Page 8

FIVE

LEO

T he emergency council meeting convened at eleven PM in the town hall's main chamber, which had been hastily warded against magical interference after three separate incidents of spontaneous manifestation during the evening hours.

Elder Ruth's knitting needles clicked with unusual urgency as she worked on a protective charm, her silver hair gleaming under lights that flickered whenever anyone with strong magical heritage moved too quickly.

Aerin sat in the same chair she'd occupied that morning, though everything about the situation had changed fundamentally.

The betrayal sigil's activation left her with a constant awareness of the town's magical infrastructure, as if she could feel the pulse of every supernatural resident through a network she was only beginning to understand.

The sensation was overwhelming and strangely intimate, like being connected to the heartbeat of an entire community.

Leo stood behind her chair in a position that was both protective and supervisory, his lion prowling restlessly beneath his human facade.

The magical resonance between them had only grown stronger since their contact at the market, creating an awareness of each other that made normal conversation feel laden with significance neither of them was ready to acknowledge.

"The situation has changed considerably since this morning," Ruth announced, setting aside her knitting to address the assembled council members. "Dr. Thorne's activation of the betrayal sigil has created complications that extend far beyond academic research."

"Complications like every supernatural in town feeling like they've been plugged into an electrical outlet," Sheriff Torres said grimly, consulting a tablet that displayed incident reports from the evening.

"I've had seventeen calls about spontaneous magical manifestations, four reports of prophetic dreams, and three cases of temporary species dysphoria among the shifter population. "

Dr. Vasquez leaned forward with the intensity of someone who'd spent the day analyzing unprecedented data.

"The harmonic resonance between the two runes is creating feedback loops in the local magical field.

Every time someone with founder bloodline genetics gets within half a mile of either site, their power levels spike dramatically. "

"Which explains why Lyra's chaos magic has been setting off car alarms all evening," Cade said from his position near the chamber's back wall. His voice carried the controlled tension of someone dealing with his own magical instabilities while trying to maintain alpha responsibilities.

Aerin felt a spike of guilt at the confirmation that her actions were affecting innocent people.

"I can try to establish dampening protocols around the betrayal sigil," she offered, though she wasn't entirely sure how to control a magical system she was still learning to understand.

"The resonance patterns might be adjustable if I can map the harmonic frequencies. "

"That would require extended study and direct interaction with both rune systems," Ruth observed, her sharp eyes noting details that suggested the conversation was heading in a predetermined direction.

"Extended study that would require Dr. Thorne to remain in Mistwhisper Falls for an indefinite period. "

Leo's stance shifted slightly, his protective instincts warring with professional obligations. "Elder Ruth, given the security implications of the situation, I'm not sure extended residency is advisable without proper oversight."

"Which is why the council has decided to make your liaison role official and ongoing," Ruth announced with the satisfaction of someone who'd anticipated every objection.

"Captain Maddox, you'll be temporarily reassigned from regular patrol duties to full-time supervision of Dr. Thorne's research activities. "

"Full-time supervision," Leo repeated, his voice flat with barely contained frustration. "As in twenty-four hour monitoring of a potentially dangerous researcher with unknown motivations."

"As in ensuring the safety of both our community and our guest while she works to understand magical systems that could either save us or destroy us," Ruth corrected firmly. "Dr. Thorne, I trust you understand that this arrangement is as much for your protection as ours?"

Aerin nodded, though she was acutely aware of the tension radiating from Leo's position behind her chair.

The idea of constant supervision should have been insulting to someone of her academic credentials, but the truth was that she felt safer knowing someone with his protective instincts would be watching for dangers she might not recognize.

"The Mist & Mirth Inn has been designated as Dr. Thorne's temporary residence," Ruth continued, consulting notes that suggested the arrangements had been planned before the meeting began.

