Page 15 of Red Marked

“Two for two.” He nods at the male in the harness. “Not bad for a day’s work.”

“Yep.” I nod.

The address system crackles to life, and we all look up.

“Flint’s field team, report to the therapy wing. Flint’s field team to the therapy wing,” a nasal-sounding voice announces. I think it’s Pryce’s PA.

Cindy looks at me. “I wonder what that’s about. Did we do something wrong?” she asks, rubbing her hand down her pants. “Do you think they’re cutting the program? Surely not? It’s too soon. We’re just getting started, and it’s going well.”

“It’s way too early to tell if it’s effective or not.” Brian shakes his head. “More likely the second clinic’s off. Funding pulled, something like that.”

“Neither.” Atlas shakes his head. “This is about yesterday. About what the three of us,” he gestures to Rift and me, “saw out at the ravine.”

Cindy and Brian look at him, their faces morphing into understanding.

“Makes sense,” Brian says slowly. “If you guys saw what you think you did, it’s a big deal.”

Cindy nods. “They might send us back there.”

“They might,” Atlas agrees.

“Instead of guessing,” I raise my voice so that the whole team can hear, “let’s go to the therapy wing.”

There are murmurs as the last of the team dress. As soon as everyone is assembled, we head that way.

I’m pretty sure Atlas is right. This is about yesterday’s sighting. What I don’t like is that everyone is being called in. Why not just me?

The observation room has been cleared for us, chairs set in a loose half-circle, and Dr. Pryce is on his feet by the door when we walk in. He straightens his collar and smiles, looking tense.

I don’t like it.

The shifter male behind him is the picture of calm. He is a little older, with some silver in his hair and dressed in a suit and tie.

“Come on in, everyone. Come on in,” Pryce says as the last of my team files in.

Pryce steps back, letting the male take the lead.

“My name is Cairn, and I am a Mistveil Council representative, since none of them could make it personally today,” he tells us. “Please, sit.”

We do as he asks. I fold my hands in my lap, sure to remain impassive, even though concern churns in my gut.

Nope, I don’t like this at all.

“I’ll keep this brief,” Cairn says. “I believe that congratulations are in order. This team has brought in three males in two days. That is exceptional. Well done!” He glances around the room. “Now to the second matter. It’s come to the Council’s attention that a report was filed concerning the mountain range on the northern side of this island. I’d rather address that directly than allow it to turn into something it isn’t. I don’t care much for rumors, and neither does the Council.”

My stomach knots.

Here it comes.

“There are no female shifters living in those mountains.” He moves his gaze from one person to the next. “Mistveil knows its own island. We would know if there were female shifters living there.” He gives a small, apologetic tilt of his head. “There are feral males out on that side of the island…sure. Not many, and fewer still in that particular range. Females? No, not at all. Females wouldn’t last this side of the jungle. Not on their own.”

I shift in my seat but force myself to keep still.

Fuck!

It’s bullshit.

“The airspace above that range is difficult. There is bad light at that hour, and at a distance, smaller males get misjudged for something they’re not, especially by fliers less familiar with the terrain.” He gives a shrug. “It happens more than you’d think.”