Damaged Daddy Bear (Shifters of the Aegis)

by Leela Ash

  So, where was the guy from the First Flight?

  There. Over by the buffet. Waiting patiently for the cocktail wieners to be refilled.

  From his first glance, Rex was impressed. Few men were his equal in size. This Dragon was one of them. A hulking square-jawed brute with short blonde hair. Even his Dragon looked like a bruiser. Scars crisscrossed its white scales, and several were missing good-sized chunks. This was a warrior, one who’d seen years of battle.

  And one who isn’t a cultured sophisticate. No chance that the Wolves will take him for a dandy and decide he needs to be taken down a few pegs.

  Good choice on the First Flight’s part. Nobody was starting shit with this guy.

  Stepping around the table, Rex offered his hand. “Rex Fairburn. You must be from the First Flight.”

  “Yup. Finn Donnelly.” No blame or irritation colored his voice, and his grip was firm. “Everything okay? I worried this trip might start with a rescue mission.”

  “I hate to admit this, but…” Rex dropped his voice. “…it was babysitter problems.”

  The Dragon snorted. “Some days, life just won’t give you a break.”

  “Tell me about it. Shall we get started? I’ll do the presentation on the situation, then pass the mike to you.”

  “Bree’s the one you want for that.” Finn pointed at a leggy Hare, chattering away in the middle of the other Witches.

  A mane of flame-red hair, a shoulder-less white blouse, and a split dress that flaunted those legs. “The Flight sent a Hare? Why?”

  “Because she’s smart. And, well, not a dick.” The Dragon’s voice dropped to a murmur. “That’s kind of a rare commodity in my Flight.”

  Not just his Flight, either. Dragons had a rep for sailing in and assuming they were in charge. Because, well, they were Dragons. “So, who’re you?”

  “I’m her husband.”

  Oops. Eyes up, buddy.

  Rex dragged his gaze away from those enchanting legs and up to a more respectful level. “And what do you do?”

  Finn grinned, oblivious to how the Bear had ogled his wife. “I’m a good husband. I do what I’m told.”

  “Heh. Been there,” he admitted.

  All right. Showtime. Rex stepped up to the podium and prepared to eat crow.

  “Hey folks. Sorry about the delay. Helluva thing to ask you to drive so far and then not show up on time. I am truly, deeply sorry for that.”

  The crowd quieted. Even the Wolves retreated to their tables, nursing beers. A room full of cautious, faintly hostile eyes rested upon the big man.

  “I won’t waste any more of your time. The reason I asked you to come is that I think there’s something strange going on in the Four Corners area. Maybe something dangerous, to all of us.”

  He’d hoped that such a dramatic claim would win him the crowd’s full attention. Instead, a couple of snorts and chuckles rang out across the room.

  Not the reaction he’d wanted. Rex cleared his throat and continued. “Over the last two months, there have been twenty-four documented cases of vandalism near Mesa Verde National Park. Canyon of Ancients National Monument has had at least that many. Somebody is digging up old Puebloan ruins and−”

  One of the Wolves howled with laughter. “Who gives a shit about stolen pots? It’s probably the damned Rats.”

  SueSue hugged her backpack close but didn’t jump to her Kind’s defense.

  “It’s not Rats, and it’s not pot-hunters,” Rex growled, trying to stare the Wolf quiet. Bad move. The guy met his gaze, bristling, and his glower deepened. “A lot of these sites have been vandalized. There are runes, drawings, spray painted on the walls. Like someone’s performing rituals.”

  “Teenagers,” the Wolf scoffed. “You’re afraid of punk kids.”

  Rex felt his temper begin to bubble up. “The hell I am. There’s more. People have seen lights at these places−”

  “Oooh, scary! Because no one’s ever partied where they shouldn’t.”

  A vein in the Bear’s head began to throb. “−and there have been strange Shifters in this area. People no one knows, who don’t talk to any of us.”

  That, at least, was a credible threat. “Who saw these Shifters?” a Bear asked.

  Rex waved at the Rats. “SueSue and her Kin.”

  Once more, the Wolf burst out laughing. “Rats are lying, thieving shits. Why should we listen to anything they say? I bet they’re making up stories to hide the fact that they’re the ones stealing all those pots.”

