Page 90 of Magic & Secrets
“Because we can kill them?”
“And my kind seems destined to mate with your kind. Either way, sending the New Armgard here might mean the warriors never return to the Citadel.”
“They fear our offspring,” I said and stroked Calla’s stomach. “They ought to be worried if our two groups link up and create order in the Territories.”
“I don’t trust you,” Tempe told Calla. “But I do trust my instincts. I should have followed them more closely, and maybe Haven Junction would be filled with our friends now.”
Exhaling, Tempe turned his golden eyes to me. “I also trust your instincts. If you say danger is coming for the Bane Shifters, we will prepare. Bring your mate with you onto the mountain where we can speak safely. We’ll assign a guard to HavenJunction to keep watch for when Delta and Koda return. If someone wants war, we’ll be ready.”
Calla smiled at me before turning her gaze toward the woodlands at the mountain’s base. Taking her hand in mine, I guided her toward her new home.
Calla
MT. ELYSIUM WAS ASbeautiful as in my dreams. A green luster covered the trees and danced in the wind. I smelled Elven magic along with the power of many Bane Shifters in one location. Underneath those scents lingered the ancient magic of Tyathossau, who was very much alive deep inside the mountain.
I followed Tempe and the other Bane Shifters while Roque walked behind me to ensure my safety. I repeatedly glanced back at him as we moved along a trail up the mountain. Roque always caught my gaze and smiled.
He was likely relieved by Tempe’s acceptance of the situation. We'd both assumed far more disbelief on the pack leader’s part. Instead, the ancient ones had been busy filling Tempe’s head with glimpses of what was coming.
I opened my mouth twice to ask if Tempe saw his mate in his dreams. Maybe I could help him learn her name. Rather than engage my curiosity, I remained silent and allowed the males to take charge.
The soil began to tremble under our feet as we moved farther up the mountain. Tempe, October, Recon, and Charlie stopped walking and looked back at me.
“What?” I asked as the tremor intensified.
Roque rested his hands on my shoulders and leaned down. “The mountain reacted in the same manner when we first arrived.”
“Tyathossau sensed your ancient magic and tried to scare you off,” I said, glancing up at him. “It didn’t work with you, and it won’t with me.”
Roque smiled at my words and focused his gaze on his packmates. “Carry on. We need to find shelter before the evening chill arrives. I can’t have my mate cold.”
Tempe’s golden eyes revealed nothing about his mood. There was no equivalent to him within the New Armgard’s ranks. We possessed no leader, not even within our bevy. Our orders always came from the Gathering, which barely understood what we were. If the New Armgard were ever to become a unified force, we’d need someone to stand at the helm like Tempe did.
Our first stop was outside an old Elven meeting hall. We sat around a fire pit. As the heat warmed us on the chilly mountain, Roque told his packmates the details of what took place after Koda, Delta, and he left the mountain. No one interrupted or asked questions. More Bane Shifters arrived. By the time Roque finished, three dozen males stood around us in a circle.
“Which threat do you believe is most imminent?” Tempe asked Roque.
Roque looked to me for the answer. “The Murade doesn’t seem like a threat,” I explained. “The Gathering will need time to devise a new plan. They might allow us to hide here and hope that’ll end their problem. That leaves the Cult of Ivitithi. They have shown themselves to be fanatical, reckless, and violent.”
“They can’t harm us on the mountain,” October said and looked around. “Unless their ancient magic protects them.”
“They don’t want to kill all of us,” Roque said. “They want sacrifices, not our annihilation. Sending a group of killers to ambush one or two of us might be enough to satisfy their ancient one. A short time on the mountain won’t kill them right away. The question is if the magic they wield from Ivitithi is strong enough to kill a normal member of our pack.”
“If you had to guess, what would the answer be?” Tempe asked me.
“If enough magic men worked together to brandish Ivitithi’s magic, it’s possible they could take your life. But the easiest solution would be to institute a rule stating no one travels alone. Killing a single Bane Shifter might be possible. Two is far less likely. Three or more would prove impossible.”
“Looks as if we have our solution,” Tempe said and glanced at Roque. “What about your offspring?”
“I don’t know what it is,” Roque said, glancing at me before chuckling. “Could be a mutant.”
Smiling at his taunt, I shook my head. “It could be the beginning of a new era for the Territories.”
Tempe exhaled gruffly. “You speak of challenging the Murade.”
“A week ago, I thought Roque would be the end of me,” I said and patted his leg. “Now, I’m carrying an unknown offspring and surrounded by creatures thought to be my enemy. Though I have no idea what happens next, Solme Divige clearly has a plan. The Territories are fractured, and the Murade is meddling with ancient magic again. Your quiet time on the mountain might be over.”
“Assuming your kind doesn’t show up here and wipe us out,” Tempe muttered.
