As she focused on her inner eye and what she could feel around her, a terrible chill when through her. She became aware of him, of the wizard. She had an awareness of the color green, a kind of iridescence like the beauty of a hummingbird’s feathers. She supposed it was the nature of the wizard’s cloak, another layer of his disguise. But all the impressions she had were faint. He’s here, Warren.
The wizard?
Yes.
Where? Can you see him?
No. He’s keeping himself hidden.
Warren snorted. No surprise there.
Kiara cringed. She knew how much Warren despised this aspect of her kind. In so many ways, it was the opposite of wolf-life in Savage. In a sudden moment of understanding, she realized this was one of the reasons she liked Warren as much as she did. His wolfish straightforwardness.
In Elegance Territory, dominated by warlocks and witches, many of great power, she was always looking over her shoulder. In Savage, she just needed to watch what was coming through the front door.
Is it Glis
sane? She could sense Warren’s rise in tension as he posed the question.
I honestly don’t know.
Can you get a general location? Behind? Below? Closer to the Strip?
Sorry, I can’t tell you, but I’ll keep on it.
Her gaze was drawn to the ongoing battle below. As high up as they were, it was like watching small animals move around with the occasional burst of gunfire and white streaks of light. She didn’t know why Julio’s men were firing at all since according to Ralph anyone outside of the safe room was probably dead.
Fergus reported in again through Warren’s cell. “I’m moving half my force to the alley entrance.” Kiara watched thirty or so Gordion wolves levitate toward the south, past the alley. Slowly, they began to descend and move into position in an area of rubble beyond the alley. Most of the houses were gone and the space between the Strip and the Five Bridges border wall was known as No Man’s Land. In the distance, huge spotlights continually scanned for drug runners. To the east, she could see the stalled Bridge traffic a half-mile away.
Fergus came back on the line. “Mary said to come through the alley entrance since the safe room is connected to the office. Hold on. Ralph’s calling in.”
Kiara gripped Warren tightly around the waist, waiting. Each second felt like an eternity.
Fergus returned. “You need to be prepared. Mary says there are several dead female wolves on and near the stage, as well as in the dressing rooms. On the floor, at least twenty dead humans, no one was spared. When Julio’s men went in, they just started shooting. But Donaldson won’t want the Feds coming in, though I don’t know how he’s going to keep them out. We’ve got one helluva mess.”
Kiara glanced up the Strip. What was Julio hoping to gain from an overt battle, especially with dead humans? But maybe a man like Julio didn’t need a reason. No doubt he got off on killing as well as the chaos.
Let’s head to the back entrance, Warren said.
She nodded.
He let Fergus know they were moving in to try to reach the safe room, but he kept his phone in his hand.
Warren flew them swiftly to an in-air position not far from Fergus.
Fergus was hunkered down behind one of the heavy duty, metal trash bins. His men had taken cover wherever they could. There were at least a dozen cars in the rear parking lot.
Julio’s men were nowhere to be seen in the alley. But the back of the building was heavily peppered with automatic fire, so they’d been there. Empty shells lay scattered everywhere.
Kiara saw movement up the alley and her heart sank. It was a heavily reinforced Hummer. Warren, we’re in trouble.
He glanced at her. She jerked her chin and he caught sight of the Hummer as well. Christ.
He held his phone up to his ear and addressed Fergus. “Look east.”
Kiara watched Fergus’s head swivel. A string of invective hit the air.
“Once that Hummer gets here,” Warren said, “They’ll blow the back of the building wide open.”