  The mood in the room was shifting, and not in a good way. People murmured among themselves, a dull hum of annoyance. Bears checked their watches, Wolves snorted.

  He was losing them. Losing his only hope to find out what was going on and fix it. Rex drew his breath, preparing to roar them back into submission.

  Before he could, that red-headed Hare stood up. “Mr. Fairburn? I have an odd question. These ruins that have been vandalized—are they all circular buildings?”

  The Bear’s jaw snapped shut. “Uh, I don’t know. Let me check.”

  The room quieted as he flipped through the folder of pictures he’d brought. For a moment, at least, the newcomer had recaptured people’s attention.

  “Yeah, they are. All of them. Hell, I hadn’t even noticed that.”

  Now the Hares all leaned forward, curiosity piqued. “Are there small holes in these circular ruins?” Bree continued.

  “Hmm…” Flip, flip, flip, went the pages. “Sorry, can’t tell. The pictures don’t show much. I can see a couple of holes, yeah, but…”

  “What the hell is this all about?” the irate Wolf snarled.

  Bree Donnelly fixed her unnerving, witchy gaze upon him. “Magic. Your ‘partying teenagers’ are targeting one very specific type of magical site. And, if I’m right, only locations that contain powerful artifacts.”

  Silence fell. She had their complete attention.

  “Mr. Fairburn, could I take the podium?”

  “Sure!” Rex retreated, delighted to hand the reins over. He drifted to the buffet table where Donnelly lounged, savoring a new plate of appetizers. “Damn, she’d good,” he muttered to the Dragon.

  “She certainly is.” Donnelly beamed at his Mate.

  Calm and at home in front of a crowd, Bree began to speak. Confirming every one of Rex’s dark suspicions.

  “All of these ‘acts of vandalism’ are taking place in kivas, the ceremonial buildings of the Puebloans. Modern kivas are square–but the oldest are round, which is why we know they’re targeting the most ancient sites. And those holes? They’re called ‘sipapus.’ Supposedly, they’re the gate where the first humans entered this world.”

  “Sound familiar?” Bree scanned the silent, attentive room. “We call them something different.”

  “Wellsprings,” one of the Sedona Hares called out.

  Wellsprings. Rex nodded. Just like his cousin from Ohio said.

  Every Shifter child knew about them. Once upon a time (or so the stories went), doorways linked this world and the spirit realm, the Other Side. Wellsprings, they were called. Mystical pools that allowed magic and Shifter Spirit Animals to enter this world.

  “Exactly.” Bree nodded. “We believe that sipapus may be another form of Wellsprings, ones unique to the southwest.”

  Only Princess Lily remained immune to the spell the Hare wove. “So what? The Wellsprings died centuries ago. Why would anyone care about them?”

  “They weren’t dead,” Bree replied. “They were dormant. And now, they’re waking up.”

  Around them, the room filled with whispers and fidgeting. Rex took a sip of his beer. That was a hell of a bombshell to drop. Better her than him!

  It certainly wasn’t a claim that would go unchallenged. “Bullshit!” Lily glowered at the Witch.

  Yet, Bree hadn’t come here without proof and allies. The head of the Sedona Hares rose to her feet. “She’s telling the truth. I know a couple of Warrens who’ve been studying the Wellsprings,
trying to figure out what changed. In fact, if you weren’t all magically blind, the proof is standing right in front of you.” She waved a finger between Bree and Finn. “Anyone with the Gift can see power flowing between them. These two are Mates. True Mates, like in the old stories. They’ve gone through the Rite of Claiming–something you can’t do without a living Wellspring.”

  The Rite of Claiming? Now, Rex found himself starting to wonder. Hell, that was even crazier than Wellsprings! Sure, in myth, Dragons recognized their soulmates and joined their spirits forever in a ritual called ‘the Rite of Claiming.’ But that didn’t really happen.

  Did it? He glanced over at Finn. Intent on his new plate of cocktail wieners, the big Dragon seemed unaware of the hullabaloo around him.

  The Dragon from the Snow Flight wasn’t, though. Tall Dark and Mysterious sat bolt upright, wide-eyed. Looking like he’d just been electrocuted.

  Bet somebody’s damn glad his Flight sent him here!

  Fully in control of her audience once more, Bree kept the ball rolling. “She’s right. Every Dragon in the First Flight has Claimed a Mate. Over the last three years, Wellsprings all around the world came to life once more.”

