The words on the page were beginning to blur. It wasn’t exhaustion, as Lucas had managed with less sleep and for a longer amount of time. In truth, when staying with Shaun’s parents, he always slept better than in any motel, even with everything going on. Ever since they had collectively agreed on a plan of action, he had been busying himself by reading over every piece of information on lore that he could find. He could read for hours at a time if he were given the chance, but even he had his limit. The details of battles long past were beginning to not make much sense, so finally giving in, he pushed the book away from him.

Shaun, who was cleaning his weapons on the other side of the booth, looked up at him. “Had enough?”

Lucas gestured at the book in disgust. “I don’t know how they manage to make bloody battles sound dry and boring, but they manage it. I feel like I’m ready to fall asleep. That’s not something you should feel when you’re reading about pitched battle. Reads more like a chess match.”

Shaun grinned. “Thought you liked chess?”

Lucas saved his place before closing the dense book. “Yeah, but no one likes reading about a chess game while it’s happening.”

Shaun eyed the book curiously. “Must be pretty boring if you can’t handle it.”

Lucas smiled. “And it doesn’t even have pictures.”

“Well, guess that means I won’t be any help,” Shaun shot back.

Lucas shook his head as he tried to hide his smile. “Maybe I should get Nic to help me. Guy acts like a fool, but there’s a lot of information floating around in that head of his.”

All the good humor in Shaun’s expression disappeared. “Ya don’t need his help. Ain’t like he’s got anythin’ else to help us right now.”

Lucas ignored his partner’s bad mood as he ran his finger over the cover of the book. “He’s just been sitting over there, on his phone, drinking away. Makes me wonder what he’s doing.”

“Causin’ more trouble for us probably,” Shaun grunted.

Lucas pulled his attention away from the lone kitsune to eye Shaun. “Still not willing to let that go, are you?”

Shaun glared at him. “Am I supposed to?”

Lucas shrugged. “It’s no different than what I would do for you. If it hadn’t been for the fact that I was just as responsible for this as you are, I would have thought about doing it.”

Shaun frowned. “Ya woulda went behind my back and told ‘em what happened?”

“If it meant saving your life from what you were planning to do? Probably,” Lucas admitted.

“Even if it meant doin’ somethin’ I didn’t want ya to do?” Shaun persisted.

Lucas snorted. “And we’ve never done anything like that for each other before? Remember when I knocked you out so you didn’t go charging into that werewolf den? Or the time you literally threw me over your shoulder and forced me to go with you so I didn’t team up with those hunters?”

Shaun’s frown deepened. “Ya were gonna go off with ‘em on their suicide mission. Ya can’t go in a witch’s lair and come out okay. And I was right, wasn’t I? They died, really badly too, and ya didn’t.”

Lucas motioned toward Shaun. “See?”

“Ain’t the same thing,” Shaun said.

“No?”

Shaun said nothing, only continued to glare at Lucas. It was just as Lucas had told Nic: his partner was mad that his choice in the matter had been taken away. Shaun was a fiercely loyal friend, and a surprisingly gentle and caring companion. Yet when he thought his pride was on the line, he could be intolerably stubborn and belligerent. It was a matter of waiting until his ego licked its wounds, but it could be a grueling wait.

“Ain’t the same thing at all,” Shaun repeated stubbornly.

“Well, I think it is. He’s been trying to be our friend for a while now, and he just proved to me that he means it, no matter what was said or done before. He risked his friendship with us to prevent us from walking into certain death. I’m with your mom. He saved our asses, saved your ass, and I’m thankful to him for that,” Lucas told him calmly.

“Maybe I didn’t want to be saved,” Shaun growled.

Lucas smiled softly. “And what about me? Did you want me saved?”

Shaun looked offended at the question, turning his attention back to his cleaning with another growl. It had been a cheap tactic, using Shaun’s obvious desire to keep Lucas in one piece against him. To Lucas, it was a good point, unfair tactic or not. They were, at times, irrationally protective of one another considering what they did for a living. If Lucas had been grateful for Nic’s actions sparing Shaun, than his partner was just as thankful. Shaun was just too stubborn at the moment to admit it aloud.

