Bran (Fae Shifters Book 2)

by M. D. Stewart

  Connor walked forward, a huge grin on his face as he held out his hand to clasp with Bran. “After the meeting, I hope to have a meeting with all leaders of the Others. Connor, my brother. Do me a favor, get the leaders of the Covens and the Vampires to figure out a date that is good with them. Michael will get together with the shifters. We need to have a meeting with them all to introduce Josie as my and Michael’s mate.”

  Connor grinned again but nodded. He moved toward Michael, shaking his hand then moved to Josie and embraced her. “I’m so happy for you, Josie. I’ve watched this one here float about needing an anchor. I guess the gods decided he needed more than one to hold him down.” Bran laughed but it seemed like it was far away.

  “Josie!” She felt two sets of hands supporting her as her vision shifted. She saw a young man with red hair and knew it was Rhys. She focused on the vision trying to remember everything she saw. Her eyes cleared and she blinked as she focused on Connor.

  “Deep. His mind is buried deep from his loss. He isn’t sure what he is or where he’s from and he feels so alone. Nigel must go to him, help him find his way home because he’s lost not far from here. He’s found a woman, one who is part of his salvation. Nigel will be the missing link, one that will help him heal and find home.” Josie’s voice was monotone, but her face began to show emotion. “I see him, the red wolf, touching the soul of the girl who needs hope. He calms her fears as she helps him realize he’s not a monster.”

  She sat up, looking around her. She pushed Bran’s and Michael’s hands away and grabbed for Connor. “I need a map, Connor. And Nigel. Someone bring me a map and bring me Nigel. I can only give the location with him here.” She seemed almost frantic. “Connor, bring down a map of the area, I’ll show Nigel where Rhys is when he gets here.”

  Michael nodded, his face full of shock, but cleared his throat. “When should I send my grandson to find Rhys?”

  Josie smiled. “He can leave in a few days.” She reached to Connor and clasped one of his hands with both of hers. “I wish it wasn’t so cryptic but I can’t see much more or explain it better. This is the first time I’ve ever had this happen.”

  Connor kissed her hand and his tears fell unheeded down his cheeks. “Josie, it means the world to know he’s still alive.” He was interrupted by the sound of several people headed toward them. A small group of Native Americans she didn’t recognize from Michael’s shifter clan, and a dark-haired woman that Josie thought was Rhys’s mother, were quickly approaching. She studied the group until she saw the right man. She stood as Michael’s grandson, Nigel moved to stand beside him.

  He was as tall as Michael with long dark brown hair and sharp cheekbones. His soft brown eyes were full of compassion and his full lips were in a thin line of confusion. He was more muscular than Michael and he wore dark brown leather pants and no shirt. He had a bear tattoo on his left pectoral muscle and band tattoos around his left wrist. He looked young, perhaps in his early twenties, but Josie knew judging shifters ages, on looks, could be deceiving. He gave her a quick smile before turning to Michael.

  “Grandfather, I was told to come here and that it was important. What’s going on?” Michael placed his hand on Nigel’s shoulder.

  “Josie, this is Nigel. He lives with his father’s clan. He’s the child of my oldest, my daughter Mayvis. He was visiting at camp when Rhys last came there, but I don’t know if they met. Nigel, this is my true mate, Josie and you know Bran, Josie’s other true mate.” Nigel nodded in acknowledgement in her direction.

  “Nigel, I know you don’t know Rhys well, if at all. This is his father Connor. I also know he was in Michael’s camp after he was injured. Um, I know where he is and I think, no. I know you’re supposed to find him. He’s suffering from amnesia, or partial amnesia.” She watched shock cross the young man’s face. “I need to tell you where he is and you need to leave in a few days to find him and convince him who he is and explain what he is.” Now Nigel’s eyebrows rose to indicate his surprise.

  “Okay. So, I’m supposed to go somewhere, find someone I’ve possibly seen in passing, tell him he’s a Fae and convince him to come with me, back here when he has no memory of any of it?”

