Page 70 of The Wolf and the Chimera
I didn’t blame him for asking. The pair cast off an odd scent that paired the musk of humans with a rich blend of magic.
“Humans imbued with magic,” Lee replied. “We callourselves Guardians.”
“At the High Witch’s court,” I argued, “beings like you called themselves the Garrison.”
Imogen sneered. “The Garrison are nothing more than Cordelia’s lackeys. Guardians are created to raise and protect chimeras.”
“But, how?” Melanie asked. “Humans aren’t supposed to be able to even sense magic, much less wield it.”
“That’s what High Witch Cordelia wants you to think,” Lee countered, “but certain humans have the capacity to be changed into Guardians and Garrison alike.”
“Cordelia holds the knowledge of how to create such beings close to her chest,” Circe added, “and those who meet her Garrison do not usually live to tell about it.”
“You have seen them and survived,” Imogen said, “and so did Sybil Redfern. She learned about them from the High Witch and used the knowledge to transform us.”
“Why?” Elle asked.
Imogen smiled softly. “To care for and protect you.”
I ran a thumb over Elle’s hand, which squeezed mine in return. She hated that everyone in her life who loved her was duty-bound to protect her. My mate couldn’t see that she was more than worthy of that protection—that anyone who really knew her wanted to save her, not because of her power, but because of her kind soul.
“We wanted a baby so badly,” Imogen whispered. “Sybil helped our dream come true.”
Tears filled Elle’s eyes, and I continued to stroke her hand in comfort, but a realization snagged my thoughts.
If Sybil Redfern had known how to imbue a human with magic, why had she condemned Josephine—her dearest friend and Freya’s goddessmother—for trying to do the same?
“But we failed our mission,” Lee said. “We foolishly handed over our daughter to a wolf, and she ended up in the High Witch’s clutches within a handful of days.”
His words lurched me back into the present, and Iflinched. Like a wolf herself, Elle snarled.
“Igot myself captured,” Elle countered, “and I would do it again. If you really can see what happens in our world while we’re gone, then you know why I gave myself up.”
“Your so-called mate should’ve stopped you,” Lee spat.
My wolf raged inside me, and the hair on the back of my neck rose. Only my grip on Elle’s hand kept my claws from extending.
I could bear his criticism, but my wolf wouldn’t tolerate our bond being questioned.
Unclaimed, unclaimed, unclaimed…
Neither would I.
“Enough,”Circe declared. “Already, we have wasted too much time bickering and explaining. It’s time to see if my plan has a shot at working.”
“Plan?” Kieran said. “What plan?”
“If Elle passes this test,” Circe said, “you’ll learn of it.”
Test?
I crouched in front of my mate, but my efforts to protect her were in vain. With a snap of Circe’s fingers, Elle disappeared. Before I knew what I was doing, I shifted into wolf form and launched myself at the ancient witch. She stopped me midair with a flick of her wrist.
In my peripheral, Kieran, Bo, and Melanie stood, but Circe froze them in place too. Her magic filled the room like cloying fog.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Lee demanded.
Circe smiled. “Ask your wife.”
