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footsteps from behind us as he brought up the rear of our group.
    “Good timing,” said Foster. “Let’s get in there and cover our tracks.”
    The corridor ahead was pitch-black, and I gratefully accepted the headlamp Summers produced from his backpack. In feline form I could have relied on scent and touch to guide my way, but I didn’t want to shift until it was absolutely necessary. Before locking the door, we laboriously moved the shelf back to its original position. Foster took point and I followed her, Val trailing behind me.
    Aside from cobwebs and the occasional rat sighting, the tunnel was clear. Its gradual downward slope finally culminated in a rough stone wall, to which had been fixed a ladder leading to a circular trap door. Once everyone had gathered at the base of the ladder, Val took it upon herself to climb up. She stood poised at the top, one arm partially extended.
    “Ready?”
    I settled my pack more firmly on my shoulders and grasped the ladder rungs with both hands, wanting to be directly behind her when she emerged into the arena. As she pushed, the metal groaned and shivered. When she brought her other arm into play, the door finally popped open, hinges creaking. A shower of dirt rained down on us, and I shielded my eyes while holding my breath. Val was coughing so hard I feared she might fall, but when I risked a glance upward, her feet were just disappearing over the edge.
    “No guards up top,” she choked out.
    Normally, several vampires were stationed along the catwalk just beneath the roof of the arena, their guns loaded with tranquilizer darts in case one Were decided to attack another. With Headquarters under siege their absence was unsurprising, but the fact that Brenner hadn’t replaced them with his own soldiers was an encouraging sign. Our plan just might work.
    Suddenly, the echoes of a menacing growl filtered down into the tunnel. Whether the beast was one of our own or one of Brenner’s, it was likely to see Valentine as its next meal. Mustering every ounce of speed, I scrambled up the ladder and boosted myself over the edge. Several feet away, Val was crouched low, staring down the largest lion I’d ever seen. His red-gold mane framed a snarling face and his tawny body was on the verge of a pounce.
    “Malcolm!”
    The massive head turned in my direction, but he showed no sign of recognition.
    “What’s the plan here?” Val spoke softly and slowly, and I recognized her tone as one she had used with me often during my early days as a shifter. But Malcolm wasn’t behaving like a Were; he was behaving like a beast. We needed reinforcements.
    “Stay put,” I told her, watching Malcolm shift his attention between us. “Send Constantine,” I called into the tunnel.
    Malcolm’s lashing tail snapped the air and I knew we were out of time. Shrugging off my backpack, I dropped to my knees and uttered the word that would call my panther forth.
    “Uje!”

Chapter Six
     
    As my paws hit the packed earth, Malcolm leapt for Valentine. In that moment, I didn’t care who he was. My mate was in danger, and I would do everything in my power to keep her from harm. Newly formed muscles screamed in protest as I rushed for him.
    His claws gleamed like knives as they sliced through the air, and I ducked beneath his reach, scoring a shallow hit across his broad chest. Roaring in pain, he crumpled prematurely to the ground and scrabbled for purchase along the forest floor. I positioned myself between him and Valentine, teeth bared.
    I caught Constantine’s scent, and in an instant he was standing beside me, fully shifted. As Malcolm got to his feet, Constantine gave voice to a long, menacing growl. For one fraught moment, it seemed as though Malcolm might charge, but then he sank onto his belly in a clear show of submission. He looked between us, seeming almost confused. Did he simply realize he was outnumbered? Or did he recognize us in our feline forms?
    When I took a step forward,