"The proximity to the primary rune will facilitate her research, and the inn's enhanced security measures will ensure appropriate oversight. "

"The inn," Leo said, and Aerin could hear multiple layers of concern in those two words. "Elder Ruth, with respect, that puts Dr. Thorne in direct proximity to Lyra and Cade while their bond is still stabilizing from recent magical trauma."

"It also puts her where we can monitor the interaction between her bloodline and the existing founder network," Dr. Vasquez pointed out. "If we're going to understand the betrayal sigil's purpose, we need to study how it affects established magical bonds."

Lyra spoke for the first time since the meeting began, her voice full of authority of someone who claimed her space in supernatural politics.

"It's fine. The inn has plenty of room, and if Dr. Thorne's research can help prevent the cascade failures she's described, then she's welcome to stay as long as necessary. "

"That's very generous," Aerin said, though she caught the meaningful look that passed between Lyra and Cade. Their bond made them sensitive to supernatural dynamics in ways that might make her presence uncomfortable for everyone involved.

"It's practical," Cade corrected, his alpha instincts clearly focused on threat assessment. "Having all the active founder bloodlines in one location makes security easier and allows for coordinated response if the magical situation deteriorates."

The meeting concluded with assignments of responsibilities and protocols that left Leo looking like someone who'd been handed a particularly complex explosive device with unclear detonation conditions.

Aerin gathered her research materials while the council members dispersed, acutely aware of the weight of expectations and the magnitude of what she'd committed to attempting.

"This should be interesting," Leo muttered as they walked toward his patrol vehicle, his tone suggesting he was using 'interesting' as a euphemism for 'catastrophically complicated.'

"Captain Maddox," Aerin said as they reached the SUV, "if this arrangement is going to work, we need to establish some ground rules about professional boundaries and mutual respect."

"Ground rules like what?"

"Like acknowledging that I'm a qualified researcher, not a security threat that needs constant monitoring. Like recognizing that we're going to be working closely together and personal antagonism will only make that more difficult for both of us."

Leo studied her for a moment, his golden eyes catching streetlight in ways that reminded her uncomfortably of predatory focus.

"Dr. Thorne, my job is to keep this town safe from supernatural threats.

Given that your arrival coincided with the activation of ancient magical systems that are currently destabilizing our local infrastructure, I think some caution is warranted. "

"Fair enough. But my job is to prevent a cascade failure that could kill thousands of people, and I can't do that effectively if I'm constantly fighting with my assigned supervisor about basic respect and professional courtesy."

"Also fair enough." Leo opened the vehicle door for her, a gesture that managed to be both polite and slightly possessive. "So we agree that we're both doing our jobs and we'll try to keep the personal conflicts to a minimum?"

"Agreed," Aerin said, though she wasn't entirely sure either of them would be able to keep that promise.

The Mist & Mirth Inn looked different in the darkness, its Victorian architecture softened by warm light spilling from windows and the soft glow of protective wards that had been reinforced since the afternoon's magical disturbances.

Lyra met them at the front door, her founder's mark visible as a faint tracery of silver beneath her skin, and her chaos magic contained but clearly active.

"Dr. Thorne, welcome to the inn," Lyra said with genuine warmth despite the circumstances. "I've prepared the Rose Room on the second floor. It has good sightlines to both rune locations and should give you the magical access you need for your research."

"Thank you. And please, call me Aerin. If we're going to be living in the same place while I study ancient magical artifacts, we might as well be on a first-name basis."

"Aerin it is." Lyra's smile carried the understanding of someone who'd recently navigated similar challenges with supernatural politics and academic authority.

"Fair warning, though—the inn's magical infrastructure is still settling after recent events.

You might experience some unusual phenomena while you're staying here. "

As if summoned by her words, the grandfather clock in the entry hall chimed thirteen times despite the fact that it was barely past midnight, and the lights in the chandelier above them flickered in patterns that seemed almost like Morse code.

"Unusual how?" Leo asked, his protective instincts immediately on alert.