  Josie nodded and reached out to take his hand. His warm skin drew her attention. She felt in her bones that Nigel was supposed to go after Rhys. “Yes. You are, Nigel. I can’t explain it except to say, simply, yes.” She watched Nigel take a breath and blow it out. His face was gorgeous, even in his confusion.

  “All right. Show me where I’m going and who I’m going after.”

  Connor pulled his wife into his arms, kissing her forehead then turned and waved his hands in the air. Josie felt a pull of energy a moment before he reached out and pulled a transparent screen from thin air. The screen transformed to show the Earth, like a picture from a satellite. She stepped close to the screen. “Can I touch this?”

  “Yes, Josie. It’s like a tablet screen. Just put your fingers on the screen and pull them apart to zoom in. You can move the image by putting your finger on the screen and moving it.” He demonstrated before backing away.

  She moved in front of the thin screen, searching the picture before her. She zoomed in to the United States, then the East Coast. Finally, she pulled up the area that she had lived in. She studied the map, making frustrated noises as she moved the picture, changing the scenery. Finally, she stopped on an area and zoomed in on a tiny camping trailer in a small clearing.

  A young blonde woman walked from the house and to a beat-up old car, sliding in the vehicle a moment before she backed out of the parking spot. The road was nothing more than a gravel lane that led to the highway. As the blonde left, a reddish-brown wolf stepped from the woods and into the clearing around the trailer. Connor and his wife cried out in joy at the sight. Instinctually, Josie knew it was Rhys, but his parent’s reaction confirmed it.

  “She hasn’t seen him yet, but she will and they need to meet and bond before Nigel finds them.” Connor came forward and somehow changed the map to show the exact location of where the woman lived. “Rhys is lost in his pain of losing Dev and Sienna, not knowing anything more than his name and that he’s not human. He has no clue what he really is or where his home is. He must bond with the woman.” She turned to look at Nigel. His face had gone pale and Michael was trying to hide his grin.

  ****

  After the strange “vision incident,” Josie was ready to sit down and have a drink. This ‘being magical’ thing was amazing but scary too. She’d lived her life like any other human. Magic was something in movies, books and a person’s imagination. But here she was, mated to two magical beings in another realm, and in the middle of training because she somehow was now able to manipulate energy and just had her first vision. If she was one to have panic attacks, she’d figure she’d be having one now. In fact, she thought she might deserve to have one.

  She’d been through a lot in the last few days. Less than a week ago she was trying to run a bar, serving beer to her dad’s oldest friends. Her biggest worry was making enough money to cover the bills and have some left over to put in her meager bank account. Keeping inventory and trying to find time to herself was her biggest headaches.

  Now, her bar was gone, destroyed by a criminal Fae who was insane and on the loose. She’d found not one, but two sexy men as her mates. She was able to grow fangs and developed a taste for blood and she had crossed from Earth, to Limbo and now was in Faedom. Had she really lost her mind? Perhaps she was really strapped into a bed in a mental institution. Maybe losing her bar caused her to have hallucinations. She shook her head. Her imagination wasn’t good enough to come up with everything that had happened. She’d never be able to imagine men like Bran and Michael could love her or want to be with her.

  But would she go back and change history so she never met her incredible mates? Nope. No way. From the moment she met Bran, magic, both literally and figuratively, had happened. She also liked being between them. She felt protected and love
d. Even if this was some fantasy playing out in her mind, she’d like to say here. Noise from a large group of people drew her from her inner musings.

  The small group of Fae and shifters made it to the Kingshouse for the special Convening. She was surprised at the amount of people wandering about. They were all Native American by their looks. When Bran and Michael came into view, the crowd parted and dropped to one knee. It was like Josie was stepping into a movie. She bit the inside of her cheek to prove to herself she wasn’t dreaming. She glanced up to see Bran was somewhat stunned himself. Michael looked around, his mouth dropping open in surprise. Chalice moved from the front of the crowd toward them, a big grin on his face.

  “Welcome home, Dad.” He pulled Bran in for a hug then turned to Michael. “Welcome back, Michael.” He then turned to her and cupped her face in his hands, a warm smile on his lips.

