Page 36 of Bear Protector
“Do excuse me, everyone…your Eminence.”
“Retiring so early?” Chancellor Minassus’ voice carried down the long table, silencing everyone else’s chatter.
“Yes, Chancellor.”
“How have your meetings with Commander Oslo gone so far?”
Kiera cleared her throat. “Very well, sir. The soldiers have been working diligently on preparations and new defense tactics for the first storm.”
“And the men to be turned?”
“I’m sorry, your eminence. What of them?”
“Are they in good spirits?”
She had no idea what to say. What she wanted to tell him was that he gave them no choice, so why did he care about their states of minds. Or how would she have any idea, given her mind was occupied with coming to terms with the fact that she would be dead in six days. Or why not make it optional to join the Regional Protection Unit, while also opening the ranks to women with the 236-k gene. Not that women would necessarily want to make such a sacrifice, but why not? Those questions to him would not go over well, so she settled for, “I supposed they have accepted their fates.”
“They have to. We need every possible shifter this year. The coven of seers is predicting a long, cold winter, with many blizzards and at least ten weeks of sub-zero temperatures. There’s no telling how many destroyers will attack this season…” he paused for a moment, eyes narrowed as he scrutinized her face. “Kiera, there is something different about you…”
She nervously lifted a hand to her shoulder, taking a step backward. “Different? I am not sure what you mean.”
She sensed everything the Chancellor reflected on as though the words were coming from his lips…except his lips were not moving.
What on earth?
I can’t read her thoughts.
She must have been practicing her blocking spells.
Perhaps it’s all that time she spends in the library.
It does not matter, as long as she and her bird-brained familiar are successful in transforming the new shifters next week.
“Not to worry,” he said, and this time his lips moved.
“As you wish, your Eminence.”
“I would like to confer with you on an item tomorrow. I meant to see you yesterday, but your botanist friend informed me you were out fetching herbs for her.”
Thank God Reena had covered for her. “Apologies for my absence. I will be sure to remain available, sir.”
“Excellent. Enjoy your evening.”
“You as well. Good night, everyone.”
Turning quickly, she scurried off, relieved to get away. At least the Chancellor was not suspicious. Had he asked which herbs she gathered, she would have no idea what to tell the man.
* * *
Coco flew into Kiera’s window early the next morning, squawking and flapping her wings at the center of the room beside the bed.
“What’s wrong?” Kiera asked, looking up from a spell book she was reviewing in bed.
“You tell me. You just summoned me, didn’t you?”
“What? I never called for you.”
“But you did. With your mind, Kiera. And it hurt like hell this time. I had no choice but to obey.”
