Page 59

“ W hat are you looking so happy about?” Kendrick asked as I entered Calliope’s suite for the resuming of our meeting.

“Absolutely nothing that’s any of your fucking business.”

He scowled and rolled his eyes, but blessedly kept his mouth shut.

He didn’t need to know the inner workings of our playtime and discoveries.

And he certainly didn’t need to know how close the little witch and I had gotten.

We hadn’t had an omega in the nest for so long, and I hadn’t been ravenous in even longer.

Playing with her had woken a fire inside me.

Was it greedy of me to get involved with Logan when I had four claimants in my suite already? Probably. But I placed no restrictions on them and they placed none on me in return.

“Is this going to be an actually productive meeting?” I asked. “Or are you and Shakti committed to roadblocking us?”

“It’s not my fault she and I are the only ones to see reason. I know that you live up Yelena’s ass, but you’re allowed to form your own opinions.”

I flipped him the bird just as Yelena and Logan stepped into Calliope’s suite.

“Lovely to see everyone getting along.” Yelena moved to my side, Logan trotting after her.

Her cheeks flamed pink as she got close. “Hi, Velda.”

“Hello, little witch. Did you have a good afternoon?”

The bloom of her arousal was evident, and I caught the flare of Kendrick’s nostrils as it registered. She’d be turning on the whole nest, running around smelling that delectable, and Kendrick was no exception.

“Don’t tell me you’ve got a crush on Velda?” Kendrick asked with another dramatic eye roll.

I looped an arm around Logan’s neck and pulled her close, stealing a kiss before turning to Kendrick. “What’s the matter, hooves? Mad that she doesn’t have one on you?”

He turned red with impotent fury. “Like I’d want anything to do with her.”

Logan had that wide-eyed innocence as she looked between the three of us. Yelena pressed against her back, her gaze focused on Kendrick as she slipped her fingers around Logan’s throat.

Kendrick probably would have growled if he were able to, but we did manage to get a foot stomp out of him, his breath sharp like he was ready to charge.

“Um…could we maybe not do this in public?” Logan pleaded quietly.

Yelena laughed and nuzzled her cheek against Logan’s hair. “Not an exhibitionist, precious?”

“No, I am. He just doesn’t deserve to see it.”

I didn’t think anything could’ve caught the three of us more off guard than that statement. Kendrick looked completely dumbstruck, and I started laughing so hard I could barely breathe.

Fucking with Kendrick was always a great pastime, and I was pleased as punch to have a new method for doing so. We all knew that he wanted the witch. The only reason he didn’t have her was that Yelena had stepped in.

“You all had better be behaving out there,” Calliope called from the bedroom.

“We absolutely are not,” I replied.

Shakti finally joined us, cutting off our momentary entertainment. We settled around the dining table, and Murdoch helped Calliope into her seat before fetching us the snack and drink cart we could hear coming down the hall.

“We need to figure out how to keep people from freaking out,” said Calliope.

“Easier said than done.” I leaned comfortably in my chair, draping my hand over Logan’s.

“I think we should use our newly acquired information,” said Yelena.

“Which information is that?” I asked.

“We should plan a live show. It’s been a while since we’ve had one, and better an orgy than a brawl.”

I laughed, snatching up a cookie for the tray as Murdoch set it down for us. “Thank you, Murdoch. And who are you expecting to perform in this show?”

“Logan, of course.”

The little witch squeaked, her jasmine and forest scent making my pussy clench.

“I’m not a performer.”

“I’m pretty sure you could be, precious. Obviously you don’t have to, but if you come around to the inclination of getting your pleasure in front of a crowd, plenty of the nest would be having a good time.”

I set my hand on the back of her neck, breathing in the fresh burst of her scent and feeling the buzz of her power against my skin. “Thoughts and feelings?”

“I don’t think I should say them out loud.”

Kendrick scoffed. “That’s the whole fucking point of these meetings.”

“Okay.” Logan took a deep breath to steady herself. “I’m not saying no to the idea because it does kind of sound like fun, but I think I need to get the nest residents to respect me as a Protector before I put myself on display like that.”

“That sounds like you’re expecting this lockdown to go on for a long time,” said Shakti.

“Well, yes. At least until we can figure out how to kill the monster so people can leave again.”

Shakti tapped her nails against the table. “Unbelievable. You caused this whole fucking mess and now we have to clean it up.”

Logan bristled. “That monster had already killed multiple people before we went on the run. It’s very likely that if it hadn’t been chasing us it would’ve killed a lot more.

Now we have a chance to regroup, to figure things out while it’s focused on us and not out hunting.

I don’t know why it wants us, but at this point, I’m kind of seeing it as a blessing that it does because that means it’s not going anywhere until it has us.

I know I’m putting this nest in danger, but I would rather do that, knowing you five have the strength to protect these people, than to have let it run wild and consume the lives and magic of who the hell knows how many others. ”

Shakti rolled her eyes, but I knew the praise buried in that speech would’ve struck perfectly with her.

“Logan’s right,” I said. “It’s like we’re drawing the Eye of Sauron so that the ring can be tossed into the volcano.”

Calliope giggled and Kendrick grit his teeth. I didn’t pull out my references very often, but they always got that same reaction.

“Now, focus.” I waved back to Logan. “What else can we do to help everyone stay calm?”

