The laughter was coming from Ethan, who’d jumped to his feet and was watching me struggling with a satisfied smirk on his face.

“Ride ’em, cowboy! Only eight seconds, Connor, and you’re golden,” he said. “You’ve already made it to five.”

“Stop this!” Monroe loomed up between me and Ethan. “Calla, I gave you my word. You aren’t in danger here. Connor, get off her.”

I thrashed as the rumble of Connor’s laughter rippled through my back. “But Monroe, this is almost a new record for me.”

“Welcome to Wolf Rodeo.” Ethan was laughing so hard he’d bent over, hands resting on his knees so he wouldn’t fall.

“I said stop.” Nothing in Monroe’s voice was amused.

I was so startled when Connor slid off me that I continued to buck and nearly tumbled over.

“Whoa there, sleeping beauty.” I whipped around to find Connor grinning at me. I had no trouble remembering him: the other Searcher who’d ambushed Shay and me at the library. And he’d been at Rowan Estate as well, scooping up Shay—unconscious and a wolf—and whisking him away from Bosque’s onslaught of wraiths, succubi, and incubi. I shuddered, both at the memory of the horde and at the sick dread I still felt at not knowing what had happened to Shay.

Unlike Ethan, whose gaze had made me certain he wanted to stick a knife in my gut as much as I wanted to sink my teeth into his throat, Connor was working hard not to laugh. With that expression he looked boyishly appealing, even a little innocent, but I recalled too well the way he could wield swords. Two swords, curving sabers like Monroe’s, were sheathed at his waist at this very moment. I snarled at him, backing slowly away from the three Searchers.

“Not a morning person, are we?” Connor smiled. “I promise we’ll get you some breakfast, wolfie. You just can’t eat Ethan. Deal?”

“Calla.” Monroe was walking toward me, shaking his head. “We aren’t your enemies. Please give me a chance.”

I met his dark eyes, which had locked on me, intense and a little fearful. Pulling my gaze off Monroe, I glanced at Ethan and Connor. They’d taken flanking positions behind Monroe, but neither had drawn a weapon. Conflicting impulses paralyzed me. All my instincts were screaming to attack, but the Searchers had only acted defensively. And they weren’t trying to hurt me now.

Still uneasy, I shifted forms.

“I like her better this way, don’t you?” Connor murmured with a sideways glance at Ethan, who only grunted.

“What are they doing here?” I pointed at the other two men but spoke to Monroe. “I thought you said I’d be safe with you.”

“They’re members of my team,” Monroe answered. “And you’ll be workingclosely with them. You can trust them just as you can trust me.”

Now it was my turn to laugh. “No way. These two have tried to kill me more than once.”

“No more fighting now that we’re on the same team,” Connor said. “Scout’s honor.”

“Like you were ever a Boy Scout.” Ethan’s smile was there and gone in less than a second. “Besides, she just tried to tear my throat out!”

“Ethan.” Monroe spared him a stern glance.

But Ethan’s hostility offered me more reassurance than Monroe’s promises or Connor’s jibes; at least Ethan’s threats made sense. These were Searchers and I was a Guardian. What could we offer each other besides bloodshed?

“Calla,” Monroe said. “Our worlds are changing faster than you can imagine. Forget what you think you know about us. We can help each other. We all want the same things.”

I didn’t respond, wondering what exactly he thought I wanted.

“Will you come with us?” he asked. “Will you hear what I have to say?”

Pulling my eyes off him, I looked up and down the curving hall. Nothing was familiar. If I ran, I wouldn’t know where I was going. At least I could keep an eye out for an escape route while I was following Monroe around.

“Fine,” I said.

“Fantastic!” Connor laughed. “No more fighting! I guess that means we’re bosom buddies now? Very nice.”

With that he looked pointedly at my chest.

“She’s a wolf,” Ethan snapped. “That’s twisted.”

“Not at the moment,” Connor said, not moving his gaze and taking a few steps closer. As he drew near, I caught the scent of cedar and violet tinged with the aroma of coffee. The mixture was familiar—one I’d been close to before. I snarled and jumped back, shaking away the new cloud of memories forming in my mind.

“Are you sure she’s an alpha?” Connor asked, tucking me against his chest when I stirred. “She doesn’t look that tough.”

“You have a selective memory, moron,” Ethan snapped. “Just because she’s a pretty blonde now doesn’t mean the wolf is gone.”

“Silver lining, man.” Connor laughed. “Gotta live in the moment. And in this moment there is one fine-looking girl in my arms.”

“Stop talking about her like I’m not here!” Shay yelled.

“Oh, horrors, I’ve angered the Great One,” Connor said. “Will I ever gain his forgiveness?”

“Don’t push the boy, Connor,” Monroe said. “We’re nearly at the rendezvous point.”

“Sorry, boy.” Connor smirked.