Page 149 of Bruised MC Bear

“Kiera!” shouted the Regent from the other side of the door.

Panicked, but clear on what needed to be done, Kiera exchanged a knowing glance with Coco and frantically whispered, “You have to go now! Through the window. Get to Xander and gather the seven shifters. I will find a way to leave the fortress as soon as I can. Just in case I cannot,youneed to do it, Coco.”

“Touch them? Will that work?”

“It may be the only way.”

Coco nodded and quickly wrapped her arms around Kiera. “I hope you can draw their energy from me.”

“Hurry!” Kiera looked toward the door as Coco took on her Osprey form. “The Regent is not going to wait much longer. Time is—” That split second while she focused on him, three images crashed into her head all at the same time. She reared back. “Oh no! We are out of time! And the Regent…it can’t be.”

“What?” Coco implored to her. “Tell me!”

“Kiera!” Regent Minassus shouted from the door, more loudly this time.

“The Regent is going to try to force me to perform the transformation spell…tonight.”

“Like hell he will,” Coco barked.

“But that is not all. The first winter storm is forming.”

“This early?”

“Weather predictions have not always been accurate. It’s coming. Tomorrow night. The ravagers are already on their way! Approaching from the west. You need to get word to Reena and Liam.”

“How far away are they? How soon will they reach the outer walls?”

“I don’t know,” she answered, trying hard to focus, but now there were so many images coming to her, she could barely focus. “Less than a day. And the Regent…he has Xander’s mother!”

“Oh hell. Already? Where?”

“Here! At the fortress. The Regent’s visit to his mother’s village was a decoy…he sent guards to get Xander’s mother at the same time. He will use it as leverage to force Xander to bring this year’s men to the Great Hall so I can complete the transformation ceremony. Tonight.”

“Xander won’t do it.”

“He will…to save his mother.”

“Holy crap, Kiera. How are we supposed to prepare for the ravagers’ first attack, stop the ceremony, and rescue Xander’s mother? With you here and cut off from the rest of us?”

“Kiera! Open this door before I break it down!” the Regent roared.

“You and I will have to trust that our connection is strong enough, Coco. Get your hands on those seven shifter soldiers before you do anything else. Go! Now!”

Coco nodded, flapping her wings hard as she flew off.

“Coming, your eminence,” she replied calmly, hoping she could buy some time. She returned the scroll to the lockbox and tucked it underneath her bed. Smoothing down the front of her coat, she headed to the door.

Regent Minassus stood tall, pushing past her as he burst into the room. “Where is your familiar? Never mind. I will get to her in short order.”

“It is very late, sir. Is there something I can help you with?”

“Very smart,” he murmured with a smile.

“I don’t understand.”

The Regent tilted his head to the side. “Lies.”

“Sorry?”

“Do not play innocent with me!”

Kiera’s heart was in her throat. She swallowed hard, wishing she could keep feigning ignorance, but it was too late. He knew.