Lucas’s mouth twitched. “It would be best, then, to render him out of the action. Nothing kills a disguise faster than having the original show up at an awkward moment.”
“Okay. We’ll act on that for the real mission. For this one, we’re nonlethal. Would be best to also be non-bump and non-bruise, considering these guys are helping us out.” His mouth twisted. “It is actually more difficult tonotkill or maim.”
Cody’s entire expression came to life as he adjusted the coil of rope over his shoulder, and my heart twisted. Just like Matt and Sebastian, he lived for the hunt, and the fight. It made him a major asset.
Assessing our team mates and their talents, and meshing them all together, was the entire point of this mission. My major strength was null and void unless I could touch someone.
Cody laid a hand on my shoulder. “When we’re on Xumi’s turf,” he said, “I’ll need you to be our link to Matt and Talakai.”
I nodded, feeling a little better.
“Xumi will have eyes and ears on the gates. We’ll send the distraction team in, as far ahead of us as we can, to break up the group.”
And to avoid Amadeus figuring out what we were up to, the real rescue mission would be set up as another team exercise. Which meant us rookies were the heart of the operation, although they’d slipped Lucas into the mix. He could look like anyone in a pinch, and he wasn’t officially connected to the academy or the council.
He was our stealth member, in more ways than one.
“Okay. Stick with me, I have a route planned,” Cody said.
He led us straight through the downtown core. Surely there were better, less busy routes? But as I watched Maddy, I appreciated Cody’s strategy. She needed to practice.
Meanwhile, to the average resident, Lucas and I appeared as a couple on a shopping expedition, matching purposeful strides as we traveled without looking in the windows we passed. Our size merged perfectly with the averages for the area, and with our hoods raised, we were ignored.
“Get closer to Anna, Lucas,” Maddy whispered.
Lucas shot me a look, and for just a confusing instant, I thought he’d object. But then he stepped nearer.
“Wind’s coming the other way,” Cody said. “Try her other side.”
As Lucas switched, I glanced back at the Sabre. Why did the wind matter?
He flashed a grin at me. “You smell a little too good, Anna.”
I faced forward again, aware of my skin flushing. Matt always said I smelled amazing. I hadn’t realized it extended to other shifters, with their powerful noses. Then I remembered that Jacques had said the same thing.
“Sorry,” I apologized. “I can’t control the way I smell.”
“Just something to be aware of,” Cody cautioned.
“By good, do you mean—” I broke off.
“Oh, yeah,” Lucas growled.
I winced. “It’s not helpful if it’s distracting.”
“We’ll deal,” Cody said.
“Speak foor yoourself,” muttered Logan, pacing closer to Maddy. His tongue lolled, but his gaze skittered from mine. And Lucas wouldn’t look at me at all.
So I wasn’t just the weakest team member, but also a liability. Because of the way I smelled?
Maddy’s talents didn’t extend to scent erasure. She could only block sight. Cody’s main issue was his size, but the Dire was another matter. They might have shifters in this realm, but it was unlikely that they shopped while in beast form.
We’d all studied the maps. Once we’d left the main drag behind, Cody took us along side streets. We rounded a corner and spotted the ten-foot stone wall with a double strand of razor wire along the top.
Two guards stood at the main entrance. They were big, bulky individuals, roughly human in appearance but with more prominent brows and thick tufts of hair radiating outward. Their eyes were disconcerting—brown irises, but they sat in a sea of brilliant red. It gave them a devilish air.
They glared at Lucas and me as we approached. They would have been more than suspicious if they could see Cody and Logan.
