The Jaguar’s Arranged Mate

He waved her over. “Have you seen Mark lately?”

Jess blushed. “No. Not since… ah, well, last night.” She couldn’t look at him.

Beric refrained from rolling his eyes. The two had a history, and it seemed they were back together again, although Beric wasn’t sure if Mark could ever truly forgive Jess for cheating on him the last time they had been together.

“So you don’t know where he is?” he asked.

She shook her head. “No. We, ah, usually only spend time together at night.”

More information than he needed.

“If you see him, tell him to find me,” he instructed.

“Yeah. Sure. Whatever you want.” Jess rushed away, head down, steps quick and forceful, as if she couldn’t get away from him fast enough. For liking s*x so much, Beric was surprised she was so shy.

Or maybe that was all an act. Maybe Jess had another reason for not wanting to be around Beric.

His paranoia was reaching an all-time high. At this rate, he’d be questioning whether Mark could be the traitor instead of asking him to help sniff out the traitor.

Inside the mess hall, Teal Warriors and Blood Roses alike were eating meager portions on opposite sides of the building. Beric strolled down the center aisle and finally found Sam. He was devouring his food as if there would be none tomorrow.

Beric sat across from him.

Sam glanced up. “Running on no sleep,” he muttered. “Trying to keep my strength up. The fence is secure. I know it is. I checked and double checked and all the repairs and everything have been completed, and there haven’t been any signs of them trying to break it again. How they came over with all of our guards… I just don’t know. I mean, yeah, the fence is long and we need more people to watch it, but we’re doing the best we can and…” Sam never looked more his age than he did at this moment. He wearily rubbed his face. Normally, he was clean-shaven, but days’ old stubble prickled his chin and cheeks. “You gave me a job, and I failed you.”

Beric shook his head. “You haven’t failed me. You said so yourself, and I’ve seen it with my own eyes. The fence is stable. That’s all I asked of you.”

“But the Brutal Claws are still coming in.”

“They are determined. And they have help.”

Sam nodded, grimacing. “The bas*ards. Turning us against each other.” He glanced across the way toward the Blood Roses.

“Might be one of our own,” Beric pointed out.

Sam started to shake his head then stopped. “The majority of those guarding the walls are Teal Warriors. But all of them I would trust with my life and my wife’s and children’s lives too. I just don’t see how…”

“If you see anything out of the ordinary, anything suspicious, even if you want to dismiss it, let me know. We have to find the traitor.”

Sam slammed his fist onto the table. “Damn straight we do. You can count on me.” He stood then sat back down. “Maybe I’ve been pushing myself a little too hard.”

“When’s the last time you slept?”

“Got two hours yesterday and an hour the day before.”

“Go sleep,” Beric demanded. “You’re no use to me if you’re dead on your feet.”

The older were-jaguar sighed. “You’re right. My body can’t handle this like it used to. But I only need two hours. Then I’ll be good—”

“At least four.”

“But—”

“Sam, the Brutal Claws won’t be back in four hours.”

The were-jaguar’s eyes darkened. “You can’t be sure of that.”

He had a point. No one knew what the Brutal Claws were planning. Well, no one other than the traitor.

Sam left.

Beric stood and glanced at the other Teal Warriors. Most he had known all his life. Could any of them have been the one to betray them? It seemed impossible, but desperation and fear could turn anyone into a traitor. They lived in a terrible time, in the grips of terror every day and every night. It almost shouldn’t be a surprise that someone had tried to find a way to ensure that at least he or she would survive the war.

Still, he hated the traitor, whoever the person would turn out to be.

He questioned a few others, but they had been fighting the battle right from the start and he found it impossible to believe they would have fought so fiercely if they were the traitor. Feeling discouraged, he left the mess hall and found himself walking toward the fence. They had fewer guards during the day, and he’d have to change that. They needed more. The more eyes, the better. Hopefully that would deter the traitor. Anything to make his or her presence more visible.

Beric climbed a tree and scouted. A were-jaguar was walking his way, toward the fence. A guard going to relieve another one?

He climbed down to greet the newcomer. Charles. Instantly, the hairs on the back of his neck rose. He had never had a problem with the were-jaguar before, but now he couldn’t help looking at him sideways ever since Miera had been grievously injured saving him.

“Why aren’t you making more blades?” Beric demanded. “Or armor? The Brutal Claws sometimes wear some. Maybe we should too.”

Charles gave him a lazy smile and headed toward the east, along the wall. “I hadn’t been told to make armor. I guess I could try. If you want.” His smile grew.

Beric reluctantly fell into step beside him. “You’re lucky to be alive,” he said stiffly.

“She is a fierce warrior, isn’t she?” Charles’s smile could not stretch any wider. “Strong and brave and beautiful.”

Something in his tone had Beric halting. “Loyal, too,” he said slowly.

For an instant, anger flashed on the were-jaguar’s face. Only for a moment, and then Charles was back to smiling again. “Very loyal,” he conceded. “She would do anything to bring the packs together. Although I do wonder…”

Beric did not want to rise to his bait, so he held his tongue.

“I do wonder if the baby will help or hurt.” Charles shrugged. “A cute little boy, isn’t he?”