Panthers of Brigantia Shifter Box Set

by Lisa Daniels

  “I know that Anders could still sense the baby, and Alexis was able to use that to establish safe points to catch them. Since they laid out their basic plan, I don’t think anyone has heard from them. The best we can do is hope.”

  Itzel nodded, her other concern shoved to the back of her mind. There was no way to rush the reason for her being there, and she certainly wasn’t going to let concern for Darius change her approach to the meeting. It was going to be incredibly delicate, forcing just enough anger to get the lovers together without entirely turning them on the druids. This just sucks on so many levels.

  “Itzel. If I didn’t know any better, I would say you are pouting.”

  Laughing, she kept her eyes forward. “Then it is a good thing that you know better. I hope that I don’t have to wait so long to see you again. Despite everything, the effects of the last few years are obvious on you. I’m sure Harmony is going to be just what you need, but I don’t know when you guys will have time to really enjoy yourselves.”

  He shrugged, “We will always find the time.”

  Itzel smiled up at him, “I hope she forces you to relax. From what I hear, you just about bit off Draven and Dulce’s head when they forced you to take a week off.”

  Haiden’s face clouded over, “I could have gotten Harmony out of there earlier if they hadn’t done that.”

  “Oh, please. Taking care of the heart was what held you back, not Draven. If you had gone in as you were, it would probably have killed you, then Harmony would have died.”

  “That’s—” Haiden glared at the horizon. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes. “That is probably true. Still.” He looked down at Itzel, “They could have told me.”

  “You never would have listened.”

  “It’s one of the problems we all share.”

  Itzel waggled a finger, “Not all of us. There are a few who are level-headed.”

  “Don’t you dare say Caspian.”

  The laughter echoed around the room. “He is worse than you. No, I mean we have Orion. You guys have Draven. And the Order has…”

  They both looked out the window as their minds went through all of the white tiger shifters. Haiden scratched his chin, “I'm hoping that Hector might be the—”

  “You are very much mistaken. I hate to say it, but the most level-headed man they have is Anders.”

  Haiden pursed his lips, “Oh yeah. I forgot he was theirs. He damn well better come back safely.”

  “Agreed.”

  The atmosphere in the room shifted, and they knew Hector had returned. He said nothing, and moved almost imperceptibly into a place where he could not be seen.

  Haiden was about to call out to him when Itzel placed a hand on his arm. “Tell me, Haiden, when was the last time you visited?”

  Allowing her to change the conversation, Haiden thought for a moment. “Oh, that’s right. Um, 42 years ago? You were gone.”

  “Yeah, that was the last time I got to escape.”

  “May I ask you a personal question?”

  “Sure.”

  “Has Caspian ever made up his mind?”

  Itzel took in a deep breath. Of all the questions she had expected, that was certainly not it. “I will make Draven pay for this.”

  “He’s worried about you, you know.”

  “He has a lousy way of showing it.”

  “I’m worried about you, too.”

  “There is no need for it.” Itzel shrugged and smiled at the horizon. “It really is beautiful.”

  “Perhaps I should ask him to trap you on a little beach for a week to make you evaluate your life, too.”

  “Draven isn’t that foolish.”

  “You didn’t think he would be foolish enough to tell me about you and Caspian either. Yet he did.”

  “Yeah, well, just because Caspian won’t travel with me anymore doesn’t mean that no one will.”

  “Who came with you this time, then? Everyone is already on assignment, and I know that Caspian will not be able to help you here.”

  “That is an answer in and of itself.”

  “Does he know that you are here?”

  “The more relevant question is does he care?”

  “Of that, I have no doubt.”

  “Shows how much you know.”

  “I’m sure he still cares.”

  “And that means nothing. Now, drop it before I agree that it was a bad idea for me to be here.”

  “What do you mean?”

  A voice behind them saved Itzel from having to explain herself. “Thank you very much for coming all the way here, Itzel. I know—”

  Thank gods. Damn you, Darius, I’m not going to admit you were right. Itzel spun around, glad that things were proceeding away from her personal life. There was no need to smile either, as the topic that was likely on Freya’s mind was not about Itzel or Haiden’s trip. “I am sorry, Freya, but the news is not good.”

  As quickly as possible, Itzel handed the conversation over to Haiden so that she could compose her thoughts a little better. She needed to be very precise in her approach, but the discussion before Freya’s arrival had thrown the druid off kilter. Haiden was good. Everyone always thought of him as gregarious and helpful, and so they dropped their guard, just as she had done.

  It was only when Freya made a slight against the assassins that Itzel was able to slip into the right frame of mind to do what she needed to do.

  Freya tried to hide a smile as she responded to Itzel’s assessment of Anders. She seemed to think she was being blunt when she said, “I have never known any assassin, so I could not say. I do know that he is not like any other guardian because he has always done things his way. He comes across as gentle and kind, but I have heard the stories about what he is like with those he feels are beyond redemption. It was never my impression that assassins work out of a sense of right and wrong, though, and that is the core of Anders.”

