The Shifting Storm (Book 4)

by Jeff Hale

  Her cheeks reddened again and sadness crept through her eyes. “We all do stupid things when we’re young, now don’t we? Things we regret?”

  I reached out and drew her to me, the spray running over her face and washing away any tears she might have as she leaned against me.

  “I’m sorry about Cody, Kat.” Her human boy that the vampires hunting her had killed. I put my hands carefully on either side of her face, forced her eyes to meet mine. “But there’s stupid,” I kissed her on the nose, “and there’s wrong. I wasn’t a nice person when I was younger, Kat. In a lot of ways, I’m still not.”

  She gave me a wry smile. “Neither was Aerick, but I loved him anyway.” She laughed softly. “I’m starting to think I just like my guys fucked up and broken.”

  Fucked up and broken. That sounds a lot like how I feel. “I still need to tell you something.”

  She leaned her forehead into my chest. “Out with it then.”

  “I slept with her, the woman in the forest.”

  Her head came back up and I felt her fingers carefully trace the edge of the spike wound near my collarbone, then they lightly touched my neck. “The woman who did this to you?”

  “Yes.” It was my turn to look away.

  “You said you thought she was me.”

  “Yes. Until she tried to kill me, then she didn’t look like you anymore.”

  “So up here,” and she tapped the side of my head, “you thought you were having sex with me?”

  “Not just sex, Kat, I was making love to you, or at least I thought it was you.”

  She stood on tiptoe and pressed her lips to mine, the tip of her tongue teasing at me. “Show me,” she whispered. “Do to me what you did to her and let me burn her from your mind.”

  A moan escaped me as I kissed her back, my hands wanting the feel of her skin in a hunger that ached more than the one in my belly. “I love you, Kat,” I told her, my voice husky.

  She pressed herself tighter to me, her hands doing their own slow exploration, but she didn’t return the endearment; she wasn’t ready yet.

  I was okay with it, at least for the time being. She was mine now, and I could wait.

  ______________________________

  Kat and I walked out onto the veranda sometime later, where both my father and Alex were talking and waiting for us. The awning was pulled back to let the April sun shine down on us, and while it might have been a bit chilly for normal humans, the low sixties didn’t bother shifters too much.

  Stefano was smiling broadly this morning, while Alex seemed somewhat subdued, something I attributed to yesterday’s events. They were seated around a table that was laden with food and I dropped into the seat next to my father, Kat sitting between me and Alex, an apple all the way eaten before I finished filling my plate.

  “Now, Darien,” my father said, lightly touching my arm as I devoured the food in front of me. “I don’t want to know what happened, I don’t want you to try and justify it to me, or not. As far as I am concerned, you were touring Egypt these past couple of months. No blame, no shame, understand?”

  No blame, no shame. I hadn’t expected that from him, to sweep it away and pretend it never happened, that I hadn’t run off and dishonored him. He’d certainly never made any concessions when the American Council had shipped me off to him back in the late 1800s, hoping that he could reform me so they wouldn’t have to kill me. I’d done a lot of very wrong things in my youth, things that I couldn’t really remember the reasons behind, other than my own mistreatment as a half-breed. The only reason I’d even been given any leeway was because my mother was on the American Council and she’d pled my case.

  Matt, my cohort in crime and frustrated conscience, had only escaped severe punishment because he’d done his best to try to rein me in, but they had dissolved his tie to the pack. He had made himself scarce as well, deciding that Great Britain would be a nice place to vacation for a while, where he had eventually joined another pack and met Kat’s father.

  I cleared my plate, giving Kat a smile as she piled more food onto it. “That’s well and good, Stefano, and I appreciate it… but is the Council in agreement with you? I walked out on your plans after all.”

  “Extenuating circumstances. And speaking of the Council, Federic is on his way here now, should be showing up any time. I’ll perform the rites, but the World Council wanted one of their own to witness.”

