Shadow's Dream

by Jami Gray

  Finally, frustration broke through Cheveyo’s calm, a furious light burning in his dark eyes as he leaned in. “And you and the rest of the Southwest Kyn, you’re all just happy to sit on the sidelines and watch the fallout?” His lips twisted into a cynical curl. “Or maybe you just want to see who wins.”

  Instead of pissing her off, his comeback stung. She sat back. Did he really think so little of her? “Is that what you believe?”

  He shoved back from the table, the chair legs scraping overly loud across the floor. Pacing over to the sliding glass doors, he braced a hand against the frame, his grip leaving his knuckles white. “The woman I knew would never stoop to such level, but the Magi leader might be ruthless enough to do so.”

  This bitterness was new, not part of the man she knew, and it left her worried that the damage from his last visit might go deeper than anyone could guess. As much as she wanted to get to her feet and close the physical and emotional distance between them, she drew on skills honed from dealing with powerful Kyn in tricky situations and stayed seated. “I was merely sharing an outsider’s perception of the current situation between the Northwest and the Council.” She stared at his back. “If the roles were reversed, wouldn’t you do the same?”

  A heartbeat passed, then another before his muscles uncoiled and his arm dropped to his side. He turned to face her, crossing his arms over his chest. “I would do what was needed to keep my people safe. Which is exactly what Mulcahy did.”

  She got it, she really did. It was a leader’s responsibility to put the needs of those they called theirs before all else. For Mulcahy, she didn’t doubt he carried the weight of responsibility for every Kyn on American soil. It was who he was and why he managed to succeed, despite the Council’s repeated interference through the years. But, as with all situations, there were two sides, and it was the flip side worrying not just her, but the other Southwest leaders. “How’s that working out so far? Mulcahy is dead. Both Natasha and Warrick escaped attempts on their lives by the skin of their teeth. The Northwest barely gets their feet under them before another blow hits.”

  “Not without cost,” he snapped. He dragged a hand through his hair. “Warrick lost two wolves and almost lost his mate.”

  “Because his Third betrayed him and his mate,” she added softly.

  His dark eyes flashed, and his jaw tightened, signs she was finally making inroads with him. “He still counts Sebastian his, regardless of what his Third did.” He moved away from the door, his arm slashing down. “No one expected Jamie to turn on Natasha.”

  Since he opened the door, she decided to plow through with a question she harbored since hearing the rumors during the last few weeks. “Is it true?”

  Her question threw him, and he blinked. “What?”

  “That Jamie was working with Leo?” She couldn’t figure out what could entice someone who managed to make a place for himself at the right hand of the Northwest Demon Queen, to be stupid enough to throw his life away by getting tangled up with the Council. Had Jamie harbored a death wish? Because that was the only reason Tala could find for him to even consider betraying Natasha, much less actually being dumb enough to go through with it.

  “Beyond a shadow of a doubt,” the answer came from Chay as he reentered the kitchen. “Stupid dumbass lost his head over it. Literally.” He flashed a fierce grin that was just disturbing as he headed for the refrigerator and pulled it open. “Anyone want anything to drink?”

  She suppressed a shudder at that visual. Nice to know the rumors were true. “Water, please.”

  Cheveyo shook his head but came back to the table and reclaimed his chair.

  Chay brought her water and his tea, then took the chair between them. “Jamie, who shall forever be known as Idiot, kidnapped Natasha, and, when he went to show off his brilliance to Leo, was shocked when our illustrious leader decided to wash his hands of the whole mess. But forgiveness isn’t in Natasha’s vocabulary, and she made sure Leo got the memo.”

  “Hard to miss it.” Tala had nothing but admiration for Natasha’s gruesome response.

  Chay nodded. “I heard it made the last Council meeting very interesting.”

  “Interesting isn’t the word I’d use,” Cheveyo said.

