“Each shifter group is on guard for anything that looks dangerous or out of place.If you see something strange, mention it, and we’ll investigate.”
“Has there ever been anything strange or dangerous happen during one of these?And aren’t the witches powerful enough to deal with anything bad anyway?”
“They’re busy and distracted,” Solan said.“So we watch their backs.And I have no idea if anything bad has ever happened.”
Glacier, one of the falcons, leaned past Linus and said, “I guess you weren’t here a few years ago when that storm appeared out of nowhere, and it turned out to be a small warlock clan trying to take over.”
“No,” Solan said, shaking his head.
The big male rocked back on his heels, his black, feathered wings rustling in the breeze.He wore a sword strapped to his back, as did his brother, Frost.The males looked intimidating and ready for anything, which made Solan wish he had a weapon.At least he had his wolf’s claws, though.
“It was wild,” Glacier said.“There weren’t many of them, but they had tapped into dark magic.The witches had to stop their ceremony and fight them, but we managed to help take out a few of them and drive the others away.Nothing since then, though.That was the last time Frost and I were here.Our leaders asked us to step in this time and give the regulars a break.”
“It’s been years for me, too.”
Solan felt a hush fall over the bluffs and knew the witches were on their way up.He looked over his shoulder and saw the coven.There were a few dozen females, all wearing black cloaks.He was about to turn his gaze back to the lake and the moonlight dancing on the surface when the wind shifted.
He picked up the faint scent of sage and honey.
His whole body froze.
He inhaled, more slowly this time, and his wolf went nuts inside him.
Turning, he faced into the wind and saw her.
She stood near the outer edge where the dragons were watching.She wasn’t part of the circle, but on the outside of it, wearing a cloak with the hood down to reveal long, dark hair.
Her gaze met his, and the world stopped.
Recognition hit him like lightning right in the chest.
Her.
His wolf howledminebefore he could even form the word in his head.
His truemate was here?On the bluffs, a stranger with the witch coven on the very night he’d been asked to stand in place of another guard?
What were the damn odds?
Not daring to blink, he walked toward her.Linus whispered his name as the coven began their spell casting for the Equinox, and magic hummed loudly beneath his feet.
He drew closer, the smell of sage and honey growing stronger with each step.
His wolf was crashing against his bones like it would tear free of his body at any moment.
The female’s eyes turned brilliant amber, and her skin glowed.
A bright red light flared around the witches, and they cried out in alarm as the bonfire erupted and the lit candles toppled over.
The female threw her hands out, as if she were trying to stop whatever was happening.
One of the Corners shouted, “Kaeli!Stop!”
The wind roared, and the earth shook under his feet, lightning streaking brilliantly across the sky.
Solan didn’t think; he just moved.
He ignored the sting of magic like biting ants on his skin as he raced toward the female.The only words in his head:protect, shield, claim.
