Page 131 of Bruised MC Bear

“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 Ravagers 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 Regent 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 Regent was not suspicious. Had he asked which herbs she gathered, she would have no idea what to tell the man.

* * *

Coco flewinto 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.”

“Coco. Did you hear what I just said? I did not summon you. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I heard you. You said my name with your mind.” Coco took on her human form and wrapped herself in the robe she had left on the chair in the corner of the room. “Let us talk this out, now that you have practically dragged me from what I was doing.”

Kiera slammed her book shut and glared across the room at her familiar. “Oh,nowyou want to figure it out? I begged you to stay yesterday morning and you wouldn’t speak to me!”

“It was not safe to talk.”

“Why not? It was only the three of us in the room.”

“And there is one weak link.”

“What are you saying?”

“We cannot afford to trust anyone anymore…not even Aleena. I am not suggesting that shecan’tbe trusted, but you have to remember she is not a witch. She cannot block her thoughts from the Regent. It is bad enough that she knows you have been secretly meeting Xander. If you had said anything about sleeping with him that night, who knows if you’d be alive right now.”

“Wait. You know? That we were… intimate?”