by Lisa Daniels
The color drained from his face.
Bree gave them one of her winning smiles and a wink, “Do you really think that I’m in a position to say anything?” She laughed, “Of course, I am, but I'm not going to. Clearly you’re not one of the dangerous ones, otherwise you wouldn’t be traveling with a Pixie.” Her eyes travelled his body taking in the way it was built, “Your stature is a bit small, but from the musculature, I’m going to say something big.” A huge smile spread across her face, “Don’t tell me you are a griffin! That would be-”
Phelan was shaking his head, his lips pressed together for a moment, “Definitely not.”
“Hmm, then….maybe a … bear?” Bree moved closer, her mind totally taken with the challenge in front of her. Her eyes flicked to the dragon on the man’s upper arm. “I’ve never heard of any dragon shifters. You wouldn’t make it that obvious any way. I don’t think that it would even be possible to make shift without destroying the human form.” Her eyes were so intent on the puzzle that she missed the flash in the man’s eyes.
He merely smiled, “You seem to be enjoying it too much for me to tell you.”
Bree wrinkled her nose at him, “You wouldn’t tell me even if I begged. You shifters are so secretive.”
Taja frowned as Phelan shook his head again, “Not all of us. It really depends on what our people think of humans.”
“Oh please,” she rolled her eyes, “I’ve never known a shifter who actually liked humans. And I dare say you are no exception. I’m not about to force you to tell me and I really must be going.” The young woman abruptly turned to leave, her curiosity nearly forgotten. If the young man did not have such an attractive female companion, things probably would have turned out differently. Bree had certainly found the man very attractive, but it was clear from the way the pair interacted that there would be no point in trying to toy with him.
Her hand was on the door when Taja called out, “Ms. Bree?”
The young woman spun around. Her eyes the size of saucers at the way the young woman addressed her. “I am not a Ms. anybody,” she responded regaining her cheerful disposition.
Taja cast her eyes down shyly, “I’m sorry. I just have one question.”
“It’s quite alright since I know you didn’t mean any offense by it.”
“You said you aren’t human either.”
Bree moved her head a little to the side waiting for Taja to finish. She knew exactly what the girl was going to ask, and she wasn’t about to make it any easier.
When Taja realized that Bree didn’t know the question, she stumbled over her words, “May I ask, um, exactly what – I mean not that it matters, but…um…” Her voice faltered. Phelan looked worried as his eyes turned to Bree wondering how she would respond.
Bree simply laughed. “I am one of a kind. However, I can say that I am pleased that it is difficult to tell that I am not human. Bree looked at Phelan’s eyes as they looked at her a little differently. “And what do you see Mr. Shifter?”
If it had come from anyone else, Phelan may have taken offense, but the way Bree said it was clear there was no malice or accusation behind it – just a statement of who they were. It was a sign of respect within the humanoid world to be recognized as part of your people. He bit his lip and furrowed his brow, “I am not entirely certain. There’s definitely a magic aura, but it is not at all similar to a witch or wizard. It’s too strong to be any of the most common humanoids, and judging by the way you talk about shifters, I dare say you aren’t one.” Finally, his eyes met Bree, “I have to say that I cannot honestly tell. You do hide it well.” There was a sincere smile on his lips as he gave her his assessment.
Bree gave them a deep curtsey, “I thank you both for the morning entertainment and kind words. As a parting gift, I will tell you that whatever you are seeking, you should stop now.”
Taja looked at Phelan as he looked out of a window, “I cannot. I am acquiring things that are important to my people.”
“There is no treasure more important than what you have and fail to see.” Bree’s face was more serious than they had yet seen as she offered her warning.
Phelan turned to face her, “Taja supports me, and I will not let her come to harm. But I must do this. Those things that were lost are too important to remain gone. The power in them is too dangerous to remain up for anyone to find or for humans to use.” There was bitterness in his words.
Bree gave him a gentle smile, “I fully understand the sentiment, but you have more pressing matters. And I have no doubt that if you were to stop and consider your situation, you would agree. There are others to do what you should not.”
“How can I give up now? Even if I cannot…” he looked out the window again, a troubled expression creasing his handsome face.
His head snapped to Bree as she let out a loud laugh, “Oh, the how is easy.” She leaned forward and in a mock whisper she informed them, “Mr. Shifter, you’ve knocked your companion up.”
The look on the pair of faces was priceless. Giving her head a small satisfied nod, Bree turned, “Have a lovely few days. You are welcome to stay here for the next year. I will make sure it is all taken care of before I go. But do find a place of your own before the baby starts to call this home.” Bree gave them a wink as she left the room.
Her steps were light as she returned to her rooms to finish packing.
Within 10 minutes she had everything packed up and ready to go. With a sigh, Bree left the inn as she pulled out the letter her friend had left and her eyes scanned the contents again.
Suddenly, Bree tripped, pitching forward. A strong pair of arms stopped her from hitting the ground. The letter floated to the ground as Bree looked up into a pair of reddish eyes. Her breath caught as she took in the chiseled face of someone who was obviously another shifter, but all her mind saw was a breathtaking man with luxurious brown hair that framed an impossibly handsome face.
