When he did come back, I wasn’t quite sure what my play would be. I considered roping in Drue and Fallon to secretly siphon off work. Yet while I was sure they’d go for it, I didn’t want to get them into trouble. Maybe I could figure out a way to get the other office hands to give me certain things before they ended up on Xander’s desk. The only problem was that there wasn’t a set flow for who brought what or even who brought it. It seemed to vary in terms of crisis and patrol.
I found myself wondering if there was a better way to orchestrate workflow in HQ, toying with ideas inspired by my nursing days. Back then, I’d rotated through shifts in the hospital, but triage was triage. Besides, HQ, for all its busy flows of people, was relatively calm most days. Only once had I seen it absolutely chaotic.
Winfyre Ridge had been around for almost six years. HQ didn’t have to be such a mess. It seemed like the other parts of Winfyre had gotten all the attention, because that all worked smoothly, and HQ was left to function to the best of the Alphas’ abilities. But at least the other Alphas had their people, their teams and roles, and knew how to delegate. Xander didn’t. Half the stuff he did could easily be handled by someone else.
Inspired and annoyed, I went to the cabinet and found a large piece of paper. Armed with pencils and pens, I began to sketch out a rough idea of what I called “HQ Triage.”
I was sprucing up the rough draft when two teenagers crashed into the room. Jumping out of my seat, I watched as they glanced around and saw me. Both of them were tall and brown-skinned, wearing the same red patch that denoted them as Northbane shifter rookies. But one was lanky, with rich chestnut curls and an easy smile, while the other was stocky and serious, with short dark hair. They were also vaguely familiar, although I couldn’t place them.
“You’re Tiani, right?” the first boy asked, and his smile curved up in a charming way. “I’m Bishop Grace, Drue’s brother. But you can call me Bix.”
I almost wanted to laugh when the other boy scowled. "Knock it off, Bix."
“Ah, and this is Gabriel Juarez. We were looking for…” He glanced around. “Well, anyone.”
“We need an Alpha, Bix,” Gabriel muttered. “Preferably Xander.”
“I’ve been filling in a bit for Xander,” I said and stood up. It was disconcerting that both of these young men were taller than I was, so I stayed behind the desk and folded my arms. “What seems to be the problem?”
“Uh, well, you see…” Bix now looked reluctant to say anything, and his friend scowled even more. “It’s not really office stuff like this.” He gestured at the desk, trying to sound diplomatic. I still bristled. “We need a shifter. Sorry.”
“Is it an Excris?” I demanded, my throat oddly tight. The boys glanced at each other and shook their heads, looking more and more awkward. “Spit it out—we’re wasting time.”
“Two rookie shifters are going at it,” Bix said.
“Well, they’re planning on going at it,” Gabriel said and hunched his shoulders. “Usually we wouldn't snitch and let ’em at each other because they’re kind of idiots, but they’re planning on brawling in their shifter forms. That’s not allowed in Winfyre. I mean, Xander loses his mind over it.”
“All the Alphas do, actually,” Bix added, and I nodded. I had heard about that rule.
“We can’t find anyone,” Gabriel said. “All the Vixens are off, and so are the Alphas and all the patrol leaders. Anyone else wouldn’t have the clout, y’know?”
“You don’t need a shifter,” I said with more confidence than I felt as I crossed the room and grabbed my jacket. “You need someone to slap some sense into them. Where are they?”
“You’re going to go?” Bix gaped at me as I trotted down the stairs, head held high and something burning in my belly. “Wait, Ms. Elkhadi, these are two big bear shifters, and they’ve got what Rett calls ‘teenage boy bullhead syndrome.’ I’m not sayin’ you’re not capable…”
“These guys are rough and tumble, miss,” Gabriel said in his blunt way, catching up to me at the door and tugging on a hat against the freezing wind. “Recruited ’em out of the Tiselk. They don’t have family in Winfyre or any ties; they’re just shifters looking to start a life here.”
“Real ornery fellows, according to Luke,” Bix added.
