Two of the bears on the thrones were familiar. One was Armor, the big, brown alpha that I had beaten the living hell out of during our last meeting. He sat in the center throne. Another slightly smaller bear with lighter, tan fur sat to his right, my left, and I recognized her because she had rushed to protect Armor during that same fight. I didn’t see the third bear from that night, the one Claire had described as her attacker – the cowardly hairball.
The one I had come here to kill.
But this third bear was as black as midnight with a gray-flecked snout, and was much smaller than the other two. Like a little teddy bear. His head was cocked to the side, making him look curious and happy. He was also playing with a large stick, chewing on it at times.
“You must be Armor,” I said, studying the alpha. He nodded, one ear flickering. “I’m here to kill someone,” I said politely, dipping my head, “for being a cowardly bear.”
This, of course, caused every bear to bristle. “What are you talking about?” Armor snarled, sitting up straighter in barely restrained anger, but not actually standing.
“One of you turned an innocent woman, Claire Stone, to get revenge on me.” Surprised gasps filled the room, but I overrode them, raising my voice. “The third guy I saw that night a few weeks ago when I… hurt your feelings.” Armor’s eyes grew stony, and the bears quieted. “I can remind you of the details if you’ve forgotten,” I offered, staring him down.
“Oh, I remember,” he said gruffly, and I could have sworn I heard knuckles popping, followed by the scratching of claws on stone as he squeezed his armrest.
“Good. Saves me time,” I said smugly. Then I spoke loud enough for everyone to clearly hear me, ignoring Armor’s snarl. “Attacking a Regular is a crime. Even though I’m not a Shepherd, one of you is going to pay for that. Whether by me, the church, or the Academy. You know, the ruling body of wizards. Nasty bunch.”
I pulled the Academy card for credibility, because what the bear had done was a crime. Also, I wasn’t sure where the bears stood on the whole God thing, but everyone feared the Academy.
“We would never attack a Regular,” Armor growled. “If we wanted revenge on you, we would have come for you. Mark my words,” he said, brandishing a claw.
“You sure about that, Sweetheart?” I batted my eyelashes at him.
Stone crumbled between his other paw as he squeezed his armrest. The female bear slapped a restraining paw on that forearm and shook her head. Then she turned cool eyes my way.
“You were there too, honey,” I winked.
“My name is Kona,” she said in a clipped tone. “Not honey.” She jerked her nose toward Armor. “And he isn’t sweetheart. Use proper names or you will die. Disrespect isn’t tolerated.”
I laughed. “Disrespect? After my accusation?” I leaned closer. “Eat. My. Ass. Honey.”
Her shoulders actually rippled in outrage, but the third bear suddenly pulled his chew stick away, and looked at her. Just a look. She stopped. Instantly. Then he spoke in a soothing, lullaby voice. “Everyone has hot blood right now. She accuses one of us of a crime. I don’t think demanding her respect is fair. If what she says is true, her anger is quite justified.”
After a long moment of stunned silence, Armor and Kona dipped their heads at him. I smiled back at him, somewhat surprised to find an ally. He held up his paws as if mimicking a scale. “I have questions because this is news to me. But please start from the beginning for all to hear. And before you decide to get cute with me, too, I am Starlight.” He winked at me.
I let out a breath, reining in my thirst for blood. I could at least try to be civil, and if things still didn’t go as planned, I would resume my first tactic. So, the beginning…
“A demon came to town a few weeks ago and pitted everyone against each other.” They nodded stiffly, lips curling in anger at the memory. “You thought I was an enemy, a thief. And I heard you make promises to get revenge.” They stared back at me, unyielding. I scowled. “I’m trying to be polite, here. Please nod or we may as well throw down right now.”
Starlight glared at Armor, who finally growled. “Yes. We thought you had robbed us, so we discussed revenge. In conversation, only,” he emphasized. “Then you broke into our home. We fought…” He seemed to have indigestion as he finally added, “And you won.”
