Page 15 of Claws for Celebration
"I'll increase my surveillance," Lucien volunteered immediately, ignoring the knowing looks exchanged by other Council members. "I'm already spending significant time at the bookstore, and she's grown comfortable with my presence."
"Comfortable enough to share her supernatural experiences?" Bram asked skeptically.
"She's starting to trust me with her concerns and questions," Lucien said carefully. "This morning she asked directly about Hollow Oak's unusual atmosphere and whether I'd experienced anything impossible. She's looking for someone she can confide in safely."
"Good," Varric said. "That trust will be crucial if her magical development takes a dangerous turn. Can you arrange to be present during her evening research sessions?"
"Already doing that. I've been staying late for inventory work, which puts me in position to help if she encounters something overwhelming."
"Like what?" Maeve asked.
"Yesterday the Codex showed her a section on magical lineage that made her hands shake so badly she couldn't hold her camera steady. Three days ago, she accidentally triggered a protective ward on one of the genealogy volumes and spent ten minutes trying to convince herself it was a trick of the light."
"Protective wards are responding to her?" Miriam leaned forward with interest. "That suggests her power is stronger than we initially estimated."
"Or that it's developing faster than expected," Bram added grimly. "Accelerated magical awakening often leads to loss of control."
"Which is why close monitoring is essential," Varric concluded. "Lucien, I want daily reports on her magical encounters and emotional state. Any signs of instability or fear need immediate attention."
"Understood." Lucien found himself looking forward to the increased contact, though he tried to keep that anticipation out of his voice. "What about the broader supernatural community? Should other residents be warned about potential magical disturbances?"
"Discrete warnings only," Varric decided. "Too much attention could overwhelm her further. But business owners should be prepared for minor magical incidents. Flickering lights, temperature fluctuations, books rearranging themselves. The usual signs of awakening power."
"What if she asks direct questions about our supernatural nature?" Lucien asked. "She's intelligent enough to notice patterns, especially if magical incidents increase."
"Answer honestly within the bounds of what she's ready to hear," Varric said. "Don't lie to her, but don't volunteer information she hasn't specifically requested. Let her discoveries guide the conversation."
"And if she discovers something that frightens her enough to consider leaving town?"
The question hung in the air for a moment, weighted with implications none of them wanted to address directly.
"Then you help her understand that running from her heritage won't make it disappear," Varric said finally. "The Shadowheart bloodline carries responsibilities as well as power. She'll need to accept both eventually."
"Responsibilities like what?" Lucien asked.
"Like serving as Hollow Oak's guardian witch," Miriam said softly. "Her great-grandmother held that position before the family's exodus. The magical defenses we rely on were originally designed to be maintained by Shadowheart blood magic."
"You're asking her to give up her entire life and stay in Hollow Oak permanently?"
"We're asking her to consider where her talents and heritage can do the most good," Varric corrected. "The final choice will always be hers to make."
As the Council meeting dispersed and members began making their way back to town, Lucien found his thoughts turning to the woman waiting at his bookstore. Moira hadno idea that her simple research assignment was actually a homecoming orchestrated by forces beyond her understanding. She didn't know that her growing magical abilities came with expectations and responsibilities that could reshape her entire future.
Most importantly, she didn't know that falling in love with her had become as natural as breathing for a panther shifter who'd never expected to find his mate among dusty genealogy books and afternoon tea conversations.
But as he walked back toward town, following the scent of her lavender soap and determined intelligence that his panther could track from miles away, Lucien realized that protecting Moira from overwhelming revelations was becoming increasingly difficult. Not because the Council was pressuring him to share supernatural secrets, but because his own heart was demanding honesty about feelings that went far deeper than professional concern or territorial claiming.
Soon, he would have to choose between his duty to protect her emotional wellbeing and his need to share the growing affection that made every moment away from her feel like missing pieces of his soul.
The panther in him already knew which choice he would make. The question was whether Moira would be ready to hear it.
10
MOIRA
The grandfather clock in the corner of The Hollow Oak Book Nook chimed eleven times, its deep bronze voice echoing through the quiet shop. Moira looked up from the Shadowheart Codex, surprised to discover she'd been reading for nearly four hours without realizing time had passed. These late-night research sessions had become her new normal, drawn by a compulsion she couldn't fully explain to return to the ancient grimoire long after sensible people had gone to bed.
"Another late night?" Lucien's voice carried gentle amusement as he emerged from the back office, a steaming mug in each hand. "I thought you might need some fortification."
