Shifters of the Wellsprings: The Complete Paranormal Collection

by Leela Ash

  Ash, the voice of reason, killed the budding argument. “Has there been any word about my mother?” When the Dragon shook his head, her face fell. “There’s got to be something I can do. I’ll go mad sitting here, waiting for something to drop in my lap.”

  It killed Lucas to feel so helpless. Unable to help or protect the women he… the woman he, uh, had feelings for.

  Fairburn elbowed his obnoxious sister. “Hey King, can’t you track her?”

  “Right. You haven’t heard the news. My tracking skills are now officially shit. No better than any decent Wolf’s.”

  “What happened?”

  “Dipshit and I ran into each other.”

  “Quit calling me that,” Lucas growled. His sister was in serious need of percussive maintenance.

  The gleam in her eye made him suspect she wanted a brawl. “He had a ring, I had a necklace. When they touched, they turned into some idiot shield thing.”

  Fairburn’s eyes went wide. “This isn’t the Aegis, is it?”

  Lily poked Ash in the ribs. “Jeez, tell Sedona to work on their security, will ya?”

  “Says the woman who just told him we have the Aegis!” Lucas snorted. Which ticked his sister off – and felt oh so very good!

  “Sure I know about it.” Fairburn didn’t pay any attention to the brewing Wolf-fight. “My Mate Paige and I were the first people to find out about it.”

  So someone actually knew something about this ring-eating artifact? “What does it do?”

  “No idea. We just know that Nemagorix, the spirit or demon lord behind all these Snot Monsters, wants it destroyed.”

  Not helpful, at all. “Do you know why it would bond to a Dragon? When Briggs here touched it, a picture appeared.”

  “Can I see? We found a bunch of strange pictures near one of Nemagorix’s sacred sites.”

  “Sure.” Lucas fished the envelope out of his backpack. The little shield was still in it, safe and sound. He slid it out and held it up.

  As his hand touched the soft white leather of the Aegis, darkness bloomed on its face. The inky image of a Wolf, stylized and strange, took its place beside the Dragon.

  “What the…!”

  “What the hell did you do?” Before he could even blink, Lily had snatched the thing out of his hand and turned it back and forth, staring in outrage at this new picture. “Nothing happened when I touched it!”

  “Guess it doesn’t like you!” he sniffed back. Always delighted to score a couple points at her expense.

  Disgusted, Lily tossed the thing to Fairburn like a Frisbee. He caught it – and once more the surface of the shield shimmered as a Bear faded into view. Startled, the big man nearly dropped it on the floor.

  “Does that thing just hate women or what?” Lily grumbled. More than half of the shield was now covered with these odd runes. “Add Rat and Hare and we’ve got one of every Shifter Kind.”

  Lucas didn’t know much about Shifter society, but his sister’s suggestion made sense to him.

  Fairburn, however, shook his head. “I don’t think so. There was a painting at that ruin, where we found out about the Aegis. Five creatures, summoning Nemagorix. This looks like three of them.”

  “Are you sure?” Lucas glanced between Bear and Dragon. “I mean, I don’t know about you guys, but I do not intend to summon some world-eating monster.”

  For once, his obnoxious sister took his side. “Yeah and I thought the whole point of this Aegis thing was to protect people against Nemagorix. Dude wants it destroyed, doesn’t he?”

  “Yup,” the Bear admitted. “Maybe I’m not remembering this picture right.”

  “Can you take us to it?”

  “No, we had to destroy it. Too dangerous. Nemagorix could speak to people through it. But I can show you a picture of the picture. Come with me.”

  Fairburn’s home was a sprawling mansion just outside of Cortez, Colorado. Not so far from Lucas’ grandparents’ ranch… but probably worth a hundred times more than his beat up home. As soon as the door opened, a sea of small children swept into the foyer and surrounded the visitors. Names were shouted out. Jake, Eden, Sam, Nate, Micah. Lucas had absolutely no clue which name went to which kid (except Eden, the lone girl). A pretty woman waded through the swarming mass to kiss the Bear. That must be Paige (soon to be Fairburn) Hall.

  “Got your message, love. I’ve got a slideshow ready of the Nemagorix pictures, up in the den.”

  “Thank you. Ladies, gentlemen… if you’d follow me.”

  They did.

