Page 90 of Veil of Shadows

Ronyn nodded. “Already got a few names in mind that could help you out. Lieutenant Rhonda, for starters.”

I licked my lips before I spoke. “How’s the potion creation coming along, Merida?”

She rolled her shoulders back and sighed. “Haven’t been hunched over my desk like this in a while, but we’re making good progress.”

Voss’s voice was gruff. “Think you can find someone to whip up some of that healing salve so we can keep it in our pockets?”

Merida wiggled her eyebrows. “Like that wasn’t the first thing we did.”

I watched her jam her hands into the pockets of her robe before she pulled things out. She passed out three circular tins to us before she pulled small vials out from various other pockets. I watched her dip her hands into her robe before she pulled out three more vials. She wrapped her hands around her back, digging through something behind her before she pulled out yet another three vials. Every time she stuck her hand into her massive robe somewhere, she removed more vials. More tins. More colorful fluids that sparkled with energy.

She was like Mary Poppins’ endless bag, and the more she pulled out, the more impressed I became.

“Well,” I said as Merida finished placing all of the vials and tins on the circular table we all stood around, “I officially think my pants don’t have enough pockets.”

Voss barked with laughter as Ronyn chuckled. Merida passed out the vials.

“This is only to get you guys started, but don’t be afraid to jostle these vials around. They look like glass, but they’re tempered. It’ll take a lot of force to smash these things.”

Ronyn laced his pockets with his vials and tins. “So, these aren’t for the vampires.”

Merida shook her head. “No, these are for you guys. The tins are varying degrees of topical pain salves. You can tell howstrong it is by sniffing it. The stronger the pain medication, the stronger the juniper scent.”

Voss grinned. “Juniper. Smart.”

Merida shrugged. “Well, I can’t do most other flavorings and scents because it’ll draw them in. So, most of these potions will either smell or taste like either juniper or garlic.”

“Perfect,” I said, stuffing my own pockets.

Merida picked up a small vial with green liquid in it. “You’ve got your stereotypical vials that I always give out. You know, the red ones that are meant for faster healing and the blue ones for any sort of basic poisoning or whatever. But, these green ones? They’re new.”

“What do they do?” Voss asked as he spun a vial filled with green liquid around in his hand.

Merida smiled proudly. “They mask your shifting scent.”

“What?” the three of us asked in unison.

Merida giggled. “I finally figured it out. Took me damn near all year, but I found a potion we can use to temporarily mask the scent we give out when we shift.”

Ronyn’s brow furrowed tightly. “How much more do you have of this?”

Merida wiggled her eyebrows playfully. “I’ve got my healers working on a third batch as we speak. I want to try and load down everyone’s houses with it, so they can grab it as necessary.”

Voss nodded. “You stay on that. And get us as much of that as you can.”

I interjected. “But don’t pass over anyone to get it to us.”

“Yeah, don’t do that,” Ronyn said with a shake of his head.

Merida snickered. “Trust me, I know how you guys’ roll. I’ll make sure the pack is taken care of.”

“Is there anything you need that my men can keep an eye out for?” Ronyn asked. “Ingredients? Tree barks? Saps?”

Merida shook her head. “Not that I can think of. But, if there’s something that comes up, I’ll be sure to reach out.”

“Don’t hesitate,” Voss said.

“I won’t, Alpha,” she said.

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