Heart of a Dire Wolf

by Carol Van Natta

With that cryptic message, the sphere winked out. Oak had left a clear image of how to trigger the town’s hidden defensive perimeter. That explained the trickle of magic she’d felt whenever she went beyond the buildings.

  “Okay, that’s going to take some getting used to.” Nic squeezed her hand. “Let’s go arm the defenses. Can your magic tell us who’s coming?”

  “Not until they get closer. I don’t know what it means that the wizard portal is still open.” She shook her head. “I miss my sister. I’m not a good warrior.”

  He gave her a quick kiss. “Me, neither.” His smile turned sharp. “But I’m really good at fighting dirty.”

  Harsh mage lights emerged from the trees, followed by the wave of ten invaders approaching from the south. Her magic told her about fifty more magic sources came more slowly. Another force of fifty was circling around from the east, with its own forward unit. She wasn’t worth sending one army for, let alone two, but a newly accessible and vulnerable sanctuary town would be a legendary prize worth taking. No wonder the collective noun for a group of wizards was a “greed.”

  She lay hidden on top of a giant rock, waiting for the interlopers to get to a pair of blackened, twisted conifers. Nic skulked in the trees to the east, close to the river. She used their mate bond to share what she was seeing. Hyena shifters in animal form, wearing heavily enchanted battle armor, and guided by mage lights that floated above them, leading them on.

  “Ready.”

  She launched the spell she’d learned from Ivy. All the angry energy the trees had absorbed from being struck by lightning exploded outward across the snow-covered terrain. The shockwave snuffed the mage lights instantly and sent the hyenas tumbling backward, hard into the rocks and trees.

  She couldn’t kill the shifters, in case the wizards had forced them into it, just like they’d done to Nic. Thinking fast, she redirected the magic in their armor to wrap them tightly, while they were still dazed, making it impossible to shift, or even move. She spitefully left a little gift for any wizard that tried to undo her mischief.

  To the east, she heard splashing water, angry shouts, and a wave of satisfaction coming from Nic. Moss, the dryad, had asked for aid from the local undines. Any strangers who stepped into the river would soon find themselves a hundred miles away, floating in the middle of Hudson Bay.

  Skyla jumped off the rock and trotted back toward one of the seemingly random ring of rocks that circled the buildings. Unfamiliar magic emanated from them as she crossed the invisible line. She wasn’t clear on what the magic would do, but she’d take all the help she could get.

  She felt surprise coming from Nic, making her hurry faster to the center of town.

  She found him approaching a red-headed man and a dark-haired woman, standing together near the three central conifers. Either they had the stealthiest portal magic ever, or they’d hiked in. Their almost palpable mate bond said shifters, but the drift of floating mage lights said at least one was also a magic user. She hoped they weren’t family to any of the spirits that congregated in the permanent shadow of the trees.

  Skyla slowed, to give Nic room to move if needed. His politely interested expression hid wariness.

  The dark-haired woman smiled. “I’m Moira, and this is Chance, my mate. We’re from Kotoyeesinay. Our magic said you need some help, so here we are.” Their winter clothes looked practical and their big, expedition-style backpacks looked full and heavy.

  Moira stepped forward, catching Skyla’s eye. “Your mate is a Siberian tiger, which makes you the dire wolf under that world-class illusion you wear. It’s nice to meet another Ice Age shifter.”

  Skyla’s eyes widened. “Another?”

  Moira grinned and pointed to Chance and herself. “American lions. He’s born. I’m changed. We know a couple of Ice Age bears, too.”

  Skyla smiled. “American lion, as in Panthera atrox? You’re… Wow.” She remembered well the huge lions from the La Brea museum. She sensed an undercurrent of magic from Moira, more from its edges than its substance.

  “We appreciate your offer,” said Nic, “but you’ve landed in a danger zone.” He pointed south and east. “We’re about twenty minutes from a two-prong invasion by an army of wizards who want to ransack a fabled sanctuary town and capture us to sell in their illegal auction. They’d consider it a bonus if they captured anyone else they can sell.” His nostrils flared. “Felines bring a high price. The price for extraordinary Ice Age shifters would be astronomical.”