“Ye gods, I didn’t think that your type was possible,” she muttered, her heart fluttering in a way that was unnerving. For the first time in forever, she felt like a young girl developing her first crush.
The man’s face went from a wary expression to one that would strike fear into the hearts of anyone less courageous than Bree. “With that sentiment, I would be forgiven for dropping you, you fouled mouthed-”
Bree covered his mouth with a finger and pressed her body against his. There was a look of fright on his face for a moment, but he recovered so quickly it would have been impossible to notice had she not been in his arms. “I didn’t mean that in an offensive way. I merely meant that you look like a perfect statue come to life or an angel returned from extinction. You are….” Bree’s checks flushed pink as she caught herself from saying any more. It was such a ridiculous mistake to make with someone she didn’t know. With a laugh and a wave of her hand, she tried to brush off what she had been saying, “Like the hero of a story rushing in to save a foolish woman from herself. You seem too good to be true.”
The man raised an eyebrow at her before realizing he was still holding on to her. “You are welcome,” was all he said before turning and walking away from her. Several men followed him, all of them looking back at her as they left. All except the one who had caught her. Bree could hear them talking about her as they entered the Palace Paradise.
Bree closed her eyes and put her hand on her chest, “That was truly terrifying. I’m supposed to be beyond that.” A shiver ran down her spine as her eyes immediately went back to the door where she had last seen the man. “Oh, I have a bad feeling about this.” Her heart was still beating a little too fast as the young woman finally turned and tried to put her mind back on her current task.
Wishing she had time to check up on Annora, Bree took a deep breath and told herself that Annora was both smart and strong enough to be able to handle herself. Any more delays and Bree would be putting a whole lot of lives in danger. “Life really is unfair,” she muttered as the images of her friend and an impossible ha
ndsome man floated before her eyes. Tilting her head back, Bree forced a smile on her lips. Feeling more like herself, the young woman began to make her way to the gates of Defiance.
Removing a small badge from her bag, Bree fashioned the medical indicator on her arm. The woman channeled her focus on what was really important as she stepped onto the road. While it would have guaranteed her safety if Bree displayed what she actually was, she preferred not to advertise. It meant she got to be very selective about which jobs she chose, as well as ensuring that she was far more effective in her passion – spying. Having people think that she was a medic was the next best thing. Apart for people like her, there was no group as well travelled and respected as medics. If anyone messed with medics, the perpetrators soon found themselves doomed to natural. Medics were kind hearted and giving, but they were anything but forgiving. Anyone who harmed a medic would never receive medical help again. Bree knew just enough about human medicines and medicines to be able to fool most people. It also added to her appeal as men tended to love the woman who nursed them back to health. Loose lips made her real job that much easier.
Chapter 2
The Humdrum Travels of a Medic
Not too far from Defiance, Bree had encountered a farmer who was looking for a pharmacist or medic to help with her ailing child. In return for Bree’s help, the farmer offered a ride all of the way to Imalone, a small town about half a day’s walk from Defiance. All the way to the farm, Bree listened to the woman’s story looking for a hint of what the ailment could be. The woman worked the farm with her children after her husband had left for war. He had not returned, and she never heard what had happened to him. Her oldest son was nearly a man, but he had health problems that kept him from taking over the farm. Now her youngest was showing the same symptoms, but her health had deteriorated much more rapidly. The other two children seemed to be alright, but the farmer feared for their health.
All it took was setting foot in the small farm house and Bree knew exactly what was wrong. Giving the child some medicine and a good meal, she then sat the mother down and pointed out all of the unclean things in the house. Superstitions resulted in more deaths than most dangerous beasts attacks any given year, and this house was just one more place taking the wrong path. Bree explained the problem in such high-handed terms, she knew the woman would do whatever Bree said. It was the one benefit of being a medic – people would always believe what you said and do what you told them. Bree helped the woman remove all of the dead plants and other things inspired by superstition and cleaned up the home. Two hours later, the child already seemed to be doing much better. The mother was so grateful that she gave Bree a whole sack of vegetables before they departed. Leaving the oldest son in charge, the woman and Bree set off to Imalone.
Bree hopped off of the cart, intentionally leaving the vegetables behind tucked just behind the woman. There was no way the farmer’s family could afford the payment, and Bree really did not need it. With a big smile and a reminder of what the farmer needed to do to keep the children healthy, Bree waved and headed off toward the small inn. There was a chance that her childhood friend Saskia was in the town on her latest venture, and Bree could use a little distraction. Between her concern for Annora and the disquieting experience she had leaving the inn, Bree wanted nothing more than an evening of good food and an adventure. Of all their friends, Saskia was the only one willing to go out and do virtually anything. She and Bree tended to get each other in serious trouble when they were young because they never seemed to know when to stop. It was a trait they both shared that had made them the successes they were. However, Saskia’s success had always been assured as her father was a wealthy merchant. He had of course hoped that she would settle down and marry well, but he never knew how to say no to her either. Bree had been an orphan who lived on her brains alone. She and Annora had lived on the streets for a couple of years together ever since Bree was 8 years old. It had given Bree a sense of comfort around men because for those first few years, Bree had believed Annora was a boy, largely because Annora always wore boy clothing and carried a sword. It was only after they had come to know a couple of other orphans, Nyle and Naya, that Bree had learned the truth.
