Summer Shifter Days

by V. Vaughn

  The newcomer was carrying a tray of food and an overnight bag. With her head bowed, her beautiful locks covered her face, but that didn’t hide the familiarity Melanie felt from the stranger. Stepping just inside the door, she turned just as Putz One snarled, “The Draoi said you have one hour. I’ll be back to get you. Be waiting at this door. No exceptions.”

  Melanie wanted to scream for him to go to hell but instead focused on her visitor, who remained facing the door until it was once again secured. As she turned, the young woman lifted her head. A past long forgotten came rushing back. It was Hannah, Sarah Beth’s youngest daughter and Melanie’s best friend growing up.

  “Oh my goddess, Hannah, you’re a sight for sore eyes!”

  Rushing towards her, Hannah carefully placed the tray she carried on the small table at the side of the bed and dropped the duffle bag before enveloping Melanie in a big warm hug. Unable to embrace her back, Melanie burrowed her head against Hannah’s shoulder, soaking in the comfort her friend offered.

  After several long minutes, the younger woman slowly released Melanie and leaned back until she was kneeling before her. Still smiling the same sweet smile Melanie remembered from all those years ago, Hannah looked her over from head to toe, shaking her head and tsk’ing as she went. Bending down, she began untying the restraints on Melanie’s left ankle.

  “Those morons are gonna be crow chow when the Draoi sees how they treated you.” Hannah sighed without looking up.

  When she had both Melanie’s ankles free, Hannah began on the leather strapped across her arm and torso while she chatted on about her mom and sisters. Melanie listened intently, glad to hear no one had ever figured out it was Sarah Beth and her family that had aided with her escape. She tried to think of something witty to say, but for the first time in her life, Melanie was speechless.

  How do I make up for leaving her in that hellhole all those years ago?

  “When mom heard a rumor you’d been found, we all prayed it wasn’t true, but here you are.” Hannah shook her head as if somehow that would change the situation then continued. “All the girls you might’ve known from your time at the coven were called together. The An Dara asked for a volunteer to get you ready for your audience with the Grand Draoi. Damon, who became Cleland’s second a few years ago, remembered you and I had been close and picked me right away.”

  Pulling the last leather strap from Melanie’s arm, Hannah stood and grinned. “Okay, troublemaker, you’re free now. Well, as free as you can get locked away in the basement of an abandoned warehouse.”

  Melanie sprang from the chair, grabbing her old friend and holding on for dear life. It was the closest she’d felt to sane in the last two days. Only Hannah’s laughing made Melanie loosen her grip and step back, but she kept contact by holding her hands. She knew it was silly, but deep down inside she just knew if she let go, Hannah would disappear.

  Always incredibly intuitive, Hannah smiled a sweet smile, squeezed her hands, and winked. “I’m not going anywhere, Meli Rose. We have an hour to get you fed and clothed.”

  The smell of food along with Hannah’s reassurances had Melanie letting go of her friend’s hands and heading for the table. Her stomach growled and both girls laughed out loud as she lifted the cover off her meal.

  “No way! Fiona’s still managing the kitchen?” Melanie giggled like a little girl as she stared at what had been one of her favorite meals when she was a kid, tomato soup with homemade croutons, grilled cheese, and fresh strawberry pie. “Your sister always made sure I had this exact meal for my birthday, any time she’d heard about me getting in trouble, or when I needed cheering up.”

  I guess knowing I’m about to be sacrificed by my grandfather so he can take over the world counts as a time I need cheering up.

  Both ladies chuckled as Melanie sat down to eat and Hannah unpacked the overnight bag. “I’m glad to see we’re still close to the same size. Hurry up and eat so you can get a shower before Henry and Simon come back. If you haven’t noticed, they’re not the brightest bulbs in the pack. This is their last chance to complete a mission without screwing it up or the Draoi promised to turn them into white mice and feed them to his pet snake.”

  They have names. Who knew?

