“Is this something the Clan ought to be messing with? Should we just call the human cops?” Tamika’s question was reasonable, but Aldric still bit back a growl.
“I suspect that this is the beginning of something that we would regret not taking sides in,” he said slowly. If there were more magic-wielding humans out there, they were going to be hunted again. Possibly by the same people that hunted Faith and Kaylee. The Frostwalker Clan fought against those forces once, and if Aldric had a say in it, they would do so again.
Aldric got out of the truck and locked it as soon as Tamika's door shut. Together they walked casually down the sidewalk, not chatting but looking comfortable in their silence. Two friends hanging out was much less trouble to explain than two predators hunting in a town full of unsuspecting humans.
He sighed and let his mind wander back to the woman he had tucked under a blanket less than half an hour ago. The woman who, not long before that had tried to protect him from a threat she herself was terrified of.
Faith had actually dropped that magic shield long enough to yank him behind its protection, while an angry rogue werewolf charged at them. She had no reason to do that, no connection to him whatsoever, but still she had put herself and her niece at risk to try to keep a stranger whole.
A stranger who was very obviously just as dangerous as the beasts that had broken through her door.
Not only that, but she had revealed her command of the magic shield in the process. The shield’s existence on its own was significant enough, but enough protective items had been enchanted that such things were still floating around the world. They weren't exactly common, but they weren't rare, either.
So many human mages in the wars had family or loved ones with no magic, no protection at all, that protective amulets were passed out almost like holiday sweets. It was heartbreaking to remember those days. All the unnecessary death.
It was so widespread that the humans even got manipulated into it. Not that most of them had any idea that they got dragged into paranormal politics, though the ones at the top were fully aware. There were plenty of human politics that got tangled up in it all, and now it was in history books, telling only the human side of the story.
Lust for power seemed to be inherent to all creatures, regardless of species.
Aldric sighed again, reflecting on the fact that humans and non-humans were far more similar than they were different. He had lived too damn long not to understand that, or the fact that the vast preponderance of similarities would never be enough to outweigh the few differences between the species.
Humans couldn’t even accept differences within their own species, after all. That very thing was what had lent so much fuel and vitriol to the war in the first place.
"Are you," Tamika stopped him with a hand on his arm, her perfect eyebrows halfway up her forehead. "Are you distracted?"
She sounded shocked, and Aldric supposed that was fair. He rarely let his mind wander when he had a task.
"My apologies. This situation is surprising in a number of ways," he answered her. “It is bringing up a great deal of… Of past concerns.”
"I've just never seen you space out quite like that," she said. She stared at him for a moment then turned back to the grocery store they were about to enter. “So, anything familiar?"
Aldric breathed deep, sifting through the scents of shoppers and foodstuffs. Something distantly familiar tickled his nose, but it was faint.
"There is a scent similar to both Faith and Kaylee, yes. She was here. Let's try to see how far she got," Aldric said, and led the way to the aisle marked 'baking supplies.' The scent was stronger here, as if she had lingered, but of the woman herself there was no sign.
Aldric shook his head and Tamika glanced around. Together they left the grocery and kept walking. Now that he had the scent, it was much easier to follow. They trailed along the sidewalk, to the parking lot near the park, and there it disappeared.
"I guess she hopped into her car, then?" Tamika didn't look at him when she spoke, and he didn't bother answering.
They turned and headed back to Aldric's truck. As they walked past the grocery again, the breeze ruffled the leaves on the trees lining the street and they both took a deep breath, scenting it. They didn't stop, but they did exchange a look. There was the distinct scent of wolves in the breeze. Wolves they didn't know.
"Well, that's a wrinkle I don't think we needed," Tamika remarked once they were in the privacy of the truck. “Though I suppose we should have expected it. Think they’re all rogues?”
“Perhaps not. If Marc doesn't know about this group, he is going to be displeased by the news of them," Aldric agreed. Privately he hoped that they were simply passing through town. Considering the events of the day he wasn't sure that they would be so fortunate.
It didn't matter. Aldric had sworn that he would protect Faith and Kaylee, and that is what he would do.
"So..." Tamika drew the word out, but left it hanging in the air between them. Aldric didn't even glance at her, focused on the road. There was only one way to the Latham's cabin from town, so there was no chance they could miss Christina's car if she should have had difficulties on the way.
"I take it we're heading to the scene of the rescue?" Tamika's voice was filled with amusement.
"I would not treat an attack lightly," Aldric warned gently. In the heat of a crisis, Tamika was steady as a rock and completely reliable. Outside of that, however, she was more than happy to play.
"Of course not," she
