“What are we going to do about Joshua?” Grey asked.
“Nothing. At least not yet. Oh, but I can’t be left alone with him. With these stitches,” I gently laid a hand over my middle, “I won’t be able to fight him off.”
“You said you could Claim another to break your Claim,” Nana said gently. “Why wait?”
“Because I’m not done with him yet. Until the Compound is clear and we’re ready to leave, I have to keep my hold on him. It’s the only thing that’s keeping him from reporting back to his leader.”
“Are you sure about that?” Sam looked troubled.
“No, not really but it’s our best chance. Now, there are three Urbat out in the woods waiting for Joshua. Gabby, can you see them?”
All eyes turned to her. She nodded hesitantly, and I reached across the table to lightly touch her hand. “We need to find them and get rid of them before people start leaving. They can’t know what we’re doing.”
“They’re not far from here. But, there are ten more scattered in the surrounding area. Nothing close enough for concern though. The rest are regrouping in the east.” She paused for a moment, a frown pulling at her brow. “More are coming from the main group. I think you’re right, Bethi. They’re coming back.”
I nodded and patted her hand. “It’s good,” I reassured her. “I’d be more freaked out if they weren’t. Pick an Elder and a team of five to go out and hunt the three Urbat down,” I directed. The ones waiting to meet Joshua and I would be the first to question our delay. “Kill them quickly and quietly so they can’t communicate back to their leader. Deal with the ten on the outskirts as needed. Closest first.”
Nana looked troubled.
“No prisoners, Nana. Think of the families running from here with kids. Those ten prowling the outskirts will track and kill them if they get wind that this is a mass exodus. The three need to be silenced quickly without a chance for them to send word.” I held everyone’s attention. I could see questions still stirring, but knew we didn’t have too much time.
“We need to move,” I said standing. “Their leader—”
“Blake,” Michelle interjected.
“Blake will be wondering why Joshua hasn’t reported by now. Gabby, let us know if you see a change in their direction.”
Gabby nodded.
“Nana, will you come with me to talk to Joshua?”
“I’m coming too,” Luke said.
I shook my head. “No, Luke. I need him calm. Help Gabby. Clear the field so we can be done with this, and I no longer need my Claim on Joshua.”
His eyes held mine for a long moment before he nodded and stepped back.
“Please excuse us,” Emmitt said pulling Michelle to her feet.
“Where are you going?” Nana asked concerned.
Michelle met Emmitt’s gaze, and must have felt something through their link because she suddenly grinned before turning to Nana with a blush. “Cementing my Claim,” she murmured.
Charlene chuckled. “If you two could wait just a bit longer, we’ll watch the boys for you.”
Emmitt gave a curt nod and held out Michelle’s chair for her again. Michelle sat, red faced, but happy.
Gabby looked over her shoulder at Clay and shook her head. He laughed and bent to kiss the top of her head.
Seeing the room committed to the direction we needed to take, Nana helped me up from the chair, and we left the rest to plan the evacuation.
* * * *
We could see Joshua pacing the apartment when Carlos opened the door for us. A lamp lay broken in the middle of the floor and Carlos’ lip bled. I wanted to apologize to him but knew how Joshua would take that. Joshua looked worse. His right eye had swollen shut and purple fingerprints decorated the left side of his neck. I didn’t feel too badly for him.
“That took much longer than I expected,” Joshua said coming to a stop. His eyes swept over me and held malice as he watched Nana enter behind me.
“I’m sorry about that. Instead of concentrating on the problem of us, they got hung up on the fact that there’s another race and that I’m not exactly human.”
