by Petra Landon
Why do you want to know? Let this be. I can handle this.
The gold eyes studied her patiently, clearly expecting an answer.
“Two of them I know only by sight” she replied after a short pause, her reluctance obvious. “And Stefan Simeonov.”
“Simeonov” he repeated, clearly taken aback by her answer. “I didn’t think you were his type” he muttered under his breath.
He caught the look in her gray eyes as she watched him silently.
“I know you can handle this, witchling. I ask because Sienna brought this up within earshot of everyone at the Lair. Why do that unless she intended to draw attention to this matter?”
Raoul had observed that Sienna was like a mother hen when it came to the witchling. She watched over Tasia all the time. It was a mystery he hadn’t been able to resolve yet, since their first meeting here at the Lair when Sienna had reacted to the witchling like she’d seen a ghost.
Tasia sighed softly. Here was a prime example of the cultural differences between Wizards and Shifters. Wizards didn’t think like this — Sienna certainly hadn’t.
“Sienna was teasing” she said shortly.
“Teasing?” It was clear that he found that unfathomable.
“Trying to get a rise out of Hawk.”
Understanding flashed across his face, before heavy eyelids descended to screen the gold eyes from her.
“He can be tamed by the right woman” he muttered under his breath. He’d heard Sienna say that last night, but hadn’t paid much attention to it. So, that had been directed at Hawk.
“Yes” Tasia confirmed brusquely.
Hawk’s mood had darkened at Sienna’s words tonight and he had left the Pack Room in a serious snit. The Alpha, not one to pay heed to Pack gossip, wondered what the Shifters made of Hawk’s affection for the Wizard who resided at their Lair. Her feelings were harder to read, though it was clear she was fond of Hawk and trusted him implicitly.
His eyelids lifted to reveal the blank expression in his gold eyes.
“Do you agree with her? What Sienna said about Hawk?”
Astonishment flitted across Tasia’s face. Probably wondering why he asked her the question, Raoul thought rather savagely. Then, her expression lightened with affection.
“Yes” Tasia smiled. “Hawk’s the most unusual Shifter I know, except maybe Duncan” she added. “He breaks every Shifter stereotype. And he has a kind heart.”
Sienna was right — Hawk would make some woman very happy. But not me. I’m not free to make that choice, even if I wanted to.
“Did you say yes to anyone this afternoon? Any of the Shifters that asked you out?” he explained at her confusion.
“No.” This time, she was passionate in her response.
The gold eyes flared with an emotion Tasia was hard-pressed to identify.
“Because you’ll never go out with a Shifter?” he suggested.
Tasia stared at him blankly.
“You declared it rather publicly to a roomful of Shifters last night. Some might take your assertion as a challenge.”
“I didn’t declare that …” She paused. Caro had asked her the question and she had answered candidly. Tasia closed her eyes in dawning realization.
I hate this aspect of Shifter life. Can’t even have a conversation with a friend without the whole room overhearing and interpreting it.
“No harm done” he remarked, watching the expressions flitting across her expressive face.
“I didn’t mean it as a challenge” she insisted vehemently.
He contemplated Tasia’s mutinous expression.
“I know that” he said easily. “Most Shifters understand that Chosen without our abilities are sometimes indiscreet without meaning to be.”
“I’m really starting to not like this aspect of a Pack” she muttered.
“Relax.” He leaned forward, the gold eyes intent as he realized how strongly she felt about this. “You had a private conversation with your friend. It’s not your fault if some Shifters take it to mean something else. Alright?”
For once, the gold eyes were transparent.
Tasia nodded slowly. This too was part of living in a Pack, she reminded herself.
He leaned back in his chair. “This is why I wanted to know whether I should step in. I heard what you said last night and I knew that some might take it the wrong way. When Sienna brought it up, I assumed it was her way of bringing it to my attention.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I’m angry that my words were taken out of context but those Shifters did not overstep any bounds. I’ve no cause for complaint.”