  Extenuating circumstances? I was sure my father had known where I was, otherwise how had Kat and Alex found me so easily? And it wasn’t exactly as though Grimm was extremely discreet. Was there more going on than I knew, that the Council, especially the World Council, would so easily forgive and forget? But if they didn’t want to deal with it, neither did I; I had enough guilt to deal with in regards to Kat.

  “Fine then, consider it forgotten,” I said.

  “So what exactly is it that you want us to do?” Alex asked, looking from me to my father.

  “Well the supernaturals have always policed their own, you know that.” Stefano inclined his head. “With everything that has happened over the last year, with the humans knowing of our existence now, it’s become harder because the packs no longer have to hide what they are.”

  “They’re bringing too much attention to themselves, not caring if the public sees us as monsters,” I added, my mind going back to that day in Vegas when their pack had attacked us and their Alpha had almost killed Kat. Granted, I hadn’t followed protocol, hadn’t announced our presence to the Alpha and our intentions. He had been within his rights for reparation, but he had tried to take it too far.

  “So what does this have to do with us?” Kat asked, putting more ham on my plate.

  “We want to designate Darien’s pack as Adjudicators. He’ll give up any territory he’s claimed and a rite will be performed that grants him and his pack what we call free territory,” Stefano said.

  “Free territory?” Kat looked confused.

  “Yes. You know how territories work: an Alpha claims a territory, and in that territory he can control not only the shifters in his pack, but he can control, up to a point, those who trespass in his territory, at least those not Alphas, as a way of defense.”

  “Control their Aspect, make it so they can’t change, or force a change?”

  “Yes, Katelyn. When an Alpha is granted free territory, then everything becomes their territory essentially. They and their pack cannot be controlled in other Alphas’ territories, and the Adjudicator Alpha has the ability to control all other non-Alphas. The pack is generally semi-nomadic of sorts, helping to police situations involving shifters, but we understand that you are in school full time, so you three will probably be a bit more settled, just with a lot of traveling.”

  “Isn’t that a bit powerful? You want to give Darien the ability to control other shifters?”

  “He’ll have that power, yes… but there are consequences, dire ones, to abusing it. Adjudicator Alphas who abuse their power tend to lose their Alpha status, and usually their lives as well.”

  “Ah, Stefano, you are advising them of their new positions, eh?” a new voice cut in, and a man just a little bit shorter than Alex strode out onto the veranda. He had short reddish-brown hair and brown eyes, stockily built, with a wide scar that ran from his bottom lip, across his chin, down his neck and disappeared into the collar of his expensive charcoal suit.

  My father stood, embracing the man in a loose hug. “Federic! Your trip was pleasant, yes?”

  “Quite. I don’t have long that I can stay, though, there is urgent business that requires I return to Jerusalem as soon as possible.”

  “If my son is done with his meal, then we can get the rite underway immediately.” Stefano glanced at my plate then looked at me, while Federic turned a knowing smile my way.

  “Federic.” I inclined my head in way of greeting.

  “It was good to hear you were coming home, Darien. Everything is well with you?” Federic was letting me know, in his own
fashion, that the subject of Grimm was closed.

  “Everything is well.”

  “Good, good. Shall we get this done, then?”

  I nodded, standing and following the two men into the villa. I could hear Kat and Alex behind me, then Kat was at my side in less than a blink.

  “So why did they choose you for this?” She wrapped my hand in hers, threading her fingers through mine, careful not to squeeze.

  “Is this lovely girl your mate, Darien?” Federic asked, slowing his step and dipping his head in Kat’s direction.

  “Yes, Elder. This is Katelyn.”

  “Very nice to meet you, dear. As for your question, let’s just say that Darien is repaying an old debt, hmm? Karma maybe?” Federic flashed me a smile again, one that said he knew more than he was letting on, then fell in step with my father again.

  Kat just gave me a confused look but I shook my head. I would explain it to her later, unless she forgot to bring it up again.

  Stefano led us to the large chamber that he used for Council business, a great room with dark stained wood flooring and a vaulted ceiling that went through the second story. The walls in here were painted in murals and a long mahogany table sat at one side, five comfortable cushioned chairs on the far side of it. There was an ornate pottery bowl in the middle of the table, a small silver knife beside it, and I could smell cinnamon and ashwood in the air.

