The animals in the dense forest suddenly scattered in all directions, panicked and screeching as if something terrible had just happened.

Birds exploded out of the trees, wings flapping frantically as they shot up toward the sky.

It was like something monstrous had just crashed into the woods-a predator, a disaster, something that sent every living thing running.

Tarquin, Elliot, Evan, and Elijah all frowned in unison, tense and alert.

Even the big guy with the scarred face-usually impossible to rattle-was glancing around warily, brows knit.

Elysia pulled Emmett and Baby close, her whole body stiff with worry.

The air felt charged with danger, every shadow hiding a possible threat.

Suddenly-thwup!

A muffled gunshot echoed through the forest. Someone was using a silencer.

A flash of color tumbled from above-a brilliantly plumed bird dropped out of the sky and landed right at their feet.

all bright blues and reds and yellows, the kind you'd only see in rare nature documentaries. But its head... its head was just gone. A bloody mess, shot

stared, eyes wide

Tarquin's neck, burying her face so she

dropped, panic written all over

was more movement in the distance. Tarquin's

been shot, it meant someone else

covered with tall, wild grass

the kids behind the

ghost, scrambling up the nearest

meant a better view-but Tarquin placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "Not

a low voice, Tarquin

put food on the table, but a bird like that?

close to their place. Strangers shouldn't be out here, not

a way to

was here for all the

men in camo gear and baseball

to the dead bird, picked it up, and one of

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