  Three years? That was a long time to keep a secret that would transform Shifter society!

  Rex wasn’t the only one to notice. Eyes narrowed, Lily glared at both Hares. “So, why are we only hearing about this now?”

  “Because of the Fangs of Apophis. The people who may well be trying to kill all of you at this very moment.”

  Staring at the rapt faces around him, Rex felt laughter bubbling up from deep within himself.

  Damn, Bree Donnelly knows how to work a crowd! Me, I would have lost my cool and punched that Wolf, and the whole room would have dissolved into one huge bar brawl.

  “We have enemies,” Bree declared. “Deadly ones. With bribery and blackmail, they lure Shifters to a life of crime. They kidnap Kin and threaten to murder them unless decent Shifters help them.”

  He half expected Lily to challenge that dramatic assertion, but the Wolf’s brows narrowed in concentration and a strange uncertainty clouded her delicate features. “Who are these people and what do they want?”

  “They call themselves ‘the Fangs of Apophis’. Named after an evil god of ancient Egypt. They’re led by Worms–Fallen Dragons who’ve chewed their wings off. A lot of Wolves joined them, some Hares and Bears. But the Rats have suffered the most. The Fangs routinely kidnap Rat Kin and use them as hostages. Because of that, they have a fantastic spy network.”

  SueSue shuffled to her feet and jerked a thumb at the Rats clustered around her. “We got Kin in southern California we can’t find. You think the Fangs took them?”

  “They may have, yes. Give me their names after we’re done, and I’ll pass them on to one of the Flight. We’ve managed to rescue almost 500 Kin so far.”

  Five hundred. Rex’s head spun at that number. And those were only the ones rescued.

  “What do the Fangs want?” Lily asked.

  “Power. Money, riches… enough wealth to control governments. Plus, magic. They’re trying to find the Wellsprings and turn them into weapons. They’ve also spent years accumulating magical antiquities. Things that sat in museums for centuries, dormant, like the Wellsprings. Now that magic is returning to the world, those talismans are coming alive too. And they’re dangerous. One of them took out half a Flight of Dragons.”

  Gasps of shock echoed through the room. Rex glanced at Donnelly and the scarred Dragon nodded. “Got me too,” he confessed.

  Hell, Dragons are as mean as Shifters get. If these Fangs can take out a bunch of them, what chance do I stand?

  But as quickly as that self-doubt arose, his Bear spirit rebelled against it. A burning anger fanned to life, sending hot strength pouring through him. This was his town. His family lived here. There was no threat, no danger, a Bear wouldn’t face to protect what he loved. Didn’t matter who these Fangs were. They were in trouble if they messed with him.

  “I know this must be a shock to all of you,” Bree said, “but when Mr. Fairburn contacted us, it all sounded too suspicious. Strange Shifters lurking around the edges of your community. Weird rituals taking place in old, abandoned, magical sites. All revolving around something that sounds a heck of a lot like new Wellsprings.”

  The slim red-head threw her arms wide. “Sadly, that’s all I’ve got. No more insights, no plans to drive the Fangs out. If they’re even here. Finn and I didn’t come to tell you what to do. This is your land. We respect that. We’re here to offer any help you want. We’ve got more experience with the Fangs and with Wellsprings. What happens next is up to you all. Tell us what to do, and we’ll give it our best shot.”

  That was damned humble, coming from a Dragon. Well, a Dragon’s Mate. Rex still found it hard to wrap his head around all of this.

  When it was clear that no one meant to take charge, he rose slowly to his feet. “Well, I think the first thing is that we need to figure out if these sippy… uh, zipper…”

  “Sipapus.”

  “…sipapus are really magical.”

  “I can help with that,” a Hare replied. “Danielle LaPierre, senior Witch of Sedona. I’ll need protection, however.”

  “Now that’s something I can do,” Donnelly rumbled.

  Bree smiled. “Thank you. Mr. Fairburn, could you take us out to some of these sites?”

  “Now?” He hesitated, thinking of his kids and a new, untried sitter.

  “Yes, if that’s possible.”

  “Sure.” This Paige woman seemed fine. In the, er, three minutes he’d talked to her. Damned protective of her boy–which was always a good sign. And his kids were Bear Kin. Tough little buggers. One day with a strange sitter wouldn’t kill them.

