“They have hostages. We can’t charge in. We can’t make noise. Swansong, Damsel, and Rachel are our biggest, noisiest attackers. Capricorn, Flashbang and me are a step down. We have more ability to be quiet. This is a covert mission until we get a better sense of where the hostages are and what measures we’re up against.”

“I can be quiet,” Rachel said.

“Rachel says she can be quiet.”

Swansong chimed in, “I spent years on my own, every bite of food I ate and every piece of clothing I wore was a result of me being stealthy.”

“It’s—” I started. Damn it. “Yes. Absolutely. If our covert group needs a distraction, though, you’re best at making a lot of noise. Then you can use that stealth to slip away.”

“That got you a sigh and a nod from Swansong, for the record,” Byron relayed.

Rachel was silent, face hidden thoroughly by her winter wear. Unreadable. I couldn’t tell if she was listening and unhappy about it or if she wasn’t listening and was happy at the prospect of imminent trouble.

“So we’re all on the same page: the go-ahead to kill,” I said it into the phone.

I let those words hang. Weighty ones.

“Kill who?” I heard Swansong. “Specifically.”

“It wasn’t specific. Love Lost, Cradle, and March, for sure, but anyone who’s aiding and abetting. Obviously this doesn’t include people who don’t necessarily know. I think it was a surprise for Lord of Loss and Nursery. Mayor says yes, for all that counts. Lawyer—”

I had to remember my mom was present. How to relay the tacit permission without throwing a wrench into Natalie’s professional life?

“—Talked to me,” my mother said. “She won’t tell you yes, but today she isn’t telling you no, either. I think that’s as close as you’re going to get.”

Essentially my take on it.

“That’s where we stand,” I said. “They’re planning to delay, so be ready for any master–stranger stuff that might tie us up or obstruct us.”

“Protocols?” Byron asked.

“At the first excuse, yes. But only then. Otherwise it slows us down.”

“Can’t get a nose on the scent with the wind!” Rachel raised her voice. “Going to the road!”

I started flying in that direction, to stay in earshot and to signal my acknowledgement.

The dogs reached the road, running alongside. One ran with nose almost to the ground, a precarious kind of stampede forward, when it couldn’t look firmly in the direction it was running. The wolf and Cassie took up a position head, clearing the path.

I felt bad for the cars that were on the road tonight, seeing this sight. The dogs, even though they were on my side, were objectively things of nightmare.