Anne emerged from the back, spotting Lucas and Shaun and heading their way. The look on her face said she had news, probably big news. They had been sitting around for two days now, having to stay in place while they awaited news. Everyone on the so-called Hunter’s Council had been casting out a net to locate the Fae king and his main army, while organizing all the hunters they could and bringing them together to form an army. The woman looked exhausted, but still eager.

“Look, just think about it, okay? Can’t have you at his throat out there just because he did something we were too afraid to do ourselves,” Lucas told Shaun quickly before Anne came within earshot.

“You boys just gonna let that man sit by himself and get drunk?” Anne asked as she reached their table.

Lucas glanced at Nic, motioning him over when he got the kitsune’s attention. “I don’t think he can get drunk. Pretty sure he hasn’t stopped drinking since we got here, and I haven’t heard him slur his words once.”

“I’ll have to test that out, then. Get him into one of the legendary drinking contests around here and place a bet,” she mused as they waited for Nic to make his way over.

“Please tell me you have something for us, Anne. All the liquor is starting to taste like water now,” Nic complained as he stood beside her, closer to Lucas than to Shaun.

“Probably wouldn’t if ya weren’t drinkin’ all the time. Ya been payin’ for it?” Shaun asked, his voice low and accent thick.

“He doesn’t need to, I said so,” Anne told her son, frowning at him in warning.

“I’ve been paying all the same,” Nic said.

Anne looked at Nic in confusion. “But, I haven’t accepted any money from you, not once.”

“Doesn’t mean I haven’t figured out where to put the money,” Nic grinned.

“Remind me to keep a better eye on you,” she sighed, swatting at him.

Nic accepted the blow with a pleased smile. “So, do you have something for us?”

Anne nodded. “We found them. They’re in Alaska.”

“Alaska? That their way of livin’ up to bein’ ‘Winter’ or somethin’?” Shaun asked, setting a hunting knife aside to pick up the barrel of a large gun.

“Seems a bit literal, but I suppose the title had to come from somewhere,” Lucas added.

“Plenty of mountains and lakes in that area too. Could give them a field advantage in the fight,” Nic said.

“But not a whole lot of room to retreat if something goes wrong either,” Lucas pointed out.

“Are they near people?” Shaun asked his mother.

Anne shook her head. “No. They’re isolated, miles away from any civilization.”

“Everyday people aren’t going to notice the fighting then. Are they in a forest or the mountains?” Lucas asked.

Anne sighed, nudging Shaun over so she could sit down. “That’s where we run into a problem. It appears that the main bulk of them are in the forest, but the forest is near a mountain. So, we know where the army is, but we have no idea where the king and the rest of the court might be hiding. Could be with the army, or stowed away in the mountains out of sight.”

“How did you figure all this out?” Nic asked, eyeing the book Lucas had been reading with interest.

“Satellites. Apparently Aaron was holding back just what kind of resources he can access in a pinch,” Anne told them, sounding grumpy.

Lucas whistled. “He has connections to satellite imaging? That’s one hell of a resource he was keeping in his pocket.”

Anne smiled. “Yes. Yes, it is. And he and I will be having a long conversation about keeping things from the people who are supposed to be allies.”

Shaun glared at Nic as he spoke. “I might know somethin’ about a conversation like that.”

“Oh, please don’t start that now, Shaun. I’ve had a long week and I don’t want to deal with you being unwilling to bend a little when someone helps you,” Anne patted Shaun’s arm.

“Does this mean we’re going to start mobilizing?” Lucas asked before Shaun could protest.

“The others have already passed along the destination, and Jacob is doing the same with the hunters we have around here,” Anne informed him, her gaze never leaving Shaun.

“Guess that means I should sober up,” Nic commented with a glance back toward his table.

“Are you even drunk?” Lucas asked.

“Feel like I should be. Don’t think I am, though. Do I seem drunk?” Nic looked down at himself, not swaying in the slightest.

“You got an inhuman tolerance,” Anne commented.

Nic only grinned and Lucas hoped that was where his reaction stopped. He knew Anne wasn’t as vehement about wiping out supernatural creatures as her husband and son were. It didn’t mean he was comfortable with the idea of telling her they had been keeping another big secret from her the whole time. Bringing Nic here hadn’t seemed like a problem in the beginning, but as she had appeared to grow more and more fond of him, it made Lucas increasingly uncomfortable. He despised keeping secrets from those he cared about, but considering the consequences of telling them the man they had grown to like and trust wasn’t human, he thought it wiser to keep it to themselves.

