself.

He set his beak. You’re right, Blaise.

Blaise pretended to swoon in exaggerated shock. “Of course I am. But you’re actually admitting that? Who are you, and what have you done with our boss?”

Ha ha. He rolled in the air, making her swear and grab onto his feathers to avoid sliding off. *I do have to tell Edith the truth. Not just about me, but about all of us. That’s what’s stopping her from feeling like she’s part of the team. It’s not fair on her. No matter how it affects things between her and me, I have to tell her. Tonight.*

Blaise surprised him by leaning down and hugging him round the neck, hard.

What was that for? he asked.

“Being brave,” she said, ruffling the short bronze feathers on the top of his head. “I’m proud of you, big almost-brother.”

It was just the wind that made him have to blink moisture out of his eyes. That’s what he would have told her if she’d asked, anyway.