Page 11 of Hunter

The spell took with a rushing feeling as magic flew from Kana’s circle to the smaller one, the runes vanishing and then reappearing surrounding Mika and Sora. The runes flowed again, losing their form and melding together to drop like a blanket over Mika and Sora to complete the spell.

Kana immediately cut off the magic, and the light vanished, along with all the chalk and the candles. The floor was back to being smooth and unblemished as Kana stood. Mika and Sora both shook themselves, and Kana sensed a slight tightness around their bodies through the bond they shared. The spell took a few more seconds to settle in, and then the tightness faded.

When the kids cheered, Kana turned to smile at them.

“It’s hard to believe you’re self-taught,” Shannon said, his soft Irish lilt easily audible despite the kids. “That was masterful spell work.” He turned his head to look down at Marc. “Marc, do you remember those two strange books you asked me about when you were helping me unpack the items I had shipped here?” Marc nodded. “Will you retrieve them for me?”

Marc hopped to his feet and dashed past Shannon in the doorway. “Be right back!” he shouted over his shoulder as he went.

“So your cats are protected now,” Ember said after the room was silent for a few long moments.

“Yeah.” Kana nodded. “I think it might take even you, with your alpha abilities, a few tries to spot them.”

Ember glanced around the room, his eyes skipping over Mika and Sora, who hadn’t bothered moving after the spell. He closed his eyes and sniffed, then grimaced.

“I can tell they’re in the room, but I would probably have to shift to pinpoint them,” he said.

Kana looked up at Shannon, but he just smiled, which wasn’t an answer. Kana didn’t feel like pushing the issue, so he turned back to Ember.

“I’ll reduce the spell once the hunter is gone.”

Ember nodded. “Probably would be best. I don’t want my wolves going on a hunt to find the cat smell. We have more important things to focus on right now. Speaking of which…” He looked down at the two remaining kids. “It’s close to dinnertime and I bet your parents are looking for you,” he said pointedly. Both kids groaned but obediently stood and headed off.

Sora stood, stretched, and then shifted to his human form. Mika grumbled and followed suit. Kana’s spell was designed to only work on their small form, so he wasn’t surprised when Ember immediately looked over at them. Sora opened his mouth to say something, but snapped it shut again when Marc skidded back into the room.

Marc was holding two tomes—books as old as those appeared to be could only be called that. Made of parchment rather than paper, the books had a gravity to them modern equivalents would never match. Magic also emanated from them.

Kana picked out preservation and protection spells immediately, but he also thought they might be locked. Only the owner would be able to open them. Shannon carefully took the books from Marc without even admonishing him for running around recklessly with something that might crumble into dust if it was dropped. Kana would have thrown a fit—or a spell—if those were his books.

“I am loaning these books to you, Kana,” Shannon said formally, and Kana felt the brief bite of the locking spell as it enveloped and then accepted him. “I would appreciate you returning them when you have finished.” He held the books out for Kana to take.

The books were heavy in Kana’s hands, but the spells inside had to be ancient and powerful magic. And Shannon was allowing him to read them!

“Thank you,” Kana said, despite knowing mere thanks weren’t nearly enough.

“The layered spell you used when we first met, the one you built on instinct and thanks to the call of the magic in your soul?” Shannon began. “I believe you will find more information on how to conduct those spells purposefully in one of those books. It saddens me to know how much magic was lost when humans feared our kind and sought to destroy us rather than welcome us. Some of that lost magic can only be regained by trial and error, much as you rediscovered layered spell circles; however. I am happy to help fill what gaps I can in the meantime.”

Kana opened his mouth to say thank you again, but Shannon turned away to look at Marc before Kana could get any words out.

“I believe it is time for your meal as well. Shall we?”

Marc sighed, but nodded. “Yeah, I’m hungry. Cool spell, Kana. Can I come see magic again?”

“Of course. Just let me know ahead of time, okay?”

Marc waved and ran out the door. Shannon sedately followed, leaving Kana alone with Ember again.

“Dinner is being served if you three would like to join us,” Ember said.

Kana glanced over at Mika and Sora. Sora nodded while Mika walked to Kana’s backpack. He dug into the largest pocket and pulled out two pairs of loose black pajama pants. Mika tossed one pair to Sora, then pulled on the other one.

“Food sounds good,” Mika said while they waited for Sora to settle the waistband around his hips. Kana tracked the movement of the cloth, snug over hip bones and a flat stomach, but yanked his eyes away before he did something inappropriate. He looked over at Ember just in time to see Ember looking away from Kana.

Kana didn’t know what to make of that. Instead of trying to figure it out, he went over to one of the shelves. The small piece of chalk sat loose in the basket. Kana snagged it and drew a quick circle on the shelf, then put the books down on top of it. They faded from sight the second Kana’s fingers let them go.

Ember went to the locked main door, opened it, and waited for Kana to reach him before leading the way toward the dining hall for dinner.

Chapter Five

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