  “Kotoyeesinay is sending help,” added Skyla. “We just have to hold out until they get here.” She tilted her head toward her beloved mate. “He’s Nic. I’m Skyla.”

  “How many are in these armies, and what are they?” asked Chance. “Humans?”

  Nic frowned. “Probably sixty or seventy left. We disabled their shock troops and retreated to here, behind the defensive perimeter.” He frowned. “I don’t know what good it will do, if it let you in. No offense intended, but you’re strangers.”

  “We don’t know who’s in the armies,” said Skyla. “I think the wizards used golem spells on the hyena shifters I took out. Nic’s were too far away to see before the undines took them away.”

  “I can help.” Moira pulled a framed mirror out of the large chest pocket of her outer shell. Magic flared. “Here’s the view south, with magic highlighted.” She showed Chance, then turned the mirror to Nic and Skyla. Human mercenaries with glowing armor rode snowmobiles, and human wizards that glowed all over rode six big, treaded snow tractors that pulled treaded trailers.

  The mirror flashed and the view changed. “This is east.” Human wizards driving two more snow tractors, and marching lizards instead of mercenaries. Now that she had a closer view, Skyla recognized the species.

  Skyla pointed to the tiny image. “Those tusked lizard creatures have armor-thick skin, and the one we knew used fireball magic.”

  Nic blew out a noisy breath. “My claws can do damage, but I’d rather not get that close. Those fireballs hurt.”

  Moira turned the mirror to look. A strong wave of magic, and the mirror flashed bright enough to illuminate her strong features. “They call themselves ‘kreshicks,’ which in their language means refugees or exiles. They are all females. They fight because a wizard pays them.”

  Skyla smiled at Moira. “I like your truth-seeing gift. I bet it’s very handy.” Nic felt inexplicable sadness come from his mate. Unfortunately, minutes before an impending attack was the wrong time to ask her about it.

  Moira smiled crookedly. “Thanks. It’s a new thing with me.”

  Flickering and eerie keening rose from the center of the conifers. Chance stepped closer to Moira, protectiveness written on his face.

  Skyla waved soothingly. “It’s okay. It’s just the dead. I’ll be right back.”

  14

  Nic watched Skyla step into the center of the trees, then stop and open her arms. He wanted to go with her, but knew he’d be a distraction.

  He turned back to Chance and Moira. “You could still leave if you head west-northwest. Skyla says there’s a lake and a human settlement.”

  “We’re staying,” said Chance. He put his hand on Moira’s shoulder. Subtle power flared.

  Moira nodded. “This is where we’re supposed to be.”

  “Okay,” said Nic. He hoped he’d have a chance to ask them about their unfamiliar magic later. “We’ve got a couple of defensive charms, a makeshift flamethrower, and a magical net big enough for a pack of wolves, but not for a pack of snow tractors.” He blew out a frustrated breath. “The town is full of the ghosts of the people who suffered and died from a blitz attack back in the Thirties. They don’t deserve to be attacked again because of us.”

  From the north, a shrill whistle sounded once, then two whistles at once.

  “Snowy owls,” said Nic. “Shifters. Former residents. They were here earlier today.” He looked for them, knowing it was futile, because owls ruled the night skies. “I need to warn them—”


  A cacophony of raucous bird calls heralded the arrival of a large flock of ravens. A few landed on the nearby trees, but most landed on the ground and shifted.

  Tad, the snowy owl shifter, strode in from the east part of town. “The perimeter ring called all of us home.” He unslung his backpack. “We scouted overhead. Humans and demons to the east.” He pulled a high-powered rifle from the straps. “This’ll stop the humans. Verna’s the better shot, so we’ll set up in the tree line.”

  A purple-haired, multi-pierced Mackenzie raven shifter trotted up. “We scouted south. Two of the tractors are stuck.” She made a rude sound. “Lowland tourists don’t recognize soft ice when they see it.” She pointed toward eight or nine family members who were in a clump, sorting their gear. “My cousins are going to harry the mercenaries. The rest of us are staying near the perimeter to defend.”