“If you do, come to me” he said bluntly, no ambivalence about him. “It’s time we Shifters learnt to acknowledge our differences with other Chosen.”
He was just as guilty, Raoul acknowledged silently. While he believed in Faoladh’s mission of greater co-operation between Chosen, he had given lip service to it all these years, allowing his natural reserve to continue his Pack’s isolation. It was time to do something about it. Perhaps, the witchling in their midst and this investigation would be the first steps to the Pack engaging more with others.
Tasia assented, giving in, suddenly tired of the complicated machinations of living in a Shifter Lair.
At her capitulation, the Alpha studied her weary face.
“The nightmares still troubling you, hmm?” he asked abruptly.
Tasia flashed a glance at him before looking away from the perceptive gold eyes that never seemed to miss much. She nodded mutely. The nightmares were less frequent than before, but more intense. The vividness of the dreams usually woke her, gasping for breath, fearful, panic-stricken and anxious. They had started when she first moved into the Lair — always the same nightmare, or at least a part of the same dream. Fighting to survive in a dilapidated shed open to the elements, her body starving and delirious from the silver used to shackle her, the starvation rations, and the witch’s magic. Her captor, a blue-eyed witch, watching while she fought desperately to control her beast. Eventually, as the Shifter in her nightmares weakened from the long imprisonment, she seemed on the verge of losing to her beast.
Raoul eyed the downcast head with compassion. Even after all these years, there were nights when the past rushed at him in a sudden swell of memories he could not hold at bay, no matter how hard he fought. He wondered what plagued the witchling. She certainly possessed dangerous secrets, but those, she had lived with all her life. His gut told him this was something else. The thought of Anderson and the leeches circling her like vultures, waiting for a moment of vulnerability to strike at her, perhaps. She had assured him that it wasn’t Anderson, yet Raoul wasn’t sure that the witchling would share that with him, even if it were true.
“The mind is a strange beast” he said quietly. “It will dwell on what it wants to, no matter how hard you try.”
Tasia’s eyes flashed to him, her astonishment clear. The idea of this self-controlled and strong-willed man struggling to win over his mind boggled her. He would always steer it where he wanted to, ruthlessly and with sheer determination, she had assumed.
For once, the gold eyes were sober as they met her gaze, the usual cold inscrutability absent. “You did the right thing that night by trying to distract yourself. I hope it was successful.”
For a moment, Tasia was silent.
“It was. Thank you.” She was sincere. She had come to the Pack Room to choose a book from Duncan’s collection, to try and banish the remaining echoes from the nightmare, and had ended up in the Alpha’s Room, at his invitation. In his own way, he had attempted to distract and reassure her that night.
Raoul hesitated, his usual reserve coming to the fore before he could fight it off.
“I too have memories that I find hard to hold at bay sometimes” he admitted.
Tasia said nothing, clearly taken aback by the admission, especially from him.
“Is that what you were doing in here that night?” she inquired hesita
ntly. “Attempting to hold them at bay?”
When I found you brooding into your Scotch, by yourself.
“Partly” he acknowledged wryly. “Mostly, I was wrestling with a thorny issue.”
“How’re you holding up?” Jason watched Sienna stir her coffee with a preoccupied expression on her face.
“Hmm?” she asked, glancing up at him.
“At your new abode” he explained.
“A little cabin fever, of course, that was to be expected” Sienna said slowly. She had spent the past few years in Oregon, running a souvenir shop in a small coastal town. Being effectively locked up in a Shifter Lair was a world apart from that life. “On the whole though, it’s not been too bad. I’ve kept myself busy, helping Hawk plan the celebration and working with Tasia on the reports from the old investigations. The place is run like a well-oiled machine.”
“The Alpha would never allow it any other way.” Jason smiled.
“Oh, I’ve no doubt of that.” Sienna laughed.
Jason contemplated her laughing face for a moment.
“If it’s not your current predicament, Sienna” he asked quietly. “Then, what is it that has you so worried?”
“Worried?”
“Something’s bugging you.”
