by Jami Gray
She shook her head. “No traces of any magic, but he thinks he’s missing something.”
That earned her a skeptical glance from Cheveyo. “If Danny’s missing something, why does he want us down there? I’m not sure we’ll do any better.”
She worried her bottom lip and offered cautiously, “I think he wants you to dream walk.”
The SUV jerked a bit, then resumed its normal pace. “Rory’s in a coma, he’s not sleeping.”
“I know that, so does Danny,” she couldn’t hide her frustration. “But if Danny’s asking, there has to be a damn good reason.”
“There better be,” he growled back. “Because I’m not even sure it will work.”
“How dangerous is this?” Chay cut in.
For a moment, silence filled the SUV, then Cheveyo answered, “Very.”
Based upon the dark look that came over Chay’s face that answer didn’t sit well. “Then why the hell would you even consider it?”
In her lap, Tala’s fingers tightened on the phone as she waited for Cheveyo’s response. He didn’t owe her a thing and, if she was right, what Danny asked for wasn’t something for Cheveyo to undertake lightly.
“Because Danny wouldn’t ask it of me unless it was important,” Cheveyo ground out even as he turned off the freeway.
“For fuck’s sake,” Chay snapped. “Are you trying to get us both killed here? I let anything happen to you, and I might as well slit my own throat rather than try to explain to Gavin and Raine, hell even Natasha, how I got you killed down here.”
“It won’t kill me,” Cheveyo shot back. Tala opened her mouth to disagree only to snap it shut when he glared at her through the mirror. “It won’t.”
“Well, it sure as shit doesn’t sound like a walk through the damn daisies either, Cheveyo.” Chay wasn’t backing down.
She caught the edge of a grim smile as Cheveyo made another turn. “It’s not, but it’s not a walk through hell either, Chay. Regardless, something is going on down here. We’re here to help, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Chay’s mouth thinned while a militant light sparked deep in his eyes, his disapproval louder than ever. A tense minute ticked by before he finally spoke, “Fine, you can help to your heart’s content, but the second I determine you are at risk, I’ll drag your ass back however necessary.”
Cheveyo arched a brow and murmured, “You’re welcome to try.”
As soon as Cheveyo parked next to a white sedan in the blacktopped rest stop, Tala had her door open, grateful to escape the suffocating tension in the SUV. Based on the crushed fast food bags littering the back seat, she was fairly certain that the sedan belonged to Toby and his entourage considering shifters had notorious appetites. She recognized a couple of other cars in the lot—Teagan’s bright yellow Bug and Hadley’s conservative Prius.
The state park might not sound like the ideal place for such a get together, but when meeting with volatile personalities, an enclosed conference room could be problematic. This early on a weekday morning, they were less likely to be stumbled upon by unknowing hikers or families out for a picnic.
Coming around the hood of the SUV, she waited while Chay helped Ash down, the injured wolf’s movements still stiff despite the basic healing spell Cheveyo casted early this morning. She kept a slow pace with Ash as Cheveyo and Chay fell in beside her, staying close.
Despite their casual demeanors, both men remained alert. With her nerves stretched tight, she sent her magic out in a gentle wave testing their surroundings, unsurprised by the solid strength echoing back from the two men at her side. Loosening her hold a bit more, she let it slip farther out until the hum she normally associated with shifters drifted back, followed by the pulse of witching energy. Her shoulders loosened and only when the low-lying headache eased up, did she grasp how tight her nerves were strung.
“Anything?” Cheveyo’s question was low, not going farther than the two of them.
She shook her head, sinking her fingers deep into Ash’s ruff, a comfort-seeking habit she couldn’t seem to break. In response, he bumped her thigh, causing a slight twinge on her still healing side. “Just the expected responses.”
She led them beyond the anchored picnic tables and followed one of the side trails as it wound its way through the trees. Any other time, this would be a perfect morning for a hike.
Nature’s music drifted along the light breeze, and the sun played peek-a-boo with the leaves. They rounded a bend, and the sound of water tumbling over stone joined the chorus. They followed the creek up a little further until they reached a scenic spot screened by trees. Stepping through the tree line, Tala felt the combined weight of the gazes of those gathered as conversation petered out.
