Psyche Shield

by Chrissie Buhr

  The man at the nearby table nearly exploded in panic. With great effort, he tried to act casual. He wiped his fingers with a cloth napkin, dropped it on his plate, and left without a glance in our direction. I sensed Billie's smile but the man’s retreat distracted me. "That was weird.” I spoke aloud and to Billie at the same time.

  What was weird? She replied, instantly concerned.

  Glenn noticed him too. With a puzzled look he watched as the man hurried towards the front of the restaurant. He lowered his voice once again and asked, "What was that about?”

  “I don't know. But now he's afraid of me. He sensed me talking to Billie. I'm sure of it. Do you smell Mage?” He cocked his head at me and frowned. None of my packmates would fail to mention a Mage in the vicinity. "Okay, stupid question. Let's see who he is.” Someone's acting very strangely and I think he sensed our mindspeech. We're checking into it.

  Be careful. She cautioned.

  Glenn and I rose from the table and followed him. He knew but didn't turn or acknowledge us in any way. Quickly paying for his meal, he left without waiting for his change. The server would receive a nice tip from the situation.

  “We'll be right back.” I assured the cashier with what I hoped was a convincing smile. He nodded skeptically but didn't try to stop us. Outside we paused for only a second. The man had disappeared, but Glenn had his scent and I sensed him off to our right. We followed, picking up the pace. The building ended at a parking lot, and when we turned the corner we came face to face with the wide-eyed man.

  He watched Glenn diligently while focusing all of his attention on me. Cold fury began to overshadow his terror and he spoke to me in a low defensive tone. "I’ll make you a deal. Leave me alone and I’ll mind my own business. Okay?”

  “What are you talking about?” I asked him, looking at Glenn to see if he understood. The Wolf only shrugged, mystified by the man's words.

  His gaze never left Glenn, and I only knew he spoke to me because I could sense the direction of his thoughts. "I don't want any part of this, but I don’t get involved. Don't follow me and don’t try anything.”

  From a Human, the statement made no sense. Glenn looked at the man curiously. "What do you think we're going to do?”

  He waved his arm indignantly at Glenn but answered as if I asked the question instead of my packmate. "I don't do this.” He started to walk away without offering a sensible explanation.

  Human or not, he knew something. My patience grew thin and I challenged him one more time, speaking more firmly than I intended. "You don't do what?”

  He turned back and looked directly at me for the first time, his eyes burning indignantly. "Claiming.” He spat and walked away briskly.

  Glenn looked as shocked as I felt. Neither of us sensed Mage, but with that one word the man confirmed that he knew about Mages. He knew about claiming. Our mental powers gave Mages the ability to twist another’s mind to our will. Mages called it claiming, but Wolves called it collaring. This practice lay at the center of the ongoing conflict and distrust between the races. For a Wolf it was a fate worse than death.

  Glenn trotted after him and I followed a heartbeat behind. "Hang on a second. Wait up.” My packmate insisted eagerly, touching the man's arm lightly to get his attention.

  Panicked by the contact, the businessman spun around with wide eyes. Magepower gathered around him as he turned, filling the air. He held it stagnant, brandishing it like a weapon against Glenn. His voice raised, shrill with desperation. “Get him away from me.”

  Sensing the magepower, Glenn backed up two steps and raised his hands as if the man held a gun. From such a close range, Glenn didn’t have to back off. He could reach the Mage before the man had time to think. "Whoa. Take it easy. We just want to talk. Um. Sadie, a little help here?”

  I could gather magepower and stop him from hurting Glenn easily, and I was ready. I didn’t believe it necessary and spoke urgently before the misunderstanding escalated. "He's not claimed.” Slowly I stepped forward until I stood side by side with Glenn.

  The Mage stared at me doubtfully before releasing the magepower, crackles of energy around him dissipating. Glenn blew out a breath and lowered his hands, composing himself. He poked at the tense situation humorously. "Now he smells like a Mage.”

  “I noticed.” I said before introducing myself to the wary man in front of us. “I'm Sadie. This is Glenn.”

  “He's a Wolf.” The Mage stared in disbelief at my packmate.

  “I noticed.” I repeated.

