by Gwen Rivers
“What bank?” Fiona looked around, confused.
“I’ll explain it all later.” After I had a working description for the dark fae I was hunting.
Liam put his hand on Kiesha’s terrycloth clad shoulder. “How you holding up, boss?”
She wore only the rose-colored bathrobe he’d bought her in the city, since she would be in her wolf’s form for most of the meeting. She glanced up at him, her expression nervous. “I’m okay.”
He crouched down so they stood eye to eye. “No one here will hurt you, all right?”She worked a hangnail and gave the closed conference room door another look. If she needed more time, he would give it to her.
“How was school?”
“Fine.” Her eyebrows pulled together. “Some of the fae were mean to Emma when we were walking home.”
“They were?”
She nodded. “They threw things at her and told her to leave.”
Liam had to work not to clench his hands into fists. “What did Emma do?”
“Nothing. She told me to ignore them. It made me really mad, though. They don’t even know Emma. So why do they hate her so much?”
“I don’t know.” It took all of his self-restraint to keep from storming out of the house, tracking down the offenders and beating the shit out of them for disrespecting his mate. “Some people are like that. They make snap judgments and nothing you can say or do will change the way they think. We know Emma is funny and smart and brave, right?”
“Right.” Again her attention went to the door.
“We can do this another time,” Liam said.
But Kiesha turned to face the door fully, squared her shoulders. “I’m going to be brave, like Emma.”
Liam rose and was careful to blank his expression. He couldn’t show obvious favoritism to Kiesha, not at this first encounter with the pack. It wouldn’t do her any good to hide in the Alpha’s shadow. She might be young, but she was pack.
He just wished if felt a little less like he were literally throwing her into a den of wolves.
North opened the doors before he could grasp the handles. He strode in first. As one, his wolves pushed up out of their chairs and went to one knee on the floor. They too wore only robes, for the girl’s comfort as well as their own. Gray was first and Autumn right behind him. The line of dominance got a little murkier after the top three or four wolves. Kiesha would have to wind her way through their bodies and discover where she fit. Her wolf’s instincts would guide her. If she challenged one of the hotheads, like Rubio…
“Change,” Liam spoke with the authority of the Alpha.
There were grunts and groans and the pack shifted. Liam’s own wolf strained, wanting to shift as well but he held tight to it. He had more control of the pack as a man, and he needed to be able to speak in case anything went wrong. Shifting speed had nothing to do with dominance, any more than left-handedness had to do with artistic talent. Still, it was good to know that the newest member of their pack could change in a hurry.
Kiesha’s shift was faster than most save for Gray’s. Though she was only a girl her wolf was full grown, with a black saddle on a brown coat and white paws. North inhabited the robes one at a time and carried them off to gods alone knew where.
When the final change was done, Liam stood before them all.
“The pack is family and family is pack. There are those who were pack,” he looked to Gray who ducked his head, as did Autumn. “And may someday be pack again. There are those who have refused pack and those we haven’t found. As the children of Fenrir, we are bound together by fate. Being pack is a choice. Serving the pack means thinking beyond your own skin and sharing your journey with others like you. And it’s having others to help you when you are lost.”
He gestured to Kiesha. “We have one, who wishes to come into our family, to be part of our pack. Be true to your nature so she can find her place.”
He pointed to the farthest wolf. “Start there, Kiesha. Find where you belong.”
The brown and black wolf with the white socks trotted to the last wolf in line, Andy. She circled and sniffed, then stepped in front of him. She repeated the process with Fredrick, and Jose and Garret. Circling, sniffing, then moving on.
Halfway up. Liam held his breath as she approached Rubio.
The black and gray wolf bared his fangs. Kiesha froze, her ears flattening against her head.
Always fucking Rubio.
He wondered if she would back down, take a place lower than what she deserved. He was sure Garret had just because Rubio could be such a bastard. It was easier for a less dominant wolf to accept a lower place than to be constantly challenged. That sort of behavior wasn’t conducive to a healthy pack. Rubio’s aggression far outweighed his protective instincts and Liam worried he was going to have to set the wolf down in the near future.
A low growl rumbled out of Kiesha and she snapped at Rubio’s coffee-colored muzzle.
He saw the wolf tense and readied himself to get in between them, but then Rubio’s tail wagged once and he lowered his eyes.
He swore he heard the door behind him sigh with North’s relief.
Kiesha next approached Autumn, but one sniff and she lowered her gaze.
His little wolfling had found her place.
“Welcome Kiesha, fourth of the pack.”
The wolves threw back their heads and howled in welcome. He had to tell them that the Savior had been found. And that she was his mate.
Tomorrow, he decided as he watched Kiesha frolic with her new pack. Tonight was for celebration.
10
“Wake up.” A demanding brogue barked in my ear.
I lunged up out of a semi-erotic dream to find a bloated blue spellcaster glaring down at me.
“How did you get past my wards?”
Magda scoffed. “Getting past your wards is like cutting through butter with a hot knife. Now get your lazy carcass out of bed and shake a leg. Time’s a-wasting.”
