I’d already done the arriving at an alpha’s estate thing twice now. I shouldn’t have felt so nervous. But as the private jet touched down on the fringes of the feline kin property just south of Miami, my stomach balled into one huge knot.

It wasn’t just the new kin group I had to meet. It was the traitor we already knew was lurking among the prominent families. And maybe there was more than one. Orion hadn’t been all that involved with the rogues. There had to be plenty they hadn’t let him in on.

Marco had called a few of his estate’s security people ahead of time to meet us at the airfield. “They’ll give us the all clear when they’ve taken a thorough look around the perimeter,” he said.

West leaned back in his chair, his shoulders tensed. “And you’re sure we can trust them?”

Marco narrowed his eyes at the wolf shifter, but he smiled at the same time. “I trust that they’re not all traitors, and the ones who aren’t will catch anything that needs catching.”

My phone’s ringtone started playing, so unexpectedly I flinched in my seat. My mates all shot curious glances my way. No one had this number other than Kylie. I fumbled for the phone and answered it as quickly as I could.

“Kylie, what’s up? Is something wrong?”

“Not at all!” her cheerful voice rang out on the other end. “Everything is spectacular. Especially because I just touched down in Miami. So how exactly do I get from the airport to this shifter estate of yours?”

I blinked, my mind going momentarily blank. “Um, what?”

“I flew down to see you! You said you were going to be near Miami, and there was a sale going on—the flight was so cheap. I couldn’t resist.”

I opened and closed my mouth a few times before I managed to produce more words. “Okay. Okay. Oh my God. Let me just... talk to the guys.”

Who were all still watching me. Marco looked amused, Aaron curious, Nate concerned, and West—well, it was pretty hard to read West’s expression at certain moments. I’d go with “grim” this time around.

Marco was the man to deal with logistics here, I guessed. I muffled the phone with my palm. “Kylie, uh, flew herself down here. She’s at the Miami airport. Can we... bring her here? She wants to visit.”

“I’m not sure now is the best time for that,” Aaron pointed out.

Oh. Right. In my shock, I’d completely forgotten that even we weren’t necessarily safe on the estate. And Kylie didn’t have any shifter super powers to call on if the situation went south. A chill trickled through me. “She’s already here. I don’t know if she can even afford to change her ticket to go right back.”

Marco was already waving his hand dismissively. “Don’t even think about that. We can cover whatever you need.”

I got back on the phone. “Actually, Kylie... We’re in kind of a bad place right now. We found out that one of Marco’s people has been helping the rogues, and it sounds like they’re planning an attack while we’re here. I don’t want you getting hurt again, even though I do really, really want to see you.”

There was a pause. “You’re worried I’ll be in the way,” Kylie said. Sounding truly downcast was outside her vocal range, but I could hear her disappointment in the flattening of her enthusiasm.

“No!” I said. “I just know, if there’s fighting or something, you can’t defend yourself the same way.”

Kylie sucked in a breath. “What if I’m okay with that?” she said. “I’ve survived a long time around people a lot bigger and tougher than me. I’m not going to be a liability, Ren. Maybe I’ll even help! I found that first clue of your mom’s for you.” She paused again. “Unless you just don’t want me there at all.”

My heart wrenched. I did want to have her with me, to talk to her face to face instead of via a phone screen, so badly. Kylie had survived an awful lot in the city during the years we’d been on the streets. Maybe I was underestimating just how strong—and resourceful—a non-shifter could be.

“I do,” I said quickly. “Believe me, I do. You’re right. I’ll get Marco to send somebody. When I know what the plan is, I’ll text you any details you’ll need.”

As I hung up, Marco arched his eyebrow at me. I sagged in my seat. “She made a very compelling argument. And Kylie is the toughest person I know, even if she doesn’t look it.”

“It’s up to you, princess,” Marco said. “I can send someone.”

I waited for one of the other alphas—probably West—to argue, but no one did. “Okay. When you send them off, let me know where Kylie should meet them.”

Marco nodded. Then he swept his arm expansively toward the bunch of us. “We’re good to go now. My staff have prepared an informal luncheon-slash-meet-and-greet. I’d tell you to behave yourselves, but my kin probably won’t, so just do as you see fit.”