  “What's your name?” Glenn asked, the simple question disarming the Mage considerably.

  “Silas,” he replied, still ready to bolt. His face screwed up in confusion as he scrutinized me. He didn’t read me despite the clear temptation. "I sensed mindspeech and thought you were a Mage.”

  “I am a Mage.” I assured him, just as baffled but for a completely different reason.

  He looked at me like I belonged in a straightjacket. "And you're with a Wolf? Are you crazy?”

  The absurdity of the entire conversation caught up with me, and I laughed uncontrollably. "Probably.”

  The Mage continued to study us. Finally he spoke directly to Glenn, “She’s telling the truth, isn’t she? You’re not claimed.”

  “It’s true,” Glenn assured the man. “Sadie’s Pack. None of us are collared.”

  “She’s Pack? You mean you live with Wolves? How did that happen?” He believed us but couldn’t wrap his brain around it.

  “My girlfriend’s Wolf. I was raised Human and I’ve only known a few Mages. You’re the first I’ve met who doesn’t claim.”

  Glenn pointed towards the restaurant and suggested, "Why don't we go back to the steak house and we’ll tell you over dinner? I'll buy you a beer. Or another meal since you didn't finish yours.” Silas hesitated only a moment before agreeing.

  He's a Mage! I told Billie excitedly. He didn't want anything to do with me because he thought I'd collared Glenn. He was mad at me for it! He's joining us for dinner.

  “Who are you talking to?” Silas noticed Glenn's absence in the conversation and his suspicion returned.

  That's amazing, love! Good luck. She blew me a mental kiss.

  “Billie. Let's get back before they take our food away.” They hadn't cleared our plates, to Glenn's blatant pleasure. Silas ordered the beer Glenn offered him, and he looked like he needed it. A simple illusion allowed us to talk freely without anyone overhearing, and I enlightened Glenn of our privacy. "No one can hear us unless they're right next to us.”

  He nodded gratefully and addressed the Mage. "We knew something was up even before you bolted. We didn't mean to scare you.”

  Silas let out a sharp breath. "I sensed you when you came in. Wolves are hard to miss. I thought it would look suspicious if I left right away. When I sensed her mindspeech I assumed you were claimed. I don’t want any part of that.”

  “You couldn't tell she's a Mage?” Glenn asked one of the questions on my mind.

  Silas shook his head. "She hasn't used magepower recently enough to be obvious. To know for sure would have given me away.” That explained the nagging feeling I'd had about him.

  “Every Mage I’ve met so far has claimed. Do very many Mages think like us?” I eagerly asked about others of my race.

  “That's a peculiar question to hear a Mage ask. You were raised by Humans, though? That doesn't happen very often. Yeah, a lot of us think claiming is wrong.” Silas informed me, his eyes darting repeatedly at Glenn as if expecting him to suddenly sprout claws. "But we don't go anywhere near Wolves. It's too dangerous. I've never been this close to a Wolf.” The server delivered a beer and the conversation stalled briefly. Silas drank deeply, the action settling his nerves a little even before the alcohol had a chance to take effect.

  Glenn ate casually, as if he had dinner with strange Mages regularly. Schooling his posture deliberately, he tried to intimidate the poor man as little as possible. It didn't help much, reminding me that I
understood very little body language before I came to the pack. Up to that point I’d relied solely on mental abilities to read people. Glenn bobbed his head in my direction and said. "Sadie's the first Mage I've associated with.”

  “How did this happen? How are you still alive?” He asked me incredulously.

  “I was adopted and raised Human. I didn’t know Mages and Wolves existed at all until recently. A couple months ago I started dating Billie. She and I were already mates when it all came out. The Alpha was reluctant to let me live, but by some miracle we convinced him to let me stay. Gaining the Wolves’ trust and becoming part of the pack has been an uphill battle.”

  Glenn laughed loudly at the understatement, startling Silas with his outburst. "Uphill battle. More like scaling a sheer cliff without a safety line while we threw rocks at you from above.”

  “What he said.” I poked a finger at Glenn affectionately. "He disagreed with our Alpha's decision to let me live.”

