Joe pushed himself off the wall and made his way toward Ox. I followed him and stood on his other side. Pappas watched us with the eyes of a monster, tracking each of our movements. It sent a chill down my spine. It was like we were being hunted.
Ox looked at me, jerking his head toward our guest.
So that’s how it was going to be. “We spoke with Michelle,” I said evenly.
“Did you.”
“Yes.”
Pappas eyed me curiously. He was speaking with a lisp. His mouth was full of fangs. “You don’t say.”
“She told us everything.”
“I highly doubt that.”
“Why?”
“Because she deals in secrets, even if they’re eventually to her own detriment.” He rocked his head side to side. His neck popped loudly. It caused my bones to ache. “And she doesn’t trust you. Any of you, really.”
“Because we’re something she doesn’t understand.”
“Yes.”
“Three days.”
He blinked slowly. “Three days.”
“That’s how long she said she’s giving us.”
“Ah.”
“For what?”
“I thought you said she’d told you everything.”
“About the infection. How it spreads. What it entails. How your tether is shredding. Not about how she plans on containing it. To keep it from spreading.”
“Your wards. What do they do?”
“They let me know when something supernatural approaches. Witches. Wolves. Omegas.”
“Are they infallible?”
“Why?”
“Just a question.”
“No,” I said. “They’re meant to protect us from those who would do us harm. It’s a warning system. To give us time.”
“And your pack is tied into it.”
“Yes.”
“Can they be modified?”
“For?”
His eyes grew brighter. “You are trying to keep things out. Have you thought about what that means you’ll be keeping in? It’s only a matter of time.” He opened his mouth, baring his teeth. He snapped his jaws at us, once. Twice. He settled again. “I can feel it. Pulling at me. I want to tear into you. I want to taste your blood. Feel your bones crack between my teeth. I’m told I—”