Alice fell into step with me as we headed for the plane’s door. “I’ll keep an extra eye on your friend if you want.”

My eyes widened. “If it’s any trouble—”

“None,” she said firmly. “Friends are important. Lord knows you’re going to need as many as you can get, and I don’t see any point in discriminating about who or what they are. If she’s important to you, that’s good enough for me.”

I smiled at her, more touched than I knew how to say. Apparently I’d made at least one more solid friend during my time with the shifter kin.

Marco’s estate was farther inland than Aaron’s, but the salt in the breeze told me there was a brackish lake nearby. Otherwise the place felt totally different from either of the other estates I’d visited. Lush tropical vegetation grew all around the paths, palm trees shading us with their fronds overhead. The summer heat had a damp weight to it.

The house, when we reached it, was a massive colonial mansion, all peach except the ornate white trim around the windows and doors. A greenhouse almost the same size as the rest of the building, its glass tinted to prevent anyone from looking in, jutted from the northern wing.

Having stayed briefly in one of the feline alpha’s guesthouses, I knew what to expect from the inside of the mansion: thick rugs, Victorian antique furnishings, and velvet basically everywhere. I felt underdressed the second I walked in the door. Marco led the way to the expansive ballroom where his “informal luncheon” was taking place.

A few dozen feline shifters—the ones who lived on the estate grounds, I assumed—were already gathered there, snacking on tidbits from the platters set on tables along the walls. Most of them glanced our way, but no one hurried over to greet us.

Typical cat aloofness, I found myself thinking, and caught myself before I smirked. Yeah, the feline shifters certainly kept to the attitudes of their animal counterparts.

But one of the kin around me might be scheming right now to overthrow all of us. I studied each of them as Marco ushered me deeper into the room.

“Alpha,” a woman in the first group we approached said, with the slightest bob of her head in deference. Her scent told me she was a lion. She turned her golden eyes on me. “And this is the dragon shifter.” Her tone gave away no clear emotion, but I felt her sizing me up. I lifted my chin instinctively, wishing I’d insisted on changing into something more elegant than jeans and a T-shirt.

“This is the great Serenity herself,” Marco said languidly but without any hint of irony. “I hope all of my kin will make her feel welcome.”

“Naturally,” the lion shifter said. She offered an elegant hand for me to shake. “Coreen of the Bushnells.”

“A pleasure to meet you,” I said, biting back any other comments I might have made about the warmth of her welcome—or lack thereof.

The other introductions went pretty much the same way. A cryptic remark, a once-over, a mild show of respect. The feline kin were definitely a lot different from the other shifters I’d met. I didn’t get hostile vibes from any of them, but really, it was hard to tell who might have been simply unaffected and who outright dismissive.

“Are they always like this?” I murmured to Marco when we stopped by one of the tables for a moment alone. “Or are they insulting you—or me—or someone?”

He chuckled. “Princess, this is about as enthusiastic for leadership as my kin ever get. I’m actually impressed.” His head turned, and he sighed. “Well, I was. Prepare yourself.”

For what? I wanted to ask, but the problem he’d seen coming was already on us.

“Well then,” purred the lynx shifter who’d sidled up at my right. I couldn’t tell whether the flecks of silver in his tawny hair were part of his animal’s coloring or a reflection of age, but if he was any more than thirty-five, he wore the years well. He gave me a sly grin as he considered me. “Aren’t you the loveliest shifter I’ve ever seen walk in that door. No offense meant to my alpha.”

He winked at Marco, who smiled indulgently. “None taken, Silvan. I know exactly how lovely I am without you buttering me up.”

“Perhaps while you’re busy with your duties, I could take this treasure on a tour of the estate.” Silvan’s attention came back to me. His voice practically dripped with flirtation. “There are so many things I could show you.”

I’d bet there were. I clamped my jaw, not sure whether I was more likely to laugh or sputter in indignation. Was he seriously propositioning me right in front of my mate?

Marco didn’t seem to care—but then, Marco made a habit of appearing not to care about anything. And maybe this guy thought he could get away with the flirtation because his alpha wasn’t fully my mate yet.