  “Welcome to Faedom, your Majesty.” Josie was proud of herself for not snorting in amusement although she probably went pale before she turned pink. Chalis laughed before pulling her in for a quick hug. “Come on, we have to introduce you and reveal why you had to cut your honeymoon short.”

  She grabbed for her mates’ hands before they reached the porch of the huge light blue house. Josie wanted to marvel at Bran’s majestic home, but she turned to face the throng of people instead. Chalice walked to stand in front of the crowd and raised his right hand into the air. He let out a loud cry and the immediately the people behind him stood and imitated him in stance and echoed the same sound. Josie felt her knees go weak but her mates each let go of her hand and wrapped their arms around her waist.

  “We, the People of the Shifter Clans stand united.” Chalice’s voice rang out loud and clear. Behind him several people, male and female moved from the group and one by one they stood in a line on either side of him. “Wolf Clan Leader, stand and be recognized!” He dropped his arm to his side.

  A young man stepped forward and raised his hand in the air. He was wearing brown leather pants, much like Nigel wore, and he had painted brown marks along his cheek. His long hair was braided on the right side of his face and the end was wrapped in a gray fur. He wore a totem necklace with black, brown, gray and white beads. From the necklace, hung two long teeth. “I am Proud Elk, leader of all Wolf Clan Shifters.” Behind him, several people raised their hands and howled. Josie didn’t know why, but she felt tears beginning to form. This was the most amazing thing she had ever witnessed, and on some level, she knew this was significant.

  Chalice raised his right hand again and called out, “Lion Clan Leader, stand and be recognized!” A woman wearing leather pants and a long shirt moved forward. Her face was painted in yellow and black, her totem necklace was ten long claws with black beads between each light-colored claw. “I am Twin Eagles, leader of the Lion Clan Shifters.” Again, several people raised their hands and let out a roar that nearly deafened Josie.

  Chalice called for the leader of the Bear Clan. Josie smiled when Leland moved forward, raising his right hand. The bear claw necklace stood out against the tan skin of his bare chest. He wore three black stripes on his cheeks. “I am Two Rivers, the leader of the Bear Clan Shifters. I stand in for our Leader, Black Hawk.” Michael raised his right hand and along with his people growled before dropping his hand. Josie saw Michael’s eyes were shiny from unshed tears.

  Two revelations hit Josie at once. First that Michael was not just leader of his clan, but of all Bear shifters in the United States. Second, he had a different name, Black Hawk. As if he heard her unasked question, he leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I’ll explain later, but all our people have ceremonial Native names along with Anglicized names that we use on a daily basis. It’ll take time for you to learn everything.” He kissed her temple before standing straight once more.

  Bran stepped forward and raised his hand. “I acknowledge each Clan and their Leaders.” The group of shifters let out shouts and whoops. In awe of the moment, Josie smiled and covered her heart with her hand. She felt tears roll down her cheeks, overjoyed that she was allowed to see something so sacred. The clans must have seen her reaction and began to shout louder.

  Michael, looked at her to see why they reacted. He began to smile and turned her to face him. “You honor us with your tears. We can feel the energy of love and admiration you have sent out. You make me very proud, Josie.” He pulled her in for a soft kiss and the crowd, who seemed excited moments ago went all out nuts, shouting in approval. Josie allowed the bubble of laughter to rise from her and wrapped her arms around Michael.

  The crowd eventually calmed and Bran waved the leaders and Chalice forward so they could explain the Special Convening. Chalice looked to the leaders who nodded at him. He turned to face forward. “It has come to the attention of our people that Black Hawk has mated and we pass our heartfelt congratulations. Something has also happened that was felt by each leader and they met to discuss the prophesy.”

  Josie felt Michael stiffen beside her and Bran inhaled deeply. Apparently, there was another thing she didn’t know about. Her long list of things to learn just kept getting longer. Chalice continued, “With the joining of the Shifters and the Fae by the White Witch and Vampire child, our people are united. The Clans have, for the first time in our long history, unanimously voted to give Black Hawk the leadership of all Clans.”

