Page 31 of No Honor Amongst Shifters
“So this is your family,” Alcott said.
Roslin kissed his forehead.“And yours.Remember that by being with me, you’re taking them on, too.”
Alcott wrinkled his nose.“I can’t change my mind about you, right?”
Roslin beamed.He loved that Alcott was relaxed enough to tease him.“Nope.No takebacks.You’re stuck with me, which means you’re stuck with them.”
“I don’t think that’s a bad thing,” Alcott murmured.
He leaned harder against Roslin’s side, and everything in Roslin’s world was the way it should be.
Chapter Twelve
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ALCOTT WAS SHAKING.No matter how hard he tried to keep his hands still, he couldn’t stop.He was terrified.That wouldn’t stop him, just like it wouldn’t stop any of the people around him.
He leaned against Roslin’s side and looked around the van.It was full to bursting, but thankfully, it was people he trusted.Most of Roslin’s family was there, including his parents.The only ones missing were Misha and Olsen, and Olsen hadn’t been happy about that.He’d wanted to stay with Misha to protect him, but he’d also wanted to protect the rest of his family.Unfortunately, he was human.There wasn’t much he could do in a fight.
Alcott was starting to wonder if there was anythinghecould do in a fight.He could shift into a dragon, but would that be enough?
It would have to be.There was no other option.He was here to protect his family, and he would.
His stomach churned as they got closer to cockatrice territory.They were about to break the law by invading cockatrice territory and bringing the fight to them.Hopefully, by the time morning came, they’d have won the fight, and the authorities wouldn’t be able to say anything about what happened.Alcott suspected that Elijah would have a lot of questions to answer, though.Humans didn’t like it when supernatural beings fought, not even amongst themselves.It made them realize how weak they were and how easy it would be to kill all of them.
Alcott bounced his knee.He knew that he wasn’t the only nervous person here because he could see the way Victor was twisting his fingers together and how Donahue was chewing on his lower lip.No one said anything.They were all in the same boat.
Alcott sucked in a breath when the van stopped.The doors opened, and people started stepping out, but before following, he turned to Roslin.They stared at each other for a moment.Alcott wished he could say that everything would be all right, but how could he?He didn’t want to lie.
“I’ll keep you safe,” he promised Roslin.
“I know.”
Roslin and his brothers were psychics.They would use any ghost they could find to fight, but they were vulnerable to cockatrice shifters and mages.It was their partner’s job to keep them safe, and it was a job Alcott took seriously.He wasn’t here to get revenge or to kill the people who had hurt him.He was here to protect the people he cared about and to fight for the clan.
He could still hardly believe that he had a family now.He’d been hesitant, but they’d welcomed him as if he’d always been one of them.They didn’t even seem to care that he and Roslin had only recently gotten together.
He pressed his lips against Roslin’s, then scampered out of the van.The other vans were there, too, and people were gathering in small groups.Elijah was at the center, his expression grim.
“You all have earbuds, so you can hear Misha,” he said, raising his voice loud enough that everyone could hear him.“Don’t do anything stupid and follow his orders.He has all the information.”
People murmured and shifted on their feet.Alcott was trying not to panic, so he breathed in and out, keeping himself as calm as he could.They all had a role tonight, including him.
“Let’s go,” Elijah said.
He didn’t have to say it twice.People started shifting and moving toward the edge of cockatrice territory.They weren’t on the city side of it but on the forest side, which meant there wasn’t a border they could see.It was hard to know when they’d stepped in, but Alcott didn’t think it mattered.Even if they were just outside their territory, the cockatrices wouldn’t take it nicely.
He exchanged one last glance with Roslin before shifting.As soon as he was in his dragon form, he stretched his legs, then his wings.He couldn’t remember the last time he’d shifted.Damien hadn’t allowed him to, and he hadn’t been able to when he was a prisoner.He probably should’ve taken advantage of his recent freedom, but spending time with Roslin had been more important.
A hand touched the side of his neck, and Alcott twisted his head to look at Roslin.Roslin looked impressed, which made Alcott puff out his chest.“I want to see more of you once this is over,” Roslin murmured before pressing a kiss to Alcott’s dragon snout and stepping away.“Let’s go.”
He looked determined, and his attention was on something Alcott couldn’t see.Alcott didn’t have to ask if Roslin could see any ghosts in the area.He was sure there was a long line of them since the cockatrice clan had lived in the area for decades.
They tried to sneak in, but they knew they wouldn’t be able to get far without anyone realizing they were there.A handful of minutes later, an alarm started blaring.Alcott didn’t know who had set it off, but it didn’t matter.He had better things to focus on than wondering.
A cockatrice burst out from between the trees, their wings extended, and their beak open on a screech.Roslin swore and scrambled back, but he didn’t have to worry.Alcott snapped forward and grabbed the cockatrice around the neck.He wasn’t sure who was more surprised by the move between the two of them, but he didn’t waste time.He snapped the cockatrice’s neck, wincing at the sound and trying not to feel guilty.Either Alcott killed the cockatrice, or he allowed the cockatrice to kill him and Roslin.That wasn’t something he could allow to happen.
It was an easy choice.
