She identified the guitar and drum as musical instruments, and Henry had shown her his wooden flute during one of her visits to his studio.

Leaning over, she placed a hand on Sam’s shoulder so the pup wouldn’t bounce up and whack his head on her chin.

“This is exciting,” she whispered, idly petting him. “Have you been to a concert before?”

“Arroo.” Sam tipped his head back and licked her chin.

She wasn’t sure if that meant yes or no but decided it didn’t matter.

Captain Burke, Lieutenant Montgomery, and the stranger approached her. Her fingers tightened on Sam, and he let out a little whuff of concern.

No reason to be afraid. She was in the Courtyard, and she trusted Captain Burke and Lieutenant Montgomery. They wouldn’t bring someone here who posed a danger to any of them.

“Ms. Corbyn?” Burke smiled at her. “This is my cousin, Shamus Burke. He came all the way from Brittania to visit me and see a bit of Lakeside.”

“Hello, Mr. Burke,” Meg said.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Shamus replied with a smile. “Call me Shady. Everyone else does.”

Relaxing her hold on Sam, and feeling better about Shady when the man crouched and held out a hand for Sam to sniff, Meg returned his smile.

She didn’t need to see them to know all the Wolves had edged closer, watching the unknown human who was too close to a pup. She just watched the way Shady quickly rose and stepped back. Then Simon, now in human form, stepped between the humans and Wolves and was introduced to Shady.

Charlie Crowgard strummed a chord, and everyone hurriedly found their seats. Merri Lee and Michael Debany sat on Meg’s right, leaving a seat on her left open for Simon. Karl and Ruthie were in the row behind them, along with Lieutenant Montgomery and Tess. Looking over her shoulder, Meg saw Burke and Shady in the third row, along with Vlad and Erebus. When everyone else was seated, Simon sat down next to Meg.

The perches, as well as the rooftops, were full of Crows, Hawks, and Owls. Sanguinati, slipping into the Market Square so quietly Meg wondered if anyone else realized they were there, now sat on the broad steps on one side of the square, while Wolves filled the other side.

Oil lamps, grouped at the corners of the steps nearest the performers, provided lights for the musicians, and several shops around the square were dimly lit as well.

Seeing Henry strike a match and light another oil lamp, Meg leaned down and rubbed the skin above her right ankle.

“Meg?” Merri Lee whispered when she sat up. “You okay?”

Simon leaned so close she could feel his heat—and that skin above her ankle prickled a little.

“Just an itch,” she whispered back, wanting to believe that.