Page 31 of Shifter’s Thunder

Moments later, Guivre and Pendragor walked in. Guivre hung her moss-colored winter cloak on the coat stand while Pendragor stamped his booted feet, then set up his laptop on the corner of Tanner’s desk.

Pendragor started right in as Guivre sat. “Kotoyeesinay has been relying too much on our ‘too-small-to-bother-with’ reputation to keep trouble away.” Pendragor tapped a sharp fingernail on Tanner’s desk. “The security team and I believe that we can’t do that anymore. We’ve made an enemy of Surasa, and she is probably pissed off. She can’t let the reputational damage go unanswered. We need to increase town security with both magical and technological measures.”

They spent the next ten minutes batting around the level of effort to add layers to the existing wards versus rebuilding the grid from scratch and integrating modern human tech. Tanner argued that they needed both. The world was changing faster than old magic could keep up.

Pendragor seemed gratified when Tanner and Guivre agreed to raise the security upgrade project’s priority. “Magister Zephyr has some ideas on the integration, as does Magister Skyla Chekal from Fort LeBlanc.”

Guivre spoke up. “The Council also wants to prioritize the plan to move the rock fairy demesne that Zephyr and the banshee, Sunscar, are rehabilitating.”

Tanner nodded. He knew it was currently loosely anchored in the hurricane-prone Caribbean. The undertaking to move it was very far outside his area of expertise.

She continued. “A few of our oracles think that if Surasa finds it unprotected, she’ll steal it. If we re-anchor it here, we can shield it. Plus, the demesne would be an ideal halfway house for former breeder captives who aren’t ready to handle the modern world yet, or need time and therapy to deal with severe trauma.”

“I don’t disagree with the idea,” said Pendragor, “but it’ll be a logistical nightmare to move unless we get a lot of help. And the more outsiders we involve, the more vulnerable we are to Surasa’s spies.”

Tanner shook his head. “I think we need to take that chance. We need it for refugees. The Transition Center is beyond full and is vulnerable to attack. Both Denise and Avelunne have told me that some of the former captives were sold out by enemies, rivals, and even family who wanted to make the captive disappear without a trace. Some of the betrayers might want to finish the job.” He watched Guivre’s face, catching the flicker of the deep compassion she usually kept hidden behind her mask of serene authority. She was a vault of secrets, but for as long as he’d known her, she had a soft spot for refugees and second chances.

“Speaking of Avelunne and vulnerabilities,” Pendragor said, his tone too carefully casual. “We need to know how Avelunne breached the town shield so we can close that vulnerability. If she can do it, others might be able to as well.”

Now Tanner understood why they had come to his office instead of holding the meeting in the Town Hall building as usual. He appreciated their discretion, and he begrudgingly appreciated Pendragor’s unusual patience regarding a mystery that had obviously been eating him alive for days.

Tanner took a moment to consider his answer. “It’s not my secret to tell. But I will send Avelunne a text to ask her permission to describe what I’ve observed, or if she herself would be willing to tell you.” He pulled his phone from his pocket. Even as he typed the message, he realized that if she declined, he would protect her silence, and he didn’t feel guilty about it. His inner thunderbird agreed. She is our mate.

He put his phone on the desk so they’d hear the reply notification. Guivre tilted her head. “Does your department have enough staff to cover the holidays?”

Tanner blinked in surprise. “Yes. Why? Has someone complained?”

“No.” A small, innocent smile played across her lips. “I meant, do you have enough trained people in case someone needs time away? Your people should feel valued, but not irreplaceable. The town shouldn’t be taking advantage of its staff.” Her eyes twinkled with sly humor. “I’m told our employment benefits include accumulating vacation time for years — or centuries — of service. Perhaps you should look into it.”

Tanner suppressed a sigh at her meddling. He was grateful to be saved by the three tones from his phone. He read Avelunne’s answer from the screen. “She says, ‘I will talk to them. When?’“

Guivre nodded. “Tomorrow morning in my office.” She caught Pendragor’s eye. “Ten-thirty?” When he nodded, Guivre repeated it. Tanner sent the confirmation to Avelunne as Pendragor closed his laptop, and Guivre stood to collect her cloak. He watched them leave, then glanced at the clock. At last, it was time to go.

He felt relief that he didn’t have to balance protecting Avelunne and protecting the town today, but he also felt guilty for having that feeling. Sometimes he envied Pendragor’s innate certainty about what was right and Guivre’s ability to take the long view.

He logged off his computer, gathered his bag, then briefed Shiloh and transferred command to him. Tanner didn’t even mind Shiloh’s smart-ass insinuation about Tanner being in a hurry to pounce on a certain dragon.

He walked quickly toward the Transition Center to spend the rest of the afternoon with Avelunne. With only two days before Christmas Day, the place would surely be chaos central. She’d be in her element with all the excitement, and he’d love being with her.

The next morning’s flight to town was smooth and easy. They landed on the sturdy roof of the Town Hall building and shifted forms in the brisk air. Tanner walked Avelunne to Guivre’s office door. She insisted she would be fine without him in the meeting. His thunderbird side grumbled about it, but the human side trusted her judgment.

He spent the rest of the morning conveying gifts to his friends. To Shiloh, he dropped off the detailed plans and the promise to help build an outdoor roost. He and his husband had agreed to foster one of the rescued Ice Age shifter children whose other form was a prehistoric giant owl. Tinsel laughed delightedly at the enchanted sleigh ornament that flew in circles. Florida-born cougar-shifter Osborne gleefully clutched the charmed warming socks and gloves as if they were catnip. Shepherd Knight beamed at the lead on someone selling a vintage Tiger 1 tank from Africa. Giving was one of the best parts of Christmas time.

Back at the station, Tanner surveyed the mountain of gifts piled in his office. He would need hours to determine which were for him and which were for the staff. Later, he decided. Right now, he wanted Avelunne and food. The snow had delayed all sorts of parties and celebrations, so gifts could be delayed, too. When he told Shiloh he was cutting out early again, his second-in-command grinned. “I’m so proud of you! Look at you, having a life outside the department.” The coyote shifter was as bad as Tinsel with the matchmaking. Tanner good-naturedly ignored the jab and texted Avelunne about his plan to grab takeout and head home.

She arrived at his cabin an hour later with snow in her hair and a smile on her face. They ate lunch next to his picture window. “How did the meeting go?”

“Well enough,” Avelunne stabbed a piece of chicken. “Pendragor enjoys a challenge. I think Guivre was not surprised by the Storm Mouth gift. It was more like she was reminded of it. She may have known one of my ancestors.” She chuckled. “Maybe I should ask her if she knows what the moonwing curse means.”

“She might,” Tanner agreed. “Or you could try the Scholar of the Skies. He’s the wyvern on the Town Council.”

Avelunne shook her head. “Wyverns have never forgotten that the First Dragons ate them for breakfast.” She shrugged. “What can I say? I come from a long line of scoundrels.”

Tanner laughed. “You wouldn’t have survived the demesne if you didn’t.” He picked up her hand to kiss the back of it. “I love that about you.”

They cleaned up the remains of lunch, and he gave her a quick lesson on how to operate the dishwasher. She eyed the sloshing machine with suspicion but accepted the modern magic of it. They retreated to the bedroom for a long, languorous afternoon of finding new ways to give each other pleasure and climaxes. The nap that followed was deep and restful.

Avelunne said she wanted to watch the sunset because she missed them, so he followed her to the window. Darkness came early near the winter solstice, and the mountains blocked the sun even earlier.