Page 13 of Tamhas

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Tamhas

What’s the problem?”

Why would he call so suddenly? Did someone know something about my activities? Had they told him? Who was it?

My mind was spinning out of control, and I recognized this. I closed my eyes and forced myself to take a deep breath.

“We have a trespasser.”

I wasn’t certain whether I ought to be worried by this or relieved. “Who? Where were they found?” And why did he feel the need to call me about it?

“A woman, just outside the woods. She attacked Ainsley, Isla, and Dallas.”

“Are they all right?”

“They seem to be fine—but you understand the concern, naturally.”

“Naturally. How could…”

“How could a human woman fight off three of us at once,” he finished in a tight voice. “Easily, when she bears the mark of a Blood Moon Priestess.”

My stomach dropped. There was a name I hadn’t heard in centuries. “You’re certain of this?”

“Positive. Dallas held her still while Ainsley checked for the mark.”

“What brought it to mind after all this time? I can’t say I would’ve thought to look.”

“I asked the same question,” he replied. “And she said she wasn’t certain what inspired her to check. Only that her instincts told her no normal human woman could’ve done what she did. Especially when she saw them inflight. Humans aren’t able to do that. And, of course, she managed to get the better of them.”

“Aye, indeed. I’m glad to know they’re well after such a fight.” If there was a single group I would never have wished to tangle with—aside from the mercenaries who’d attacked us using automatic weapons—it would be the Priestesses. Witches, to be sure, who used their powers as witches typically did, but they had also been fierce warriors. “What would one of the Priestesses be doing there? It’s been how long since we last had sigh of any of them?”

“Several centuries. Ever since the matter between Diana and Gavin.”

“Mhm. That much, I remember clearly.” How could I forget? We’d worked alongside the Blood Moon Priestesses for as long as I could remember, likely since before I came to be. They’d assisted in hiding our identities, keeping the clan protected.

Until a rift formed within their circle. A rift which Gavin had refused to help mend, leading to a war which he’d refused to take part in. He’d insisted that any assistance would be tantamount to meddling in another group’s affairs and wanted nothing to do with it.

I’d understood at the time and understood still. He’d never been one to stretch his neck out when it came to anyone but a member of his own clan. The world had been changing by then, rapidly. Villages turning into towns, some not far from the borders of our territory. The threat of humans was ever looming.

Yes, the protection of the Blood Moon Priestesses had been crucial to our safety, but if they were warring amongst themselves, what good could they do us?

And what if we’d chosen to back the losing side?

He’d decided instead to cut ties with the witches and turn his focus inward, to securing us using our own strength. Diana’s fury was the stuff of legend. They’d protected us for millennia and what did they receive in return?

There was no love lost between our clan and the Priestesses, then. Even so… “I thought they dissolved, broke up,” I muttered, pacing in front of the window for lack of anything better to do.

“We all thought it. But she bears the mark. All three of them saw it.”

“Has she said anything?”

“She hasn’t been questioned. We have her in one of the cells.”

I rubbed the back of my neck, suddenly uncomfortable. “I mean no offense, believe me, but… Why are you telling me this? Why go out of your way to call me?”

He snorted. “One of my clansmen is out in the human world while this is going on and you don’t think I at least want to make certain he’s someplace safe? What if the Priestesses had overtaken you upon leaving our territory?”

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