“He doesn’t answer his cell phone, either.”

“Cell phone service isn’t the most reliable around here. He’ll find a way to call when he has something to report. Sean’s on his way.”

“I want to help.”

“You will.” Dylan turned back to his map. “I want you and Sean to make up a team. Sean’s the strongest, next to Liam, and I don’t want to worry about you on top of everything else.”

“Liam told me what happened,” she said in a low voice. “About you and him, and the fight.”

Dylan turned from the map again. He didn’t look conquered. He was as tall and formidable as ever, only the touch of gray at his temples betraying that he was older than his sons. He radiated strength, competence, and decisiveness—everything you’d want in a general.

“It’s irrelevant right now,” Dylan said.

Meaning they’d talk about it once Michael was found. “I just wondered what was going to happen.”

“That’s up to Liam.” Dylan looked past her, and she realized that Nate and Spike were approaching the front door.

Kim shut up, and Dylan invited the two inside. The hostility they’d exhibited to Dylan in San Antonio was absent as the three bent over the map. Nate turned out to be the military guy, and the shaved-headed, tattooed man was Spike.

The two Shifters left with their orders, and Dylan took another phone call. Sean approached through the backyard, and Kim went out to meet him.

“Where’s Connor?” she asked.

“Searching with Glory and Ellison. Dad’s putting you with me.”

Sean looked grim, flat black sunglasses hiding his eyes, his sword hilt protruding over his shoulder. Kim knew without being told that his greatest fear was that he’d have to use the sword on Michael when and if they found him.

“Have you heard from Liam?” she asked him.

“No.”

“That doesn’t worry you?”

“It does. But Liam’s one of the strongest in the clan, and if he’s out of communication, it’s for a good reason.”

His words made sense, and so had Dylan’s. But Kim shivered, some feeling in her gut bothering her. “We should find him.”

“We should find Michael.”

Kim nodded. Michael’s mother must be going through hell. Kim remembered how her own mother had sobbed uncontrollably when she’d been told that Mark was dead. Mark had lingered in the hospital all night, giving them hope he’d survive, but in the end, he hadn’t. Michael’s mother must be living through that same hell of hope.

Kim nodded. Find Michael. That was top priority.

“It’s easy,” the feral Shifter said. “Go with it.”

Liam gritted his teeth against profound pain. “Easy for who? Who the hell are you, anyway?”

“I was called Justin.”

“Yeah? What are you called now?”

“Human names have no meaning for us anymore.”

“Oh, for the gods’ sake.” Liam lay flat on his back on the cement floor, his limbs on fire. He felt the beast in him snarling and raging, but his body hurt so much it could snarl and rage all it wanted to. Lying still was a good thing.

Heat pressed on the warehouse, and Liam felt the tingle of an approaching storm. He sensed clouds building, the electricity that fused the air miles away.

“Where is the boy?” Liam asked

“Still here.” The Lupine smiled. “I’m saving him for you, like I was told.”

Liam then sensed Michael in the alley outside. The Lupine must have chased after him and tethered him. Liam tasted the boy’s fear on the wind, arousing both Liam’s protective nature and his innate instinct that the male offspring of another male had to be eliminated. The two feelings warred in him, escalating his confusion.

“And why haven’t you rid yourself of me as I lay here helpless?” Liam asked.

“I know my place in the hierarchy. You will lead us to greatness.”

“You’ve lost it, mate.”

“You’re the leader. I smell it on you. You defeated the only one greater than you, and now no Shifter can best you. I’m weak, but you will make me strong.”

“Shite.” Liam’s neck felt like fire and at the same time, strangely light. Justin peeling away Liam’s Collar had been the worst agony Liam had ever felt in his life. He’d screamed as the metal had unfused from his skin, his mind clouding with nothing but pain. When the fog cleared he’d found himself flat on his back, unable to move.

“The pain will go away,” Justin said. “And then you’ll be free.”

“Terrific.”

“Shifters are strong, my master. Stronger than any human will ever be. Why should we be slaves to them? When they put Collars on us, they only made us stronger.”

Liam felt weak as a flea. “How did you figure that?”

“You feel it, don’t you? The instincts you suppressed for so long, the strength you lost when the Collar was put on you. I bet at first you didn’t have the strength to make it through a day without vomiting. We’ve learned how to live even with the oppression of the Collars. So when they come off, the instincts pour back, your strength comes back—twenty years worth of it in one go.”

“Bloody hell.”

Liam knew Justin was right, as crazy as the man sounded. His strength was slowly returning to his limbs, whatever drug he’d been given starting to wear off. Liam’s sense of smell and hearing seemed sharper than ever, and the growing storm pounded at his brain.