Raven Born: An Urban Fantasy Shifter Series (Lost Souls Series Book 1)

by Bree Moore

  Violet choked on her laughter. Was she drunk or something? “Is someone going to tell him?”

  “What?”

  “You can’t leave camp without your lanyard.” Violet’s voice was suddenly hard as stone, almost like she had changed personalities.

  Tyson’s mouth dropped open. “You got me here without it. Open another portal.”

  She jabbed a finger in his face. “There’s a twenty-four-hour restriction on raising portals after a license is issued, except when “a life or lives are endangered” or some other legal nonsense. You know they don’t want us popping in and out all over the place.”

  It was a strict interpretation of the law, and based on the vengeful look on Violet’s face, payback for Tyson’s ordering her around earlier.

  James stood up from the floor, dusting off his hands and sliding the chalk into his pocket. He adjusted his glasses. “Violet is correct. Additionally, the spells out and the spells in have different requirements.”

  “But they’re your spells!” Tyson sputtered. “Can’t you just…lift them for a moment?”

  “Lift them?” Violet’s tone became murderous. “I’m still patching holes from where that idiot flew through two months ago. Lifting it ‘for a moment,’ as you so loosely put it, would mean months of re-writing sigils and an alarmingly high potential for occupants to escape. Do you want to be responsible for that?”

  Tyson shook his head.

  Violet made a disgusted sound and stormed from the room. James watched her go, then looked back at Tyson, his eyebrows raised. “That won’t win you any favors.”

  Lilith spoke. “It would be simpler to make you a new lanyard. James, would you start that? I’ll get our newest resident unfrozen and settled in.”

  Tyson’s gaze darted from James to Lilith. “How long will that take?”

  “A few days. The spell has to cure,” Lilith replied.

  “I’ll see to it.” James straightened his vest, leaving chalk fingerprints on its pinstripe surface, and nodded to them both before leaving.

  Tyson moaned, putting his head in his hands. So much for a quiet weekend.

  “Don’t be upset. The universe must have a use for you,” Lilith said.

  Universe be damned.

  Lilith circled the immobilized bird shifter, eyeing her. “Magnificient, isn’t she?”

  Tyson’s hand rubbed over his mouth. “It’s a little invasive to ogle her like that while she’s frozen, don’t you think?”

  Lilith tilted her head and smiled again, eyes glittering with something like wonder. Tyson might have considered her a friend if it weren’t for her habits of manipulating the properties of space, time, and fate with crystals and chalk dust.

  Blasted witches and their blasted magic. If Tyson worked at any normal camp, he could have called a Ryde and been home before morning.

  “I’ll get her settled. Why don’t you go get some rest?” Lilith snagged a piece of chalk from inside her tight jeans pocket and knelt on the ground near the shifter.

  Tyson grumbled, but filed the folder with the new shifter’s information in the cabinet and gathered his stuff. From his two years working there, he knew one thing for certain: a weekend spent at Camp Silver Lake would be far from boring.

  Chapter Three

  Harper

  “We’re going to unfreeze you now. Please stay calm.” The blonde woman had finished drawing some sort of chalk circle around Harper. That idiot counselor had left the room. Good thing, too. Harper didn’t think she could stand another one of his pitying smiles. The woman held her hands out, a pink crystal shaped like a pointed rod in one hand. Harper couldn’t do anything except glare until the witch tapped the crystal on Harper’s chest over her heart.

  The paralysis faded slowly, releasing her fingertips and toes, arms and head, and legs last. Harper gasped as a pins and needles sensation took over her extremities.

  “There, now! I trust there won’t be any more attacks?” The woman’s voice was far too chipper for the late hour.

  Harper rubbed her hand, shaking out her fingers, and nodded. For now.

  “Good. You can call me Lilith. I’m a leader here at Camp Silver Lake.” Lilith paused expectantly. When I didn’t reply, she clicked her tongue. “Follow me, then.” She gestured and turned, marching out the office door and heading up a set of stairs in the dimly lit lodge. It looked like a cozy log cabin on the inside, not the prison Harper expected, but appearances weren’t everything. She eyed the front door over her shoulder, just outside the office door opposite the stairs.