  “Loudly. I offered to take care of the problem myself.” Glenn added, his laughter mellowing into a chuckle.

  Initially one of the most vocal Wolves against me, he’d surprised everyone with his change of heart. I grinned at his honesty. "He thinks I'm okay now.”

  “You're a real member of a real Wolf Pack?” I sensed a multitude of questions rise in Silas, too many to choose from.

  “I really am.” I assured him.

  “This is unbelievable. No one is going to believe me.” He declared. "I don't know anyone who's survived meeting a Wolf unless they claimed him.”

  “By the smell of it, you're not sure you're going to survive meeting me.” Glenn pointed out.

  Silas's fingers peeled the label on the beer bottle nervously. "I'm not, and if I survive you my wife’s going to murder me. More than one person has told me curiosity will get me killed.”

  “Wolves think that all Mages are out to collar them. Claim them. The only ones bold enough to enter Wolf Territory are. They're doing what they think is necessary to protect themselves and their pack.” I explained why Wolves routinely killed any trespassing Mage.

  “If that’s what you think of us, why are you here?” He probed Glenn.

  “Sadie would have said something if you were dangerous. Why are you here?” Glenn threw the question back at him.

  “You stepped back.” He elaborated when he sensed Glenn's confusion. "You could have killed me out there. When you backed down, I knew you wouldn't.”

  Glenn smiled and nodded, pushing the empty plate away so he could lean his elbows on the table. “You didn’t like Sadie because you thought she collared me. That makes you different from every other Mage I’ve met. It was worth the benefit of the doubt.”

  “You said Sadie’s the first Mage you’ve associated with.” Silas challenged him apprehensively.

  “She’s not the first one I’ve met.” Glenn elaborated. “The others didn’t get the benefit of the doubt. Looking back, I don’t think they deserved it. I hope I’m right about that.”

  Silas looked like he would ask what happened and then quickly shut his mouth. Instead he turned to me. “Boise’s the nearest pack that I know of. Is that where you’re from?”

  “Yes. You live here in Ontario?” I asked eagerly.

  Silas nodded briskly, the jerky movement shifting his glasses and he adjusted them. "I grew up here. I’ve never been to Boise or anywhere near it. I had to drive home from Salt Lake once. It took an extra five hours to avoid Wolf Territory.”

  “Then other Mages live here too?” The idea of an entire community of Mages so close to home thrilled me.

  “Sure, quite a few. I probably shouldn't have said that.” He blanched a little.

  “None of us will come after you.” Glenn promised. "We don't go looking for Mages unless they have one of our packmates.”

  “He's telling the truth.” I assured the skeptical Mage. "Can I meet some of them? My entire life I've been alone, and you were just an hour away.”

  He hesitated, his eyes darting towards Glenn again. This time he made himself hold the Wolf’s gaze for several seconds and I admired his fortitude. "I can ask. But I don't think anyone's going to come with a Wolf around.”

  Excitement burned through me and I forgot about getting home as quickly as possible. "Mind if we stay a little longer than planned?”

  Glenn sat back in his chair again and lifted a single shoulder. "I don't mind if Jason doesn't. But we have to go soon if we're going to do the job we came for.”

  I wanted to stay with Silas longer, but we’d put too much into the convention to abandon it. "We should finish the job, and I really shouldn't stay away from home too long. Can I meet them tomorrow?”

  “I'll see who's willing. I can't promise anything.” Silas warned me.

  Glenn pulled out his cell phone, the movement causing Silas to flinch automatically. He punched speed dial and waited for our Alpha to answer. "Jason. Sadie and I met a Mage here in Ontario. We’re having dinner with him.” I listened to only one side of the conversation, but I could imagine the Alpha’s response. "It's not like that. He's a lot like Sadie.” He glanced at me comically. "No, he’s not a disrespectful pain the ass. I meant he doesn’t collar Wolves. Sadie wants to stay a little longer so she can meet others. I think it's a good idea.” He listened again and then spoke to me. "He wants me to stick close to you.”

  “No one's going to come if I bring a Wolf.” I spoke towards the phone, knowing the Alpha could hear me.

  I couldn't hear him, and Glenn relayed the message. “He says to quit arguing and do what you’re told.”

