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Chapter 11

Alessandro eyed the two greatest pieces of evidence he had at his disposal. The flute that had been the source of his dragons’madness and the totem that had caused the bear shifters to attack one another the day before.

Naseem, buried in scrolls in one corner of the office, was gathering information over the two pieces of treasures.

Aqua, Alessandro’s Water General, a thin pale woman with hair the color of turquoise, was extracting all the physical evidence from the pieces. Though from the huffs and groans, she wasn’t having the easiest time with her assigned task.

Blaise was tracking down the last known whereabouts of the flute, and Stone had gone to interview the Canadian bears over the history of the totem within their tribe.

Alessandro’s focus was on dwindling down a suspect list. Over the years, he’d kept track of those he’d pissed off. He hadn’t realized how long it had gotten, if he was being honest.

He referenced it against those who openly had grudges against shifters.

Creating a list of suspects that he would whittle down when his generals turned in their own data.

“There’s nothing here.” Aqua’s irritation was palpable in the air.

Naseem and Alessandro glanced over their screens to the blue-haired healer, who was glaring at the two objects with unsheathed animosity.

Alessandro shifted his body so he could dodge the objects he could feel she was close to flinging.

“Perhaps that’s a clue within itself.” Naseem suggested. “What spells can erase traces? Magic always leaves a trail of some sort.”

Aqua groaned. “Isn’t that your area of expertise? My talents end at healing and water related magic.”

Even if Blaise was the one general who received the most guff from his charges, Aqua was inarguably the least assured. Alessandro had confidence when things got dicey that she would prove that he hadn’t been mistaken in choosing her over Elaine’s mother, Mezine. But until then her insecurity over her position would hold her back.

“I could help you if you wanted me too, but I definitely will charge for my services.” Naseem grinned.

Aqua squared her shoulders as she turned to face him head on. “What are your terms?”

“I want one of your rotations.”

Alessandro raised an eyebrow when Aqua’s pleading eyes turned to him to beg for his interference. “I am but a beacon of hope for my people, not a tyrant.”

Naseem and Aqua both burst out into laughter.

“Half a week.” Aqua offered.

“Done.” Naseem agreed, and he moved his computer over to help her.

Alessandro resettled into his task. His dragon let out a breath of discontent. He had hoped the argument would have escalated so he could squash it.

His energy wanted a physical release. He’d prefer to seek the company of the white-haired elf that kept randomly crawling into his mind as he worked. But he would’ve taken a fight if only to take the edge off.

He wanted to curse. Instead, he adjusted his pants, leashed his beast and concentrated on the names rolling across his screen.

XOXOXOXO

When Rowan walked into her office the next morning, she hadn’t expected Louisa and Kin to be

in their chairs. Healed, and elbow deep into the work they had to catch up on.

It was a productive morning as Dew passed tasks out and kept them on schedule to be caught up by lunch.

As an incentive, Dew had threatened to take away morning coffees for a week from whoever failed to meet her expectations. It explained why Kin and Louisa had both been diligent in their work since the beginning of the day.

Rested, and a bit drugged with one of Lexine’s medicinal teas, Rowan had enough energy at her disposal to get through her workload before noon hit.