  Hopefully.

  Unless she served them eggs over easy….

  Chapter 5.

  A shadow crept over Rex as he led the other Shifters out of Cortez.

  After the four of them piled into his dusty Jeep, he called home to tell the babysitter he’d be delayed.

  No one answered.

  Normally, he wouldn’t worry. Micah probably conned the poor woman into taking them to Totten. (Because to kids that damned, expensive pool just wasn’t as good a leech-filled hole in the ground.) He left a message on the answering machine and headed out for Canyon of the Ancients park.

  Yet, a tendril of unease worked its way into his thoughts and nothing he did could banish it. Why hadn’t they answered?

  Because they’re out swimming. Duh.

  His Bear growled. He could feel it, shifting from foot to foot, scenting the air. Where were his cubs? Where was his Mate?

  Pain shot through him. What the hell was wrong with his damned Bear? Family was the last thing a Bear ought to forget.

  My Mate’s dead. Remember? Four years ago.

  That accusation ought to rouse his Bear’s anger–or grief. Instead, it ignored him. Sniffing and sniffing, clawing the ground with agitation. Something was wrong. Something hunted his cubs.

  Stupidest goddamn idea. Rex gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

  Bree popped her head between the seats. “Are you okay, Mr. Fairburn?” Her husband, riding in the passenger seat beside him, seemed surprised by that question and peered at him too.

  “Fine,” he snarled. Damned if he needed some silly Hare fretting over him.

  “We can swing by your house if you need to check on something.”

  “No.” His Bear’s unrest added a hint of a growl to that word. Donnelly’s eyes narrowed.

  The Dragon’s Mate, however, simply laid a gentle hand on Rex’s elbow. That gesture–so kind, so feminine–dumped a bucket of ice water over his anger. “Is your Bear telling you something?”

  “Yes, but… well, no. Nothing sensible.”

  “Stop the car,” Donnelly said. Confused, Rex pulled over to the side of the road.

  Bree studied him with those strange, witchy eyes
of hers. “What’s it saying?”

  “Stupid things,” he stammered. “That something’s hunting my kids.”

  And my ‘Mate’–which I don’t even have!

  Both of the First Flight emissaries stiffened. “That isn’t stupid,” Donnelly insisted. “We need to find your family, right now.”

  His Bear roared its agreement, yet Rex hesitated. “Look, guys, I’m not a psychic. I can’t know if people are in danger.”

  “Neither could I,” the Dragon replied. “Until, one day, I could. Magic is returning and the world is changing. We’re changing. Trust your gut. Trust your Bear.”

  “But they’re not answering the phone. I have no idea where they are.”

  “If you’re like me, you don’t need to. Your Bear knows. Stop arguing with it and let it go where it wants.”

  Rex could feel his Bear within him. Pawing the ground, digging sharp tracks with its claws. Anxious to run, to sprint….

  …to save.

  All right then. Keeping his mind focused so that he didn’t truly Shift, he gave his Bear its head.

  Show me where they are.

  Like a bullet, it shot away. Rex threw the Jeep into gear and tore back onto the road after it. Flying out of Cortez, away from the park entrance. Abandoning the paved roads for a dusty track.

  No hesitation, no doubt. His soul was a Bear on a mission.

  Both of the Hares hastily buckled their seat belts. Even Donnelly braced himself. “Where are we headed?”

  “No idea. Looks like the ass-end of no….”

  The word died on his lips as he spotted a car stopped ahead of them. A dozen miles away from anything, a ratty little red Hyundai stood, parked on the side of this cow path.

  Why did that scare him? Why did it send his Bear roaring into a frenzy?

  Then he saw the birthday balloons in the back seat and knew who owned it.

  Paige Hall. His babysitter.

  Sun. Water. Stillness, broken only by shrieks of joy.

  From her seat in the middle of the picnic blanket, Paige surveyed Sweetwater Hole. When the monsoon season hit, Sweetwater Creek could turn into a frothy, dangerous band of water. Today, under clear skies and a baking sun, it was perfect. A small waterfall had carved a swimming hole and a tiny ‘cave’, curtained with water. Below that, it slid gently down across algae-covered rocks to another shallow pool.