  “Me either,” Tala added, trying not to dwell on that moment when Natasha faced down Leo, and the world held its breath. Whoever had been watching over the meeting had worked triple time to ensure everyone left alive. Shaking off the unsettling memories, she rotated her glass on the table. “Which, if you’re here to propose what I think you are, is why the Southwest will be cautious before making a decision.”

  Chay leaned back in his chair and laced his hands behind his head. “Too dangerous for you, uh?” A devilish grin accompanied his question.

  Ignoring the younger man, she aimed her response to Cheveyo. “If it was up to solely me, the decision would be easy.”

  Unmoved, he drawled, “With Tomás’s death, it leaves it up to you and Rio.”

  “Does it?” Her hands stilled, and she lifted her gaze to Cheveyo. “The Southwest’s Shifters may disagree. Tobias will take Tomás’s place, which gives him a voice in the final decision. We have no Fay house, so unless all three remaining houses can agree to ally with the Northwest and come out to the humans, you’ll walk away empty handed. Besides, the Council’s retaliatory threat is very real. To be honest, until Tobias is satisfied with why his alpha is dead and has proof that your sudden appearance isn’t tied in with it, I don’t think you’re going to get him to make that choice.”

  “And if I pointed out that the timing of Tomás’s attack is suspicious?”

  “Is it?” When Cheveyo exchanged a long look with Chay, she couldn’t suppress the feeling more passed between them than she knew. “Spill, you two.”

  Finally, it was Cheveyo who spoke. “The Council has proven it’s not above using our own people against us. It wouldn’t be much of a reach to think they may have used Tomás’s grief for their own ends. Setting him on you would not only throw the Southwest into chaos but, doing so just as the Northwest would consider coming to you with an offer of alliance, would ensure furthering the division between us.”

  She tried to wrap her mind around the depth of manipulation such political games would require, and it almost physically hurt. Problem was, she was starting to believe the two men. “You think this is the Council’s way of stopping any possible alliance between the Northwest and the Southwest.”

  “It’s exactly what they would do, especially if it gets them the end results they want.” Chay dropped his arms to fold them on the table. “The Northwest carries enough weight to worry the Council, but if you add in the Southwest, now you have the majority of the American Kyn in a position to block the Council’s decisions.” All his earlier teasing was gone and in its place was a stomach-clenching seriousness.

  The picture he painted wasn’t hard to bring into focus. “And the Eastern Kyn?”

  “The major Eastern house is the Amanusa, and they like to play in the human’s political arena,” Cheveyo said. “If the Council has their way, their playground becomes severely limited.”

  Following that logic, it meant that a division among the Kyn wasn’t just possible, it was fast becoming a reality. Studying both men’s expressions left her with no doubt where they stood. “You really want to take on the Council?”

  Cheveyo reached out and caught her hand with his. “It’s not a question of taking on the Council.”

  Her laugh carried an incredulous edge. “Isn’t it?”

  He squeezed her hand. “No, it about ensuring the Kyn’s survival.”

  Chapter Seven

  The sun sank, leaving trails of pink, purple and blue in its wake as Cheveyo sat alone in one of the two chairs on Tala’s porch. He scrubbed his hands over his face wishing he could forget the fear he caught leaking around Tala’s earlier shock, but he couldn’t. Even more, he understood where it came from. What they proposed involved a pivotal shift for the K
yn, one he knew needed to be made, or it would only be a matter of time before his people became the ghosts Danny mentioned.

  It didn’t help that his raging need to exact payment for Mulcahy’s death and the chaos wrought on the Northwest simmered underneath, wearing against his control. More than anyone, he knew the dangers of going off half-cocked, but the driving anger, it didn’t give a damn. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep it in check. Hell, if he even wanted to keep it in check.

  He dropped his hands and stared unseeing at the stunning sunset, mocking bitterness filling him. When the man known for his logical approach chewed at the bit to scorch the earth and leave nothing but ashes in his wake, it might be time to worry.

