Page 89 of Magic & Secrets
“What point was there in you knowing?”
“The ancient ones are orchestrating changes within Lavinia,” I explained. “One called Ivitithi sent the creatures here to kill our friends in Haven Junction.”
“What does that have to do with her?” Tempe asked. “Who made her?”
“Magic folk called the Gathering want Calla dead now that we’ve mated.”
Tempe studied the woodlands behind us. “I’ve had strange dreams for many full moons now. I need you to say the words to make this real.”
Understanding Tempe’s meaning, I glanced at my packmates and gave voice to our leader’s dreams. “Calla and her sisters are the New Armgard. They were made using the magic of an ancient one called Solme Divige.”
My packmates growled immediately and prepared to battle, yet Tempe only watched Calla.
“The Bane Shifters are my family,” I told them. “But Calla is my mate, and I am compelled to protect her.”
“Are you threatening us?” October asked as claws slid from his human fingertips.
“Yes.”
Tempe lifted his hand to calm the others. “Where do you think Koda and Delta are?”
“With Calla’s sisters.”
“They’re mates, too, yes?”
“Is that what you dreamt?”
“I’ve dreamt of war. I didn’t understand what I was seeing. I tried to protect Haven Junction, but I hadn’t planned for ancient magic. Once it happened, I put together other parts of my dreams.”
“We are pawns,” I said and glanced at each Bane Shifter. “Just like we were with the Murade. An ancient one orchestrates our fates. We can’t fight her, but we can use the power she awakens within us to defeat our enemies.”
“Awakens how?”
“In Elatalora, I shifted into a dragon and breathed fire.”
“Impossible,” Charlie muttered.
“I flew for thousands of miles. It came as naturally as shifting into a lion,” I replied before shrugging. “Landing was a little tricky, though.”
“How is this possible?” October asked Tempe.
Rather than wait for my pack leader to answer, I said, “The mate bond has supercharged the magic within me.”
“The Armgard can’t stay here,” Recon told Tempe. “She shouldn’t be trusted.”
“Calla carries my youngling.”
Backing away, October insisted, “These things can’t happen.”
“The Gathering fears what Calla and I have created together. It’s likely the same for Koda and Delta with their mates.”
Tempe rubbed his jaw. “Do the Murade know about this New Armgard?”
“Unlikely. The Gathering won’t want a single rogue Armgard to upset their plans to replace the Murade. This Cult of Ivitithi thinks sacrificing us to their ancient god will provide them the power to defeat the Murade.”
Tempe studied Calla. “You’ve gone rogue, yes? Will your kind come here to hunt you?”
“Possibly, but sending the New Armgard to the mountain will tempt the loss of the Gathering’s army of warriors.”