“Tala.” The greeting was reserved but pleasant as Hadley rose from the fallen tree doubling as primitive bench seating and made her way around a cold fire pit to meet them. Moving with a quiet confidence, she held her hand out in welcome. Blessed with generous curves and subtle beauty, a beauty that Tala once envied, Hadley was dressed in casual jeans and blousy T-shirt.
Taking her offering, Tala offered a smile. “Hadley.” She let go and continued with the introductions. “This is Chayton, and you remember—”
“Cheveyo,” the woman’s voice softened, and her smile grew. “Yes. Surprised to see you here again.”
“Hadley.” Cheveyo inclined his head, his smile polite. “Nice to see you as well, despite the circumstances.”
Hadley’s smile dimmed, and her gaze flickered to Tala, but she stepped back and waved them forward. “We’re just waiting on Wyatt, but everyone else is already here.” Everyone being Teagan, Hadley, Tobias, Will, and Leticia. “Feel free to sit wherever. There’s a couple of thermoses with coffee, if you’re interested.”
“Thanks, but I’ll pass for now,” Tala declined, not certain dumping a bunch of caffeine on her stressed-out nerves was wise.
Hadley nodded, concern replacing her earlier smile. “Danny filled me in on Rory. Have you heard anything more?”
“I just spoke to him on the way over. He said Rory’s in a coma, and the doctors are still concerned.”
“Gods, poor Anne.” Hadley half turned, giving them her profile as she looked back to those gathered. “When it rains, it pours.”
Considering the mess she was stranded in currently, Tala couldn’t argue.
Hadley turned back to them, her pleasant expression strained. “Well, maybe it’s a good thing Cheveyo’s here, then.”
Before Tala could process the unexpected sting of her comment, Hadley went back to sit next to Teagan, who was currently giving the three of them a gimlet eye.
“Wow, that was…” Chay trailed off.
“Bitchy,” Tala bit off under her breath, trying not to let Hadley’s barb settle and failing miserably.
“In a completely passive-aggressive way, yeah,” he drawled.
“Welcome to my life,” she muttered and led them over to where Toby, Will, and Leticia were gathered. Off-balance and on edge, she wasn’t quite ready to tackle Teagan’s attitude and merely nodded at her cousin.
Toby and Will both rose to their feet as they approached. Leticia simply dipped her head in acknowledgement.
Tala returned their murmured greetings.
Toby’s gaze dropped to Ash who was holding a protective stance at Tala’s side. “Got yourself quite the protector there.”
“This is Ash.”
Toby dropped into a crouch until he was eye level with the natural wolf. A silent staring contest ensued before Ash turned his head to the side. Toby chuckled and scratched under his chin. His gaze rose back to Tala. “You do realize he considers you his.”
More than the alpha knew, but it was okay because it was mutual. “As much as I consider him mine.”
Toby rose and stood beside them his attention drifting over to where Teagan and Hadley sat quietly talking. “I get the impression you don’t have much of a fan club here, Tala.” His gaze came back to her, and s
he was surprised to see the genuine worry in his eyes. “Are you sure this meeting is wise.”
Nope, but her actions meant it was unavoidable. “The Triune’s responsibility is to ensure its leader is serving their people first and foremost.” She kept her voice pitched so their conversation stayed as private as possible. “The last year has seen quite a bit of unexpected and unwelcome change. This meeting will reassure my people that my actions have not damaged them in the Pack’s eyes.”
Before Toby could answer, Hadley sprang up from her spot and skirted the fire pit. “Wyatt.”
Dressed in dark jeans and a button-down collared shirt open at the neck, the newcomer, and last member of the Triune, stilled at the edge of the clearing. “Hadley.” He nodded to the other woman. “Teagan.” He surveyed the others before moving forward. “Are we all here?”
Taking his question as her go-ahead, Hadley began a round of introductions.
Tala studied Wyatt as he exchanged greetings with everyone. Dark brown hair, light gray eyes, and of average height and build, he could easily blend in with any gathering. Nothing about him screamed scary-ass wizard with an equally intimidating heritage, unless you could sense his level of power emanating on the magical plane, then you might reconsider tangling with him.
