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within three long strides she had closed the distance between us. Our lips clashed in a kiss that was hot and fierce and far too brief.
    All too soon, she pulled away and rested her forehead against mine. As I breathed in the cool, spicy scent of her, my world telescoped until it contained only us. We had endured this latest crucible unscathed. Others might call me naïve, but I truly believed that with Valentine at my side, all things were possible.
    “We have to find a way to help Karma,” I said, thinking of everything she had done for us, ever since I’d been a naïve but determined human.
    Val cupped my face in her palms. “We will. We’ll put our heads together and come up with a plan. But we need to regroup first.”
    “I know.” My stomach chose that moment to rumble loudly. Shifting required an immense amount of energy, and I needed to eat as soon as possible. “I’m ravenous. Are you okay?”
    “I’m fine. Only ran into a few security guards, and I was able to catch each of them by surprise.”
    The truck lurched back into motion, but Val’s lightning reflexes kept us from stumbling. As we found a place to sit amongst the boxes, I saw her glance in Helen’s direction. Solana was still bent over her, murmuring too quietly for me to hear over the throb of the semi’s engine. I wondered what Val saw when she looked at them, and I got my answer when she grasped my hand a moment later.
    “Thank you for never giving up on me,” she said softly.
    As I leaned my head against her shoulder, a wave of contentment washed over me. It should have felt incongruous in the midst of so much mayhem, but in that moment, all I could feel was gratitude.

Chapter Five
     
    I toyed with my empty candy bar wrapper, daydreaming of the meal Val and I would share when this madness was behind us. I had a craving for steak—a rib eye cut, cooked black and blue, paired with a very expensive bottle of Shiraz. A long, leisurely dinner over which we would talk about nothing but our plans for the coming weekend or where we should travel on our next vacation or whether we should buy a second home out in the country.
    Across the small, rickety table, Constantine balled up his empty bag of potato chips and tossed it into the garbage can next to the kitchen counter. He had shifted back into human form after hunting in the facility’s subterranean arena. It was a far cry from the arena at Headquarters with its sun lamps and state-of-the-art climate control that could support both forested and prairie zones. This outpost on the west side served as a way station for Weres who found themselves in need. The kitchen shared the ground floor with a rudimentary infirmary and a small sitting room, and several floors of rooms above were available for anyone who needed a place to sleep for a night or two.
    “What are you thinking?” Constantine asked.
    “I’m imagining a real dinner.”
    His laughter reminded me of just how long it had been since I’d heard him express any measure of joy. For decades, Constantine had governed the secret Were city of Telassar, but Balthasar Brenner’s army had forced him to abandon his post and go into hiding.
    “That vending machine does leave much to be desired,” he said.
    The sound of Val’s footsteps in the foyer brought a smile to my face. As she entered the kitchen I tilted my head back, inviting her touch. She began at my temples, massaging lightly in small circles, then continued down the nape of my neck with firmer strokes. Not wanting to make Constantine uncomfortable, I stifled the groan of pleasure that welled up from my chest.
    “How is Helen?” Constantine asked.
    Val stilled her hands. “Hard to tell. Solana’s doing what she can.”
    I sat up with a sigh of regret. “Have Summers and Foster had any luck making contact with Headquarters?”
    “They were still trying on the shortwave radio when last I saw them.”
    Constantine pushed his chair back and began to pace. “We need to make