Sienna gazed at him soberly. “Is it that obvious?”
“Only to me. You’ve been preoccupied since the party. I thought it might be that locket around your neck.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I can’t wait to get rid of the blasted thing but no, it isn’t that. I’m worried about Tasia.”
“Tasia” he exclaimed in surprise. “Why? Did something happen at the party?”
“You could say that” Sienna sighed softly. “One of the Shifters at the party insinuated that there was gossip in the Pack about her fractious relationship with the Alpha.”
“With Merceau! Are you sure, Sienna?”
“He said it was common knowledge in the Pack.” Sienna nodded. “And that Tasia might need friends when the Alpha throws her out in the cold.”
“I see” he murmured thoughtfully. Now he understood what had Sienna so anxious.
“You know why I want Tasia to continue her association with the Pack, Jason. She’ll need influential allies when the time comes. When I realized that the Shifters were watching over Tasia, I was relieved. That’s why I asked you to not dig into her past, lest we unknowingly reveal what she’s attempting to keep hidden. But if the Alpha cuts her loose, Tasia will be left friendless. I’m worried sick about this and I don’t know what to do” she finished candidly.
Jason was silent for a moment. “This Shifter who made the insinuation at the party — you believe him, Sienna?”
“He was no friend of Tasia’s, that’s for sure. She made it clear that he was persona non-grata — very unlike Tasia. And Sara stiffened up noticeably when she saw him. Eventually, Duncan walked over to warn him off in his unflappable way.”
“Duncan warned him off? And yet you believe this Shifter?”
“The Shifter probably holds a grudge against Tasia, but that doesn’t necessarily mean what he said is not true. Tasia paled at his words; I could tell that it hit home to her. And she’s been quiet since then. Nothing anyone would notice, but something’s bothering her, I can tell.”
“Merceau could have asked me for anything, Sienna” he countered. “I owe him big for not holding the locket on you to ransom. Yet, all he asked me for is information on the Guardian that attempted to harm Tasia. The Alpha has already punished Anderson enough. Why ask me to dig into him, unless it’s to do with Tasia? You and I suspect that Tasia is no mere L2 Wizard. It’s highly probable that Anderson was looking for her when he went on his rampage here. I don’t see why Merceau would be interested in the information, unless it is to protect Tasia.”
He paused, recalling other instances where he had observed the Pack watch out for Tasia.
“Tasia was guarded closely every minute we were in Chicago, Sienna. I remember being struck by how protective the Pack is of her, given Merceau’s opinion of Wizards. He might have offered her Pack protection in return for a favor she did one of his Shifters, but there’s no reason to have Duncan and Hawk watch over her all the time. Duncan was Tasia’s shadow the entire time at the party last night, while the Vampire Mistress was in the Lair. It had to have been at the Alpha’s direction.”
Sienna looked uncertain. “I’ve never seen any hint of discord between the Alpha and Tasia, but then we haven’t seen them interact much, Jason. Until the party, I too believed that Tasia’s relationship with the Pack was rock solid. But what if we’re wrong? I can’t afford to be wrong on this. This is the girl from my vision — the very vision for which I walked away from the Chosen. And she’s preoccupied with something. I’m sure of it.”
Jason contemplated her anxious face in silence. He knew how important this was for Sienna.
“I’m not sure we should risk digging into Tasia’s past unless we know for sure that her position in the Pack is tenuous” he warned.
“I agree.” Sienna sighed. This was precisely the dilemma that worried her. If she drew the wrong conclusion, her actions might accidently endanger Tasia.
“We have to find out how secure Tasia’s position with the Shifters is” Jason said decisively. “That’s the only way we can decide on what to do next.”
“Ask the Alpha, you mean?” Sienna said uncertainly. “I don’t think he’ll react well to a question like this, Jason. He’d consider it Pack business and hence, none of ours.”
“No, not the Alpha.” Jason shook his head. “Merceau will definitely not react well to such a query. But Duncan might be receptive to a discreet inquiry” he remarked thoughtfully. “I’m not sure he’ll answer my question but he won’t take affront at it.”