Yet in the three years since he joined her house, he had become the unofficial voice for the Southwest Wizards and the one they turned to for guidance. Maybe it should have worried her, but it didn’t, because he’d proven over and over again that he had no problems acceding authority to her, so long as she remained fair and objective. It made for a refreshing change of pace from the games others incessantly played.
“Tala.” His pleasant baritone interrupted her thoughts as he offered his hand. “Craptastic circumstances, but nice to see you.”
She took his hand with a genuine smile and small laugh. “Well put, Wyatt.”
“And this is Cheveyo,” Hadley chirped in an annoyingly bright voice, and Tala braced for another one of her irritating verbal swipes. “He came to h—”
“Speak to the Triune,” Cheveyo finished smoothly. “Natasha sent me. It’s nice to meet you.” The two men shook hands. “Despite the circumstances.”
That got a grimace from Wyatt. “Yeah, death tends to stir shit up,” he murmured which earned him a sharp look from Hadley while Tala fought to hide her amusement at Wyatt’s unconventional response.
“Danny speaks very highly of you, Cheveyo,” Wyatt offered. “It’s nice to have a face for the name.” He turned back to the group at large, clapped his hands and rubbed them briskly together. “All right, if we’re all here, let’s get this show on the road.” Catching the shifters’ surprise, he explained, “Formalities are archaic. I prefer a much more direct approach.”
He walked over to Teagan, Hadley on his heels. When he got to the other side, he turned, put his hands on his hips, and said, “So what the fuck is going on around here?”
Chapter Twelve
Cheveyo wanted to laugh at the matching stunned expressions on Teagan and Hadley’s faces as they stood next to Wyatt. With his blunt question, Cheveyo understood why Tala hadn’t been worried about Wyatt’s position. The two women behind him, though, were another story.
Hadley’s behavior, stupid and childish though it was, wasn’t unexpected. Even when Tala claimed her as a friend, Hadley’s personality was soured by jealousy. He tried to warn Tala about it early on, but she remained willfully blind. Obviously, that changed somewhere along the line and probably added to why they were no longer close.
But he could see why Teagan’s attitude hurt Tala. Teagan’s icy reception cut like a well-hone blade against Tala’s self-inflicted guilt. Although Teagan hadn’t said much since their arrival, she had watched them. And while she did so, he watched her.
It didn’t take him long to recognize the anger she portrayed was a brittle shield hiding her tormenting mix of grief and guilt. It seeped out in the sharp lines adding years to her face and in the fractured pain haunting her eyes. Even more telling, her magical signature alternated between swiping and clinging to Tala’s, a reflection of Teagan’s emotional state.
Cheveyo only noticed because he witnessed such a thing once before, between Raine McCord and her now dead uncle, Mulcahy. Just proof that family could be more damaging than any enemy’s weapon. He tucked his concern away, knowing there was nothing he could do to fix things between the two cousins. Not yet.
Following Wyatt’s lead, Tala stated bluntly, “I killed Tomás.”
“Figured that much,” Wyatt said. “Why?”
“Self-defense.”
Finally, Teagan spoke, “Why a blade? Why not something less lethal?”
Tala’s chin lifted, but her voice remained level, “He’s the alpha,” she said, her emphasis on the, “and, he attacked Ash, then turned on me while in wolf form. While he was busy digging through my ribs for my heart, I tried to get his attention. Unfortunately, he wasn’t inclined to listen, and I less inclined to let him kill me. I made my point known.”
Although Teagan paled, she didn’t back down. “You used a silver blade.”
Tala nodded. “I was harvesting ritual herbs, not planning on killing a shifter.”
“But,” Hadley interrupted, “what reason would he have to attack you?”
Toby stepped up to Tala’s side, gaining the Triune’s attention. “Revenge.”
Hadley blinked and put a restraining hand on Teagan’s arm when she took a step forward, her hands fisted at her side. “Revenge?” Color flagged Teagan’s cheeks, and her eyes glittered. “For what? Doing what he couldn’t and taking out his certifiable mate?”