Any good humor I’d been feeling about the encounter died. I gave the lynx shifter a firm stare. “I appreciate the offer, but I know Marco will look after me just fine.” I tucked my hand around Marco’s elbow at the same time. My jaguar shifter didn’t say anything, but I felt a tremor of pleased energy travel through his posture.

Silvan seemed unfazed. “Well, if you should change your mind, I’m sure you can find me.” He sauntered off.

“Wow,” I said. “That was... something.”

“I should probably warn you that you’re likely to get at least three similar offers before the day is over,” Marco said. His smile turned crooked.

A murmur rose up near the doorway at the far end of the ballroom. I glanced over, and my gaze caught in a shock of neon pink hair. My heart leapt.

“Kylie!”

I dashed across the room, suddenly glad I wasn’t dressed up, because I could move a heck of a lot faster in sneakers than heels. My best friend squealed when she saw me. We threw our arms around each other, me being careful not to squeeze her too hard with my newfound dragon strength. Not that Kylie was any lightweight. She was small, yeah, but full of wiry toughness.

When I let her go, she looked around the room, her eyes sparkling. “This is freaking amazing, Ren. And I thought Marco’s place in New York was posh. So this is, like, the capital of cat shifters?”

I grinned. “Something like that. I can’t believe you’re here! How long can you stay?”

“I’m supposed to be back at work on Tuesday, but I can always call in. I haven’t used any sick days yet. Oh my God! I’m going to get to see you be a dragon.” She grasped my hands, and we spun around in an excited little dance. “Where are those hunks of yours, anyway?”

I looked up and realized we’d become the center of attention. The shifters all around the room were staring at me and my bestie—well, mostly at my bestie. One woman’s nostril’s flared.

“Why has a human been allowed into our estate?” she demanded.

I stepped closer to Kylie automatically, my hackles rising. Marco strode over with an air of authority I’d rarely seen him emit. But then, this was the first time I’d seen him among so many of his kin.

“The human is your dragon shifter’s ally,” he said, pitching his voice loud enough for the whole room to hear. “And you will treat her with the same respect you would a dragon. Any arguments?” He offered a sharp smile.

Several heads turned away. The other stares lowered. The woman who’d complained muttered something, and Marco said, in a soft, clear voice, “What was that, Livia?”

Her lips pressed flat, her face paling slightly. “Nothing, sir.”

Marco didn’t look convinced, but he let it slide. “A surprise visit, but a welcome one,” he said to Kylie as he joined us.

Kylie’s expression had gone a bit tight. “It’s not going to be a big deal that I’m here, is it? Everyone seemed so chill in the other shifter village, I didn’t think they’d get upset.”

“They’ll get over it. We felines are very adaptable.” The smile he gave her was a lot warmer than the one he’d offered the crowd.

“Come on,” I said, grabbing Kylie’s arm. “You’ve got to be hungry. They’ve got everything to eat here.” I kept my tone chipper even though my heart was thudding. Alice caught my eye from across the room, and I nodded. I was definitely going to want her to have my best friend’s back around this bunch.

We’d only made it partway to the tables when a new voice boomed across the room. “Alpha! If you even deserve that title.”

Bristling, I pivoted on my feet. A hulking tiger shifter was stalking toward Marco, his head high and eyes lit with menace. The guy must have had at least half a foot and fifty pounds on my jaguar shifter.

A prickle ran over my skin as my body instinctively readied to shift. I held myself back. It wasn’t going to help Marco’s case if his mate fought his battles for him.

“Julius,” Marco said blandly. “What are you nattering about now?”

The tiger shifter came to a halt a few feet from his alpha and scowled. “I say you’re not strong enough to lead us all. I say a real alpha would have consummated his bond with the dragon, not stepped aside while other kin’s leaders did, leaving all of us still waiting. I say I could crush you with one blow of my paws.”

My skin went cold. The other shifters had fallen completely silent, even more still than when Kylie had arrived. Marco folded his arms over his chest and cocked his head. “Is that a formal challenge, or just bluster?”

“Consider yourself challenged,” Julius growled. “Tonight, unless you’re going to try to weasel your way out of it.”

“No weaseling necessary,” Marco said lightly. “I’ll be happy to settle this tonight. May the best kin win.”