“There’s a lot of Shifter business going on,” Kendrick said. “Dangerous business.”

“I figured that. You’re a Shifter Guardian, whatever that means, who kept your friends from being put into Shiftertowns. I know you told me this—I’m trying to get it all straight. How does this guy Dylan figure into it?”

Kendrick regarded her for a moment while putting in order what he’d tell her. He longed to protect her from all the shit in his life, but he also knew that ignorance might get Addison killed. Maybe that’s what the dream had meant.

“Dylan Morrissey is father to the leader of the Austin Shiftertown,” Kendrick began. “Last year, he helped organize a raid on my compound—he thought we’d kidnapped a woman. When my Shifters scattered, Dylan found me. I thought he wanted to Collar me and force me into his Shiftertown, but instead, he recruited me to help him track down a band of Shifters who used to follow a feral Shifter in Mexico. Those Shifters are dangerous, most of them gone totally feral, and many are roaming free. He knew I could help him track them under the radar—humans don’t know about me. Dylan promised that if I helped him, he’d keep humans away from my Shifters forever. I couldn’t say no to that. But I soon realized I was under his thumb, and time was going by. I just told Ben to tell Dylan that I’m finished, I’m out. Time for Dylan to keep up his end of the deal.”

Addison listened—what she thought, Kendrick couldn’t tell. He’d left out the days and nights of hunting along the border, standing by while Dylan meted out his brand of rough justice. Dylan had either dragged the Shifter back to a Shiftertown, fitting him with a Collar to calm him down, or killed the Shifter outright if they’d been too far feral. Kendrick was a Guardian—he was there to send the Shifter to dust.

Kendrick no longer wanted to be the Guardian in Dylan’s pocket.

Addison listened, her blue eyes wide. “Do these rogue Shifters have anything to do with the ones who shot up the diner?”

Kendrick’s fears lashed at him. “I’m not sure. There have always been elements among my Shifters that were factious, but none rebelled openly. But since my Shifters dispersed last fall, it seems that some of them have decided to break from me and join a contingency of Collared Shifters who want out of Shiftertowns. Shifters are dangerous, Addison. I don’t care what the human-made documentaries say or how harmless you think my cubs are. Shifters are volatile and unpredictable. I tell you all this so you understand that. Sending you to New Orleans—by private plane, not bus—is looking better and better to me.”

“Is it?” Addison cocked her head, as she had in the dream. “Who is going to watch out for your cubs while you face all these dangerous Shifters? From what I heard, you asked Ben to find some of your Shifters and send them to you. Sounds risky. I think I’d better stay right where I am.”

Kendrick went to her swiftly. The horse threw up her head and backed up in her stall, her eyes white. She knew the creature who moved toward her was predatory, a beast in the guise of a man.

Addison, on the other hand, stood her ground. She also knew Kendrick was a predator, and she didn’t care.

Time to teach her a few things.

Kendrick gripped Addison by the shoulders. “I didn’t want you to come with me in the first place. Dragging you into danger wasn’t what I needed.”

“Yes you did,” Addison said quietly. Her sure gaze met his agitated one. “You wanted me to come or else you’d have put me on that plane or left me in the motel or even at the side of the road.”

She was right that he’d wanted her with him. Even in Kendrick’s anger, he had to acknowledge that. He hadn’t wanted her to go, not yet. Even now, as he told her he wanted her gone, he knew he didn’t mean it. He needed her here, next to him. That’s also what the dream had told him.