Wyatt held up his hand and gave her a sharp look. She reluctantly subsided. He turned back. “Everyone sit, it looks like we need to get a few things clear before we go any further.”
Everyone picked a nearby seat and settled in while Wyatt stretched out his legs and waited. “So, who wants to start?”
From Tala’s left, Toby spoke first. “As far as the packs are concerned, what Tala did was self-defense. Since the death of his mate, Tomás’s behavior has—” He grimaced and corrected himself, “—had been rather…”
“Questionable,” Leticia offered diplomatically from his other side.
Toby nodded and continued, “He was very clear on who he held responsible for Lizbeth’s death, and his behavior has been a source of concern for some time. As such, if this hadn’t happened, I’m not sure Tomás would have been held his position for much longer.” He paused. “After speaking with the other alphas, we find no reason to question Tala’s version of events. As the alpha of the Southwest Kyn, I offer to the Triune our reassurance that no ill will follow Magi Whiteriver’s actions. We accept it was self-defense.”
Sitting shoulder to shoulder, Cheveyo didn’t miss Tala’s soft exhale at Toby’s words and subtly shifted his hand until he could cover hers on the rough bark between them.
Her fingers laced with his and tightened once before she broke their contact. She turned to Toby and cleared her throat, her voice soft but her remorse more than evident. “As much as I appreciate the Pack’s understanding, please know I am truly sorry for his death.” She drew her authority close and offered, with the same formality, “The Magi House of the Southwest extends their deepest sympathies on your loss and would like to assure the Southwest Lycans our friendship remains yours.”
“Great, so at least we won’t have to worry about a blood war,” Wyatt said, breaking the solemn tension. “I, for one, greatly appreciate that.” He looked at Teagan and Hadley. “So, are you two satisfied?”
“Hold up,” Toby cut in before either could respond. “I’m all for keeping this as simple as possible, but while the situation between Tomás and Tala may be satisfactorily resolved, the alphas and I have a few more concerns to address with the Triune.”
Caught off guard by Toby’s declaration, Cheveyo’s muscles coiled as the previous tension resumed its position.
Wyatt leaned forw
ard, his eyes narrowed. “Like?” Gone was the wise-ass tone and, in its place, was an unsettling intensity.
Unruffled, Toby held his gaze. “Like the possibility someone from your house convinced Tomás to not only go after Tala, but reinitiate the BLM land deal.”
Toby’s bombshell produced a visible reaction from the Triune—Wyatt’s gaze narrowed with laser-like focus, Teagan’s anger disappeared under a wave of shock, and Hadley simply appeared stunned. Next to him, Tala stiffened while Cheveyo’s gut tightened in dread.
Hadley was the first to speak. “No one from our house would go after Tala, much less support the sale of land we’ve shared with the packs for centuries.”
“If anything,” Teagan added. “Our people would be more likely to target Tomás for what his mate did.” She shot an accusing glare at Tala before turning back at Toby, her chin lifted defiantly. “Except our Magi made it brutally clear what would happen if any of us even considered such a thing.”
“Which is why she’s our Magi,” Wyatt snapped at her.
“Enough!” Tala’s sharp reprimand cut through their bickering with authoritative precision. She stood and moved between the Triune and the now standing Toby, her gaze landing on each Magi until all three subsided. “This is not the time nor place to air personal grievances.”
Teagan flushed under her pointed reprimand, but she didn’t drop her gaze.
Tala’s smile was far from friendly, but her voice lowered ominously. “If you have something to say to me, cousin, I’ll be happy to listen—later and in private.” She waited until Teagan grudgingly nodded, before turning back to Toby. “Apologies, Alpha. If you wouldn’t mind sharing why you and your alphas feel this is a possibility, I’d appreciate it.”
Watching Tala reclaim her authority sparked Cheveyo’s amusement. It was like watching a mother putting her toddlers in time-out.
And he wasn’t the only one, going by the humorous glint in Toby’s gaze as he tilted his head at Tala’s polite request. “As much as I’d like to offer you specifics, unfortunately, all we have are whispers.”