  Melanie shivered remembering the thirteen-foot, hundred-pound, red-skinned boa constrictor that accompanied her seanathair everywhere. It didn’t matter they barely had a brain between them, had kidnapped her, and let us not forget called her a bitch, she really didn’t want to watch while Diablo ate them. Speaking of eating, her food was getting cold and nothing, not even the thought of Cleland and his snake, was going to keep her from enjoying her meal.

  Hannah chatted away about all that had happened while Melanie had been away. Listening intently, it was obvious things were still status quo at the coven. She was glad to hear five of Hannah’s six sisters were healthy and well. Sad to know Mara had disappeared after a weird meeting with the Draoi. Melanie laughed when her friend told how Sarah Beth kept trying to marry them all off while they, in turn, scared all would be suitors away by any means necessary.

  Swallowing her last bite, Melanie jumped up, grabbed the fresh towel Hannah had unpacked, and headed for the shower. Fifteen minutes later she was clean, dressed, and sitting cross-legged on the bed, wondering what was next. Thankfully, she didn’t have to wait long. Hannah sat across from her and leaned in, motioning for Melanie to follow suit. When they were bent at the waist, foreheads almost touching, Hannah started whispering.

  “In about ten minutes the boys will be back to get us. I’m sorry, but I have to tie you to that damned chair again. I don’t want one of those idiots to come in and see you free. They will freak out. If you didn’t notice, they’re not the best wizards in the coven. Goddess knows you might end up with three heads or worse yet, exploded all over the walls.” She shuddered and Melanie had to wonder how many people the ding-dong duo had already blown up.

  “Anyway,” Hannah continued, “Damon told me to render you unconscious and paralyzed for the trip back, so you’re gonna need to give an Oscar winning performance before they put that stupid hood over your head again. Neither one of them will realize I’ve changed a word or two. You will only sleep for a few minutes and no way would I ever leave you immobile. They’re going to take us to a train that will transport us to the coven. Hopefully, Mom and the others will have figured out a way to get you off that train. If not, we’ll figure out something once we’re back at Ghealach Dearg. We have three nights until the blood moon.”

  Melanie tried to share in Hannah’s optimism but had to wonder what the odds were on escaping fate twice in one lifetime. Thoughts of what it had been like to be under Cleland’s control all those years ago made her sick with fear, not only for herself but for those she knew would give their lives to help her.

  Just about to share her thoughts with Hannah, images of Jace bombarded her consciousness. It was as if she was watching him through the lens of a camera. He was walking through a wooded area with a group of the largest men she’d ever seen. They looked like the men from the hospital that Jace called brethren, but she didn’t recognize any of their faces. Jace looked sad but determined. She knew he was thinking of her. It gave her the hope she needed to finally answer Hannah.

  “We just have to make sure no one gets hurt and Cleland never finds out that any of you helped me. You have to promise me, Hannah, and make your mom and sisters promise, as well. No one gets hurt on my account.”

  Melanie held out her fist with her pinkie standing at attention, just like they had as children. The big difference was, they were witches and when witches pinkie swore while calling upon Britania, the goddess of the moon, that pinkie promise became binding. Hannah shook her head, wrapped her pinkie finger around Melanie’s, and muttered, “Mom’s gonna kill me.”

  No sooner had they made their promise than the chains outside her door rattled. Melanie dove for the chair. Hannah whispered a spell and within two heartbeats, Melanie’s bindings wer
e just as they had been when Hannah had entered the room.

  Her old friend winked and mouthed, “Showtime,” right before Melanie’s world went black.

  3

  Jace had now experienced something far more scary than Kellan Aherne…and without a scar or brooding onyx eyes. Royce when he was truly pissed! Jace couldn’t remember a time in his life that he’d been so thoroughly chewed out, not even when he’d broken the steeple of the chapel during his first attempt at flight. The ass chewing he received from the older Guardsman was epic and both clans had witnessed every bloody word of it.

  When he and Liam had arrived at the lair of the Blue Dragons, Rory had been waiting with Kellan and the rest of their Force. All six of them were packed and ready for a briefing, but just as Jace had started to speak, Rory’s cellphone rang. One look at the display and the phone was unceremoniously handed to Jace.

