“Right.” Addie drew a sharp breath. “Seamus. Jaycee. Dimitri.” She looked at each of them in turn. “What do you suggest?”

*   *   *

The Shifters attacked Kendrick with fury in their eyes. Kendrick’s body grew cold as he defended himself—had they hated him all this time? Was that why Lachlan had so easily turned them?

Kendrick knew all these men by name, knew their families, their clans. Knew some from cubhood, through their Transitions. He’d seen them through illnesses, through grief of loss. And now, as one, they came at him, ready to kill him.

Kendrick did not want to kill in return. He was being pushed into this choice by Lachlan.

He dodged claws and teeth coming at him, slammed his fist into bodies—human, animal, half beast. He’d never prevail—they’d drag him down and slaughter him.

Kendrick backed hurriedly, giving himself room to heft the sword. The blade, runes glinting, made the Shifters hesitate. Killing a Guardian was unheard of, supposed to bring bad luck to the Shifter who did it, maybe even to his entire clan.

“Superstition,” Lachlan growled. “He’s only a Shifter, like you. Give him a pretty sword and everyone is afraid. Kill him and see if he bleeds.”

Most of the Shifters surged forward with renewed determination. One leapt—a Lupine, in his between-beast state. Kendrick had to swing the sword. The Lupine howled, blood on his chest, and fell back.

The others made noises of rage. Twenty, Kendrick counted, all furious now that he’d drawn blood.

This was Lachlan’s revenge, he realized. Not simply Kendrick’s own Shifters turning on him, but Kendrick being forced to kill them to survive.

A leader didn’t kill his own. Kendrick had fought Lachlan and driven him out to prove that point. Now Lachlan forced Kendrick into a terrible choice.

“No!” Kendrick stepped back, breathing hard, shifting down to be fully human-shaped. He rested the sword back on his shoulder like a baseball bat, keeping his blade well away from the others. “I won’t kill my own Shifters. Rally to me and we’ll sweep this mess out of here.”

“Why?” A man in front, a big Feline, snarled. “You’ve led us nowhere, Kendrick. Lost us our homes, our families. We hide like cowards. When we had to leave the compound, we trusted you, we waited for you. And you never came.”

“I know.” Kendrick held his ground. “I was making a deal with a devil called Dylan Morrissey, so we’d all be left in peace—so the Collared Shifters would help us instead of betray us. I finally found a place where we can start again. I even found a new mate. Who is with me?”

A few paused. A leader with a mate promised more stability than one without. Grief over a broken mate bond could drive a Shifter insane, make him go feral, or at least dangerously depressed—dangerous for all the Shifters he led.

The Feline sneered. “Have you forgotten your mate bond so quickly? Eileen has been gone only four years.”

“The mother of my cubs will be forever in my heart,” Kendrick said. “But a new mate bond is forming—and that bond is strong.”

It was. Kendrick could feel it twining around his heart, whispering to him. Addison was near, he knew it.

When she shouldn’t be. He growled in anger—Lachlan must have tricked her here. Zander, Ben, and Jaycee should have tied her up and sat on her. Kendrick would have to explain what he’d meant by keeping Addison safe.

Yet another Shifter drew back, indecision on his face. Lachlan had worked these men into fighting frenzy, feeding on their insecurity, their fear that their leader had abandoned them.

Lachlan. A swift glance around the room told Kendrick he’d vanished.