  The woman cleared her throat, and Harper reluctantly followed her. The door was locked anyway.

  “What should we call you while you are here?” Lilith stopped partway down the upstairs hall and unlocked a door.

  Harper stepped inside. She crossed her arms over her chest and surveyed the sparse room. She wasn’t about to give out her name. Names had power, especially in the mouth of a witch, and Lilith was definitely a witch.

  “You might as well tell me now. We’ll have it when the report comes in.”

  Harper tightened her lips. Let them find it out if they could. Quinn would tell her not to show all her cards until the best possible moment. “Hold ‘em close until they force your hand or until you’re confident you’ll win.”

  Lilith put her hands up. “Very well, then. Can’t say I blame you, after everything. You’ll stay here tonight. We can find you something more comfortable in the morning.”

  A single cot and a chair shared the windowless room. It felt like a cell. Lilith hesitated for a long moment, but when Harper didn’t speak, the witch shut the door and clicked the outer lock without another word.

  Harper ran her hands on the walls, searching for a light switch, but when she found one, flipping it did nothing. The bulb had been removed, or maybe the lights were on a timer. She crawled along the floor next, pressing on baseboards and walls to determine if there was a window or secret door, anything she could use to escape. Nothing. She jiggled the handle a few times and tested her weight against the door. It seemed solid. The room was sealed tight. If this was a tactic to get her to talk, it wouldn’t work. She’d stayed in much worse places.

  Harper leaned her back against the wall, sitting on the floor with her arms wrapped around her knees. She was frustrated. Not at the room, but at herself. First, getting cornered and caught. Then, getting her hopes up when that idiotic counselor mentioned another bird shifter. Could he have meant Quinn? Harper knew better than to hope. At best she could expect another disappointment.

  She stood and unfurled her wings, shuddering through the pain of transformation, then crossed the room to where she remembered the cot being. First thing tomorrow, she could ask around about Quinn. Not by name, of course, but no doubt if he had been here, or was here, someone would point her in his direction.

  Harper curled up on the thin mattress, tucking her feathers around her like a protective cocoon, and fell into a fitful sleep.

  A knock woke her. Judging by the slit of light under the door, morning had arrived. She groaned and withdrew her wings, taking human form again.

  “Good morning, Harper King!” Lilith’s chipper voice permeated the door. “Breakfast is nearly ready. The door is unlocked. I’ll wait for you out here.”

  So they had gotten her name, after all. A face-match in public school records, maybe. Damn them all. Did they know about Quinn, then? There was no way they didn’t see his name.

  Harper threw open the door, squinting in the sunlight that streamed into the hall from the large windows on the first floor. People moved around downstairs, chattering in a mix of voices. It was a completely different atmosphere from last night, but she wouldn’t let its bright appearance distract her: it was a vehicle for government-enforced procedures. Chain-like laws at best, mutilation at worst. The government kept the details as hush-hush as possible, but when you spent time in the underground, you heard things. They might try to wi
n Harper over, to convince her that they meant well, but she knew better.

  “It’s so nice to be on a first-name basis at last. Bathroom?” Lilith indicated down the hall, looking far too pleased with herself. While the witch waited outside, Harper utilized the facilities, using a little water to flatten her hair where it stood up awkwardly. She’d cut it weeks ago in an effort to stay hidden. A lot of good that did her. She missed her long hair.

  “You don’t have anything to drop off here,” Lilith said as Harper unlocked the door and entered the hall, “so we’ll get you some clothes. There’s a community closet downstairs. I’ll show you around and help you find something suitable, and then you can shower, all right?”

  Harper nodded, the jagged edges of her cropped hair brushing her cheeks.

  Lilith led Harper downstairs and gave her a tour of the laundry, handing her clothes in her size.

  “Where is everyone?” Harper asked, holding the stack of clothes under one arm.

  “Breakfast. Are you hungry?”

  “Not much.” Being in this place made Harper’s stomach clench. She couldn’t imagine eating anything. She had to get out of here.

