Page 143 of Bruised MC Bear

“I had a lot more control this time, and I was only trying to move one of them, but I’m somehow able to control all three. I must be improving…but it makes no sense. I just tried for the first time a few hours ago.”

“Very impressive,” Xander told her, recalling how she had levitated them that night without even trying. “Have you tried from a distance, or from another room where they are not in your sights?”

“Not yet…”

“That is brilliant, Commander Oslo!” Reena said excitedly. “Imagine just perceiving them in your mind, Kiera, out there in the water before they reach the sector. If you can fight them with telekinesis, we would have another layer of defense. The potential of this is—”

“You can move things with your mind?” Liam cut her off mid-sentence. He was as pale as a ghost, and rubbed his hand against his temple. “I think I’ve seen it all now.” He turned to Xander. “Wait. This witchcraft does not scare the holy hell out of you?”

“Not exactly.” He ignored the shock on his friend’s face and focused on Reena again. “About the essence of wild indigo, how effective is it?”

“One hundred percent, as you can see.”

“No. What I mean is how certain are you it will work on the entire species?”

“I’m impressed that you’ve arrived at this question. I wondered about it too, and you’re right that three test subjects may not be enough of a sample…”

“So even if this works, you may still need my soldiers.”

“Correct…and Kiera too, but hear me out. What I was thinking, was to incorporate the essence into the Nauru’s containment spells. I already spoke to their coven two weeks ago. They are willing to help. If we had started right away, there would have been just enough time to redo the spells on all the outer walls of the Sector.”

“But now, there’s less than four days left.” Xander had a thought. “Is there enough of the powder to add to our traps and weapons?”

“Yes. I’ve had my assistants working on this for some time. We just have one slight challenge.”

“Let me guess. Your Regent.”

The women looked over at each other.

“The Regent does not believe we can implement these changes across the Sector in time.” Reena explained.

“How long has he known?”

“As long as I have.”

Liam gripped Xander’s shoulder. “That man is an evil old stubborn fool. He would sooner put our shifters in the line of fire. It’s time someone puts a stop to him for good.”

“Forget Minassus for now, Liam. Reena, is there still time?”

She lifted her hand to her chin, lips pursed as if studying something. “Less than four days to cover the walls around a twenty thousand square mile island, plus the traps and weapons. I doubt it, but that does not mean we shouldn’t try. Let me ask you something about the ravagers. Have you noticed any location-specific attack patterns?”

Liam spoke up before Xander could answer. “I see where you’re going with this. I can help. The shifters in one of my platoons monitor the surrounding waters for ravagers. Years ago, they were spread out around the entire island, but every year, we noticed they would attack mostly from the north or west. Once we established that pattern, we concentrated the majority of our shifter patrols in those two directions. The south and east patrols do still report some ravagers, but not nearly as many as from the north or west.”

Kiera’s eyes lit up. “That is excellent information, Reena! It means you can prioritize the Nauru’s work.”

“What about Minassus?” Reena asked. “He will know the second they start, and there are not nearly enough men in the Boundary Protection Unit to stand against his guardsandhelp the Nauru with these preparations.”

“I think I can help with that. I will need my familiar.” Kiera turned to Xander just then. “May I make a few suggestions?”

“Go on.”

“Liam, you work with Reena and the Nauru, with a focus on completing the containment spells and preparing the traps around the island. Will say, two-thirds of the troops be sufficient?”

“I can make it work,” Liam answered.

“Xander, the rest of your men can assemble here at the fortress. I may have a way to…convince the Regent that this plan is sound. If he agrees, he will order his guards to stand down.”

“And if he does not?” Xander had to ask.