The rest of the bears fidgeted uncomfortably, and I knew how hard it was for everyone to accept that statement, let alone for him to say it himself.
“I killed the demon that same night, for all of us. For what he had done.” The cavern grew silent, and I wondered if that was news to them or if they had already known. “But something else happened shortly after I left your home, and I only just discovered it.” I met Armor’s eyes, letting him see my pain and rage, but not directing it at him specifically. I directed it at the crime. “Someone who matches that third bear’s description turned my best friend. Attacking her outside her home, and saying see you soon. Then he walked away. I would very much like to talk to him… Or the one who gave him the order.” I met Armor’s eyes again. “Then I’m going to kill them. Slowly.”
That was about as polite as it was going to get. My words echoed in the silence.
Armor held up a giant claw as grumbles began to fill the room. Whether they were against me or for me, I couldn’t tell, but they died down at his motion. His paw was shaking as he rotated it for all to see. And then he clenched his fist. “This is between Callie and me. Period. I am the Alpha. This is my Cave.” They grumbled unhappily, but complied. I idly wondered who Starlight was in the hierarchy. When he spoke, everyone listened, even their alpha. Maybe he was their moral compass.
I saw that many of the eyes were thoughtful, likely realizing that I might have some truth to my words if Armor was denying them the chance to stand up for him. He finally turned back to me. “You invaded my home and stole something from us. Then you appeared again in stealth, with another who had disrespected us.”
“Nate—”
“Do not speak his name here,” he roared, and his voice had an odd tremor to it. Whether he was unbelievably angry, or trying to hide his fear, I couldn’t quite tell. Either way, it was telling. I opened my mouth to argue, but he pressed on. “So, when we saw you the second time, you can understand how furious we were…”
“What with all the ass-kicking, I didn’t really notice.”
Starlight spoke up, interrupting Armor’s snarl. “The young should sometimes use silence as a weapon, rather than blabbering on and on with sharp comments they mistake for wit.”
I squinted at him, but he wasn’t looking at me, almost as if making an idle observation.
Moral compass, indeed.
Armor continued. “We discussed revenge, but it had nothing to do with your friend. Yuri, the third man you speak of wanted revenge for what you wizards had done to us, and would not entertain the fact that we had all been played by this demon, who was just a rumor at the time. But we do not tolerate the idea of attacking an innocent. Ever.” His voice rang with moral outrage at the thought of even speaking the possibility of such a thing. “He was banished from our Cave, after repeatedly proposing and defending his idea to attack one of those close to you.”
Well, shit on a unicorn. So close, yet so far. I had a name, but no bear.
Chapter 8
I stared at him, considering everything about him, reading him. I had a name, now. Yuri. But… Armor sounded like he was telling the truth. I had come here thinking he was behind it all, that he had ordered this Yuri to do it, but looking into his eyes, I began to wonder…
Here he was, admitting to being beaten by me, in front of all his people. Not one of them had done anything disrespectful to me this morning. And I had given them every reason to do so. In fact, it had been a tactic of mine. Get them to show their true colors by pressing their buttons.
But… at every turn they had shown me the opposite. I wasn’t gullible enough to buy this completely, but if they were such vicious, conn
iving, soulless bastards as I had anticipated, surely one of them would have retaliated by now. Especially when they were all in bear form, which typically inhibited the rational side of their human nature. And I was outnumbered, not really a threat against so many. And they were still letting me speak. Even rudely.
Armor leaned forward. “Regarding your second accusation, let me put you at ease… He took a deep breath. “I did not attack your friend. Nor did I command, hint, or suggest it. If I lie, every bear has the right, duty, and obligation to tear out my throat without reprisal.”
He leaned back in his throne. Then Kona repeated the words, staring straight at me. Then Starlight. Then, believe it or not, every other bear took turns stepping forward enough for me to clearly see them deny as well, until everyone but the unconscious or incapacitated guards had sworn their innocence, and their obligation to take down their Alpha if he was lying.