  “Ah. Well, maybe after you shower.” Lilith banked right without warning, and Harper nearly went past the hall she turned down. Harper kept expecting to head back upstairs, but there weren’t any stairs in sight. Lilith stopped in front of a door indistinguishable from any other door in the hall.

  “There is a more community-based shower area with curtained stalls, but it’s less private. This is normally reserved for group leaders like myself, but I’ll make an exception for your first day.” Lilith unlocked the door, and Harper moved past her, flipping on the light as she went.

  “Everything you need is in there,” Lilith said. “If you don’t see something, just holler. I’ll be right outside.”

  Again, that winning smile. She could be a model with those teeth. Harper tended to steer clear of magic-users on the streets; the witches here weren’t what she expected.

  “Oh, and Harper?” Lilith said.

  Harper hesitated. “Yeah?”

  “Don’t be too long. The hot water doesn’t last forever.”

  Harper shut the door, setting the clothes down, and sagging against the counter. She wiped her hands down her face. A tightness gripped her throat. She couldn’t let go, not where someone could hear her.

  Harper stripped her shirt off over her head and unbuttoned her pants, facing the mirror as she did. The grime on her face almost hid the deep circles under her eyes. The stress of being on the run. She looked gaunt and a bit haunted.

  She emptied her pockets, pulling out a hair elastic, the crumpled receipt from that gas station a lifetime ago, and a candy bar wrapper. Her underwear went straight into the trash. It was more holes than not. She was small enough in her chest she didn’t wear a bra. Too restrictive with wings, anyway. Harper stepped into the shower.

  Bliss poured from the showerhead in the form of hot water. She eased into it, acclimating her body. It was the best ten minutes she’d had in a while.

  Properly washed, Harper wrapped herself in a towel and stood in front of the mirror again. Damp and still-matted hair aside, she looked much better. She tried on a smile. It faltered. Those had never come naturally, even when she was younger. Made it hard to get adopted, not having a ready grin for every couple that came looking for a brown-eyed girl to take home. Her history and the package deal with her older brother didn’t help, either. She had always been fine with that. Harper didn’t need anyone else.

  She pulled on the fresh undergarments and jeans. The pants were a bit long, so she rolled the ends into a cuff. The black tank-top went on next, then a zip-up hoodie. She relished in the softness of the nearly-new fabric. Maybe it was just the shower talking, but she couldn’t remember a time when she’d worn something more comfortable.

  Harper gathered her dirty clothes and opened the door.

  Lilith stood outside, arms crossed, staring down a massive, snarling wolf. It glanced at Harper, then leapt, jaws snapping.

  Without thinking, Harper dropped everything and bolted down the hall.

  “Harper, don’t run!” Lilith’s cry followed Harper down the hall. Don’t run? Was she insane?

  The wolf panted, its fur brushing the walls. Harper slammed into a wall, not turning fast enough, and stumbled into the next hallway. The staircase leading up was just ahead. The itching in her shoulder blades grew to burning, and the tip of her wings pierced her skin on either side of her spine. A trickle of blood trailed down her back. No. Not yet. She pushed harder, sprinting for the stairs.

  The wolf’s forepaws slammed into Harper’s back, and her chin hit the rug, burning. She threw her arms above her head, heart pounding, waiting for teeth to sink into her. Instead, she heard a garbled shout, followed by a yelp. The weight disappeared from her back.

  Harper pushed up from the palms of her hands, turning her head behind to see what had happened. The wolf had an electric blue lead around its neck, like a collar and leash. It whimpered, cowering as Lilith stormed up.

  “Keith, you just broke so many rules I don’t know where to start. Let her up.” Lilith crouched at Harper’s side and helped her to her feet. The wolf disappeared, turning into a teenager wearing nothing but a pair of spandex shorts. As he shifted, the magic leash vanished. He was built like a body-builder, but the acne on his face made Harper think he was younger than her. Seventeen, maybe?

  “What’s with this one, Lil? Any of the others would have attacked me back. She chicken?”

  “She’s none of your concern! I thought you had stopped this nonsense.”