  Itzel was accustomed to people misunderstanding the purpose of the assassins, it was what made their jobs easier. But she couldn’t help thinking of Darius out there somewhere doing just what Freya had said his kind wouldn’t do. Not only did Itzel suspect that Darius was working while she wasn’t there, he was doing it to help the mystics. The way that the mystic queen was willing to dismiss them while Darius was cleaning up a mess that she and the Order had made irked Itzel. “Then you truly do not understand the assassin’s purpose.” She could feel the smile that softened the annoyance she felt, but she wanted to make sure this queen realized how ignorant she was. “But your assessment is very much an apt description of an assassin.”

  Freya reacted with a lot more tact than Itzel had come to expect from mystics. “I apologize. I did not mean to offend.” Her head was bowed to show her sincerity.

  The queen’s initial words made the next part of Itzel’s job easier, but the druid was glad to see that the queen was far more receptive to rethinking her beliefs. “I am not the one who would be offended. And no assassin would admit to being offended, so you need not worry. Just keep your mind as open as you have and I feel that we may one day find the balance you desire.”

  The way Freya’s face moved let Itzel know that she had said exactly the right words to put the queen in her place. The fact that she kept her annoyance to herself spoke to Freya’s sincerity at what they were trying to do. The queen quickly changed topics.

  Very good. Let’s see just how far I can push you before you admit your limitations. There is so much more to this at stake, and you are willfully ignoring your best. You stubborn, stubborn fool. Poor Hector.

  The discussion moved to their minds, where Itzel continued to push the queen. Haiden seemed to soften the condescension, keeping the peace and answering in a direct and open way. Listening to him was so refreshing as they tried to figure out how to move forward. A couple of times he threw Itzel a look when Freya was not watching them, and Itzel knew that he was going to have a lot to say to her once it was all said and done.

  Then t
he time around them slowed to a crawl, and Itzel was reminded of just how dangerous it was to be in the queen’s presence. Fortunately, the queen thought that the condescension was unintentional, so she was working to make them feel more comfortable. She had even cut her finger to mask the changes to time. Itzel was impressed that the queen knew how to hide her abilities—her blood would resonate something that would mask the use of time magic. Risky, but much less than if she had slowed time without shedding some of her own blood.

  The conversation was all but over after that. As soon as time resumed, Haiden had moved to the queen’s side to help clean the cut from a broken tea cup. When the conversation came around to what the queen was doing, Itzel could not help but point out something she had noticed following all of the reports from the kingdom.

  “I must say, you are allowing for far more than I would have expected any mystic regarding the guardians.”

  Freya didn’t even look up as she finished cleaning up after the broken cup, “Mage users no longer have the luxury of trying to destroy the world.”

  Itzel enjoyed Haiden’s laugh as she shook her head, “That was not what I was referring to. If I didn’t know better, I would think you are trying to dismantle the Order.” She watched the very subtle changes in the way the queen moved following her words. It confirmed her suspicions, and made Itzel feel a good deal of respect for the mystic. The Order had wielded so much power for so long that they had lost their way. Clearly Freya was going to force a change that would actually help them. The question was would the change be in time?

  The queen spoke of the corruption in the Order, with the three romantic bonds that had happened within a very short period of time. Caden and Callie. Ian and Isis. Anders and Alexis—although that last one hardly counted considering Anders was only loosely bound to the Order. Itzel knew that the queen was working the topic back to Alexis, whether she realized it or not. A part of the druid felt sorry for the queen. It was clear that Freya felt isolated and alone, asking near complete strangers about her estranged friend.

  You fool. You have someone less than 50 feet from you willing to die, but you completely ignore him. You are not protecting him—you are putting him at greater risk and causing him immense emotional pain.

  When the queen refused to even look at Hector, Itzel felt a twinge of anger. She was referring to her former lover without giving him any credit. Or was she using something else to gain knowledge? Itzel wasn’t about to let Freya go so easily. And one thing clearly upset the queen just as she tried to dismiss Itzel and Haiden.

  Carefully, Itzel broached the subject from a roundabout way. “It is fine. We understand how confined you are because of—”

  Freya fell right into the trap, “I think that is another thing that should be revisited. I have finished most of what I can do from here. It is time that I started to leave my kingdom. It is the only way to progress.”

  Both Itzel and Haiden were shaking their heads, but it was Hector who responded, “You are suggesting putting yourself in unnecessary danger. You know that the Order will not allow it.”

  Itzel was shocked that he had been the one to speak, messing up what she had meant to do. And the queen’s reaction was far more than what the druid had wanted. The pain and loneliness were obvious in Freya’s eyes for a second before she bowed to them. “Thank you very much. I leave you with my guardian to continue this conversation.” With that, she disappeared.

  Itzel stood in shock at how the queen had not only ignored Hector, she had fled from the room, disregarding all concern with the use of time magic. It was an unnecessary risk.

