by Jae
"One moment, please," Rufus answered in a carefully neutral voice, intentionally not saying her name should others overhear their conversation. "I'll put you through."
Just a few seconds later, Kylin's voice came through the receiver. "Yes?"
"Ky, it's Griffin. I need your help," Griffin said without wasting any time on pleasantries.
"Griff?" Kylin was almost shouting, and Griffin hoped that she was in a soundproof room too. "What's going on? You have the whole council buzzing like crazy. They say you threw your mission and helped J.W. Price escape. That's not true, is it? I could barely convince them not to kill you on sight once they find you. Where are you?"
Like most cats, Kylin rarely resorted to shouting. She was clearly upset. Her fellow council members had probably put her through the wringer because they thought she knew what Griffin was planning — or even that she was in league with Griffin.
"Listen, Ky, I don't have a lot of time. I need to get back to Jorie," Griffin said.
"Jorie? So you really are with Jorie Price? You helped her escape?" Disbelief colored Kylin's voice. "I thought you agreed that it was the best course of action to kill her?"
"What?" All her reports said otherwise. "Who said that?"
"You! Every single one of your reports said that Jorie Price is a threat that needs to be eliminated."
Never, not even once, had Griffin indicated that. What in the Great Hunter's name is going on? "Jennings!" she growled when realization hit her. He had forwarded all her reports to the council — but not before altering them. "Ky, I never said that killing Jorie would be the best option. I was never convinced that Jorie is a threat. Jennings was the only one who was hell-bent on seeing Jorie dead, and he's manipulating the council to get what he wants."
"Can you prove that?" Kylin asked, her voice low and worried.
"No." Jennings wasn't stupid. If he held back or forged information to manipulate the council, he wouldn't leave any evidence behind. It was his word against Griffin's, and with the way things were going, the council would see Griffin as a traitor and wouldn't believe anything she said. "I'm not even sure why he would go to all this trouble to make sure Jorie dies. As far as I know, he has never heard of her before this investigation started." Was he really convinced Jorie was a threat, or did he have a more personal agenda? Was he only after Jorie, or had he done that kind of manipulation during other assignments too?
"You really helped Ms. Price escape?" Kylin asked.
It wasn't quite that black-and-white. "Not initially, but she got away because I hesitated to kill her," Griffin said. "Now the Saru are hot on her trail, and I can't just let them kill her. It wouldn't be right."
Stunned silence filled the line; then Kylin repeated, "You hesitated? You never hesitated before."
"Maybe I should have." Doubts and regret had plagued her for some time. She had seen the growing paranoia and had been afraid that they'd end up as a race of assassins who didn't value human life. Their lives would consist only of fear and hatred. "I think the Saru have become too paranoid, too lax when it comes to killing humans, and I can't share their philosophy any longer," Griffin said. It was hard to voice her doubts after years of being a loyal saru, but she had reached a point where she wanted to be honest with Kylin — and with herself.
"What is it about that writer that made you suddenly change your mind?" Kylin asked, sounding baffled.
Griffin slowly shook her head. "It's not sudden, and it's not just Jorie. In my own way, I've been trying to fit in and find a place among the Wrasa, but I realized that blindly following orders, no matter how wrong they are, is not what I want to do for the rest of my life. I left our fathers' home because I didn't want to live a life where the community dictates the behavior of the individual and tells them what is to be considered right and wrong. I thought the Saru helped free me of that, but now I realize it's just another community with even harsher rules." As she said it, Griffin realized that there was no way back for her. Even if the Saru were willing to take her back, she couldn't return to her job. That part of her life was over.
"It's not that I don't agree, but please don't risk your life by doing something stupid." The sounds of footsteps indicated that Kylin was pacing.
"I'm not convinced that what I'm doing is stupid," Griffin said. "I'm trying to save a life that's worth saving. There's something going on in our society and in Saru command, but they won't give me the time to find out what it is. They're hunting me to hide the truth. That's where you come in. I have a big favor to ask, Ky."
Silence.
The lack of noise in the background told Griffin that Kylin had even stopped pacing. "Are you sure you are all right?" Kylin sounded only half joking. "You never asked me for a favor before."
