“There aren’t enough individual dens for the newcomers to have their own place here,” Simon agreed. “But there are beds above the social center that could be used for sleeping and temporary shelter. And humans sleep on the floor sometimes. Kowalski has a puffy blanket for sleeping on the ground.”

“You’re pussyfooting around.”

Simon stepped back, insulted. “I’m a Wolf. I do not have pussy feet!”

O’Sullivan laughed.

Burke smiled, but the smile quickly faded. “You’re offering shelter to humans? Why?”

“Not just any humans,” Simon said at the same time Vlad said, “Because there’s a storm coming.”

“Yes, there is,” Burke agreed. “The only question is which direction it’s coming from, because, right now, there are multiple possibilities.”

“Captain, the storm you can see isn’t the one that is going to kill your people,” Vlad said.

“If Jean’s prophecy about Thaisia is correct, Lakeside is one of the human-controlled cities that will survive.” Simon didn’t mention that Meg had seen Lakeside’s future as being undecided. He looked at O’Sullivan. “Hubb NE is another.”

“Toland?” O’Sullivan asked.

“Yes, but the light was dim.” He didn’t want to be responsible for humans he didn’t know, but he believed this gesture of friendship would help decide Lakeside’s future, one way or the other. “The police we know and their kin can hide here. We don’t think Namid’s teeth and claws will harm any humans who are with us in the Courtyard.”

“That’s a generous offer,” Burke said.

“If there are enemies of the terra indigene among those humans, we may not be able to protect any of you.” Simon looked at Burke, willing him to understand. “Choose carefully.”

“I’ve been making provisions for families of officers to take refuge at the Chestnut Street station. Being able to send some of them here... I appreciate it.” Burke appeared to be thinking hard for a moment. “You think this will happen soon?”

“As soon as one of the storms hits Lakeside.”

“I take it I shouldn’t plan to get back to Hubb NE before things happen,” O’Sullivan said.

Simon shook his head. “I’ll talk to Elliot about letting you work out of the consulate for now. Then you can call Governor Hannigan.”

O’Sullivan looked at Simon. “He’s already mustering all the manpower he can in the Northeast to respond to the storms. Is there anything in particular he should prepare for?”

Hatred was now a taste in the water, rage a scent in the air. “He should prepare for a lot of humans dying.”

•••

Sitting in A Little Bite, Monty drank coffee and listened to his mother’s quiet, no-nonsense recitation of the trouble they’d had getting seats on a train. Noting the strain on Sierra’s face, he figured it had been a lot more trouble than Twyla would acknowledge.