Page 30 of Shifted Existence

“He… he has a point, Bardulf. If Talon doesn’t feel wronged, then I don’t believe it is up to the Council to challenge him,” said one of the Council members.

“She is a troublemaker,” accused Bardulf. “She has been known to speak of sedition, treason and revolution.”

“Have you been to the Conquered Realm?” challenged Talon calmly. “I’m not sure that would be a bad thing. The females of the Conquered Realm, especially ferals, have been lied to from the beginning in order to make them more difficult to claim.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do. There are more than a few of our she-wolves who have come from the Conquered Realm, Blitz’s mate among them. They all say the same thing. They all believe that the treaty needs to be revised, if not for the females in the training camp, then for those they have deemed feral. Were we allowed more time with them, they could be more easily integrated into our reality. Tell me Bardulf, what it is you really want?”

“The females your two men stole from the Conquered Realm. It violates the treaty.”

“You really do need a better quality of spies. If anyone violated the treaty, it was those in the Conquered Realm who chose to hide the females and exempt them from either the lottery or the hunt. I understand three of the women taken were actually ferals being given assistance by the village. We could cite that as cause to destroy those in power. Instead, my warriors took one mate, three ferals, and an additional female who had been put into hiding. At best, you could say the lone female was taken not in violation of the treaty, but perhaps skirting the issue. There is nothing in the treaty that limits a warrior to only one feral. I might have been willing to give her up, but it seems one of my warriors is called to her as his fated mate.”

The three Council members said nothing and looked to Bardulf, who was fuming and trying to come up with a counter argument, for guidance.

“It is implicitly understood that it is one female per warrior,” said Bardulf.

“The treaty does not in any way address that issue. I believe that was something you advocated for. What I find interesting is that with your pack, it is often two or three wolves to a single human female. I always just assumed your individual warriors found that females not trained from birth to cower and capitulate were too difficult to manage. The treaty does not address a warrior wanting a secondary mate.”

Bardulf slammed his mug down on the table as he stood, the hairs on the back of his neck rising as if they were hackles along a wolf’s spine. “You insult me,” he growled.

“I do,” said Talon calmly. “The real question is, are you wolf enough to challenge me?”

“Gentlemen, gentlemen,” said one of the other Council members. “Let us all tighten the reins on our tempers. Talon makes valid points, Bardulf, and we have had no complaints from the Conquered Realm, who had to know the circumstances as Talon’s warriors and their tribute traveled through the domed capital’s portal. They have also voiced no concern over Talon’s mate being claimed by him and made to stay and bear his offspring.”

“At the very least, she should be beaten in the public square of our own capitol,” said Bardulf smugly.

“That will never happen. My mate is in transition and has already been punished and forgiven for her reckless behavior and attempt on my life.”

“I say…” started Bardulf.

“You will say nothing more lest I challenge you for insulting my mate and my honor.” He looked to the Council members. “You would do best to muzzle your leader before I decide he needs a lesson in manners he won’t likely forget… if he lives.” Talon stood. “As I said, my mate is in transition and my place is at her side. You are welcome to stay the night, but I want you outside my territory before the sun reaches its highest peak in the sky.”

Talon stood, turned, and strode from the room with Blitz on his heels. “You didn’t make us any friends in there.”

Talon snorted. “There was never a possibility of that. They may be willing to back Bardulf in a debate, but I do not believe they are willing to court war. Nonetheless, send riders to our allies and tell them to be alert. Apologize to them for my moving up our timetable. I may well have sent us down the path to civil war.”

“If so, our allies will have your back. There has been a lot of saber rattling. What do you want to do about the ferals?”

“Until we can stabilize our own reality, they will need to see to themselves. Have Artemis keep an eye on them and let us know when they’ve left. You take Dani home and keep her quiet and rested. If I have to leave Bailey, I don’t want you worried about her.”

“She is my mate. Worrying about her is part of the job.”

They headed up the hill to Talon’s yurt. As they neared the top, he stopped, turned, and scented the air.

“There’s trouble brewing. I can smell it on the wind.”

“Worry about your mate, Tal. Whatever is coming will need to come through the Storm Rift Pack, and as of yet, no one has accomplished that. We will stand the test. It may well be that Bailey’s destroying a portal directly into the village wasn’t such a bad thing after all.”

Talon nodded but said nothing as they both turned to walk the rest of the way up the hill.

CHAPTER18

Bailey floated through the darkness, catching brief images of past, present, and future lives with no way to know which was which. It felt as if she were lying on her back with nothing to support her, slowly twisting and spinning in the inky emptiness. She could feel Dani and Melea, but wanted Talon. Only when she had felt him hold her close and rumble to her from deep in his chest had she felt secure.

She began to spin frighteningly out of control when a low rumble wrapped itself around her and she knew he was there. Knew she was safe. Knew he would allow nothing to harm her or take her from his side. What had once seemed a sentence worse than execution now felt like a benediction.

There was no way for her to know how long she had been in transition when the darkness began to lift and the light began to intrude.

---