  “Safety of the pack first. She’s an unknown. Had to see what she was made of.” He gave Harper a feral grin, and she shuddered, having no doubt he meant that in a literal sense. The aftermath of the adrenaline rushed through Harper’s veins, leaving her shaking. She rubbed her left arm and breathed through her nose.

  Lilith’s lovely face contorted in a furious grimace. “Your Naturalization Report is a few missteps from being withdrawn, and you know what happens then.”

  “Sorry, Lil,” Keith muttered, averting his gaze from Harper and making wide, brown puppy-dog eyes at Lilith.

  She sighed. “Keith, this is the last time. Truly.”

  Keith pumped his fist, then clasped his hands together like he was praying. “You’re the best.”

  “I didn’t say there wouldn’t be consequences,” she said. “Come see me after dinner.”

  He grinned at her and bounded off.

  Lilith focused back on Harper. “Are you all right?” She waited for my nod before continuing. “Sorry about him. He’s had a difficult time acclimating to how we do things here. He’s a particular breed of werewolf, one of the more violent types. Mauled his little sister with his first turning and it’s made him excessively protective of the new family he has in the pack here. He’s an experiment, really. Most werewolves of his kind get put in higher security facilities. You’ll receive protective wardings today so this won’t happen again.”

  She seemed to be waiting for Harper to answer.

  “Uh, thanks.”

  Protective wards meant no chance at escape. Harper had to find out if Quinn was here before then.

  “Let’s head upstairs. I can introduce you to a few of the others.”

  They ended up in a common room where a few small groups hung around. Harper shrank into herself, hugging the doorway. As much as she hated to admit it, her run-in with Keith had thrown off the “no-nonsense” vibe she wanted to emit. She needed a moment to recollect herself. Lilith prattled on beside her, talking about chore assignments and classes.

  At one point, Lilith turned her sympathetic eyes on Harper.

  Harper forced her hand to stop rubbing her arm and peeled her back off the wall.

  “Don’t worry about Keith,” Lilith said. “Now the rogues, they’re something to be wary of.”

  W
hen Harper didn’t respond, Lilith pointed through the doorway behind her. “Maybe you’re hungry? The kitchen is through here.”

  They entered the kitchen where about a dozen others stood, or sat on chairs, or leaned against the counters. Harper couldn’t tell what they all were just by looking, only that Quinn wasn’t among them. Some were obvious, like the two vamps sucking red liquid from I.V. tubes like smoothies. A shudder rippled through Harper’s body, and her wrist ached as if remembering that night in the tiny back-alley room where the pasty-skinned vamp drained her nigh unto fainting, just so she could get a lead to Quinn—an address that became useless the moment she got caught.

  Harper itched to fly away from this place, but she couldn’t risk escaping until she knew if they had the information she needed.

  A group of six large males sat in a breakfast nook. Shirtless and lounging back like they owned the place, their eyes glittered in a predatory way. One of them, a large black guy with long dreads, sniffed the air and grinned at Harper, then winked. She bumped into Lilith as the witch stopped and gestured at the room’s occupants, a glowing smile on her face.

  “Everyone, I’d like you to meet Harper. Harper, everyone. No time for individual introductions, but you should know a few significant names. Some of our residents naturally form packs, and we do recognize those leaders. Zeke is the werewolf alpha.”

  The black guy with the dreads waved a hand. Harper crossed her arms and scowled, trying to let off a tough vibe.

  “Heath and Lexi lead our vampire faction. Though there are some divisions there. Being resolved, I hope?” She raised her voice and a thin blonde-haired girl waved, her back to them, not pausing as she sucked her bloody breakfast. Harper swallowed hard. Witches. Wolves. Vampires. Why couldn’t there be more were-rabbits in the world? She could handle a few rabbits.

  “Of course, there are many species at Camp Silver Lake. We have sirens and several other shifter-types, a few witches, warlocks, and seers, nymphs and fae of various kinds.” Lilith ticked them off on her hands. “We’re not the largest in the world, but we’re getting there. We had to expand our borders last year. You’ll find our grounds extensive, even for a flyer like yourself.”