Armor leaned forward again, resting his elbows on his hairy thighs. “Let me fill you in on a little secret about bears. When we turn someone, they want it. We try to pick those who will be assets to us, and those who are fed up with their situation. Whether without family, facing fatal disease, or disgusted at the lack of honor they see in the world. We offer these individuals the opportunity for a second chance. A gift. Healing them in exchange for their obedience to our creed… Honor. But when one breaks this, they are cut away.” I saw every bear nodding proudly.
Starlight spoke next. “If Yuri did this thing, he must face justice.”
I nodded, feeling truth to their words. “Bring him to me and I will gladly take out the trash.”
“To have a punishment, we must have proof of the crime. Right now, you have a suspect, but not a case. Suggestive evidence, but not a concrete fact.” He held up a paw, seeing me open my mouth to argue. “Has your friend actually turned yet?”
And my mouth snapped shut. I had an eyewitness. But… her word against his wouldn’t hold water in the traditional courts, either. Even though I knew Claire was telling the truth, it had yet to be officially proven. She hadn’t yet turned.
I shook my head angrily. “But I’m not sure the Academy will require such evidence,” I said, hoping to sway Starlight’s words.
He tapped his lips thoughtfully. “You keep mentioning the Academy, and yet you have no ties to them. Neither does… Temple,” he said, looking as if the word was distasteful to him. “In fact, I have it on good authority that the Academy doesn’t hold anyone outside of their jurisdiction in high regard. Not the Vatican, and especially not Temple. So why would you not warn us of the Shepherds’ wrath instead?”
I sighed. “I’m not a Shepherd.”
“Neither are you Academy, so why the distinction?” He tapped his lips again, thinking. Then his eyes brightened. “Oh, my…” he said in a surprised tone. “That is unnerving…” The skin pebbled at the base of my neck as I wondered what conclusion he had come to. “You could have brought Roland with you today, but that would make things official, alerting the Vatican. I can only assume this means you lack trust in your Holy employer,” he said softly, not using it to bludgeon me, “that we both may have traitors in our midst.” I let out a breath, and he sighed, not sounding the least bit pleased at this revelation.
Stunned looks met mine, which basically meant the bears’ eyes widened and they seemed to stop breathing for a few moments.
“I’ll take care of Yuri if you take care of our mole at the Vatican,” I said dryly.
Starlight’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “No. Both are your problem. You are the accuser.”
Armor cleared his throat, which just sounded odd on a bear. “You must find Yuri, prove his crime, and then bring him to us to face justice. Do this, and we will owe you a favor…”
Starlight nodded at that, but the rest of the bears looked surprised, especially Kona.
“You’ll have your evidence soon enough, when my friend turns. You find Yuri, and I’ll gladly kill him for you. Because I have no idea where to find a bear, if he’s even still in town,” I said, growing angry.
“We cannot find him. The burden of proof is on the accused,” Armor grunted.
“And we will be busy,” Kona added, sounding suddenly excited for some reason.
“With what?” I growled.
“Taking care of your friend,” she said. “She will die without our help.”
“I don’t like the way that sounds,” I growled at her.
“Facts rarely give a flying fuck about one’s feelings,” Starlight offered in a light tone.
Despite my anger, laughter bubbled up. “I really like that one…” I admitted. But they did have a point. Claire would need help, and I didn’t like the idea of keeping her locked up in a cell below the church. And sooner or later, she would need to meet the bears.
“Bears are quite strong,” Starlight said. “Especially during first shift. And it would ease her transition to spend some time with us, getting to know us, first. Learning more about our ways.” I nodded slowly. I couldn’t speak for Claire, but their proposal did make sense. Starlight smiled at me with his big, dark eyes. “We will keep her safe for you, Callie. Never fear. I swear it. Now, regarding Yuri, Kona has some news that might interest you.”