  So did the milling pack of kids.

  “You lot, go play outside!” Fairburn grumbled. “This is adult business.”

  Protests exploded. A tumult of pleas and cajoling that set Lucas’ head spinning. They could help! They could not help and just be quiet! They would…

  “SueSue!” an exasperated Paige cried. “Help!”

  At once, a fairy tale witch popped out of the kitchen. A frizzled mop of grey hair puffed around her wrinkled face. Clothes that Goodwill wouldn’t touch hung from her scrawny frame, covered with dozens of bulging pockets. Beside her, he caught a glimpse of a ghostly, monstrous dog-size rodent.

  Rat. Damn, those things took ugly!

  “Pups! Pups!” her shrill squeal cut through the pandemonium. “What do we do when people tell us we’re not welcome?”

  A chorus of sighs and slumped shoulders met that question. The biggest boy groaned and answered, “We leave.”

  “Right. And then?”

  Hell, even Lucas didn’t know the answer to that one!

  “We sneak back when they’re not looking!” the littlest boy yowled at the top of his lungs.

  “Right again, Sammy!” The entire kid-pack burst into wild cheers at the news. “Now come along! Time to work on our eavesdropping skills!”

  Like a receding tide, the children swept down the stairs. As the Rat led her little troop out the back, Lucas glanced up at Fairburn. “Is that your, uh, babysitter?”

  “Yeah.” He scratched his head. “SueSue is a little rough around the edges but she’s got some unique talents.”

  “Like?” Out on the patio, the old woman dropped to the ground and began to demonstrate proper low-crawling technique.

  “Like booby trapping a mud-room.”

  His confusion must have shown, because Paige gave a light, silvery laugh as she led them upstairs. “Sadly, that has already saved some lives. So we just let SueSue do whatever she thinks needs doing. The kids adore her, too.”

  With its leather chairs, dark wood desk, and sweeping desert vista, Fairburn’s den could entertain a dozen people. The Wolf felt a little lost; the damned office was three times as large as his bedroom. One wall was covered by a raft-sized tv. On it was a piece of Native art straight out of nightmare.

  A gigantic skeleton rose from a cloud of billowing smoke. Clawed hands scooped screaming humans up and tossed them into its gaping maw. Around it, crops and villages burned.

  Clustered around an odd symbol, five figures raised their arms together. Arrows darted up towards the looming monster from their upraised hands.

  Summoning it? Or attacking it? Lucas couldn’t tell. What he did know was that he’d seen three of those figures before: on his little shield.

  “You’re right, Fairburn. Bear, Wolf, Dragon. Exactly like on the Aegis.”

  “Yep.” The Bear tapped the tv screen. “Though you see why I don’t think the last two figures are a Hare and a Rat.”

  The fourth figure had been scratched out. Only a foot remained, and it didn’t offer any clues. While the fifth…

  The fifth was a skeleton, surrounded by a spray of bone bits. Or maybe the remains of skeletal wings. “What the hell is that?”

  “No idea,” the Bear replied. “Whatever it is, though, it’s dead.”

  “How about this?” Lucas tapped the symbol, a circle with three curving lines spiraling off it.

  “Again, nobody knows. The Sedona Hares tell us it’s close to a, uh…”
Tossing his hands in the air, he turned to his Mate. “What the hell did they call it? It’s not a Triscuit, it’s a…?”

  “Triskele,” Paige said. “Or triskelion.” Neither word meant anything to Lucas. “Normally those have three spirals, though, not three lines.”

  “And what do they do, these Tris…Trisk…” Damn it, in a minute he was going to be calling them ‘Triscuits’ too.

  To his surprise, Ash spoke up. “In magical theory, triskelions siphon off energy. They can be used to trap and confuse malign spirits.”

  “So these guys in the picture, they’re probably fighting that monster? Not summoning it?” He hoped so, since it seemed he was one of them.

  The buzz of a cell phone rang out, and six pairs of hands twitched. Briggs frowned. “It’s Danielle LePierre. Excuse me for a moment.”

  The Witch Queen of Sedona. Beside him, Ash shivered. Lucas slipped an arm around her and prayed this wasn’t bad news.

  But when the Dragon returned, his expression was grim. “The Sedona Warren just received a tip. Ash, your mother was seen in Farmington about ten minutes ago.”