She tossed a pair of cotton shorts at me, followed by a tank top.
I glared down at the clothes. “These aren’t mine.”
“They are now.” She handed me a note. “This was waiting out on your front porch when I got here. Now hurry up, Savior.”
She waddled from the room.
I stared down at the envelope with the unfamiliar writing. It was a blocky sort of print, not a loop or fanciful curlicue to be seen.
I noticed you didn’t have time to wash your clothes.
It was unsigned.
I looked at the packages. New clothing. When had Liam had the time to get these? And how did he know my size?
I decided that I would accept them. Having nothing else clean, it was either wear the new duds or strut around in my birthday suit.
The first parcel contained a gray tank top and black yoga style pants, though the fabric was a little sturdier. There was also a sports bra, hoodie and a pack of hair elastics. Sneakers so new they gleamed white would take the place of my dusty old combat boots.
The other bag held a second pair of jeans, a camisole, a t-shirt and a short red dress. I frowned at the dress. What on earth could that be for?
Other than the Alpha werewolf’s pleasure.
That thought didn’t spark the same level of anxiety that it had the other day. I liked Liam, I realized. He might be an Alpha, and a male who wanted to sleep with me, but he was a good guy. He wanted me to protect myself, even if I was destined to die.
Better not to harp on that.
The sketch I’d done the night before sat on my nightstand. It wasn’t half bad, though I wouldn’t make a living as a sketch artist. Most of the spellcaster’s features were covered by the enormous hood, but the mouth. It was pouty, sensual and sinister at the same time. I could easily see it whispering ominous words.
I pulled on the workout gear and was just lacing my shoes when the door to my room burst open.
“I’m ready,” I said, expecting to see Magda’s cranky face, but instead was l
ooking into Kiesha’s mismatched eyes. “Rage, what are you doing here?”
She grinned up at me. “I’m officially a member of the pack. Fourth in line.”
“Congratulations.” I wondered if she’d ruffled some fur by claiming a spot so high up, but she didn’t look uneasy. In fact, she appeared more settled than she had since I met her.
“Liam said you were going to train.”
“That’s right,” I hedged.
She stared at my glowing glyphs. “I want to train too.”
“You’re not a spellcaster,” I told the girl.
“It doesn’t matter.” Magda called from the other room. “She’s going to be your spirit animal.”
“My what now?” I blinked.
“You need a living anchor when you cast. I told the Alpha that you would need someone to help in the beginning and he suggested the girl.”
“Is it dangerous for her?” I eyed Kiesha warily.
Magda shook her head. “For her, no. For you without her? Let’s put it this way. More spellcasters have died overtaxing their bodies with too much magic than have been killed by the dark fae. The anchor reminds you of your physical self, keeps you grounded.”
“I want to help you, Emma.” Kiesha slipped her small hand into mine and squeezed.
I blew out a breath. “For training only.”
“Good, then let us begin. Retrieve your talisman.” Magda said.
I stared at her and shook my head.
“Gods’ sakes, girl. Don’t you know anything? Your talisman is what will strengthen your powers.”
“You mean the sword?” I knelt down and fished it out from under the bed.
Magda frowned and looked at it. “That’s not just any talisman. With this you can draw more power than the fae across the Veil.”
“What exactly is it?”
She answered my question with one of her own. “How did it come to you?”
Buried in the shoulder of a werewolf. But I didn’t want to say that in front of Kiesha. “It was disguised as a silver dagger.”
“She stared at it for hours, like she was asleep but with her eyes open.” The werewolf girl added.
“Spellcasters often have visions while they are connected with their talismans.” Magda still studied the sword with apprehension. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was afraid of it.
“I don’t remember any visions though.” I shook my head. “For me it was like no time passed at all.”
Magda held forth a gnarled stick. “This is my talisman. It manifested over two centuries ago, in a wooded glade in the land beyond the Veil.”
I gaped at her. “Two centuries?”
The corner of her mouth quirked up. “Not looking so bad for my age, am I?”
“Will I live that long?” I asked. Since my mother had died before I had the chance to ask such questions, I was coming to realize what a font of information Magda could be.
“Each spellcaster is a unique blend between the human and the fae. Different blends pick up different traits. You said your brother was powerful?”
I nodded. “The most powerful my mother had ever seen.”
“Then you will be as well, since you share his genetics.”
I wanted to protest, but remembered what she had said the day before about female and male strength being different. “Okay, so how do I begin?”
“With a run.”
“A run?”
She nodded. “A few miles ought to do it.”
“What does running have to do with magic?” I hated running, especially in the summer heat.
“Healthy body, healthy mind. As your conditioning improves the more capable you will be when it comes to wielding the wild magic. Eat well, sleep well and exercise.” Ironic coming from someone who looked as though the five steps up to my front door would have winded her.
I looked to Kiesha who also wore new sneakers. Her legs stuck out of running shorts and she had on a loose t-shirt. “You coming with, spirit animal?”
In answer she hopped off the bed. “Let’s go.”