  It didn’t help that someone had Tala squarely in their crosshairs. When it came to her, his protective streak turned frighteningly lethal. A fact he tried very hard not to let show, considering if she knew, she’d string him up by the balls in no time flat. This resulted in his self-imposed exile to the porch, giving her the privacy she requested to call Tobias. Cheveyo wasn’t sure he could refrain from stepping in should the discussion take a wrong turn.

  The door behind him opened. Her scent hit first, triggering a familiar ache, one etched deep. He tried to keep his inhale soft as she closed the door and crossed in front of him to lean against the porch rail. He dragged the alluring mix of sage and lilac into his lungs, letting it soothe the ragged edges of aged dreams. All the reasons why he chose to keep her at arm’s length ran through his head, but for the first time in years, they were weak, broken reasons, and darker, stronger ones rose in their place.

  She broke the quiet first. “The Triune beat me to it. Still, Tobias wants to meet around eight down at Black Pines.”

  There was no missing the tension in her taunt shoulders. “I hear a ‘but’ in there.”

  She half turned to him, a small frown marring her forehead. “I need to make a stop first.”

  “Why?”

  Her frown deepened. “I need to meet with someone.”

  Color him curious. “Who?”

  “One of mine.”

  Holding her gaze, he waited.

  Eventually, she huffed out a breath. “He works with the National Parks Service, and he called yesterday requesting a face-to-face meeting.”

  Leaning forward, he rubbed his temple, a futile attempt to ease the beginnings of a headache. “About what, Tala?”

  When she didn’t answer, he dropped his hand and looked up. Her tilted chin and mutinous expression tore one of the few threads left on his patience free. “What about?” The steel-edged question came out sharp.

  Her eyes flashed, and her answering tone was equally hard, “He didn’t say.”

  Pushing to his feet, he forced his legs to take him to the end of the porch. Frustration mixed with worry while he fought down his instinctive need to keep this stubborn woman under lock and key before anything more could happen to her. If he didn’t get his ass under control, she’d go around him, and right now things here were too unsettled and unknown for her to be on her own.

  He gripped the porch railing as he stared out over the yard and forced his voice to remain level. “Perhaps you should consider rescheduling. This may not be the best time for this.”

  That earned him a short, humorless laugh. “You know better than that, Cheveyo.” He turned, and she moved closer until they were standing toe to toe. “Right now there is no good time, we both know it.”

  Unfazed, he folded his arms over his chest so he wouldn’t reach out and shake her. “And yet you still plan on going.”

  She simply held his glare, her silent response resonating between them.

  He clenched his jaw, his molars grinding together, but he spat out, “Fine. Where are we going?” When she opened her mouth, he cut her off, “Don’t even think about arguing. Need I remind you? You go nowhere alone.”

  Her mouth snapped shut, but her lips curled in a silent snarl of defiance. “Mesa Creek Road, it’s about a half-hour drive.”

  Without breaking their staring contest, he raised his voice, “Chay.”

  The door opened, and Chay stuck his head out. “You rang?”

  “Get Ash settled, we’re going for a drive.”

  “Got it.” He disappeared back inside.

  Tala cocked her head to the side, her eyes narrowed as she studied him. “Be very careful,” her warning was soft, but very clear.

  He closed the distance between them, forcing her back until he could cage her against the railing, his hands gripping the wooden edge on either side of her hips. He leaned in until she was forced to put her hands on his chest to counter her balance. The heat of her touch left him stifling a groan, even as the feel of her appeased a darker part of him. “You should take your own advice.”

  “Don’t.” Arrogance turned her voice icy, but couldn’t disguise the flash of hurt that was there and gone.

  “Don’t what?”

  “Don’t you dare pretend.” Her words carried a sibilant edge of fury, and her nails bit into his chest in an unconscious reflex. “Your role as my mentor is long past, and I am worlds away from that girl. Your protection isn’t needed anymore. This is my house, my rules. If you don’t like it, leave.”

  There was no escaping her underlying bitterness, but he wasn’t ready to confront it or the reasons behind it. Not yet. He forced a smile and knew it was cold. “Wanted or not, me and my protection aren’t going anywhere.”