  Her face lit with joy. “She’s alive!”

  It wasn’t a joy Lucas could share. This ‘good news’ set his Wolf growling softly. “Farmington, New Mexico? Small city about an hour from here? What’s she doing there?”

  “No idea.” The cool edge to Briggs’ words suggested he, too, wasn’t happy.

  “Why would anybody in Farmington know to call Sedona? Is there something magical going on there?”

  Hope drained from Ash’s face as she followed his train of thought. “Not that I know, no.”

  “I’m flying down there now,” the Dragon promised. “I’ll get to the bottom of this.”

  “You’re kidding!” the Wolf protested. “This whole thing screams ‘trap’.”

  Briggs neither startled nor took offence. “I agree with your assessment. Yet I will still go. The most effective trap is one where the bait is so important you cannot ignore it.”

  “Well you’re not going alone.” He’d never forgive himself if he sat back while somebody else rescued Ash’s mom. Ash may say they’re not ‘friends’. She may consider them not ‘an item.’ But, she was his. His Mate to protect and care for and he was not about to sit on the side lines while someone else did all the dirty work.

  “Mr. Clay, I don’t need…”

  Lily snorted, cutting her Mate’s protestation short. “Seriously? Do I need to remind you what happened the last time you decided to go solo? The Fangs we ran into had Hellfire missiles.”

  Hellfire… whuh? Lucas gulped, suddenly unsure of how much help he’d be against something like that.

  His sister didn’t share those doubts, however. “Nope. Me ‘n’ Dipshit are going with you. You need backup.”

  “Hey! I told you not to call me that!”

  Lily pranced away, almost daring him to chase her. “Don’t like it? Then earn yourself a better nickname in this fight.”

  Rex Fairburn cleared his throat. “If you’ve got room, I’ll come too. Danielle LePierre’s helped me a lot. I’d like to repay her.”

  His sister poked Paige in the ribs. “How about you, Omega? Feel up for a brawl?”

  A thunderous scowl appeared on the Bear’s face, but his Mate only laughed. “Thanks but no, Lily. I think my fighting days are over.”

  “That’s what they all say,” the Wolf said, in dark and gloomy tones. “Until they get ambushed. How about you, Bunny?”

  “Me?” Ash gulped.

  “Yeah you. Got teeth?”

  Lord, his sister was a psycho! “Ash isn’t a warrior!”

  “I’m talking to Bunny, Dipshit. Not you. She can answer for herself.”

  Fortunately Ash gave the sensible answer. “No. I’m not a witch and I can even shoot a gun, really.”

  “Okay that has to be fixed! Bunny, Omega? When this is over, us three are going to have a Girls’ Day in the Desert. Drink beer, shoot the shit, blast cans. Got it?”

  “Yes.” With a sparkle in her eye, Paige leaned close to Ash. “Just agree. It’ll make life easier.”

  Lucas gave Ash’s hand a squeeze. “You going to be okay here?”

  “Yeah.” Her smile was sad and frightened. “I like Paige.”

  “I promise you we’ll get your mother back. Safe and sound.”

  He just prayed that was a promise he could keep.

  Chapter 23.

  After the Shifters left, the house grew still. Any hint of danger put SueSue’s teeth on edge. The little ones sensed her nervousness and began to skulk about the house like tiny spies, silent and wary.

  Only Paige and Ash were immune to the growing gloom. The two women settled down at a pool-side table, a festive umbrella shielding them from the worst of the sun’s attack. Paige fetched a pitcher of lemonade balanced perfectly between sweetness and tart savor, but Ash couldn’t enjoy it. Her mind kept drifting back to Lucas and the people trying to save her mother.

  Hellfire missiles. Who on earth has something like that?

  Well, people who planned to kill a Dragon. No small arms stood a chance against their scales.

  As a Wolf, Lucas didn’t have that sort of protection. How could he possibly survive a fight with Dragon-slayers?

  “Are you okay?” A blush immediately followed Paige’s words. “What a stupid question. Your mom’s in danger. Of course you’re not okay.”

  “You know what’s terrible?” Ash had no idea why she was sharing this painful secret, but the other woman’s sweet, kind face made her trust her. “I’m actually more worried about Lucas. I don’t think he’s been in many fights and I know he’s never killed anyone.”