It was probably why Annora was the only person that Bree never felt needed her help. Annora was the most reliable, strong, and stubborn person Bree knew (and she knew Annora felt the same way about her). They may not have liked the other’s profession, but neither of them could help but respect the other’s talents. Annora had become a highly efficient and effective dragon hunter in a field without any other women. And Bree was a name that was whispered in dark places with a look of terror. Of the two, Bree was easily the more dangerous.
Saskia had been the last to join the group, but she had been like a breath of fresh air to Bree who had hidden who she was for far too long. Annora had learned about Bree early on, but Naya and Nyle learned about her only after Saskia joined them.
With a huge smile on her face, Bree swept through the streets drawing looks from everyone. Her shimmering green dress highlighted her figure and made the woman look like a goddess who had wandered into the town. It was the same reception she always got when she arrived in Imalone, and there was only one person brave enough to talk to her. Her smile was real as she opened the doors to the Butler’s Respite.
The place was small but incredibly comfortable. Bree’s eyes met those of the innkeeper and she immediately headed over to greet the man. His arms stretched open wide and she happily hugged him, poking his over large belly as she pulled back.
“I see you still aren’t listening to me, are you?” she teased.
With a hearty laugh, the innkeeper lead her to a back room that was kept for special guests.
The man put down a large bottle of their finest wine, a bottle that they kept just for Bree and Saskia before giving the young woman the bad news.
“It has been far too long, Brandon,” Bree said swirling the wine in her glass.
“It certainly has,” he said sitting down across from her. Placing his chin in the palm of his hand, Brandon watched the young woman enjoy her wine. There would be time for disappointment in a bit. For now, he just wanted to catch up with one of his favorite patrons.
Bree closed her eyes and let out a happy sigh as she rested her check in her elegant hand, “Oh, has it been a long day.”
There was a look of humor on his face as he pointed out, “It’s only just a little after midday. If it has been rough now, you may want to take it a little slower on the wine.” Despite his words, Brandon refilled the young woman’s glass.
Bree laughed and knocked back a second glass, “It will take a lot more than a couple glass to do much to me.”
“For such a fine looking young woman, you aren’t nearly as feminine in private as you are for the world are you.” It was not a question as he gave her a slightly reproachful look.
Bree laughed again, “There is nothing feminine about my kind and you know it. It would be like asking a frog to be genteel or a human to be sensible.”
The man gave a stern looking before his face broke into a wide grin, “I take it there was another story on the way here. “
“Indeed, but nothing new. Just more of the same. You are such a breath of fresh air, Brandon. Except for your love of eating, you have more sense than nearly anyone else I know.”
“And that includes you.” He gave Bree a knowing look.
“Of course it does. Only a fool would think someone like me is sensible. I spend too much time among humans to maintain rational thought.”
Brandon shook his head and responded in a way that suggested this was not the first time they had this exact conversation. “Humans make you more sensible. Without us, you would be half crazed, dancing naked under the sky.”
Bree stuck her tongue out at him, “Then you and your kind fail because I did that just this morning.”
“Dear gods! I hope no one saw you.”
Bree shrugged, “Just the you
ng man across the way. I’ve no doubt he enjoyed it as much as I did, so I’m sure there is no harm done.”
“Only a beautiful woman could fail to understand exactly what her affect is on a young man. You realize that no woman is going to be able to satisfy him now.”
“Then perhaps he should find a nice man to keep him company,” Bree gave Brandon a smile and wiggled her wine glass.
“So cruel,” he said leaning over and filling up her glass. “I guess that is my sign to be cruel in return.”
Bree gave a short chuckle, her eyes watching Brandon’s face as he sat back. “I have been waiting for your bad news this whole time.”
Though she had known he had something to tell her, Bree had allowed him to distract her for a little while. Brandon knew that meant her mind was preoccupied, but there was no way to know if it was something serious or another man. He was always willing to help her forget for a little while. But that time was over.
“Saskia cancelled. I think she’s gone back to Achaean. Of course her apologies were profuse and-”
Bree blew on her bangs as she held up a hand, “That girl wouldn’t know how to profusely apologize if her horse rampaged in Illyrian’s palace. You can tell that you tried to persuade me, but I already know the details down to the look on her face when she went racing back about a boy.” Setting down the full glass, her eyes met Brandon’s, “It’s disappointing, but not surprising. Well, thank you Brandon. I really appreciate your time and attention. As always, I leave Imalone feeling much better than when I arrived.”
“Well, you know how it is, but this time it wasn’t about a boy.”
Bree had been standing, but stopped now to look at the host waiting for him to finish.
“There was a report about something happening. I didn’t hear the details, but some sort of disaster. Saskia left in a hurry as soon as the news was delivered, and the way she was acting, whatever it was, it wasn’t something that she knew how to handle. I’ve never seen her look so worried before. Unfortunately, I don’t have anything else to tell you.”