Monty rose. “In that case, let’s go across the street and get you settled. Where’s your luggage?”

Jimmy waved a hand toward the archway. “Left it in that other store.”

“We’ll carry it over, Lieutenant,” Kowalski said.

Kowalski and Debany stiffened in response to the look Jimmy gave them. “You going to search through our things while you’re being helpful?”

“That won’t be necessary,” Burke replied, giving Jimmy his fiercest smile. “I’m sure the Wolves have already gone through your luggage and removed anything that doesn’t meet with their approval.” He walked to the front door of A Little Bite and pushed it open. “Shall we?”

Monty led the way, feeling Jimmy’s fury like claws scratching his back. Things had gone wrong between them while they were still children—long before he’d chosen a career with the police and Jimmy had chosen . . . other pursuits. There was more at stake now than a family rift. If Jimmy screwed up the relationship the humans here had been building with the Others . . .

Monty looked at Burke as he walked out of the coffee shop and wondered if it was Simon Wolfgard or his captain who posed the biggest threat to his brother.

• • •

“I’m not sure what’s going on, but the children are safer where they are. No, it’s better if you keep an eye on things over there.”

Vlad glanced toward the checkout counter as he followed Simon, Henry, and Tess toward the stairs leading to HGR’s office. Merri Lee froze, the store phone pressed to one ear and her mobile phone pressed to the other. Must be talking to Ruthie and Eve Denby.

“Good advice,” he said quietly, then hurried up the stairs. He hadn’t realized how angry he was until he closed the door. Then he strode up to Simon and gave the Wolf a shove.

“Are you sure about this?” Vlad demanded.

Simon snarled at him. “No, I’m not sure. I do know there’s a fight for dominance going on, but I don’t think Montgomery understands that.”

“That Cyrus knows it,” Henry rumbled.

“He wants control of that pack, wants to drive Montgomery out,” Simon said. “His mate will go with him. So will the Sierra. And Miss Twyla might go to try to protect the Sierra and her pups.”

“Families do split sometimes during a fight for dominance,” Vlad said. “But when that happens, they don’t both stay in the same territory.”

“Montgomery and the Lizzy will be the ones who stay,” Henry said. “If Montgomery is driven away from that family pack, the rest of them will be banned from the Courtyard.”

“Not Miss Twyla,” Simon said. “Elliot almost likes her.”

Vlad studied Simon. “That Cyrus will bring trouble here. He’ll be close to the vulnerable among us.” What would Grandfather Erebus say about a hostile male being that close to Meg? “Why should we let him stay? Why are you giving in?”

Simon growled. “Two of the Elders returned to the Courtyard when we were all distracted by the job fair. They’ve decided that Cyrus needs to stay where they can watch him.”

“Blessed Thaisia,” Henry rumbled. “Why?”

Simon kept his eyes on Vlad. “Unless the Elders can understand why one human like that Cyrus can be a threat to a whole pack of humans—or us—they won’t allow any humans to migrate through the wild country to reach other towns.”

“So we risk the humans we trust for the Elders’ benefit?” Tess said.

No answer. Finally Simon said, “They agreed to help protect the female pack. And they agreed to let the humans from the job fair travel through the wild country unharmed.”

Human cities were ideal hunting grounds for the Sanguinati, so they rarely brushed up against the Elders. But he understood now the choice Simon had made about letting that Cyrus stay—save the Lakeside Courtyard from what would hopefully be nothing more than an annoying inconvenience or let Tolya and the town of Bennett fall along with Prairie Gold, the Intuit village that depended on the train station for its supplies. And how many other places, other people, could have fallen if Simon hadn’t made that choice?

“Well,” Vlad said. “If that Cyrus draws out others like himself, he may be of some use to us.”

The coils in Tess’s hair relaxed a little. “Bait? For who?”

“For that Jack Fillmore, the male who hurt Theral MacDonald and is still hunting her,” Vlad replied.

They let the words settle and grow weight.

“That Cyrus lived in Toland. Would Stavros know about him?” Simon asked.

“Since he’s still alive, my guess is he wasn’t important enough to draw the problem solver’s attention,” Vlad replied. “But I can ask.”

“Ask.”

“Nyx is willing to work around the consulate, freeing Elliot to deal with the mayor and other government officials. She’ll make sure no one enters the consulate who shouldn’t.” And he would talk to Grandfather Erebus about assigning more Sanguinati to spend time around the Market Square.

“Good,” Simon said. “Tell her that includes the Sierra and that Cyrus’s mate.”

“I’d like the upstairs offices here to be off-limits as well.”

Simon nodded. “I don’t want that Cyrus or his mate working in any of our stores. And they’re to be watched whenever they’re in the Market Square.”