“The Alphas aren’t here, and I assume these two are about to start anytime now, so we don’t have time to track down someone else. You two don’t have to tag along, but you will tell me where they are. In fact, I’d prefer it if you hung back.”
Gabriel and Bix slowed, looking at each other and then at me.
“Now,” I barked. “Or Xander will hear about this.”
“Shit,” Bix sighed and then winced, giving me a sheepish look. “All right, all right. Damn, I see why Reagan and Cass like you so much. You’re a lot like ’em.”
“Xander, too,” Gabriel said thoughtfully.
Fire heated my cheeks, but I didn’t have the time or wherewithal to correct his sentiment. Instead, I got the directions from the two of them to a clearing in the South Woods, a place where rookies ran drills but was otherwise unused.
Then I ordered them to keep looking for an Alpha, ostensibly to catch up with us afterward and dole out punishment—but really, in case I couldn’t handle two pissed-off teen bear shifters.
Finding the narrow, half-hidden trail off the main road to Osko’s Point, I hesitated for the first time. Maybe this could only be handled by a shifter. My fingers went to the bracelet on my left wrist, and I twisted it back and forth, wishing things could be different.
But belligerent teenagers were the same anywhere, right? I’d dealt with angry kids at the clinic and in my group homes. Half of it was posturing. Plus, I had something of Xander’s reputation and a mystery of my own hanging over me. People didn’t know who I was or what I could do, so I could leverage that to keep these knuckleheads from doing something they’d regret.
With a deep, deliberate breath, I plunged into the woods and told myself with every step that I could do this. Shoulders back and head held high, I strolled into the clearing as I heard voices being raised.
Ahead of me was an expanse of hard ground, denuded of grass and snow. Along the edges were torn up trees, many gouged with claws and large boulders. There were teenagers perched on them, cheering and yelling. Two clumps of kids were on the ground, standing behind two kids.
One of them was thick and strong, with buzzed hair and pale skin. He was sneering and pounding his bare chest. The other kid was lean, but far taller, and had a certain fluidity of movement. He was in the process of stripping off his shirt and glared back at the other kid.
No one saw me at first.
Then a few kids saw me stalking forward and fell quiet. A slow hush followed me until I was only about five feet away from the two kids, who were exchanging heated words and ugly promises.
Lifting my fingers to my lips, I blew a sharp, strident whistle into the cold air.
For a moment, I had the satisfaction of seeing those two idiots jump and cower, eyes flicking around. Then they saw me, and confusion rushed over their faces, followed by contempt.
“Show is over, kids,” I said, injecting a certain amount of scorn into my stern words. “All of you need to get back to what you should be doing.” I pointed at the boys. “You two, come with me.”
“Who the hell are you?” the taller kid asked, an angry flush coming into his swarthy skin.
“I'm the new Deputy of Winfyre," I shot at him, not sure where that had come from. Yet I liked the sound of it. I'd make a kickass deputy. "Bane's second-in-command when he can't be around." There was some muttering, and I saw a couple of kids shift and streak off into the woods. "You all have five seconds to disperse, and I’ll think about keeping this from him and the other Alphas, as well as your Squad Leaders.”
“I’ve seen her with Bane, man,” I heard someone whisper.
“Me, too.”
“I don’t give a shit!” the pale kid burst out and shoved
the other kid. “We’re ending this.”
“Fine with me, you bastard,” the other kid spat and took a swing at him.
My feet flew forward, and I got between them before any more fists flew. “STOP!” I roared and glared between them. “Now. And don’t you dare throw another punch. I mean it.”
More muttering rose up, but the pale kid stared me down. “I think you’re the one who should leave.”
The kids in the clearing went still, staring, avid-eyed, at the two of us. Now they sensed a shift, and I blinked, trying not to crane my neck as I stared up at the behemoth of teen rage.
His nostrils flared, and he took a step forward, hands twitching. “Are you even a shifter?”
For a moment, my mind went blank, and then I laughed. The kid looked baffled, his bravado slipping. Throwing caution to the wind, I tilted my chin and grinned at him. “No. So, you gonna take a swing at me, kid, huh? That how you want to play this? Threatening Bane’s deputy before brawling as shifters?” Chuckling, I looked around. “I’m happy to add names to my list of teenagers in over their goddamn heads and pulling dumb shit that’s sure to piss off the Alphas.”
