“Dillion might know more about all this. I say we use whatever means necessary to get answers from him,” Murphy said.
“Agreed,” Tah said, surprising most of them.
Logan and Reno just nodded as if they’d already known what Tah would say.
“This is war. We didn’t declare it, but we are fighting it.”
“And we’ll win the fucker,” Murphy grunted.
“Yes, we will,” Tah agreed. “Dillon came here with the intention to hurt us. We’ll hurt him back to get the answers we need. Not because of what we fear might happen as we did in the past.” His gaze skated to Reno in apology. “But in direct retaliation for what Dillon has already done, attacking two of our numbers and injecting them with a virus. I’m putting you in charge of interrogation, Murphy.”
“It will be my pleasure,” Murphy assured, and the light in his eyes sent a chill through Diane that had Zane tightening his arms around her.
“Gideon will be a fountain of wisdom when it comes to Dillon,” Griffin offered. “He never trusted Dillon. Lydia, either.”
“She’s another story. Her cells continue to break down no matter what measures are taken. If something isn’t discovered soon, she’s going to die.”
Clara turned and buried her head into Logan’s chest at Tah’s words. Diane’s heart ached for her friend. Clara had been through so much, lost so much, and here she was dealing with it again.
“I’ll keep searching,” Diane promised.
Clara nodded but didn’t turn from the comfort of her mate’s arms.
“Zane, I’d like you to fill us in on your take of the hunting party you ran into and the man who stopped by to see me,” Tah said.
“There’s a hunting party?” Murphy asked, tensing up.
“They’re dead,” Tah answered and crossed his arms waiting for Zane to speak.
Diane felt Zane tense under her and knew he was struggling with the desire to protect Kenzie and the responsibility to tell Tah everything. She rubbed her palm over his chest, trying to offer him both comfort and support. He eased back again and began to talk.
“I smelled them while Diane and I were alone. I managed to get Diane to safety and made the choice to go look for Kenzie, to make sure she was okay. It didn’t turn out to be so bright an idea, though.”
“He was still being ravaged by the fever,” Diane interjected. “He was okay as long as we were together, but the farther away he went and the longer time passed, the fever spiked.”
“I would have been too far gone to save myself much less Kenzie if help hadn’t arrived,” Zane added. “I knew they had Kenzie and was trying to figure out how to help her. My beast was fighting me, and it was hard to think of anything but getting back to Diane.”
Diane almost moaned at the heated look he sent her. As it was, she did her best to sit still and not twitch her ass against the growing erection under her.
“Angel found me and brought me to Zane,” Diane said.
“Wait,” Clara said, turning around. “Angel?”
“He said he’s sometimes referred to as ‘the Angel’,” Diane offered.
“No fucking way,” Griffin muttered.
“You saw him?” Ariel asked.
Diane nodded.
“He brought Diane to me then went in and saved Kenzie,” Zane finished with a shrug.
“How many hunters were there?” Reno asked.
“Thirteen,” Zane said. “I killed one of them when he came after Diane.”
“Are you telling me this Angel took out twelve hunters by himself?” Logan demanded.
“He did,” Zane agreed.
“He’s a liger,” Diane added and felt all eyes turn to her. “I saw him shift.”
Zane rumbled behind her at the reminder.
She patted him. “He’s huge.”
Tah nodded. “From what I’ve gathered, he’s some type of avenging angel for our kind.”
“He’s more than that,” Ariel said. “He’s a legend, a hero, a soothing balm to a broken spirit. For some, he’s all that keeps them going.”
“And some legends are important,” Tah agreed. “He takes his role very seriously. He stopped to see me and left a warning. The hunting group was part of the Blanes. They’re looking for us in this area. For every one we kill, they will send more. Colorado is no longer safe for us.”
“What are you saying? We need to leave?” Finn asked.
Tah nodded. “Angel had an idea of where we might go and a name of someone who will help us.”
“Where?” Diane asked.
“West,” Tah said. “A ranching community on the border of Oklahoma and Texas. No woods for enemies to hide in. Just wide open spaces where the dust gives you away miles before you arrive. Abby and I would like to at least check it out. I need my mate and child safe. It’s our hope that as a pride, all of you will want to come, as well.”