"I'm fine," Griffin answered. "I have a busted lip, but that's all."
"Why do people always hit you in the mouth?" Kylin asked.
"People? Always? It's just the one dumb Kasari who can't resist temptation," Griffin grumbled.
A clattering sound told her that Kylin had just dropped her pen or another small object. "Tarquin? You got into a fight with Tarquin again?"
The memory of how angry Kylin had been with her after her first confrontation with Tarquin was still fresh in Griffin's mind. When Brian had failed to intervene and teach the boy that he couldn't insult his nataks' daughter, Kylin had been devastated. But, as she had done all her life, she had swallowed the insults and the humiliation. She tried to fit in and lie low, never allowing herself to get angry or demand that people stop treating her like a second-class citizen.
Griffin's reaction had been very different. She had stepped in to rescue her sister's honor and teach Tarquin some manners. Instead of being grateful, her sister had told her that reacting with violence made things worse and made people resent her even more. In a pride, you had to fit in and compromise, even if it meant being treated unfairly. After that, Griffin wanted no part of pride life while Kylin continued to fight for being accepted.
Discussing ancient history was not on her agenda tonight, though. She knew they would always see some things differently. "I didn't call to talk about Tarquin, Ky. I need you to convince the other manarks to give me more time," she said. "Get them to pull all the other saru from the area. I need time and space to win Jorie's trust again and find out more. I have a feeling there's more going on than just a traitor revealing information to Jorie, but I'll never know for sure unless Jorie trusts me enough to tell me."
"What if that never happens? What if she refuses to ever trust you again?" Kylin asked. "Some of my colleagues are very impatient people. They won't give you an infinite amount of time."
"Then bargain," Griffin said. She had known that even if Kylin came through for her, time would still be limited. "That's what you do for a living, right? All the compromising you learned in the pride will finally pay off. Get me as much time as possible."
"I might be able to convince them to give you twenty-four hours, maybe even forty-eight if I call in a few favors," Kylin said. She was flipping pages, probably already searching for the phone numbers of councilors who owed her a favor. "I need something that I can offer them in return, though. That's how compromising works. I need to tell them that you'll kill the writer and surrender yourself if your plan fails."
This was one answer that needed no long consideration. "No," Griffin said firmly.
"Griffin —"
"No, Ky. This is one line that I refuse to cross. The First Law was created to protect not only us but humans too. We're slowly losing sight of that, and it has to stop." She had made her decision when she had dropped the knife. "Tell them whatever you want, but I won't kill Jorie and I won't return to the Saru."
Silence spread from one end of the line to the other.
"So will you still help me?" Griffin finally asked.
"Of course," Kylin said without hesitation.
Griffin blinked. If anyone found out about it, Kylin's career and the position for which she had
worked so hard were at stake, but Kylin was still willing to help without any ifs, ands, or buts. "Thank you," she said quietly.
"You're welcome," Kylin answered. "I never thought I would see the day when you asked me or anyone else in the family for help. I'll let you know as soon as a decision has been made. Do me a favor and keep your muzzle clean until then, okay?"
"I'm trying. You do the same. Don't take unnecessary risks for me," Griffin warned her.
"I never said thank you for you trying to help me back then... even if it was in your own stupid way. You took a lot of risks, standing up to the dads and the rest of the pride, and now it's my turn." Kylin's voice was low and husky with emotion. "Take care."
Griffin took a deep breath. "You too." She put the phone down and exhaled. A whirlwind of emotion coursed through her, but she forced herself not to linger. "Come on. Move before Leigh has another fit and decides to use Jorie for hunting practice again."
CHAPTER 20
LEIGH HAD STORMED out of the kitchen right after Griffin, leaving Jorie alone with Rhonda. "I'm sorry about your father too," Jorie said after a few seconds of silence.
A sad smile darted across Rhonda's face. "I appreciate you saying that, Ms. Price, but you didn't even know him."