  “Don’t worry. His sister makes up for him. She’s been fighting since she was in diapers.” That image made Ash giggle. “Seriously, though. He has the best back up: a Dragon, an Amazon, and a very tough Bear. Plus, if things go wrong, there’s actually another Dragon in town. Finn Donnelly, from the First Flight. They’ve got all the backup they need.”

  “Thanks.” Two Dragons, two Wolves, and a Bear. There was no problem they couldn’t solve.

  Right?

  Two small boys crept past, scuttling from pool chair to shrubs. The women politely pretended they didn’t see the little scouts.

  “So are you and Lucas…?” Paige let the sentence trail off.

  A question that left Ash struggling to fill in the blank. “It’s complicated. I don’t know what we are.”

  “Oh.” Her host tapped a finger on her glass and nibbled on her lip. “Sorry if I’m barging into things that aren’t my business.”

  “No, it’s not that. I just don’t know what to say.”

  “Have you asked him where things stand?”

  “Sort of. I mean, he told his grandparents that we’re not friends. When I asked what we were, he didn’t really know what to say.”

  “Try again.”

  Ash rolled her eyes. “Lucas isn’t big on talking.”

  “A lot of men aren’t, so it’s up to you. If you don’t get him to talk, there may be something really stupid going on. Men can get hung up on the stupidest little things.”

  “Nothing good comes out of nagging Wolves.”

  “They say the same thing about poking Bears – and it worked wonders for me!”

  “Rex isn’t a talker either?” That made sense. Rugged, masculine guys like him didn’t tend to be chatty.

  “Nope. Took him forever to admit he cared for me. I assumed he just wasn’t into dating his cleaning staff. In fact, he thought he’d failed his first wife. So he was ‘protecting’ me by avoiding me. I had no clue what was going on in his head!”

  SueSue tiptoed out of the house, following the trail the boys had left. More ‘eavesdropping practice.’ The Rat held a finger to her lips, shushing the other women.

  As she slunk past, Paige reached across the table to give Ash’s hand a squeeze. “That’s why I say, talk again. Lucas could be hung up on some silly worry.”<
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  “I guess…”

  He had stuck by her today. Offering a strong shoulder and kind touches whenever she needed them. Heck, the fact that he was here at all was a great sign. He had his precious Aegis. Nothing stopped him from taking off for Montana like he planned.

  Wait. Why hadn’t he left? Ash’s jaw dropped as she spotted her own mistake. A huge, inexplicable hole in the midst of the day’s events, as obvious as a giraffe at a tea party.

  And she’d missed it.

  Her shock set Paige’s eyes dancing. “Okay, spit it out.

  “It’s nothing. Just… when we split up, Lucas planned to bug out to Montana. Dump me, dump his grandparents. Obviously Casey Briggs talked him out of that, but… How did they know I’d been possessed? Why would they – literally! – fly down to Sedona to rescue me? How could they even know I was in trouble?”

  “Didn’t you ask?”

  “No? I was so dazed… and, well, none of the guys said anything.”

  Paige banged her lemonade on the table to emphasize each word. “Make. Them. Talk. You have to make men talk, whether they want to or not.”

  “It’s just so weird.” Now that she’d noticed it, the mystery boggled her.

  “Or maybe it’s a really good sign.” Her host leaned closer, quivering with excitement. “Remember all those Shifter tales about how a Dragon always knows when his Mate is in danger? Well, they’re true. And when the Wellsprings woke up again, it started happening to other Kinds, too. Rex knows when I get threatened now.”

  “Seriously? A Bear? I never…”

  Then it hit her, what Paige’s words really meant.

  This sort of thing only happened to true Mates.

  Could she call them that, she and Lucas? Soul mates. Bound by Fate, for all time.

  No, her rational mind protested. That kind of love only happens in fairy tales. There’s no such thing as Fate or Destiny.

  Then how had he known she needed help? Was there any other explanation?

  Hope welled within her, a heady, intoxicating delight. What if they were Mates? Would he want to stay? Give up his wanderlust? Be happy building a family with her, making a home for the little speck of life they’d created. If they were true Mates, then she wouldn’t be trapping him with something that would only leave him feeling resentful, and together the three of them could make something beautiful. A future.