  “So how do we do this?” I asked.

  “Easy enough,” Federic replied. “Oh, we usually draw these things out with a lot of ceremony and pomp, but it’s just us. Both your father and I are empowered to bestow Adjudicatorship, so it will just be a simple rite.”

  “Kneel please,” Stefano told me, and I dropped to my knees at his feet. “You two as well, just behind and to either side.” Kat and Alex mimicked my actions.

  “Darien Torre, son of Stefano Torre and Nascha Greyfeather, do you willing take up the mantle of Adjudicator, and with it all the rights, and responsibilities, in service to your brother and sister shifters?” my father asked solemnly while Federic stood by watching.

  “I do so willing take up the mantle of Adjudicator, with all its rights and responsibilities, in service to my brother and sister shifters,” I answered dutifully.

  “Witnessed!” Stefano and Federic echoed in unison. There was a brief silence.

  “Witnessed,” Kat and Alex both chimed in, one right after the other.

  “Katelyn Shaughnessy, do you willingly take up the mantle of Adjudicator, with all its rights and responsibilities, in service to your brother and sister shifters, under authority of your pack Alpha, Darien Torre?” Stefano continued.

  “I do,” Kat responded behind me, somewhat nervously. Stefano widened his eyes at her, as though waiting for her to say more.

  “That’s good enough, Stefano,” Federic whispered, winking at Kat, then in an even voice said, “Witnessed!”

  “Witnessed!” my father, Alex and I repeated.

  “Alexander Carmichael, do you willingly take up the mantle of Adjudicator, with all its rights and responsibilities, in service to your brother and sister shifters, under authority of your pack Alpha, Darien Torre?” Stefano asked again, focusing on Alex.

  “Yes, sir, I do,” Alex returned, and when he didn’t say more after Stefano’s look, he continued, “Can’t bloody well show Katie up, now can I?” I heard him chuckle.

  Federic kept his expression straight, but he nodded at Alex.

  “Witnessed!” we all managed to get in unison that time.

  Stefano gave us a deep bow, then turned to the pottery bowl. He picked it up, and the silver knife, then stepped up to me, holding the bowl in front of me. I pulled my shirt off over my head, then took the bowl from him. He used the silver knife to cut a small symbol into the skin a few inches above my left nipple, the symbol that signified Justice in shifter ritual runes. He let the blood well up onto the blade, eyes not missing the tiny scars from the silver shot or the newly thick scabs over the spike wounds, then plunged the blade into the water in the bowl, stirring it seven times.

  I stood, taking the knife from him, and approached Kat. There was an intake of breath from behind, from Federic, and I could only assume he’d seen my back; I still didn’t really know how bad it was, wasn’t sure I wanted to.

  Kat tapped the front of her knit shirt above her left breast, a questioning look in her eyes and I nodded. Her shirt already had a deep neckline, so she pulled it down just a bit farther, smiling at me as I incised the symbol in her skin, catching her blood on the knife and stirring it into the bowl my father still held.

  Alex was next. He unbuttoned his blue shirt and I made the same marks in his skin as I had to Kat, in the same place my father had marked me. His blood, too, was stirred into the bowl and I handed the knife back to my father, returning to my place to kneel in front of him.

  Stefano then turned to Federic, who held out his hand. The silver knife made a cut in Federic’s forefinger and Federic’s blood was added. Then Federic took the knife and did the same to my father, until the bowl held contributions from all in the room.

  Now my father placed the knife back on the table, and turned back to me. I took the bowl from his hand, then Stefano dipped two fingers into the bowl, using those fingers to mark my forehead, both cheeks and my chin with the blood mixed herbal water. He did the same to Kat and Alex, then set the bowl back on the table.

  “As an Elder on the European Council, and witnessed by Elder Federic of the World Council, I confer the rights and responsibilities of Adjudicator on Darien Torre, Katelyn Shaughnessy, and Alex Carmichael. May wisdom guide your way!”