  Fury washed under her skin, adding a rosy glow, but before she could say anything, the sound of a throat clearing cut off her response. The both turned their attention to Chay, who stood on the steps below the door. Had to give the man credit, he barely flinched under their combined regard. “I’ll be in the SUV, whenever you two are finished.”

  The bite of Tala’s nails disappeared from Cheveyo’s chest, only to reappear on his arm as she forced his hand off the railing and escaped from his hold. “We’re finished.”

  Watching her storm away, he muttered, “Keep dreaming, sweetheart, because we’re nowhere near finished.”

  With Ash settled safely behind Tala’s daunting wards, Cheveyo reclaimed the driver’s seat and followed Tala’s directions to the home of one Rory Ellis. Chay lounged in the back after courteously giving Tala the passenger seat.

  “Who is Rory Ellis?” Chay poised the question.

  Tala shifted so she could see both men. “He’s a druid, works for the U.S. Forestry service. His current assignment is in Picture Canyon Preserve. His wife is an empath and teaches at one of the local elementary schools. They have a son about six.”

  “How many druids do you have here?” Chay’s curiosity was evident.

  “Just a handful. You may have met a few. They’re the Juniper Clan, and fall under the Cascade Order.”

  “Actually, a couple of them were at the last conclave.” Cheveyo moved into the center lane of the freeway. The Northwest was home to a group of twenty druids, who called themselves the Cascade Order. While they gathered throughout the year for various celebrations, they hosted an annual conclave, inviting all those who lived east of the Mississippi. They worked closely with the smaller groups, known as clans or groves, scattered along the west coast. And, it seemed, into the Southwest area.

  “Huh,” Chay said.

  Cheveyo risked a glance in the rearview mirror. “You sound surprised.”

  Chay shrugged. “Guess I am. Doesn’t seem like this terrain would garner much druidic attention.”

  Tala laughed. “They may be nature based in their beliefs, but they don’t need a forest to claim land.” She motioned to the passing scenery, indicating the white aspen and pines stretching along the highway. “Although we do have our own forests, a little younger than yours, but still…”

  “Point taken.” Something bumped the back of Cheveyo’s seat, and then Chay was leaning between the front seats, his shoulders braced. “So Rory’s a druid and his wife is psychic?”

  Tala nodded. “She’s fairly sens
itive, and genealogical research uncovered a Fay or two further back in her family lines.”

  “She didn’t know?” Cheveyo asked.

  Tala shook her head. “Nope, didn’t have a clue.”

  “Must have made for an interesting conversation,” Chay commented.

  “Yeah,” Tala said. “It took a bit before Anne got past her shock, but with her ability, believing us wasn’t difficult. It was altering her current view of the world that took a bit longer.”

  Having experienced similar situations when a human married into the Kyn, Cheveyo winced in sympathy. “At least it ended well.”

  “That it did,” she agreed.

  “Any idea why Rory wants to meet?”

  Since it was the same question Cheveyo put to her earlier, he silently thanked whoever was listening for Chay’s ability to casually slip it in to the conversation.

  Sure enough, instead of raising Tala’s hackles, she took Chay’s question in stride. “I’m not sure, but he wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.” She went quiet for a moment, then added, “The only thing I can think now, after Andrew’s little revelation, is that it may have something to do with the land deal.”

  That damn land deal seemed to garner quite a lot of unwanted attention. During Cheveyo’s last visit, a Phoenix-based development corporation wanted the land that belonged to the Southwest pack, land they weren’t inclined to give up. Especially the alpha pair, Tomás and Lizbeth. When the developer raised a host of evil spirits that resulted in the death of the alpha pair’s son, any chance of a deal disappeared. That it was back in question now was worrisome, but not as worrisome as the fallout from Tomás’s death. Which reminded him, “Are you going to have enough time to meet with Rory and make your appointment with Tobias?”