The kid stepped back, his face working, and several more teenagers streaked off into the woods. His opponent now looked nervous, too, rubbing the back of his head and studying me.
“How’d you know—?” he asked, catching my eye.
“Doesn’t matter,” I interrupted. “Come with me now, and I’ll consider not telling Bane about your shenanigans. Otherwise, I’ll be happy to tell him. Although with the week he’s having, I’m not sure he’s going to go easy on you two idiots.”
Both of them nodded, shamefaced, and shuffled forward. Then they looked beyond me, and their eyes went huge, throats working. I turned and saw a giant black bear emerging from the woods. No one said anything as he came forward and shifted back into an incensed Rett Deacon.
His normal cheer was lost under a stern, icy look that made him look like Kal.
"Only reason I'm not exiling your asses is you had the sense to listen to Elkhadi.” Rett’s voice was low and furious as he walked up to us. “Both of you get your asses to the southern gate and wait for me there.” The two boys shifted and shot off. “As for the rest of you”—his eyes shot around the clearing—“training starts an hour earlier tomorrow and goes an hour later.”
There was a collective groan that was cut short as Rett glared around. In a matter of minutes, the clearing had emptied, and I took a shaky breath of relief. My knees felt a little funny, but a burst of triumph flared up around my heart as I grinned up at Rett.
He gave me a serious, searching look, and my grin faded a bit.
“That was…” Rett paused and rubbed the center of his forehead. “Two angry teen shifters? Jumping between them like that? You’re a stasis, Tiani.”
“I’m also someone who knows what it’s like to be an idiotic teenager, pissed off at the world and scared because you’re on your own, terrified of blowing your chance and also kind of hoping to get it over with.” I tried to sound noncommittal, but Rett’s hand fell, and he stared at me. “And I was trying to help you guys out. Bix and Gabriel couldn’t find anyone.”
“They found me.”
“And you would’ve been too late,” I said, bristling a little.
For a moment, Rett looked taken aback, and then his eyes crinkled. “Excuse me?”
“Well, you would’ve been,” I said, not wanting to back down even as a grin tugged onto my face.
“Xander would’ve lost it on those kids if something had happened to you,” Rett said. I rolled my eyes before I could help it. “Damn, the two of you are so alike.”
“Rett, could you keep this between us?” I asked.
“We’ll see,” he said and gestured with his head for us to start walking.
I supposed I had to be content with that.
“So, should I take this as interest in helping run the rookie training in Winfyre?”
Snorting, I gave the big, twinkling guy a dark look. “Hell, no.” Then I softened a bit as Bix and Gabriel appeared at the end of the trail, a look of relief crossing their faces. “Well, I do like to boss people around. And I like those kids.”
“Mm-hm,” Rett said, as though I weren’t fooling him one bit.
“Wow, Tiani,” Bix said as he ran up to us, bouncing on his toes and grinning. “Badass.”
“What did you say to them?” Gabriel asked, eyes wide with awe.
Tilting up my chin, I related my story with a certain relish, and the two teen boys looked even more impressed at the end. Rett was hiding a small smile. However, I felt oddly deflated. I was hoping they’d pass it along to Xander, but, more than that, I suddenly wished he’d been here to tell.
We walked back together as far as the crossroads between the gate and Cobalt, where Rett and the boys broke off. They were going to the gate, and I supposed I should make for home. It was getting late, the sky darkening and a heavy feeling hanging in the air, like rain was coming.
Everything felt far away and odd, the victory in the clearing turning to dust. I was glad I’d stopped those boys, but I also had a bitter taste of hypocrisy in my mouth. It was only due to pretense that I’d been able to stop them.
Not even the pretense that I was Xander’s deputy, but that I was a part of Winfyre.
Tipping my face toward the sky, I knew it was time to accept the inevitable. A few drops of rain hit my cheeks. Even if I wanted it, even if I felt like I belonged here—I never would.