Logan raised a tentative hand.

“We’re not in kindergarten, precious,” said Yelena. “You can speak at any time.”

“Okay, this might sound weird, but has anyone considered zoomies?” Half the table stared at her blankly until she took another breath and launched into an explanation.

“So, you know how cats run around all crazy in the middle of the night? What if we could convince people to go into their travel-sized forms, just for short bursts, so that although the size of the nest doesn’t change, it would get a lot bigger for them.

You could even do things like races in different hallways to tire people out, you could set up makeshift agility courses on the lawn, you could?—”

“We’re shifters, not animals,” Shakti snapped.

“I know that. But that doesn’t mean it won’t help. Haru said a lot of shifters don’t feel comfortable in their smaller forms because they don’t feel safe. Maybe the rules of the nest need to change so they do.”

“You can’t just change how an international refuge system works.” Kendrick shoved a hand through his hair, letting out a frustrated huff.

“I’m not trying to,” Logan defended. “I mean, I wouldn’t be opposed to the general rules of how everything works changing, but I’m just trying to offer solutions for right here and right now.”

“I’d be willing,” I said, giving Logan a wink when she turned to me.

“Of course you would.” Kendrick gave another eye roll. That man was going to detach his retinas one day doing that.

“We would have to do it first,” said Yelena. “Leading by example, and all that. Obviously not everyone will be on board with the idea, but it is solid reasoning if we could convince even half a nest to make use of their small forms.”

Logan looks like she might absolutely burst with excitement.

“Are you that happy we agreed to your idea?”

“I mostly just want to see everyone’s small forms. But also yes.”

“We didn’t agree to her idea,” Shakti pointed out.

“I’m on board to try it,” said Calliope. “So that gives us a majority.”

“Fuck’s sake.” Kendrick tore into a croissant, chewing so hard he could probably crack a tooth.

“All right.” I clapped my hands together. “Well, now that we’re agreed, we can sort out the plans for that. But we should really get Logan introduced to the nest. We can’t let that go over too long, so might as well rip off the Band-Aid, and do it right now.”

Before anyone could protest, I hopped out of my seat and punched the button for the intercom by the door.

“Attention nest residents. We have a very important announcement. Please make your way to the throne room as soon as possible and your Protectors will join you there momentarily. Please be advised nothing is wrong, besides the obvious lockdown, so none of my anxiety babies need to stress. Velda out.”

“Calliope, are you okay to join us?” Yelena asked. “Just long enough that we can make the announcement and then we can get you back to bed.”

“I can manage.” Calliope nodded. “It’ll be nice to see everyone.”

The group of us rode the elevator down together, Murdoch carrying Calliope bridal style. He settled her on her throne, moving through the already gathered throng of people. Logan moved to stand by her side between her and Yelena, and the rest of us took up our places.

We would wait a few minutes for more people to join, and Cora fetched a microphone so that we could be broadcast over the speakers for those who had opted not to join.

I spotted Laila, one of my claimants, in the crowd, her black granite skin glinting in the light, her wings tucked neatly behind her with a thick braid of equally dark hair hanging over her shoulder.

I hopped over to talk to her for a moment.

“Hey, stranger. Where have you been hiding?”

“In the library. I’m helping Margaret do research for Yelena’s witch.”

“Speaking of, I’m going to consider her my witch.”

“Good to know. You’re being summoned.” Laila spun me toward the thrones, where Yelena was gesturing for me to join them.

Cora gave the microphone to Calliope as I took my seat.

“As you already know, I’ve been on bed rest with this pregnancy, and I’ve been unable to fulfill some of my usual duties as a Protector.

Many of you also know we now have a witch in our midst. I have decided that for the rest of the duration of this pregnancy, and potentially for sometime afterwards while I recover, that Logan Murphy will be taking over my active role as Protector. ”

A murmur rolled through the crowd, but no one seemed particularly upset by this announcement.

“I will still maintain all of my authority, but I will be training Logan in the running of the nest, and you will be able to treat her as you would me. While we conduct her training, please put your focus into Kendrick, Yelena, Shakti, and Velda.”

Calliope handed the microphone to Logan. “Hello, everyone. I know I’m new to the nest, but I promise I’m going to do my best to keep you safe, and I promise to learn quickly so I can help everyone while Calliope gets the rest she needs. Thank you.”

I took up the microphone. “We are still waiting on news about information that will eventually end the lockdown. And I promise we are working on solutions to make the time until then bearable, no pun intended.”

I lied. It was totally intended, but it made a few people laugh, which was my entire goal, and even the ones that rolled their eyes at my bear pun secretly liked it. I’m sure.

“Please be patient with us. We are all doing the best we can and your safety, as always, is our top priority.”

I passed a microphone to Yelena. “We will all be available for questions, and as usual, you are free to reach out to us afterward if you find your questions not answered to your satisfaction in our Q&A. There is a lot of research going on in the background right now, and a lot of work being done to make sure everyone is safe. Over the next few days, we will be implementing new measures, and more information about all of that will follow.”

I zoned out a bit as Shakti and Kendrick said their pieces, instead focusing on Logan, noting the tension in her body and the fire in her gaze. I didn’t know if we would all make it out of this alive, but I’d be willing to bet that Logan wouldn’t let us go down without a fight.