"Jorie, please," she said. Rhonda was right. She hadn't known Rhonda's father, but the pain in Rhonda's hazel eyes was familiar. They had something in common, and she could use it to get closer to Rhonda and learn more about the Wrasa and what they wanted from her. "I lost my father two years ago. I still expect him to pick up the phone when I call home."
Now Rhonda nodded, silently accepting the condolences.
"So Griffin didn't come to the funeral?" Jorie asked.
Rhonda shook her head but didn't offer more information.
"Why didn't Leigh call her? What happened to make them treat each other like strangers or even enemies?" Growing up, Jorie had always wished for a sister. She couldn't imagine ever treating a sister the way Griffin and Leigh acted around each other.
"It's a long story," Rhonda said.
"We have time. It's not like I'm going anywhere," Jorie answered with just a hint of bitterness. Even though Rhonda did her best to make her feel like an honored guest, Jorie never forgot that she was a prisoner.
Rhonda still hesitated.
"I don't understand why everyone is so paranoid about telling me anything. If you end up killing me anyway, it doesn't matter what I know," Jorie said. It wasn't only an encouragement for Rhonda to tell her what she wanted to know. It was also a test to see if Rhonda cared about whether Jorie ended up dead.
"I'm still hoping it won't come to that, so it does matter what you know," Rhonda said.
So her opinion of Rhonda was correct. Rhonda didn't want her dead. Maybe she was just acting, but that made no sense. If the Wrasa in this little town wanted to trick her into believing they didn't want her dead, they would have Leigh hide her obvious dislike for humans better.
Maybe it was true. Maybe Griffin would be happy to let her live if things went well. But if push came to shove and whatever Griffin had planned didn't work out, would she kill Jorie or let her be killed?
"If you don't kill me, you have to rely on my goodwill not to reveal your existence. So wouldn't it make sense to become friends with me? Let me get to know you so that I don't want to betray you to my fellow humans anymore?" Jorie cocked her head and looked at Rhonda with a sly grin, not bothering to hide her blatant attempt at manipulation. She was using the Wrasa's biggest fear against them.
Amusement glittered in Rhonda's eyes. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe I'll keep you as a guest at my house forever," she teased back. "You'd fit right in with the pride."
"I don't think your partner would be very happy about that," Jorie answered. Leigh clearly wasn't happy about Griffin bringing a human to Rhonda's house.
"My partner?" Rhonda repeated with a confused shake of her head.
Oh, come on. Surely she hasn't missed how much Leigh dislikes humans? "Yes. Or maybe you use another word." Jorie wondered whether the Wrasa had their own language or had been hiding for so long that they were now using only human languages.
"Another word for what?" Rhonda asked.
Is she stalling on purpose? Do Wrasa have a problem with relationships between two women, so she doesn't want to admit she and Leigh are a couple? What Griffin had told her about her parents' reaction to her coming out had indicated otherwise, but maybe Griffin had been lying. "Another word for what you and Leigh are," Jorie said.
"Friends?"
Oh, shit. Did I misunderstand? "Oh. You mean you aren't...?"
"Aren't what?" Rhonda asked, frowning in confusion.
Jorie's cheeks burned. "Lovers."
"Oh." Rhonda was blushing too, but she didn't appear angry or horrified. "You thought we were lovers? What made you think that?"
"I'm sorry. I guess I misinterpreted your body language." Apparently, her skills in reading human body language were misleading when it came to the Wrasa. "If two humans interacted the way you and Leigh do, everyone could safely assume that they are lovers, but now I'm guessing you aren't, huh?"
"No," Rhonda said, lowering her gaze to the floor, "we aren't."
Ah. Sudden realization hit Jorie, and she smiled. "But you'd like to be." She made it a statement, not a question.
Still looking down, Rhonda nodded. "I've been in love with her for fifteen years, but she only ever thought of me as her sister," she murmured.
Jorie very much doubted that was true. Leigh didn't treat Rhonda the way she treated Griffin.
Rhonda's head jerked up. Her gaze was glued to the door as she listened to something that Jorie couldn't hear. Two quick strides and she pulled open the door.
Leigh's tall form was looming right on the other side of the door. Barely suppressed anger darkened her green eyes. "So," she said, her voice sounding like the drawn-out hiss of a cat, "you're in love with Griffin?"