  Not thinking and without looking, he slid his finger across the screen and answered. A mistake, by the way, he would never make again. Royce’s voice boomed through the receiver with such force that Jace had to hold it as far away from his ear as his arm would reach and it still echoed through his skull. The older Guardsman’s tirade went on and on. Jace couldn’t get a word in edgewise and the worst part was the knowing grins on all the Guardsmen’s faces. It was utterly humiliating and something he had to endure because after all, he was wrong and busted dead to rights.

  His ass-chewing continued for almost thirty minutes and only ended when Devon, the calmest of their Force, took the phone from Royce.

  “Do you have any leads?” The Guardsman they all called the Zen Master asked.

  “I can tell I’m getting close, but something is keeping me from using our mating link. I’ve tried everything I know of but other than old fashioned tracking, I’ve come up empty-handed.”

  “Look, Jace, I know what you’re going through but don’t give up. Royce, Kyra, Lance, and I will be there by morning.”

  The young Guardsman couldn’t stop the groan that crossed his lips and wished it back when Devon snickered. “Don’t worry, young’un, the old man will be cooled off by then. If he isn’t, I’ll remind him what he’s like when Kyra is out of his sight.”

  Everyone, including the men standing behind him, chuckled. “Thanks, Dev. I know what I did was wrong but…” He paused trying to find the right words.

  Thankfully, Devon finished the sentence for him. “But she’s your mate and nothing matters as much as finding her.”

  Jace nodded. “Yeah, that about sums it up.”

  “Don’t worry. We’ll find her. You’re with the best tracker I’ve ever seen and on his home turf.”

  “Thanks, Dev.”

  “You’re welcome. Now give the phone to Rory, Royce needs to talk to him.”

  Handing the phone back to his mentor’s younger brother, Jace asked Brannoc if there was a place he and Liam could get something to eat and take a quick shower. They were directed to the dorms where the trainees from other clans stayed during their training. After a quick shower and fresh clothes, both young Guardsmen felt themselves again but they were still starving. It only took a few minutes to locate the kitchen, empty the refrigerator, and make two huge sandwiches.

  They ate until they were full, cleaned up their mess, and were heading out the door when two of the Guardsmen Jace didn’t know, that had been standing with Rory, came walking into the room.

  “I’m Declan and this is Pearce.” The taller of the two announced as he made his way to the refrigerator and grabbed two bottles of water. Tossing one to his friend, he leaned against the counter and took a long drink from his bottle.

  “Nice to meet you.” Jace and Liam answered in unison, making the other Guardsmen grin.

  “Rory’s still on the phone with Royce and Kyra. Seems the little witch knows of the Dorcha and wants to check her facts before they head over here and we go hunting.”

  “Great,” was the only response Jace could muster. Just the thought of having a face-to-face ‘discussion’ with Royce made him wish for a magic spell to turn back time. Unfortunately, he was going to have to suck it up and take his lumps.

  Declan laughed out loud. “Don’t sweat it young’un, Royce is all bluster. We all grew up with him. He and Rian used to make all our lives miserable. Rian would set us up with his practical jokes and Roy would kick our asses when we fell for it. Just nod your heads and say ‘yes, sir’ while he bitches and it’ll be over before you know it.”

  “Hell, that little witch mate of his might even have him calmed down by the time they get here. She’s a keeper, ya know. Best thing that ever happened to the old man.” Pearce spoke for the first time and Jace decided he liked him already.

  They all stood around talking until Rory’s voice sounded in their minds. “Head ‘em up. Move ‘em out. Meet us in the Ancestor’s Hall.”

  Jace and Liam followed the other Guardsmen across the training pitch, past a few smaller buildings to an ivy-covered building. Six stone columns stood guard around the porch that led to a set of huge black double doors with brass doorknockers the shape of dragon’s heads. As Jace came closer to the pillars, he recognized the story of the dragon shifter’s existence carved into the stone in the glyphs that made up the language of the first dragons. It confirmed what he’d always been told, that the story was an integral part of every lair.