“Everyone’s got hobbies, right?” Nic asked flippantly.

“Maybe you should get one that’s better for your liver,” she told him, her face beginning to get that matronly look that always preceded a lecture.

“Are they flying out there, or driving?” Lucas asked.

“Both. I swear, you’d think fightin’ creatures for a living would kill any fear of flying, but some of these hunters are still afraid of airplanes. As if they’re just gonna blow up on the way,” she complained as she stood up.

“That mean we can drive, too?” Shaun asked, looking nervous.

“Don’t tell me that you’re afraid of flying, too?” Anne asked in exasperation.

Lucas chuckled. “No, but he doesn’t want to leave his truck behind either.”

“Oh Lord. Your daddy is getting you all plane tickets now, so you’ll be there by tomorrow,” Anne told her son sternly.

“Aw, Mama,” Shaun protested.

“Makes sense. If we’re going to be the ones who want to get in quick and quiet, we’re going to need to get there ahead of everyone else. Gives us a chance to get there without anyone noticing and get a feel for the area. Out of everyone involved, we’re going to be the ones who need to know the lay of the land the best,” Lucas reminded Shaun, hoping to cut off the tantrum he knew was coming.

“Planes got records, they’re probably gonna notice if a bunch of people are showin’ up,” Shaun hedged.

“Exactly, means you’ll blend in with the rest of the hunters showin’ up by plane,” Anne said.

“Anyone gonna be there to scout for us? Ain’t much good at scoutin’,” Shaun said, sounding and looking pouty.

Nic motioned to himself. “That’s why you’ve got me. I’m good at being places I’m not supposed to be and getting ahold of all the facts.”

Lucas could see that Shaun had a biting comment for that too, but a sharp look from his mother silenced him. The fact was, they didn’t really know the full set of skills Nic was working with. They hadn’t worked with the man very much, having very little opportunity to learn what he was capable of. They would have to take his word at face value, and Lucas hoped Nic was good enough at going unnoticed or they would not only be down one partner and friend, but end up risking alerting the Fae as to what their true plan was.

“You won’t have much time to get a plan together. Jacob and I have managed to keep the others out of whatever you’re planning. I figured you would do better without everyone in your business. So whatever you three are going to do, I would figure it out soon. Once everyone gets there, the battle will start so as to make sure the Fae don’t get too much of an advantage,” Anne told them, giving them each a meaningful glance before walking off.

“No pressure or anything,” Nic mumbled as he nervously shifted from foot to foot.

Lucas privately agreed with him. They had a lot more leeway to operate however they wanted to, but that meant taking full responsibility for whatever happened. He agreed the three of them could accomplish more than a large army could, but it also meant they wouldn’t have any significant backup to support them, either. Once they touched down, they were going to be on their own.

“Can’t tell if I’m excited or freaked out,” Shaun admitted quietly.

“I think both are pretty fair reactions,” Nic said.

Lucas was already retreating into his own thoughts, trying to evaluate what they already knew. It was a habit he had developed since childhood. When you separated yourself from your emotions, you could think far more clearly and have a better chance of formulating a plan that would allow you to achieve your goal with greater efficacy. It might not be the best reaction when it came to figuring out personal problems, though. However, it was effective for problems such as being part of a small group meant to strike at the heart of the enemy. He could take refuge in the cold comfort of logic and facts, allowing him to be helpful.

“At least the flight will give me time to think,” he commented as he drummed his fingers on the book.

“Ah hell, I bet our tickets aren’t even first class either,” Nic complained, turning on his heel to walk away while complaining under his breath.

Shaun blinked at the man’s retreating back. “Wait, he gets first class tickets?”

Lucas snorted. “Did you expect anything less from him?”

Shaun shook his head, putting his gun back in one piece. “He’s gotta be one of the weirdest people I ever met.”

He smiled at hearing Shaun refer to Nic as a person. “And he’s the weirdo who’s going to save the hunters.”

“See? Weird.”