"W-what?" Rhonda stared at her. She was starting to tremble, clearly not knowing what to say, how to explain. "No. I-I... I'm not..."
Leigh didn't listen. She whirled around and stormed away.
Rhonda stood frozen to the spot. Tears formed in her eyes.
Oh, no. Jorie's attempts to manipulate Rhonda into giving her information about Griffin and the Wrasa had backfired. Instead of making friends with Rhonda, she was destroying the friendly woman's life. Before she could stop to think about it, Jorie was hurrying after Leigh. "Leigh, wait! It's not what you think."
Leigh lunged around. Her wild eyes glowed in the semidarkness of the hallway. Her big body tensed, ready to pounce at Jorie.
Shit. Griffin should have told me that running after a predator is as dangerous as running away from them. The thought shot through Jorie's mind as she slowly backed away.
"Leigh, no!" Rhonda shouted and ran after them.
The front door burst open, and Griffin exploded into the room in a shower of splinters from the ruined door. "Leigh!" Griffin's angry gaze zeroed in on her sister. "Step away from her!"
"Oh, now you want them both to yourself?" Leigh spat.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Now step away from Jorie," Griffin said, clearly at the end of her patience.
Leigh didn't. The two sisters circled each other, neither looking away from the other for even a second.
Like two cats who are trying to find the best place to put their teeth and claws, Jorie thought, pressing herself against the wall. Her eyes widened when she heard the straining of fabric and realized Leigh was close to shifting into her animal form. As much as she wanted to witness the change, she didn't want to find herself caught in a narrow hallway with an angry lion.
Someone rushed past Jorie.
Rhonda!
Jorie grabbed the surprised woman's arm and, using Rhonda's forward momentum, shoved her at Leigh, forcing her to catch the smaller woman. She tugged on Griffin's arm in the hope of getting her to follow her into the guest room before Leigh coul
d disentangle herself from Rhonda. But it was like trying to move a mountain. No matter how much she pushed and pulled, Griffin didn't move an inch. Jorie felt the muscles in Griffin's arm ripple as Griffin's body prepared to shift too. "Griffin!" she yelled at her.
For a few seconds, Griffin didn't react.
Then, finally, she looked away from Leigh and met Jorie's gaze. The hazy whiskey-colored eyes slowly cleared.
"Come with me," Jorie urged, tugging on Griffin's arm again.
Maybe it was that Griffin, as a soldier, was used to following orders, or maybe she was clear-headed enough to realize if she stayed, she would have to fight and maybe kill her sister. Griffin finally moved.
They stumbled into the guest room, and Jorie closed and locked the door behind them. After what Griffin had done to the front door, she knew locking the door didn't have much more than symbolic value, but it still made her feel better. She pressed her ear to the door.
Was that snarling and growling from the hallway?
God, has Leigh shifted and is now attacking Rhonda? Do they know friend from foe when they are in their animal form? Jorie hadn't thought about it when she had used Rhonda as a distraction. The two women shared a special bond, so Jorie had been convinced that Leigh would never hurt Rhonda. Now she wasn't so sure anymore.
Griffin pulled her away from the door. Her large hands were gentle but still trembled. Or maybe it was she who was trembling. Jorie wasn't sure.
"Rhonda," Jorie said. "We have to help her, make sure Leigh doesn't attack her!"
"Rhonda is fine. They're talking," Griffin said after listening to the sounds outside the door for a moment. "And now tell me what in the Great Hunter's name happened? Don't tell me Leigh flipped out just because I'm ten minutes late. I thought she was going to kill you."
Jorie's knees started to shake — or maybe they had been shaking all along and she was only now becoming aware of it. "She might have — until she saw you barge through the door. Then she was much more interested in killing you." Jorie still couldn't believe how fast the situation had escalated. She was now fairly sure that getting angry was what made the Wrasa shift shape, and it seemed as if they could control it only up to a certain point. Maybe other strong emotions cause them to shift too. I think it was my hitting her with the laptop that caused Griffin to shift that night.