  Nic didn’t waste his time trying to stop them. The arrival of so many defenders felt right, somehow, as if Fort LeBlanc was getting a second chance. He pointed toward Moira. “Tell your cousins to look in her mirror before they go. The enemy has firepower, magic, and wizards. If they capture you, they’ll take you back to their auction house to sell you to the highest bidder.”

  He turned to check on Skyla. His new gift for ghosts meant he could see they surrounded her. He sent a query along their mate bond, asking if she needed help. She turned and motioned him to come closer.

  He stepped carefully into the small grove, trying to avoid placing his feet directly on a spectral presence. He felt like he should say something, but “hi” sounded too informal. He settled for simply nodding respectfully as he reached Skyla’s side.

  “The undead insist there’s something important beneath us.” She stepped closer and slipped her hand into his. “Can you feel anything?”

  “No, just you, and the trickle of magic that’s everywhere in Fort LeBlanc.” He tilted his head. “Want me to get Moira?”

  “No, her kind of magic is hard on the ghosts. They exist in the spaces between belief and certainty.”

  It kind of made sense, now that he thought about it. “What do we—”

  Fairy portal magic flared, close by, followed by four more similar steady flares. The Kotoyeesinay cavalry brigade had arrived.

  A huge whump shook the ground and the trees, and vibrated his chest. He didn’t even want to know if it was good or bad.

  Skyla pulled her hand away. “Don’t let anyone shoot the fairies. It’ll just make them mad. I’m staying here.” The ghosts swarmed over her. “The key is here somewhere.”

  “Skyla…” He wanted her far away from a battlefield, but she was a grown woman who could think for herself. He kissed her, letting the mate bond do the heavy lifting of communicating his warring emotions. “Be careful.”

  “I love you, too,” she said. “I’ll be okay.”

  He turned and walked out quickly. The sooner he got everyone settled, the sooner he could get back to her.

  The whole town seemed ablaze with magic. He spotted Tinsel immediately, wearing red and green combat armor that glowed with fairy magic. She stood in a spiked Roman battle chariot that floated three meters off the ground, hovering near a portal that was twice as high.

  Tinsel waved. “Nic!” The chariot floated down to where he stood. “Kotoyeesinay voted to treat your call like a formal aid request from Fort LeBlanc. It’ll be good field exercise for some of our rowdies.” She might be dressed like a warrior general, but her cheerful humor remained.

  “Exercise?” Nic frowned. “The wizards won’t care who they hurt or kill.”

  “Moira!” Tinsel waved, then pointed to a flat, two-meter high paper-wrapped package leaning up against one of the buildings. “Iolo sent a mirror.”

  Moira nodded and veered toward it.

  A shiny glint caught Nic’s eye. Two ornate, fifteen-centimeter gold keys hung on a thick chain around Tinsel’s neck. He’d seen them before, as tattoos. “What are those?”

  Tinsel’s smile faded. “Keepsakes from the past.” She sighed as she touched them. “They’re founders’ keys. I helped create Fort LeBlanc, but I disagreed with the others about policy, so I moved back to Kotoyeesinay.”

  Memory nagged at Nic. What had the oracle shifter said, back in the holding cells? Something about Christmas bringing the keys? He eyed Tinsel’s red and green armor. “Could I borrow them? The ghosts… Lerro said…” He regrouped his thoughts. “Call it a hunch.”

  The portal behind her warped. A leg made of veined marble stepped out of it and thumped hard enough to shake the ground. A voice that sounded like rocks grinding together spoke. “Stuck.”

  Tinsel glanced back, then pulled the chain over her head and handed it to him. “I want them back.” Her chariot flew up and turned toward the portal. “Hold still, you big lummox!” she shouted.

  Nic ran back to the grove and found Skyla kneeling. Several mage lights hovered around her as she dug in the dirt. “There’s a plate under here. Help me clear it.”

  He put the necklace in his pocket and did as she asked. After a few minutes of concentrated digging, they were staring at the rough surface of kimberlite, with a light layer of frost hiding green crystal and dull gold spots. Even as they watched, more frost crystals formed.

  Skyla sat back on her heels. “Dammit, this is just rock.”