Sienna agreed with him. Yes, Duncan would be the best man to approach on this matter. If anyone in the Pack was aware of Raoul Merceau’s opinions on anything, it was him. The Alpha was distant with his Pack, Sienna had noticed. He was always business-like and authoritative but stayed clear of private squabbles and what he considered personal affairs.
“Any more visions?” he inquired.
“No.” Sienna shook her head.
“The Alpha has flatly refused to allow any more Guardians into the Lair.”
“To be fair to him, he was blunt about that when he invited me to stay” Sienna pointed out.
“Yes, he was. However, he has agreed on a compromise. If the First Wizard herself would like to make an attempt on your locket, she will be welcome here.”
Sienna arched her eyebrow in surprise. That had certainly been a smart move, as well as a coup of sorts from Jason. “You want me to talk to Aunt Minnie?” she offered.
Jason nodded.
“I’ll ask her, Jason.”
“The sooner she makes the attempt, the sooner you’ll be safe” he reminded her. Having that artifact hang around Sienna’s neck made her too vulnerable for his liking.
“Will you go back to San Diego once the locket is off?” Sienna inquired diffidently, her eyes on her cup of coffee.
“No.” Jason shook his head decisively. “I’ll stay here as long as the Shifters continue the investigation.”
And, as long as you need me, he pledged silently.
The teenaged Sienna had intrigued him all those years ago. This one fascinated him. There was a warmth to her that was infectious — it spread to everyone in her vicinity. Even the Shifters who worked with Sienna had started warming to her contagious friendliness and charm. He liked that she had forged a different life for herself, away from their world, instead of trading on the privileged existence offered up on a silver platter by her illustrious pedigree. Jason sensed that Sienna was not indifferent to him, though he couldn’t gauge the depth of her feelings for him. There was, however, one thing he was sure of: Sienna had unresolved issues with her mother. This investigation they were involved in did not help. The more they uncovered about Lady Bethesda and he
r machinations, the more he could sense Sienna slowly withdraw into a shell. The only way Sienna would start coming to terms with the past was if they laid bare the truth about Lady Bethesda. Getting to the truth had become even more imperative. Not only for himself, but also for Sienna.
“What’s this about Shifters asking you out, Tas?” Hawk bit into his sandwich.
It was a bright, sunny and clear day, unusual for this time of year in San Francisco. In winter, the fog tended to roll in from the bay, casting a layer of fine mist that hung over the city. The unusually sunny weather had beckoned Hawk and Tasia to attempt a picnic. With sandwiches in tow, they had retreated to a grassy knoll in Golden Gate Park to enjoy the afternoon. With over one thousand acres of public grounds, the park was sprawling. To locals in the know, though, it provided plenty of quiet nooks free from the motley crowds of joggers, rollerbladers and tourists that thronged the park on sunny afternoons.
“I was indiscreet at the party the other night” Tasia said easily.
The conversation with the Alpha last evening had helped her lay some ghosts to rest. She knew that she would continue to make such mistakes while she lived amongst Shifters. While in time, it might become second nature to always hold her tongue in a public place, for now, Tasia knew that she was doomed to make a few mistakes. The Alpha had said that most Shifters understood that her indiscretion had been unintentional. As for the rest, she’d learn to deal with the consequences. If this was a side effect of continuing her relationship with the Pack, Tasia would take it.
“What do you mean?” A frown marred Hawk’s brow.
“I told Caro I’d never date a Shifter at the Lair celebration, in response to a question.”
Hawk looked surprised. While unaware of this conversation the night of the party, he understood how certain Shifters might react to Tasia’s words. A slow anger began to course through him. Tasia was not a Shifter — his Pack mates ought to know better. He had to take the treatment meted out to his twin for being a different kind of Shifter, but he’d be damned if he stood by while Tasia was harassed for occasionally forgetting Shifter norms and traditions.
