“My dad wouldn’t let anything happen to you,” Rae said quickly.

“That’s as may be,” Reid said. “But I make Shifters uncomfortable and that makes me uncomfortable. Even you attacked me first, asked questions later.”

Rae’s face heated. “Yeah, well, you scared me. And someone didn’t warn me you were coming.”

Zander ignored that jab. “I thank you, my friend.” He held out a hand to Reid, and Reid clasped it. No hugging, but not because Zander was wary of him, Rae sensed. “If you ever need a favor, you call me.”

Reid’s teeth flashed in a brief smile. “I’m guessing you’ll need my help before I need yours. Take care, Rae.”

He drew a breath, focused somewhere to his right, and vanished. Air displaced with a slight pop, and wind stirred Rae’s hair.

She jumped. “Oh, that is weird.”

“He says it weirds him out too,” Zander said. “He’s sacrificed a lot, that guy. The Fae were as cruel to him as they are to Shifters.”

Rae lifted the lower half of the sword, looking at the runes that told the story—whether a sad or happy tale was left up to the reader, she supposed. “Where did he come from? How did he end up in a Shiftertown?”

Zander leaned against the boulder, sun dancing on his hair. “It’s a strange story and he’s never told me directly. But what I’ve heard from others is that his clan was on the losing side of a war inside Faerie. Reid is what’s known as an Iron Master, meaning he can make iron do anything he wants—at least he could inside Faerie. The high Fae feared him because of that, so they captured him, killed most of his clan, and dumped Reid in the human world, doing spells so he couldn’t get back.

He huffed a laugh. “The High Fae shits believe that exile from the perfect world of Faerie is a fate worse than death. Reid tried for years to get back in to take his revenge but he’s not as interested anymore. Not after he rescued a bear Shifter woman called Peigi from a bunch of rogue Shifters. Now he dedicates his time to taking care of the orphaned cubs from that raid. Shifters aren’t so bad, he’s decided. I’m thinking Peigi had a lot to do with his change of heart.”

Rae listened with interest. “Are they mated?”

“Not yet. They both have issues they’re working through. Maybe someday.”

Rae found herself leaning on the boulder next to Zander. The warm rock and the sun on her face felt good. “If he can teleport, why doesn’t he just teleport back to Faerie?”

“He said it doesn’t work that way.” Zander rested his arm behind her. “He never could teleport until he came to the human world, and he can only manipulate iron—magically—inside Faerie. He doesn’t know why. But he’s a decent guy and a good resource for information about the Fae or anything Fae made.”

“Like a Sword of the Guardian,” Rae finished. “How did you meet him?”

“I spent some time in the Austin Shiftertown this spring. Reid popped in for a visit with the Las Vegas Shiftertown’s leader. Well—he flew in. Eric can’t teleport and Reid was polite and took regular transportation.”

“I was wrong,” Rae said as she rose from the boulder and returned the broken sword to its sheath. “You do know everyone.”

“And now you know me.” Zander closed his hand over her wrist and kissed the inside of her forearm. Fires tingled under her skin. “Stick with me, kid. Won’t be long before you know everyone in the world too.”

* * *

Zander said nothing to the others about their meeting with Reid or the sword when they returned home. Eoin didn’t ask—but he wouldn’t, Rae knew. Her father figured every Shifter’s business was his own, unless it endangered those in his jurisdiction.

Rae knew she’d have to confess about the sword sometime. If they couldn’t fix it or find someone to, she’d have to tell Eoin and face the consequences, whatever they were. As far as she knew, no one in the history of the Guardians had broken a sword.

Carson knew—he’d seen the sword in pieces but he hadn’t said a word. Rae was grateful, though she wasn’t certain why he kept his mouth shut. He’d been subdued since he’d come here, though watchful.

Zander disappeared after they returned to do who knew what—make another round of phone calls? Meet with more of his mysterious friends? Solve the problems of the world? Rae wasn’t certain she wanted to know.

Zander did reappear in time that afternoon for the send-off for Ezra’s father. They hadn’t had time or ability to do the ceremony on the boat, but every Shifter needed a send-off, so those they left behind could say good-bye.

Eoin set up the fire pit they used for ceremonies, building the fire high, the tongues of flame pale in the strong sunlight. Other Shifters gathered, many of them Lupines, to help Ezra say farewell. Death was never easy for Shifters and grief lasted a long time. Helping others remember a loved one always drew Shifters closer together.

Zander stood beside Ezra as Ezra fed a picture of his father into the fire then bowed his head in prayer. Rae thought of the feisty, outspoken Robert, pretending strength until the end to spare his son worry. Rae said her own prayers for him, wishing him well in the Summerland.

She knew why Zander stood so near Ezra, nearly touching him. Zander was readying himself in case Ezra gave into grief, as he’d done on the boat, sinking into that deep place that Shifters went when the world hurt them too much. Zander was prepared to take that pain from Ezra if necessary, healing his psyche.

Zander always would do these things for others, Rae realized, no matter how much he blustered about wanting to be alone and undisturbed. Since Rae had met him, Zander had done nothing but give.

After the ceremony, Eoin announced he had set up a meeting with the Idaho Shifter leader to try to find out more about the Shifters who’d attacked Carson. The man would be arriving soon but not coming to the house. Eoin had arranged to meet him at a roadhouse—neutral territory. Eoin had also invited a few of the clan leaders to accompany him so there would be no talk about Eoin having secret meetings with other Shifter leaders.

“Take backup,” Rae said in alarm.

Eoin gave her a reassuring look. “My trackers, your brothers, Ezra, Carson. This is an informal meet. We’ll have beer, we’ll talk.”

In the distant past, clan wars had started under even more innocuous circumstances, but those were the bad old days, Rae tried to tell herself.