  I sighed, knowing Jason would hear it and correctly assume the look of annoyance on my face. “Would you put him on speaker phone?”

  Glenn pressed a button and Jason's harsh voice emerged. “Do not leave Glenn behind unprotected in Mage territory!” Silas jumped, his face draining of color.

  “Do you really think I'm going to put Glenn in danger? You know me better than that,” I snapped before reining myself in. “I just want to meet a few of them. If I have to I'll come back alone, but Silas is here right now and he's willing to introduce me. They're not like the others, Alpha. This is my chance to meet Mages like me.”

  “The Mage is listening?” Jason asked, his voice lowering.

  “Yes. He's sitting right here, and his name is Silas, not Mage,” I reminded him stubbornly. Calling me Mage instead of by my proper name was a common insult from him. I smiled secretively at Silas.

  Jason ignored my remark and directed a menacing question at the wide-eyed man. “Mage, are you planning on messing with my packmates in any way?”

  Silas opened his mouth twice before any sound came out. I gave him a reassuring nod and he squeaked, “No.”

  “Will anyone else mess with them if I allow this?”

  Silas gathered courage as the conversation continued. “I doubt it. No one I know would go anywhere near a Wolf. That's suicide.”

  “Not good enough. Give me your word none of your people will try anything.” He insisted, and I stared hard at the phone, biting my lip to keep from saying something I’d regret.

  He shook his head. “I can’t promise that. I don’t have that kind of control. But I promise I won’t invite anyone who claims.”

  Jason shifted his questions back to me and Glenn. “Is he telling the truth?”

  “I don't smell a lie.” Glenn assured his Alpha, leaning back in his seat. Confident my request would be approved, he winked at me.

  “This is all above board, Jason. He's the real thing.” I replied hastily, seeing success in sight.

  “Mage, if you’re lying and they disappear I’ll come to Ontario personally and bring my two strongest Wolves with me. Understand?”

  Silas showed true courage with his shaky reply. “I understand. If anything happens to them it won’t be because of me or my friends. I can promise you that.”

  “Sadie, do your mindspeech crap and check in with Billie regularly. Be home by tomorrow night. Try
not to bring any strays home this time.” Every time I'd encountered a Mage I'd come home with a newly freed Wolf. The last one had spent forty years collared and didn’t survive it with his sanity intact.

  “Are you suggesting I leave someone behind?” My eyes flashed mischievously. I couldn't help deliberately antagonizing him and spoke without thinking. Fortunately Jason didn't mention my ability to uncollar Wolves.

  “I'm suggesting you stay out of trouble for once in your life.” He growled.

  Glenn didn't bother masking his smirk, but no sound came out of him. I had less self-control and snorted. “I'd love to. Trouble follows me, not the other way around.”

  He gave a disbelieving grunt and growled a final order. “Guard my Wolf, Sadie.”

  “You know I will.” That was good enough for him, and he ended the call. I gave Glenn a triumphant look. “I think he's starting to like me.”

  Glenn disagreed. “Nah. He can’t stand you. He would have kicked you out the door weeks ago if he could do it without losing Billie.”

  Silas looked pale after the conversation with Jason and pointed weakly at the silent cell phone. “That did not make me feel better.”

  “He's responsible for the safety of the pack. He's lost too many Wolves to Mages to treat this lightly. Did I just defend Jason's rudeness? Maybe I'm starting to like him.”

  Glenn poked a loaded finger at me shrewdly. “You like him. You pretend not to so you can torment him.”

  “You deliberately antagonize an Alpha Wolf?” Silas looked ready to pull out the straightjacket again.

  Glenn chuckled and answered for me. “She’s not the smartest member of the pack.”

  “Hey!” I defended before turning to the more important question. “Tomorrow then? When and where?”

  “Okay, um. Public place.” He considered it and suggested a café near our hotel at noon.

  “I'll be there, without Glenn. We have to get going, but I am glad we ran into you.”

  “So am I.” Glenn told the Mage, extending his hand as we stood. Silas looked as if the hand would bite him and shook it carefully. We paid and left, leaving a bewildered Mage finishing his beer.