  Pearce and Declan opened the doors, motioning for him and Liam to enter the hall. Standing at the head of a large oak table that bore the crest of their clan, carved in intricate detail, was Rory with the same shit-eating grin Jace was beginning to think the older Guardsman had been born with. The other Guardsmen were seated around the table, chatting among themselves.

  As Rory spoke the others became silent. “Now that we’re all here, let’s recap a bit so we can get this show on the road.” Looking directly at Jace he added, “Tell us what you know and then I’ll fill in the gaps with what Kyra just told me about the Dorcha.”

  Jace looked to Liam for help, but the grin on his friend’s face made it clear…Jace was on his own. Taking a deep breath, he recounted Melanie’s conversation with her grandfather, told how their mating bond had grown stronger then suddenly disappeared. He finished with the scene he found at her home. No one spoke, but he saw the look of concentration on every Guardsman’s face. Waiting as patiently as possible, he started to count, a trick he’d learned from his father.

  “Counting chickens, bro?” Liam’s voice sounded in his mind.

  “No dumbass, just trying to keep my cool.”

  “And how’s that working for ya?”

  “Not so great. What if…”

  “Now stop that shit right there, J. There’s no way any of us is gonna let anything happen to your mate.” Liam cut him off, speaking with an authority Jace rarely heard from his laid back friend.

  “Damn straight,” Rory added, catching them both off guard. Chuckling, he continued, “You guys suck at shielding.”

  “Yeah, you really do.” Everyone in the room laughed.

  Kellan was the first to speak out loud, his Scottish brogue so prevalent it took Jace’s brain a minute to translate. “Do you have anything of lass’ with you? Anything from her home that her kidnappers may have touched?”

  Grabbing his backpack, Jace pulled out the scrub top Melanie had been wearing the last time he saw her, as well as her keys and a few pieces of a broken knickknack he’d found on her bedroom floor. Handing them to Kellan as if they were the most precious treasures in the world, Jace prayed they would help with their search.

  The scarred Guardsman placed the items on the table, closed his eyes, and seemed to be centering himself. Jace watched as he slowly opened his eyes, carefully picked up the largest shard of the broken collectible and focused. It was so unexpected, it made the younger Guardsman want to ask what was going on but could see from the solemn expressions around the table that his questions would not be welcome.

  Time marched on and on. Impatient, Jace continued to r
each through the silent mating bond, searching for any sign of his mate. His frustration grew when again he emerged empty handed. The thought of pacing to burn off some of his nervous energy crossed his mind at the same time Liam spoke through their unique mindspeak link, which thankfully ensured privacy. “Chill J, Kellan’s the best. Just give him a few more minutes. From the looks of it, he’s almost done.”

  “Damn, I hope you’re right.”

  The words had no sooner left his mouth than Kellan began speaking. “Your mate was one of the Dorcha but that was long ago. It appears she renounced her affiliation, which is a real feat considering she’s a member of their ‘royal family’. She also hid away her magic at a very young age and has had no contact with anything magical, except us, since that time. Her kidnappers were male, doused in black magic, and most definitely part of the Dorcha.”

  Kellan paused. Jace braced himself, afraid to breathe until the retired marine started again. “She’s in a room in what appears to be a warehouse or an abandoned industrial facility of some type. The wizards must be sure they’ve gotten away with her abduction because they have no camouflage – magical or otherwise – on the building, only an Isolation Spell on her. She’s deep within its walls, but we can find her.”

  The Guardsman relaxed against the back of his chair, took a deep breath, and looked around the room. His brethren nodded their appreciation while absorbing what he’d said. Kellan’s skills were legendary, but Jace had never expected them to be so detailed and … mystical. No one else seemed surprised. They were preparing to follow the war hero anywhere he led.

  “Kellan will lead. Brannoc, you and your maps are second. Pearce, Declan, Jace, and Liam spread out in the middle. Lennox and I will bring up the rear. I’d hate for the mad bomber here to blow anyone up.” He chuckled at his own joke as Lennox shrugged like it might actually happen, then Rory added, “Mac will meet us if he makes it back in time.”