We started at an easy jog. The sun peeked through the towering brownstones. It was already humid, the day promised to breech the century mark. Kiesha was faster than me, even in human form, but after a few blocks we fell into a steady rhythm of sneakers pounding the pavement.
Who’d have thought when I stumbled off that stank bus that a few days later I would be jogging through the PR with a werewolf at my side and an irritable spellcaster waiting back at my very own apartment to teach me magic.
My breathing was heavy by the time we returned to the apartment building. Kiesha bounded up the steps as though we hadn’t been running for the past hour.
“Next time, we’ll go run in Central Park. The version of it here, anyway.” She beamed and let herself into my apartment.
I was too winded to answer.
In our absence, Magda had helped herself to my leftover casserole from the day before. The scent of bacon still lingered in the air. “Back so soon?”
I headed to the fridge and pulled out the pitcher of water that had appeared within. Taking two glasses from the cabinet, I poured one for Kiesha and the other for myself. The cool crispness soothed my parched throat. I wanted to collapse on the couch and shut the curtain until I either died or felt better. “What’s next?”
Magda gestured to the fridge. “Nourishment. Part of the reason the fae struggle to wield magic on this side of the Veil is that their bodies are undernourished. It will take time to rebuild their strength enough.”
She eyed me critically. “While you are also underfed, you aren’t as bad. And you are accustomed to the feel of magic on this side of the Veil. They can only sense the loss whereas you sense the possibilities.”
I wanted to vomit at the thought of food but had missed too many meals to protest. So, I made Kiesha and myself French toast and bacon. We ate while Magda went outside, muttering something about finding the ideal location.
“Location for what?” Kiesha asked me as she crunched on her bacon.
“No idea.” I wondered if I had time for a quick shower, then decided to wait until after training. Who knew what Magda had in store?
I’d just finished washing the last fork when Magda, stick in hand, reappeared.
“Come on now. Hurry up. We don’t want to keep him waiting.”
“Him who?” I raised a brow.
Kiesha moved over to the bay window and squealed. “Emma! Come look.”
I moved to stand beside her and pulled back the lace curtain so I could see outside.
There stood…a unicorn. Behind it sat a carriage.
“Is that…? I licked my lips. “Is that real?”
Magda was already making her way down the steps, Kiesha hot on her heels. What little girl wouldn’t lose her mind at the sight of a freaking unicorn?
“Mystic has agreed to be your escort today,” Magda tipped her head down in a show of respect to the creature.
“Can I pet him?” Kiesha asked, practically quivering with excitement.
I eyed the horn with apprehension.
“Ask him.” Magda shrugged as if asking a unicorn if he wanted a nice scratch was no BFD.
Kiesha moved forward and addressed the unicorn. “May I pet you?”
He pawed the asphalt once, the sound of his hoof ringing against the empty street.
“He says yes, but only for a minute. We don’t want to be late to the ring.”
I watched Kiesha carefully even as I whispered to Magda, “Where did he come from?”
“Beyond the Veil. The fae were not the only creatures that needed to evacuate Underhill.”
A real live unicorn stood before me. All white, with a black splotch that looked like a bat across his long nose. He was bigger than any horse I’d ever seen. Taller, with longer legs. He tossed his head and whinnied, though it sounded different. More precise than any horse sound.
“He wants to meet the new spellcaster.” Magda bumped my shoulde
r forward and after a moment I staggered toward the creature.
Intelligent black eyes met mine and then he dipped his head down. For a moment I was worried he would try to spear me with his horn, but then I realized it was a gesture of respect.
“Hello, there.” I said when he righted himself again. “It’s nice to meet you too.”
“No time to waste,” Magda clacked me on the back of my legs with her talisman.
I jumped and then followed the cranky spellcaster into the carriage.
We set off at a steady trot. Our host taking us down different streets than the ones I had seen yet.
“It seems like such a waste,” I murmured to Magda as we passed by the entrance to Central Park. “All this city ready for use and no one to inhabit it.”
She didn’t comment but her eyes met mine.
“What?”
“Liam said that if you set a good example, maybe a few of the braver fae will follow.” Kiesha said.
“Me?”
She nodded and Magda put in, “You’re the only Savior they’ve got.”
“And yesterday they were dumping stinky buckets of water over my head.”
“You have to prove yourself to them,” Magda added. “When the time is right, they will accept you.”
An example. First, I was supposed to be some sort of role model for Kiesha and now for the rest of the fae? A savior. A hero.
And eventually a martyr.
I licked my lips. No matter what I’d said to Liam, I didn’t want to die. But if I could take out the twisted ones who had killed my family?
It was a sacrifice I would willingly make. Not for the fae or to fulfill my destiny. But because I owed it to them.
Kiesha looked over at me and grinned and the ball of ice that had taken up residence in the pit of my stomach expanded.
I didn’t want to leave her, my sister orphan. My death would hurt her.
But she had Liam now and his pack. She was stronger than I was. She would survive.
That made one of us.
“No no no, girl. Use your head. That’s the fool melon perched three feet above your ass!” Magda barked.