Snowmelt turned the creek silver. Spring made a thin green promise and kept it.
“Say it again," Hal told the young envoy, tugging his scarf up. “Don't blink when you say 'treaty.' Alphas smell blinking."
“T—treaty," the envoy said, trying not to blink and blinking anyway.
Hal sighed. “We will not raid your stores; you will not 'accidentally' hunt our children. Ten words. Learn them."
“I learned them," the envoy protested. “My mouth—"
“Your mouth isn't the problem," Rhea said, stepping out of the brush with a bow slung at her back and a grin you could cut bread with. “Your knees are. Lock them."
He locked them.
Laurel stepped into the clearing last. She didn't need to be announced anymore. The rogues read the air around her and found orders waiting in it.
“Line?" she asked Hal.
“St