  Chalice turned and held out his hand. Each leader removed their totem necklace and placed them in his hands. He faced Michael and placed all three totems around his neck. Immediately a bright light engulfed Michael, blinding Josie momentarily. When she could see clearly again, the three totem necklaces had morphed into one. The teeth, claws and beads were now pure white with tips of gold as they combined on one silver thong. As one, the entire group of shifters dropped to their knees and bowed their heads.

  In shock Josie turned her head to look at her other mate. Bran was staring in shock, and probably looked much like she imagined herself looking. His eyes were wide, his face pale and his mouth slightly agape. Michael cleared his throat. “I am Black Hawk, Leader of,” his voice trailed off a moment before he raised his right hand, “Leader of the Shifter Clans. This is Josie my true mate who will help guide me and keep me grounded. This is King of the Fae, Bran St. Clair, my mate who will help guide me and keep me grounded. We will lead as one.”

  Michael and Bran began to take off their clothes, and her heart almost stopped and then began to beat too fast. Once they were totally stripped Michael shifted into a bear. Josie could feel the tingle of magic coming from him and reached out to stroke his thick, dark fur. He turned his head and nuzzled her stomach before raising his muzzle and snorting in her ear. She giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck. She heard him chuff in her ear before she turned to see Bran in his wolf form. Without warning he immediately shifted into a bear. The crowd cheered, including Chalice.

  Soon Josie found herself encircled in thick fur as her mates moved to surround her. She was laughing and could feel their amusement. They sniffed and snorted in her ears, tickling her. She’d never been so happy as she was in this moment. “I want a ceremonial name too.” She kissed Michael’s nose before he moved his head up and down, like he was nodding in agreement. She could actually feel what they were feeling. And while their thoughts weren’t something she could hear clearly, she picked up enough to interpret what they were thinking.

  Bran and Michael turned as one when a beautiful woman walked into the crowd. She was tall, with dark hair that hung to her curvy waist. Her face was pale, making her dark blue eyes stand out. Josie felt a moment of recognition, but wasn’t sure if it was because they looked similar or if she really knew this woman. When she and the woman locked eyes, she saw tears form and fall. Behind her, another woman moved to stand beside her and took her hand. Other women, all dressed in white and silver followed. Josie felt a pull toward these women, a connection she couldn’t place. Before she knew she was moving, Josie found herself standing in this stranger’s path.

  The
stranger smiled and leaned in to kiss her cheek. She moved beside Josie, and the young woman with her stood on Josie’s other side. “I am High Priestess Adaire of the Silver Circle Coven. I come out of hiding to claim my firstborn child. I am the White Witch who brought forth a child with my first love, the Vampire Dreven, Leader of the Vampire Family, Dragon’s Kiss. I am Eden, mother of Josie.”

  Josie wasn’t sure what part of this news to be more surprised at. Today and its revelations had her head spinning. She felt her vision going dark and her knees getting weak. Eden and the other woman each grabbed her hands. They stood in a circle, Josie barely holding on to consciousness but she felt fur at her back, helping her stand. Could this day get any weirder? Tired of all the changes, unwilling to accept any more, and just wanting to escape, Josie let the darkness take her.

  ****

  Voices were floating around Josie, but nothing made sense. Several men and several women were talking, sometimes at once each raising higher in volume until she heard Bran growl, “That’s enough.” Then the room became quiet.

  “I have heard of you, High Priestess Adair. You’ve been coming to Faedom for the last twenty years as the head of your Coven. I want to know what caused you to abandon your child and why you came forward to claim her now. Is it a grab for power?” His voice brooked no argument, but Josie learned where she got her rebellious streak from.

  “This is an issue between me and Josie. I will not discuss it with you before I talk with her about it.” Josie felt energy snap around the room. While she felt anger that her mother wasn’t dead, she also wanted answers. She couldn’t let anything happen to the woman before she talked with her. She forced herself to fight through the layers of fog that seemed to surround her.