  “Witnessed,” Federic said softly, letting Kat and Alex know with a motion of his hand that his was the only one needed.

  Stefano let out a low laugh. “Well, now that wasn’t so bad, was it?”

  “Not bad at all,” Kat said from behind me, coming up to wrap her arms around me. She pressed a gentle kiss to my back before looking at my father from under my arm. “And here I was expecting some huge blood sacrifice.”

  Stefano’s mouth popped open briefly and he sighed. “Well, in ages past there probably would have been more blood, a lot more, but we’ve come to discover that the amount of blood shed is not what is important, it is the intent and spirit behind it.”

  “Oh.”

  “These will scar?” Alex asked, rubbing a finger across the fine scar that was forming on his chest.

  “Yes,” Federic answered. “The blade is enchanted, so as to insure a scar, a badge if you will, so others will know what you are.” He smiled. “I wish you all good luck with your new responsibilities, but unfortunately, I need to be getting back to Jerusalem. Do your father, and mother, proud, Darien.” And with a bow, he strode out the door.

  Stefano came towards me, stooping to pick up my shirt and handing it to me. After I had donned it, he enveloped me in a rib cracking hug that told me just how much he had been worried and sent a flare of guilt through me, along with stabs of pain that I ignored.

  “Katelyn, give me a hug, dear,” he said, pulling her into one as well when he was done with me. “Welcome to the family.”

  I stiffened, giving her a cautious look to gauge her reaction, but she just returned Stefano’s hug then flashed me a grin when he moved on to Alex.

  Family. Stefano might not have been a wolf, although he was as crafty as the fox he was, but he knew that wolves tended to mate for life, and shifter wolves were no different. Kat and I might not have been married, might never get married, but my father knew I’d have no other mate but her until one of us died.

  I remembered the first time I had seen Kat, her stare nervous as she and her friend Kris made their way past us on the sand to sit and talk. We—Alex, Matt, and I—had heard most of their conversation, knew that not only were they discussing her parents’ divorce, but that they were discussing us.

  I had wanted to go storming over to her, to look into her eyes and demand of her what it was that made me unab
le to take my eyes off of her, that sent a sharp stab of longing through me when I looked at her. I had been angry, with her, with myself, because I had loved Sasha with my entire being and it was wrong for any other woman to have a pull on me that way.

  Of course, when I’d heard her cry of pain later after they’d entered that tunnel, I’d been on my feet and into the entrance before Matt or Alex could stop me. In the dark, when she had stumbled and fallen into my arms and I had lost myself in her scent, felt that strange connection, it had felt as though it were Sasha in my arms, not this red-haired teenage girl.

  That was when I’d known, down in my soul, that she was Sasha, reborn and come back to me, and I had fought it, the knowledge frightening me because I was unsure what to do about it.

  “What are you thinking about, Darien?” Kat asked, smiling at me.

  “You, actually, the first time I saw you.” I planted a kiss on her forehead.

  “On the beach?”

  “Yeah.”

  Her face turned pink and she wet her lips with the tip of her tongue. “I remember that. I thought you were dangerous.”

  “I am.”

  “I know.” She bit her lip. “We’re done here, right? With this?” She gestured around the room. “Nothing else we have to do?”

  “All done, nothing more to worry about, at least for a little while. Why?”

  “Take me to the beach?” Her smile was mischievous. “I feel like it’s calling to me. I normally don’t like swimming much, but for some reason I feel like it today.”

  I ran the back of my hand gently down her cheek. Of course she did. But then again, how could Kat know that the beach below my father’s villa was where I had first lain eyes on Sasha? I just smiled down at her. “Absolutely.”

  TWELVE

  KATELYN

  Darien and I spent the next several days in that kind of bliss that new couples have when they are first together, although he and Alex and I had spent the rest of the day after the ritual out hunting. We didn’t see Alex much at all after that; he was keeping himself scarce from the villa, whether to give us time together or because it hurt him to see us together, I wasn’t sure. I figured maybe a little bit of both.