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She wondered if he sensed an Invictus presence in the vicinity. But when he reached into his pants pocket, she realized his phone was ringing.
Before he answered, however, he turned to look behind him, then slowly took in the entire landscape all the way to his right. Olivia saw the same three-sixty view as he carefully scanned the terrain. He was out in the open and exposed. But at least he’d be able to see anyone coming since there was no place on this cliff-top path to hide.
~
Zane pulled out his cell. Marian was on the line, the woman who headed up his Communication Center.
“Hey, short stuff.”
She giggled. “I’m a troll. I’m supposed to be short. Tell me something I don’t know.” She was good-natured, but she also knew how to crack the whip when necessary.
“Aw, you know I love to hear you laugh. So, what’s the word?” He tried to be upbeat. But when Marian called, he knew he wouldn’t be uncorking a bottle of champagne anytime soon.
“Sorry, chief, but we’ve got a chaos wind in Britchett Falls.”
Damn. The chaos winds were the latest curse in his realm and usually meant a world of hurt for the Realm-folk involved. They’d started up the day after he’d returned from Ashleaf Realm, about a month ago. The winds were a phenomenon that lived up to the name he’d given it, creating chaos wherever it showed up. The troubling nature of the wind resulted in a kind of mania that allowed the wraith-pairs to move in and hurt a lot of innocent Realm-folk. He wasn’t sure where they came from, but he suspected the worst; Margetta was making a play for his realm.
He repressed a sigh. “Where are we at? Is Chase or Sawyer on this?” His two lieutenants kept the Guard moving where they needed to be throughout the night.
“Chase is already at Britchett Falls, but he wants you over there, ASAP. He has his Guard force ready to do battle, but this time it seems that the wind is preventing his troops from getting into the city.”
Great. A new nightmare.
“And where’s Sawyer?”
“All the way south at Helm’s Watch.”
“I’m on my way to Britchett Falls. And I want another twenty Guardsmen heading there now.”
“Already sent the orders.”
“You called for twenty?” He laughed to himself at her audacity. Twenty was spot on, exactly the number he would have called for.
“Sure did,” she responded. “I know you, Mastyr, or would you have ordered anything different?”
“You know, you’re getting a swelled head.”
She giggled again. “But I was right.”
“I’m going to tell that shifter you’re dating to take you down a peg or two.”
“Hey, you butt out of my affairs. The last time you said anything to him, he trembled for days.”
Zane threw his head back, roaring his laughter. “I’d like to see any shifter trembling for even a minute, let alone days.”
“Get moving, vampire.”
Zane chuckled as he slid his cell back into his pocket. But his amusement died quickly. Damnit, he’d have to fly, which meant leaving his bike in the nearby woods. He might as well put a sign on it: Take all the parts you want, you cheap-ass, forest pricks.
The gremlins in any realm thought thievery the highest form of art as well as an honorable mode of existence.
He muttered a few curse words.
The forest wasn’t far away. He rode for another hundred yards and found an animal trail heading toward the woods. He took the path, grumbling, but it would be worse to leave his almost-brand-new Valkyrie out in the open. The forest offered at least some protection, however meager.
He shouldn’t have bought a red bike, either. The color was like a beacon to any Realm person looking for a quick steal.
Ah, well. He didn’t really have a choice.