I turned to her, feeling eager. “I received word that Yuri is still in Kansas City, and has been seen in the company of new… friends from other factions,” she said carefully. I blinked. He was hanging out with other flavors of Freak? That didn’t sound good. Had someone hired him as a goon? Extra muscle? She pressed on, not elaborating. “There are a lot of new faces in town these last few weeks. Several of these friends will be at a fundraiser tonight. One you are also attending, if my sources are correct.” I kept my face neutral, but I’ll admit, I was curious how the hell she knew that. Roland had only just told me about the fundraiser yesterday.
Then again, it wasn’t much of a State Secret. The Vatican had lumped me into every single gala or auction event as their go-to attendee after the fiasco a few weeks ago. They wanted the world to see that the church had nothing to do with the chaos that went down that night. And seeing the same face at several more functions without the buildings erupting in flames or demons put people at ease.
I saw a giant claw rise into the air from the crowd of bears, a monster of a Grizzly. The three bears on the thrones studied him thoughtfully before nodding. He climbed to his feet in a lazy, rolling motion, letting out a snort of effort as he stood on all fours, turning to face me.
“I heard Yuri muttering something over and over in the days before he left. Not sure if it means anything, but figured it might mean something to you,” he grumbled in a deep, deep baritone. I nodded eagerly. “God is dead.” He paused, letting me know he was finished. Then he sat back down.
I kept my face blank, and nodded my appreciation. “Thank you. I’ll look into it.”
Starlight was squinting at me very intently, but I maintained my poker face. I’d heard that exact phrase just this morning. From the Scarecrow wolf. Had Yuri been working with them? Was the frat-wolf’s claim of taking over the city more than I had initially thought? Some kind of code? The city had been crazy lately, with a noticeable uptick in crime. But since this was my task, I didn’t want to voice it here. But I knew one thing. That third wolf had just become my priority. My only lead.
“We will watch over your friend in exchange for your service,” Starlight finally said. “We are able to take a beating, so even if she doesn’t shift into a bear, we can take a lot of her frustration without serious harm. But if she is a bear… even better. You will have your proof, and she will see familiarity as soon as she makes the first change. We can ease her fears.”
I thought about it, considering all angles. I held up a finger. “She chooses her future. If she doesn’t want to be a part of your club, she won’t become a part of your club.”
He chuckled at that. “Deal.” He turned to the other two bears on the throne, who dipped their heads in agreement. Then Armor sliced hi
s paw, held it up into the air, and made an oath.
“I swear to watch over Claire Stone, to keep her safe, to pledge my life in her defense, and to not influence her in any way whatsoever, other than to assist her in controlling her new abilities. And all present will do exactly the same. I forfeit my life if I fail. And any traitors forfeit their life if they act independently to counteract my oath and bring the…” he met my eyes, seeming to smirk, “rage of Callie Penrose down on us all. Do all present hear me?”
I scowled at him, but let it slide.
The cavern was silent as a tomb, and then, one by one, each bear independently voiced their acknowledgment, stepping forward so that there could be no hiding, and then stepping off into a new group, literally allowing no one to pretend or slip by the oath. They also sliced their palms, and held them up in the air. I felt the air in the cavern tighten, grow thicker, and begin to hum stronger with each promise. Starlight had his eyes closed, but not as if napping, more as if he was… using magic.
No way.
I hadn’t felt him use magic, but something was binding their oaths.
When all were finished, Kona and Starlight took their turns, slicing their palms and trading grips with each other, getting blood all over the place.
I frowned, tapping my lips thoughtfully as the power seemed to pop, and then fizzle away, leaving filaments of energy to dance about the room like fireflies. Starlight winked at me.
“What about the sleepyheads over there,” I said pointing at the Polar Bears who still hadn’t regained their feet, although they were groaning. “And the three outside?”
“This oath bonds all present. Not just in this room, but in my Cave. My pack,” he clarified, seeing me frown at the word Cave. “Which includes them. And they forfeit their lives, by my hand or any of those you just heard speak, if they try to act otherwise.” He stared at me very intensely. “I hope you realize the significance of this, Miss Penrose. You could very literally ignite a civil war between my people. Now, go do this thing.”
Feathers and Fire Series Box Set 1 Page 30
