Silence.

Burke stepped forward. “I appreciate you offering shelter to some of our families. Lieutenant Montgomery will remain here with his team to give you whatever assistance they can, and to respond to any calls in the area. I’m going back to the station. The rest of my men are there.”

Simon looked into Burke’s eyes. The man knew—or knew enough—of what was coming with the storm.

“Stay inside until it’s done,” Simon said. “That won’t guarantee your safety, but you’ll have no chance in the open.”

You’re going to have to let some humans die if you want to survive and save the rest. That was the real message.

Burke nodded. “I’d better be on my way.”

Louis Gresh looked at his mate. “I’m going to the station too. You and the children will be safe here.”

His mate didn’t look sure of that, but she nodded.

“Elliot Wolfgard gave me permission to remain in the consulate and maintain contact with Governor Hannigan,” Greg O’Sullivan said. “He suggested that I pick up food and drink before the storm hits.”

“Do that now,” Simon said.

“People.” Burke’s voice boomed in the coffee shop. “While there is comfort in numbers, you need to consider what has been said. Two places are stocked with provisions and other supplies. You need to split up between them so that one place doesn’t run out of food while the other place has food spoiling.”

The older Debany male looked around. “The captain has a good point. So where can we be the most use?”

Simon stared at the humans who seemed to be waiting for him to issue instructions.

Where can the humans be of use? He hadn’t anticipated any of them wanting to be useful, just wanting a safe place to shelter.

“I’m working with Nadine here,” Merri Lee said. “Ruth and Eve Denby are dealing with the food at Meat-n-Greens.” She looked at Simon. “We filled the baskets and tied on a carry sack with things for Meg. Mist is on his way back to the Pony Barn.”

“How long do you think the storm will last?” Kowalski asked.

He looked at the humans crowded into the coffee shop. They were there because they, or their mates, understood the need to work with the terra indigene. They deserved honesty.

“How long the storm lasts will depend on how much hatred Namid’s teeth and claws hold for the humans in Lakeside,” he replied. “A lot of human places in Thaisia will be gone when this is done. A lot of them are already gone.” He looked at Vlad, who nodded grimly. “Like fire that destroys in order to make room for new growth, the earth natives who are coming in with this storm come to destroy. Hopefully we’ll be among the survivors who will make something new.”

“I’ll go with Captain Burke,” Nathan said from the archway leading into HGR. “They might leave the police station alone if one of the Wolfgard is there.”

<Are you sure?> Simon asked.

<Meg is safe, and you and Blair need to stay here and protect the Courtyard. I have been to the police station before.>

None of the humans spoke. Then Burke said, “Thank you. I hadn’t expected any of you to . . .” He stopped, then continued brusquely, “Lieutenant, with me a moment.”

Burke walked out of the coffee shop, followed by Louis Gresh and Lieutenant Montgomery.

The humans huddled together, the females talking with Nadine and Merri Lee, the males talking with the police, and the juveniles huddled together looking lost.

Simon joined Vlad, who said, “You’re staying here?”

He nodded. “John is at Meat-n-Greens to help with the humans. Blair is guarding the Utilities Complex. Henry is staying at his studio, so he’ll be nearby if there is any trouble. Jenni, Starr, and Jake are at Sparkles and Junk. Julia and Marie Hawkgard and Allison Owlgard are keeping watch in the Market Square Library.”

Vlad looked around, frowning. “Has anyone seen Tess?”

• • •

“Wait for me at the car,” Burke told Louis Gresh and Nathan Wolfgard. Then he looked at Monty. “I want you and your team here. Could be some looting in the stores around this area, and there are bound to be some disturbances and requests for assistance. But wait for Wolfgard to give you the all clear before you venture out for anything. You understand me?”

Monty studied his captain. “You know what’s going to happen?”

“I saw something like it once. It’s bloody and terrible, and it gives a man a reason to do just about anything to stop it from happening again. And I do not want to bring any of my men to the morgue looking . . .” Burke stopped.

“I should be at the station with you.”

“Your team is working here, and it’s important that you stay with them.”

Something else under the words. “You don’t expect to come through this.”

Burke hesitated. “Our odds have greatly improved with Nathan Wolfgard being with us at the station. And I wouldn’t have told men to bring their families to a place I thought would be destroyed. But if something should happen and I’m no longer fit for duty, I want a ranking officer who the Others trust to be able to step up and take command.”

“The station’s chief isn’t going to promote me over men who have been working here longer,” Monty protested.

“This isn’t about seniority, Monty. It’s about survival.”