“All aboard!” the conductor called.

“Wait!” A man ran onto the platform with a cart full of boxes. “These need to be loaded.”

“If you put them in that baggage car, they’ll get wet,” Joe said, making a token effort to be helpful.

“You and the Wolf lover can go fuck yourselves,” a handler snapped.

“Why?” Joe asked, not seeing the connection between baggage and mating.

No one answered the question, because the handler pulled the baggage car door open—and wind-driven snow slapped him in the face so hard it knocked him back a step.

“Gods,” Tobias said again.

“No, that’s Air and Blizzard,” Joe said. “They’ll keep the meat cold. Come on. It’s time to go.” He walked away but had to wait for Tobias to stop staring at the baggage car and catch up.

On the way back to Prairie Gold, he wondered if he should call Simon and tell him the Elementals were going to be interested in knowing if Meg Corbyn liked bison meat.

•••

Their footsteps filled the land around Bennett with a terrible silence.

For hours they circled the town, sniffed around the railway station, listened to the chatter of the little two-legged predators. They didn’t understand much of the chatter. Unlike the sounds made by the ones who helped the shifters, this chatter was of little interest to Namid’s teeth and claws. But they still listened. And they watched. And they learned.

To: Jesse Walker

A shipment of books will arrive at the Bennett station on Watersday, Juin 9. Please arrange for someone to pick up the shipment. Also, please arrange transportation and motel accommodations for two individuals who will be staying in Prairie Gold for a few days. Separate rooms are preferred.

—Vladimir Sanguinati

To: Simon Wolfgard

Five boxes of bison meat are on their way to you. I hope your Meg likes the meat since Air and Blizzard made a special effort to keep it cold. Also, a human female is making soap and candles out of bison fat. I will send you some.

—Joe

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 12

Firesday, Juin 8

Simon held out a letter when Vlad walked into HGR’s office. “Read this.”

Vlad took the letter and looked at the signature. “This is from Jean.”

“Yes. She sent it to me. Read it.”

While Vlad read the letter, Simon read the e-mail from Joe. His mouth watered at the thought of tasting bison again, even if the meat wasn’t fresh off the hoof. He really hoped Meg liked it.