Timoteo holds the pink light and takes off at a run and we follow him, breaking out into a heavy jog to keep up. When Timoteo reaches a large oak tree, he mutters to himself and a large, ornate door opens in the gnarled trunk. Holding it open with his foot, he motions for us to hurry and we enter the inner sanctum of the Misty Cove Coven. Three Council members sit at the head of a polished wooden table made of interconnected roots. A tiny grizzled witch with a serious case of bed head and a snarl that would do Ronnie proud motions with an irritated grimace for us to join them. Her name is Honesta and, true to her name, she’s known to be the voice of Justice. She has led our council for years.
Two men flank her and I recognize them instantly; they are Asha’s mates and they look furious. Alacard is easily the most mild-mannered vampire I have ever encountered on a normal day, but today the reasons people have feared the undead for centuries are written all over his face. His fangs are out and his eyes are blood red. His coven-mate, Brad, rests his hand on his shoulder and leans in, whispering frantically. Brad is an elk shifter. I’ve known him since we were just kids screwing around and living in a shifter paradise. He, Alacard, and Asha are mated and have formed their own strange little coven. They understand more than most the amount of agitation we are all experiencing.
Timoteo bows low before the Council and then offers the grizzled witch the flickering pink light.
She waves her gnarled claw and creates a small shimmering ball of her own and the little pink light zooms inside. Asha’s voice sounds, amplified in the small space and all other sounds stop immediately.
“I can’t hold on much longer. I won’t be able to portal us all, my reserves are almost emptied. Fintan took us to the old village. We will need help. Ronnie is strong. She’s so strong. Tell the Club she’s ok. She kicked the Beta’s ass. Timo—tell my mates there’s a flicker.”
Asha’s voice abruptly cuts off and the entire room erupts into chaos.
Earl punches the tree and lets out a furious growl that causes the little old witch to glare at him fiercely. Alcarad is levitating, muttering something about eradicating the entire wolf population of the United States and Brad has sprouted antlers that scrape against the side of the tree-wall.
“ENOUGH!” roars the witch. She brings her gnarled hand back down onto the table and the action causes a golden beam of light to shoot out at everyone in the room. They all freeze in place for a moment, and then take their seats once more.
“At great personal cost, our enforcement witch Asha has given us a report. We will honor her sacrifice by giving her our full attention and planning capabilities. Gentlemen, the issue of mates is always a sensitive one. We will recover these women and any who mean them harm will be dealt with harshly. Is that understood?”
Alacard gives a grim nod of acceptance. He locks eyes with Earl.
“This Alpha? The one they call Fintan? If he has endangered my mate, laid his filthy paws on her, or has done anything to the child of my beloved, I will rip his head from his body with my own hands and feast on his corpse.”
Earl growls and looks at each of us in turn to gain our agreement. It’s a formality. He already knows we will do whatever it takes to get the women back. He holds out his hand in agreement and Alacard reaches out to grasp it in a two-handed handshake.
“The Sea Lion MC concedes vengeance rights to Alacard, mate of Asha of the Oak Tree Coven if harm has been done to his mate by Fintan, Alpha of the Coastal Wolf Pack. Let all who witness here cement our words as truth.”
Honesta waves her hand again with a sigh and a blue ribbon floats around the joined hands, branding them in an unbreakable promise.
“Now that you’ve settled that, can we get on with planning this rescue party? Our community is to be overrun with pods and clans for the festival and I will not have this stain our reputation.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: RONNIE
I’M STILL PRETTY NEW to this whole shifter thing, but I’m starting to pick up on a few key elements. The animal and the human aspects of these people aren’t that different, and they often share characteristics. For example, Earl—my big, beefy sea lion shifter is loud, abrasive and bulky. He gets in your face and barks at you but he can also be found napping in the sun. He’s a man but he’s also a sea lion. Glenda is strong, elegant and lethal. She’s quick on her feet and defends her cubs with grace and brutality. She sleeps in her shifted form, curled up in the corner by the door like a giant housecat. She purrs in her sleep and it’s so soothing to listen to. Her beautiful silvery fur looks so soft and I wonder if it would be bad form to pet her. She’s both a woman and lynx.
And the wolves? They are loud and combative, and they smell like shit. I can hear them prowling around our yurt and I don’t doubt for a single second that they would jump at the chance to harm any of us and enjoy it.
A single knock on the door of our yurt alerts us to the fact that our presence is requested. Fine. It’s go time.
Glenda opens the door and her claws are out and ready. It’s kind of great having a friend who is part lynx, not gonna lie.
“Yes?” she asks. Her voice drips with disdain and I feel my spine strengthen as I listen