  Things are much worse than I had thought. Shit. I’m going to have to push Hector because the queen is too much of a coward to face her emotions. Hopefully he won’t be as stubborn as a druid and will finally admit to her how he feels. Gods, but this is a mess.

  Chapter 3

  A Push, a Surprise, and a Quick Getaway

  Staring at the open, empty door through which Freya must have fled, Itzel began to recalibrate her approach. She had hoped to push Freya to talk to Hector, but the queen was clearly refusing any and all assistance.

  The voice behind her was level and devoid of emotion. “Mistress Itzel, Sir Haiden, if you will please follow me.” Hector stepped forward, moving as if he were a golem. His movements were far too stiff, and Itzel knew that he was upset about Freya’s reaction. She tried to find any sign of Freya, hoping that the queen had not been careless enough to continue using time magic just to run away. “Should you not follow her and counter—”

  Hector quickly cut her off, escorting them toward the palace entrance, “Thank you, but she is already out of my range.”

  Oh, shit. My gods, but she is a fool. Itzel knew that Hector was still bonded to the queen, and if he said that he could not stop her, that meant that Freya had removed herself from the time stream entirely. It was childish and showed that the queen still had a lot to learn. Trying to do it alone was the worst thing that Freya could do. Itzel closed her eyes for a fraction of a second. I am so sorry, Hector.

  Immediately, she began to look for the bond between them. It if was as red as she suspected it was, there was still hope that she could prove that she was right to have gone. The last thing she wanted was to be in the carriage of a smug Darius. She had never seen him smug before, but after more than three weeks of trying to tell her it was a waste, Itzel felt the assassin would make an exception.

  Haiden fell in step beside her, “That fast?”

  Hector spoke as his body stiffly moved further from the queen, “She has had years of practice and you gave her the necessary emotion to execute it quickly.”

  I am so sorry for this, Hector, but if she isn’t receptive to the right emotional response, you will have to take on the burden. Clearing her throat, Itzel said something she knew was going to upset him. “I am concerned with her using her powers for such a childish—”

  She didn’t even have to finish the words before Hector visibly bristled. “I dare say that your condescension and you continually pressing her for details drove her into an emotional state. She hates to show emotion, certainly in front of those who may use it against her.”

  Itzel fought the urge to laugh. The queen was about as easy to read as a child. You have no idea what it looks like when someone really doesn’t want to show emotion. She wants help, she just doesn’t want to put you in danger. Forcing a frown, she responded, “That does not sound like a mature reaction.”

  “Do you think that she misses how you constantly think of her as a child? That she doesn’t know that you look down on her? I assure you that she is as aware as I am.”

  Do you really think that I didn’t want you to notice? After weeks with Darius, all of this indirect discussion and manipulation were incredibly… bothersome. The thought shocked Itzel, but she hid it to consider it later.

  Ever the peacemaker, Haiden stepped forward, cleared his throat, and said, “I don’t think that anyone was intending to be condescending. It just—”

  Still the smooth liar, Itzel almost smiled at him.

  Hector bought it because he did not know Itzel nearly as well as Haiden. “No, most people do not intend to come across as condescending. That is why you don’t realize you are doing it. She is much younger than us, but her abilities make her far older than her age.”

  Pleased with the results, Itzel knew that Hector was going to eventually stop being so passive in his approach to managing Freya. The bond was faint, and she couldn’t quite make out the color. Trying to focus on it made her feel uncomfortable—he was very good at hiding what he didn’t want others to know. He definitely is Kendra’s grandson. Itzel tried to take on the role of innocent victim of her own words. “She should not be treating us with suspicion. That is against everything—”

  Hector’s reaction was very reassuring. “There have been far too few people in her life that she could trust. And they have all either died or left her. What she wants is too important to her to a
llow any further emotional risks. And please stop looking at me like that. You won’t find it.”

  Itzel was ecstatic by his words and wanted to yell at the guardian that he was there and that he needed to let Freya know that he was there for her. What she had not expected was the annoying direction. For a second, Hector sounded almost exactly like Darius. Shocked, she looked up into his warm yellow eyes, and she could tell she was blushing at being found out. Looking to Haiden for a little help, she managed, “You talk as if—”

  “How do you feel about Caspian?”

  Gods damn you, Haiden, for bringing him up in the gods damn palace. Itzel felt certain that Hector would not have brought up Caspian if Haiden hadn’t so openly talked about him. While she was playing Freya and Hector, Haiden was playing her. Gods damn you.

  Hiding her emotions, Itzel managed, “I have moved on, but I still wish him the best. I regret that I could not—”

  Hector was not done yet. “Now, imagine feeling that and having to take responsibility for him. Now, imagine that he is trapped in a cage forced on him because of who his parents were.”

  Behind Hector’s back, Itzel glared at Haiden as she answered, “I don’t know that I could do that because he would self-destruct. I could not watch that.” It would never happen. No one could pin him into a single place where he did not want to go. It is not an apt comparison to your queen.