Page 55 of Bear Protector
“Try telling that to him.”
“But if the storm is coming, we need those men.”
“It’s never easy. Uh, Xander?”
“Yes?”
“I’m not done.”
“There’s more?”
“Sadly, yes,” Coco answered. “That trip Manassas took was a decoy. Xander, Keira believes that he has already held your mother prisoner and is bringing her to the fortress as we speak.”
Fury and fear rose up in Xander’s throat at the news. “No. He couldn’t have.”
“He took your mother.”
“That maniacal bastard! Why didn’t you tell me that first?”
“Like I said from the start. All of it is important, and there was no way to tell you in the order that would matter most to you. We still believe that the most important thing you can do is get the seven shifters here to me, so that Keira can do her best to help in any way that she can, while your men prepare to defend the region against the destroyers… And I can only suggest that you hide those trainees scheduled for the transformation ceremony, or deploy them far from the fortress. As soon as they are a safe distance away, take some shifters with you to the fortress to see the Chancellor and negotiate your mother's release… As well as Keira’s. I did mention he has her now, right?”
For a few moments, Xander stood there, half paralyzed from indecision. His first instinct was to get to the fortress and rescue his mother and Keira. Someone also needed to stop the guards that were possibly already on their way here, hoping to gather up the men Minassus wanted to turn tonight. But just as Coco suggested, defending the region from the ravages was the top priority, and if Keira could do that somehow with her magic, Xander needed to help her make that happen.
“Liam, I will start identifying the seven shifters. Deploy four of your best soldiers immediately to rendezvous with Reena and the Nauru so they can head west. Assemble all the remaining troops. I will stay back with the seven shifters to deal with Minassus. You prepare to lead everyone else west, including the trainees that Minassus wants to turn. Focus your entire team on preparing for the destroyers. The Chancellor won’t dare stop your team tonight, and the further they are from the fortress, the better.”
“Are you sure you can manage with only eight of you at the fortress?”
“I’m positive. This is not our night to fight Minassus, and even he should understand that. Not with the imminent threat of destroyers. I will focus on negotiating terms for my mother’s and Kiera’s release. We will tackle the Chancellor another day.”
“Yes, sir. Understood and agreed.” Liam turned to Coco. “Anything else before we get started?”
She shook her bird head. “Safe travels.”
“Thank you.” Liam gestured over at Xander. “Be ready for anything at the fortress. I will keep Mrs. Oslo in my thoughts. God speed.”
“Be careful out there, old friend.” After Liam had left, he gestured toward the bird. “Let’s find you these shifters you seek.”
“I just hope it works when I touch them.”
“Worst case scenario, they will accompany me to the fortress. That way, if Kiera needs to physically make contact with them herself, they will be close. After we’re finished here, you should fly back to the fortress. Please stay far away from Minassus, and do not get caught. We all need you.”
“Thanks. I will,” Coco said.
“How are you holding up with all this flight travel?” He asked as he walked back toward the center of camp.
“Not bad. I have handled longer distances, but usually on a lot more food.”
“I’ll see what we can round up at the dining hall.”
“Thanks. I worry for Kiera. We need to get back there soon.”
“First things first.”
“Yes. The seven shifters. It had better work.”
“I hope so, but however things turn out tonight, we’re all in this together, shifter witch.”
“Glad you can see that now, Kodiak bear.”
