Towers and Tithes by Christina Bauer

Author:Christina Bauer [Bauer, Christina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781946677624
Publisher: Monster House Books

17

Dex

Tonight, Jocasta gave me an order.

Do nothing with the girl until we speak again.

In my mind, that’s more of a suggestion than a true command. Sure, I won’t start a war by marching on stage at the selection. Still, there are other ways I can help Grayson.

My protection magic.

I wait quietly under the balcony until the Lady’s mirror pulls Grayson away. Go time. Taking in a deep breath, I pull on the shifter magic within me while whispering an incantation.

“I have a love that time transcends,

I give my blood, magic defends.”

Supernatural power swirls inside me. I command the claws on my right hand to appear. Talons erupt from my fingers and bite into my palm. Three drops fall from my hand onto the floor. For the briefest moment, these points of red flare with golden light, then vanish entirely. I send a message to my Vita.

“I will protect you.”

Grayson is gone from the stage. In my mind, I hear her voice call my name. The tone carries more than a little growl. She is secure, for now.

My spell worked.

The ceremony continues. Although Grayson is safe, I can’t help but run through what happened. Was there something else I could have done?

Grabbing Grayson from the Odeum would end in a war that I cannot win. Plus, it makes no sense to defy Jocasta at this point. Clearly, there’s more to understand about the Rapunzel life template—secrets that must be unwound before Grayson and I can be together.

Still, that’s logic. My Vita is my heart. And now, she’s with a killer.

While the ceremony continues, I leave the Odeum. Once outside, I shift into my wolf form and speed for Wulfhelm. After so much waiting, it’s great to have my claws digging into fresh earth once more.

By the time I reach my home forest, morning sunbeams are cutting through the heavy cover of branches. Soon, I catch a familiar scent. It’s Talyn, my beta. He waves as I lope closer.

“Greetings, Alpha.”

“Talyn.” I’m still in my wolf form, so I look down on Talyn’s head.

“We’ve gotten two new recruits since you left. Both are human girls.”

“From the new sorting station?” We’ve an alliance with an Arizona pack. They take in shifter orphans from all over the world. If they can’t find a home for the kids on Earth, then they’re sent here to Wulfhelm. At one time, they’d send us hundreds of kids each year. Thousands of shifters were part of our pack. Now, we number less than a hundred.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Do you need help settling them in?”

“No, the new pups are fine. How was the viewing?”

Part of me wants to announce that I’ve found my Vita. I can’t, though. Until I know more from Jocasta, I can’t build up the hopes of my pack. In the end, I limit the story to parts that Talyn can share.

“I fought three stone golems,” I announce.

Talyn tilts his head. I can feel his energy pull at me through our pack bond. He senses my extra level of concern.

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