One day, and soon, I had to leave.
Rain began to fall in earnest, and I was glad of it, hiding me in plain sight. Closing my eyes, I stood there, utterly alone, and let myself grieve the loss of the tiny dreams that had taken root in my heart.
Living here, close to Iris, and seeing her flourish. Making friends with the families here. Working in Winfyre to keep it safe and prosperous. Keeping those rascally young shifters in line.
Staying with Xander. Getting the brute to smile and laugh a bit more. Debating and arguing with him. Helping him. Ensuring he got sleep and food and didn’t run himself into the ground.
Making sure he knew he was human and deserved a damn life.
A small gasp escaped me, and I pressed a hand to my mouth, gritting my teeth against the pain. I couldn’t leave before I told someone what a dangerous line he was walking. Maybe Iris, who could tell Kal, or even that Beylore. She seemed to have influence over him.
My eyes fluttered open as I tried to pull myself awake and shake off this moment of weakness. Use this final task to focus myself. Eyes blurring, I swiped at them and sighed.
Then I looked up and saw Xander.
At first, I didn’t jump or startle because I was certain I was hallucinating.
Standing there, in front of me, silent and still, soaked to the bone. His shirt stuck to his skin, highlighting every muscle like a dream drenched in desire. Raindrops curved down his face and seemed to wash away that granite control, leaving a vulnerable and aching look in its place.
Something in those blue eyes, surrounded by wet lashes and dark brows, had a flicker of unconscious devastation. The dull echo went through my bones and seared my heart. On my wrist, the bracelet prickled with cold purpose, and I closed a hand over it on reflex.
What have you done?
Only when Xander moved did reality make its jarring presence known. I drew back, heart hammering. He was—he was here. Looking at me like that, the way I’d dreamed he would.
But he was in front of me, and I stared up at him. Right there, so close I could feel the heat from his skin contrasting with the cold rain. Right there, within reach.
Right where was supposed to be.
In a rough, urgent gesture, Xander pulled me to him and enfolded his body around mine as though to protect me from the rain. One hand gripped low on my waist, and the other slid up, under my hair, until it cupped my neck. Long fingers almost spanned my entire throat, and his thumb brushed up the side of my ne
ck until he found the pulse point and rested it there.
Disoriented by this intimate gesture, I stood rigid in his arms for a good minute until I couldn’t fight it any longer. My hands went from bracing against his chest to keep our bodies apart, to sliding around and gripping his shirt. His even breath stirred by my ear while I pressed my face in the space between his collar and his neck, my cheek resting on his damp, bare skin.
I wish I could stay with you forever. I clung to him harder. I wish things were different.
“Tell me what’s wrong,” Xander suddenly said in a soft voice I’d never heard before. It sent a shiver of longing through me that was so strong, I thought I might combust. One hand rubbed up and down my back. “Let me help, too.”
“Too?” I asked, a little raspy.
His lips were so close to my ear, I swore I felt him smile. “I know what you’ve been up to.”
“Nothing gets past you, does it?” I asked.
“Not much,” Xander said, and a sigh escaped him. “But some things, yeah.” There was a moment of silence, and the rain seemed to hammer the earth harder. “Tiani—”
A scream cut through the air, followed by a desperate plea.
“Help!”
Chapter Nineteen
Tiani
“That was Drue,” I breathed and pulled back, meeting Xander’s eyes.
Fear and rage filled the dark blue irises, so deep they cut my own heart. His fingers twisted up into my hair, and his thumb slipped up along my jaw, while his other hand pressed my face.
“Go the gate,” he whispered. “Run.”
And he was sprinting through the storm, a dark blur darting through the trees.
"Like hell I will,” I snapped and chased after him.
Briefly, I wondered why he didn’t shift, and then I realized Xander could probably risk it only in the direst of circumstances. Suddenly, a twist of frustration and understanding went through me. That dangerous, thin line he always had to walk to keep Winfyre safe. No wonder he was so exhausted.
Dragon's Oath (Northbane Shifters Book 5) Page 16