Page 47 of Stolen Mate

“I know my brother. What’s he doing?”

“For one thing he’s talked to Jax. Mystic River is on full alert. Mark Hadley is mobilizing the people he has in place. Zak has got everyone at Otter Cove on alert, as well. Henry did himself no favors with this little maneuver. There are few cave lions left in the world, but they’re coming, as are the dire wolves and the snow leopards from Scotland.”

Tess tried to keep from trembling. They were talking about a war. Not just people trying to kill her and her sister, but an honest-to-god war.

Derek put his hand over hers, squeezing it reassuringly. “I probably should have used more care when I confronted Henry.”

Deke turned to Derek. “Nope. You don’t get to take the blame for this, either. Tess is an excuse. That’s all. If it wasn’t Tess, they’d have found another. I talked to Colby. His theory is that whoever their mole is has picked up on the growing resistance and the training going on out at Vulpecula. They may think this is their best shot.”

The boat bobbed in the water, and Tess wondered if the feeling of nausea that was coming over her was from the motion in the water or what she feared was coming. It was bad enough for some group of people she’d never even met to basically put out a hit on her. It was quite another for them to use her sister and her as an excuse to start a war.

“Look it’s getting cold, and the sea is coming up. In case anyone has forgotten, cats aren’t particularly fond of water. We can go over all of this back at the lighthouse. Zak wanted you to have a heads up, and he wanted you to have an escort.” He laid his hand on Tess’s arm. “This isn’t a fight the Council can win.”

Deke jumped back to the other boat and all three continued in a group on their way to the lighthouse compound. Tess could see the changes that had already taken shape. Armed guards openly patrolled the shoreline and the dock.

Tess pointed to the black dorsal fins cutting through the water. “I’ve never seen so many orcas. Those are orcas, right?”

“Yes. I knew Zak reached out to Keiko and asked for her assistance. Not a big surprise that the orca-shifters are providing marine support. Orcas are a matriarchal society, so they have always had their own issues with the Council.”

“So, we’re the excuse for them to take the Council on and have an army at their back.”

Derek grinned. “You’re catching on to shifter politics really quickly.”

Tess shrugged. “I don’t think it’s all that different than human politics.”

“Probably not. Deke’s right. None of this is anyone’s fault—not even Henry, only he’s too stupid and arrogant not to notice. Whatever happens though, you need to know I will keep you and Lara safe. Colby’s sister is on the run with the guy who used to be the baker in Mystic River. Turns out he wasn’t a baker at all—well he was, but he was also hiding from the Council. So, trust me, Mystic River and Otter Cove have been in the Shadow League’s crosshairs for a while now.”

“Doesn’t the League operate on the Council’s orders?” asked Tess.

“That’s the story they give you, but many of us believe the League has gone quietly rogue and is pursuing its own agenda.”

“Which is?” she asked, leaning back to rest her head on his shoulder.

“No one knows for sure, but whatever it is isn’t good,” answered Derek, scanning the surrounding area. “There’s some speculation that they envision a world where shifters rule and humans are culled with only the best being used for breeders.”

“Regardless of what she chooses about becoming a shifter, Lara will fight with us.”

“Of that, I have no doubt. But she may not have a choice about becoming a shifter. Zak will have a stronger position with her turned and with you formally bonded to me.”

Tess turned in his arms and grinned at him. “Is this your idea of a romantic proposal?”

“Do you want a romantic proposal? Because I can arrange that.”

“No,” she said turning back around. “I think I prefer this nice intimate one.”

He bumped her backside with his knee. “You need to say yes.”

“Yes.”

“While I certainly want you to be bonded to me, and I think your sister will be happier as a shifter, neither needs to happen if you don’t want it to. Both of you will have my protection from this day until I draw my last breath. I will only relinquish your sister’s care to the one who can prove to me that he is her fated mate.”

“From the time Teresa was snatched, she was terrified, and she hated shifter society for what it had done to her. The more I read, the more I thought she had to be right. But she was wrong. She just met the wrong shifters. Her whole life—even when she was in Anchorage—was nothing but fear, danger, and insecurity. She died making sure my life would not be the same, and she succeeded. Maybe her real legacy to me is that I was born a shifter so I could be your fated mate.”

“Could be. Fate often has cards she doesn’t show. But rest assured, Lara could well have a fated mate out there. The gift of a fated mate often runs along familial lines.”

“But technically we aren’t related—not by blood.”

“Blood and DNA are not the be all and end all in the shifter world. I have faith that your sister will find her own happy ending amongst our people.”

---