  He smiled. “Valuable rock. The kind that yields gems.” He held his hand just over the surface. “Magic, too. Keeping it cold. Keeping this whole grove cold.” He pulled out the necklace and dangled the keys. “This is going to sound daft, but Tinsel had these around her neck. They’re founders’ keys. I remembered what Lerro said about doors in winter and keys.” He held the chain out to her. “I can feel magic, but I can’t work it like you can.”

  She narrowed her eyes in thought. “Lerro said ‘in our hearts and under the frost.’” She pulled off her gloves and took one of the keys. “Two keys.”

  He took his gloves off. He wrapped his fingers around the second key and held out his hand to her. “Two hearts.”

  She slid her hand into his. Their mate bond sparked. The keys glowed.

  Beneath them, the frost melted away. The dull olivine crystals brightened, leaving two key-shaped shadows.

  As one, he and Skyla set their keys in place.

  A surge of fairy portal magic lit up the grove like high noon. He quickly pulled Skyla into his arms, not wanting to lose her again.

  The ground beneath their feet vanished, dropping them into a deep freeze of darkness.

  15

  By the time Skyla gathered her wits enough to cast an anti-gravity spell, she and Nic were already landing and sliding down a sloping surface of ice. Nic rolled her sideways and took the brunt of their momentum as they slammed into the base of something smooth and vertical. And hard, based on the new pain in her knee.

  The pulse of magic thrummed against her senses. She lifted herself up, to give Nic a chance to breathe. She smiled at his beloved face, glad there was enough light to see. “Hi.” She energized the mate bond to make sure he was okay. “Is this a good time to tell you how sexy you are?”

  He smiled back. “Hi, yourself.” His eyes widened. “Look.”

  She rolled over to see what he was pointing at, after first untangling her wrist and his from the chain with the keys.

  Subtle light emanated from the walls and ceiling. The ghosts of Kotoyeesinay swarmed in and out of the far wall of blue ice, about thirty feet from them.

  The inner glow increased and revealed two more key-shaped shadows. Skyla pointed. “I think this is what the ghosts were trying to tell me about.”

  He grunted. “Lerro’s been right so far.” He rocked forward onto his feet.

  She took the helping hand up he offered, then wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug, soaking in his warmth and scent. “You make adventuring less scary. Thank you.”

  He hugged her back and kissed her. “I think you’re the bravest woman I know.”

  “That’s because
you’re in love with me, and you never knew my sister.” She moved to pull away, but he held her fast.

  “I don’t think I’d have liked her very much.”

  “Why not?”

  He brushed a thumb across her forehead to smooth a lock of her hair back. “Because she made you doubt your worth.”

  She shook her head. “No, she tried to protect me, give me skills. She was born first. She was the spitting image of our mixed-race father. Nothing fazed either of them. They were both Shifter Tribunal investigators, though I wasn’t supposed to know who they worked for.” She shrugged one shoulder. “I took after Mother, whose mixed heritage included elves. I caught an elf disease and barely lived. She caught it from me and died. That’s how I discovered my gift for spirits. She needed me to give a message to my father.” She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, remembering the old pain. “He stopped looking at me after that.”

  “Because you lived.”

  She nodded. “Because I wasn’t Rayne, and I lived.”

  He kissed her again. “I’m very glad you did.” He held up the keys. “Since he’s not around for me to kick his ass, let’s see what these do.”

  They had to pick their way around giant bones of a disarticulated skeleton half submerged in solid ice.

  “Dragon, maybe?” He pointed at what might have been a jaw with big, thick teeth. “Tinsel said Kotoyeesinay has some for defense.”

  “Fort LeBlanc would be too cold for them. I think dragons are more like flying desert dinosaurs.”

  “No dragon rides for me, then. Deserts are too damn hot. The hills above Santa Barbara were bad enough.”

  They reached the wall. Once again, they each placed a key on the shadowed outline. The keys stuck to the blue ice.

  She threaded her fingers through his and energized their mate bond. Despite the danger, hot visions of naked, aroused Nic snuck in between her rational thoughts. And of course, he felt it. “Sorry,” she murmured.

  He squeezed her fingers and murmured back. “I’m not.”