Page 40

39

Mor

There’s a moment of shocked silence, then a rolling wave of voices after Owen’s announcement.

He lets people chatter.

Lets the idea simmer.

If everyone in this yard is on board, this potential protection team has a variety of heavy hitters.

Levi Abadi, monster council representative, descends from the leviathan—yeah, that’s right, the leviathan.

Plus, he’s got witch blood.

The entire Mythic Council lineup is pretty impressive.

In addition to Levi, there’s Juan Greymark, the second most powerful werewolf in the original Folk Haven wolf pack.

Jack would knock him down a peg if he ever committed to joining.

But he’s still a lone wolf, and maybe that’s why he’s attending this get-together too.

Ame is at his side because most everyone knows her magic is fucking scary if she ever wants it to be.

I spot at least three more wolves.

Jack’s dad, Baron Moonson, leader of the Folk Haven pack.

Griffith, bartender at Local Brew and a kind of ambassador between the Folk Haven pack and the newly minted, as of two years ago, Lake Galen pack.

Their alpha is also here, Veronica, a petite white woman with long blonde hair and an edge of violence in her eyes.

Selena—witch council member and head of the local coven—sits on a low tree limb as she observes the group.

Moira—selkie, Of the Fin council member, and Levi’s mate—cradles her rounded belly and sits in a lawn chair with the monster just over her shoulder.

I don’t know that selkies are particularly intimidating mythics, but Moira’s from one of the town’s founding families, and therefore, she wields a great deal of political and social influence.

Plus, Samantha—chief of police and mermaid—stands near her.

Lastly from The Council, there’s Georgiana, also a holder of great influence and a voice that could render anyone in this yard into a forgetful, reeling mess.

And tonight, she seems on edge.

Her eyes flicking to Bo and then away and then back again.

I don’t like that.

However, I’m not about to brawl with the siren at this meeting, as much as I’d like to follow through on that promise of a tit punch.

Bo turned her down, and unless she tries to use her council seat to manipulate or intimidate him, then there’s no reason for me to step in.

Though, if Georgiana tries to grope Bo again, I can’t say what I’ll do exactly.

But I’ve got a library full of options and a protective streak urging me to utilize some of the nastier spells I’ve come across.

There’s a scattering of other mythics, including Mayor Nightson, though the griffin seems fine with standing back for the moment and hearing Owen out.

I think her preference for listening to her constituents is one of the reasons she keeps getting reelected.

“To be clear”—Owen’s voice reclaims the crowd—“what I propose is not a secondary police force.” Owen nods toward Samantha.

“We wouldn’t be patrolling our neighbors. No authority to simply attack anyone we suspect is a threat.” Owen spreads his arms. “Think more along the lines of emergency responders. Prepared to go into action if the town calls on us.”

“This seems dramatic,” Juan says.

“What looming threat do you expect to face?”

“Sorcerers, for one.”

The entire gathering tenses at the mention of humans who are not only aware that mythics exist, but have found ways to siphon their magic for their own uses.

Everyone is blatantly not looking at Jack.

The wolf knows better than anyone in this town how twisted those wielders can be.

“Sorcerers are rare,” Georgiana says, voice prim.

“More likely to burn themselves up with stolen magic than actually be able to wield it. And even if one were to approach Folk Haven, that’s what the wards are for.”

“Selena,” Owen calls on the coven leader, “how are the town wards holding up?”

I already know the answer to this.

She’s been by the library multiple times, searching for a solution.

“They are weakening,” she admits, and a chill washes over the group.

A few don’t look surprised.

The mayor. Samantha.

But others gape. Not everyone knew then.

Did Georgiana?

“Verona and Marney were strong protection witches, but after they passed a year back, we haven’t been able to fully re-create what they accomplished.”

I never got to meet the mated witch couple who kept casting a safety net over this town until they were in their nineties.

In the final years of their lives, they stayed holed up in their woodland cottage on the edge of the Folk Haven boundary.

“We appreciate the coven’s work,” Owen says, and I’m pleasantly surprised at how much like a leader he sounds.

I’ve only known him as a goofy guy who runs the local recycling company.

But he’s from the same founding family as Moira, and he obviously cares deeply about this town.

“But weak wards leave us vulnerable, and we’re a feast if sorcerers ever discover what exactly Folk Haven is. And hunters are equally as risky.”

He names the group that doesn’t bother to siphon the magic, but instead get paid by trapping mythics and delivering them to sorcerers.

In the town where my siblings and I were raised, we never had to worry much about either group.

Multiple warding witches lived in the area.

I’m tempted to offer that we could send word, requesting their help.

But large wards need to be renewed continuously and are stronger if the caster is nearby.

Plus, there are people in my hometown I don’t want visiting Folk Haven.

Bad players in a different way.

“Then there are the threats we’ve yet to comprehend,” Owen continues.

“All I’m saying is, I would rather be anticipatory as opposed to reactionary. If we put plans in place that we never need to use, then great. But if we do nothing and something terrible happens, I could never forgive myself.” His hands drop.

“I’m not powerful. I know that. What selkies are is cautious, and that’s because we always live with the fear of half of us being stolen away.” He refers to the pelts his kind use to shift into their other forms. If stolen, selkies are slaves to whoever has their second skin.

“Now though, I choose to look at that instinctual fear as a good thing. It is a warning that as much as we hope our world is kind, often, it isn’t. To live safely, let us prepare defenses against the evil in the world.”

The mayor steps forward.

“That was well said, Owen.” She turns to the group, hands clasped in front of her.

“Most of us recall the story of how Lake Galen was created. Folk Haven itself is proof that there is evil we need to watch for, and I believe that Owen’s proposal makes sense. In addition, our town needs to stop erecting divides and instead find more ways to work cohesively.”

“Sounds like you’re looking to build a town of monsters,” Juan grumbles.

Levi glares at the werewolf beta.

But he’s not the only one.

Most of the gathering throws scathing looks the wolf’s way.

Does he not realize that in addition to the monsters present, there are a decent amount of mythics mated to others not of their kind?

Hell, the pregnant selkie has a monster in her belly.

Read the room .

“I am trying to build a town that is a haven for mythics. All mythics.” Mayor Nightson faces the group.

“Now—without insults—please, let’s discuss what this emergency team might look like.”

Owen takes the stage again.

“First and foremost, it’ll have to be a group that works well together. If something bad is going down, there can’t be arguments and sniping about who is in charge.”

“So, basically, everyone has to listen to you?” Veronica, alpha of the Lake Galen pack, asks, a note of judgment in her voice.

Tensions are high there, with pressure for her to meld her pack with the Folk Haven one and give over control to Baron Moonson—Jack’s father.

Owen doesn’t let her tone rattle him.

“No. Not me. I suggest The Council choose a leader. I’m here as a consultant. Offering up my recommendation for mythics who should be included on the team.” He steps into the middle of the group.

“Ones who are cunning.” He waves toward Selena.

“Fast.” Griffith. “Stealthy.” Satine.

“And of course, muscle.” His grin starts out directed toward Mahon, the bear shifter, but then he shifts to face Bo.

That’s right. If they want true muscle, then they’ll need my monster.