“They’re using the humans forbreeding?” he spat the word. “What kind of sick plan is that?”
Kade expanded, his eyes flashing fire.
“Female Weres have never been plentiful,” Cara hurried to explain. “And over the last fifty years, they have been dying in childbirth. No one understands exactly why.”
“The council has been bloody useless,” Kade growled. “They have specialists studying the issue, but they haven’t been able to help.”
“Are the Sabres biting women too?” Zach shook all over as he glared at Kade.
“No!” Kade’s head lowered and his eyes narrowed.
Zach’s rage flared, and Cara winced. Every hair on Kade’s head was standing erect, and Jessie’s eyes were wide.
“Zach, you’re projecting,” Cara pointed out.
“I’m what?”
“You are spreading your anger out to others. You need to calm down.” Cara met Zach’s gaze with her own. “We have to come at this in a controlled manner, or we will fail.”
Zach glanced at Jessie, swallowed, and tried to bottle it. At first, he wasn’t successful, but then Cara reached a hand out to his arm. The calming energy wrapped around him, stifling his anger. The tension snapped.
“That’s some temper you got there,” Kade growled.
Zach took a deep breath and ignored him. He kept his gaze on Cara. “What are we going to do?”
“Since meeting you, I have been studying the history of Cryptid Empaths,” Cara said. “And Jessie’s power has given me an idea. What kind of range do you usually have?”
Zach stared at her, but he had a sinking feeling in his gut. “If the emotion is intense, like Jessie’s was, I can read it at about a quarter mile. Sometimes a little farther.”
Cara’s eyebrows rose. “That’s quite the range, Zach. Most I’ve read of can only do it within a few feet.”
Zach shifted uncomfortably. “It has to be strong for me to feel it at that distance.”
“Can you identify people by what you feel?” Cara leaned forward, her gaze intent.
Zach frowned. “If I focus, yeah, I guess so. People each have a distinctive energy.” He met her eyes. “I always know when you’re around.”
Cara nodded. “Some Cryptids are designed to work together. Amps can work with almost any Cryptid. If Jessie boosts you, your range would be impressive.” Her gaze moved to Jessie. “And Jessie is linked to Braden.”
Kade rubbed a big hand over his face. “You think Zach and Jessie might be able to find Braden.” It was a statement, not a question.
Cara smiled. “Yes. I do.”
* * *
Zach stepped out into the garden, and Jessie followed.
“We’ll be lucky if we survive the truck ride.” He glanced at Kade speaking quietly with Cara on the step.
“He’s not that bad when you get to know him. You should see him in harem pants.”
Zach paused in the darkness. Harem pants? And when did Jessie get to know Kade? He gave himself a mental shake. Kade had saved Jessie’s life. He didn’t have a right to his jealousy.
The thick foliage screened them from the other two people. Jessie stepped close to him. The surrounding air suddenly came alive with tiny points of dancing light. Hundreds of them, moving through the bushes and circling around Jessie and Zach.
Fireflies.
“Wow,” Jessie said.
