Therian Prisoner(68)
Devon laughed and turned Hailey back toward the nearest cage. “Get to work or I’ll fire your butt.”
“I hear and obey.”
Devon fell in step beside her assistant as they moved from cage to cage. They updated the charts and logged supply use. It felt wonderful to submerge herself in everyday tasks in a familiar environment. She was safe. She was home.
They reached the tigress’s cage and Devon paused. “Does she have a name?”
“I’ve been calling her Lady. The Aurora police picked her up, but they don’t know where she came from or how long she’d been wandering around.”
“I wouldn’t think a tigress would have gotten far in the suburbs.” Devon had looked through her chart last night and found nothing out of the ordinary. “Ian sort of freaked out when he saw her last night. He picked up some serious emotions and he was pretty sure they came from Lady.”
“I didn’t know Ian could sense animal emotions.”
“He can’t.”
Hailey looked and Lady then back at Devon. “Ian thinks she’s Therian?”
“Has anyone else reacted to her?”
Hailey shook her head. “Everyone else has been too busy chasing after you and the Seymour sisters.” She gave Devon a playful push. “Do you want me to ask some of the others to—”
“No. I don’t want to frighten her.” Devon looked into Lady’s eyes as she added, “She needs to feel safe and regain her strength.”
They completed the circle and Hailey said, “I’ll go do a head count in the yard. I’m sure your inbox is bursting.”
“I haven’t even been brave enough to open it yet.” Devon took a sip of her travel mug and smiled. She was already in need of a refill. Hazards of a caffeine-driven life.
“Well, get to it, D. I’ll call if I find anything out of the ordinary.”
Devon returned to her office and slipped in behind the modest desk. The office was small, making organization imperative. She opened her calendar and made sure she hadn’t committed to a meeting she didn’t remember. There had been several school tours while she was gone, but apparently Hailey had handled them. Hailey was amazing. Devon would be lost without her.
Bracing for the shock, Devon clicked into her email program. Messages scrolled down the screen as Devon drained the last of her coffee. Three-hundred-sixty-two messages. She shook her head and pushed back from her desk. This was definitely going to require more coffee.
She returned to the desk with a full mug and a croissant on which to nibble. Much to her surprise many of the messages were in response to the funding drive she’d run two weeks before her abduction. She’d appeared on a local morning show and done interviews with several popular blogs, hoping to generate interest in the sanctuary. Feeding and caring for large cats was an expensive proposition. The cost of fresh meat alone was staggering.
“How’s it going?”
Devon looked up from her computer screen and found her mother standing in the doorway. “Good. Hailey kept things rolling while I was gone.”
Erin stilled. “Is that a shot at me?”
“No.” She sat back in her chair and motioned her mother toward the chairs situated in front of her desk. “Why do you immediately presume I’m trying to start a fight?”
“I’m sorry. I’ll try not to be so defensive.” Erin moved to one of the chairs and sat. “I’m glad Hailey is working out so well. Her father has been waiting for her to fail and run back home. I’m glad she’s proving him wrong.”
“So am I. I honestly thought she’d bolt once she realized how much work this is, but she’s been wonderful.” Devon folded her hands on the desktop and took a deep breath. “I found the journal, but I haven’t had time to read through it yet.” Her mother nodded so Devon added, “You could have given me the real journal. I retained more of your lessons than you give me credit for.”
“You can still read the ancient language?” Erin didn’t quite hide her surprise.
“Read and write.” Needing to ease the building tension, Devon smiled. “So tell me what’s in the journal. I’m dying to know and I have no idea when I’ll have time to read it for myself.”
Erin glanced toward the open doorway then lowered her voice. “Not everything in the journals is explained. Some of the entries are purposely vague and some have lost their meaning because of a lack of historical context. There are reoccurring references to the Guardian of the Ancients. For a long time I thought it was just another name for the Historians. Now I’m not so sure.”