On a Razor's Edge (7 page)

“Go to bed
, Charles, before you say something you can’t unsay,” I said quietly, watching the edge creep quickly into Stefan’s eyes.

“Yeah, good call. I want a day off.
Also, good night.” Charles trudged away, the least graceful I had ever seen him.

“He had his legs crossed when you froze us all. His balls got extremely hot and sweaty in that hour.”
Stefan chuckled as we walked into his section of the mansion. “I felt bad for the guy.”

“He deals with a lot around me,” I said sadly. “I love having him around—he’s like a brother to me—but maybe you should rotate him
out. He’s got to be sick of the bodyguard detail.”

Stefan
sighed and unceremoniously stripped. “I’ll talk to him about it. For now, though, I’m exhausted.” He reached for me, folding me within his strong arms, then sighed gratefully. “G’night, mate.”

I didn’t mention that he sounded Australian.

*****

“You are worried.”

Stefan glanced at Dominicous on his right before returning to the final preparations in front of him. It had been a short two weeks since Dominicous and Toa showed up, but the Regional had lost no time. Today the delegates left to visit and make repairs with the largest nuisance in the history of the world: those damn Shape Changers. Stefan would ban them all from his side of the world if he could. The whole lot of them would rather run and hide than stick their neck out for Stefan’s kind. He’d seen it often enough, and histories had shown it more than that. To think that now he would stick out his hand to welcome these miscreants into his fold, when he knew they’d just turn tail and sprint away at the first sign of danger, galled.

“Worried is not a term I know,”
Stefan answered, an eye always on Sasha.

He not only had to make social repairs, he had to send a piece of himself—the largest, most important piece of himself—into their den.
If they turned tail, they’d leave her behind. And then Stefan would kill them all.

Dominicous laughed
, easily ignoring the violence sweating out of Stefan’s every pore. “I am sending Toa. He is the best magic worker of his age, and soon to be one of the top three in the world. He will see her safe from the enemy. From herself, though, that is a different concern.”

Stefan
clenched his jaw, a bad trait that showed weakness.

“In other news,” Dominicous went on good-naturedly, “it seems she has found a way to mark you, though she is human and shouldn’t have the capability.
Such an interesting female. Survival is strong in her. You should have seen her that night, stumbling away from the wreckage, and then staring down a hunting party. Usually I wouldn’t get involved, but… well, here we are.”

“She doesn’t have the dumb luck of youth anymore. She has a complex to save those close to her. If she makes friends with those… with the
Mata
, then she’ll risk her life to save their cowardly hides.”

“Noble.”

“Foolish.”

Dominicous bowed his head. “Here is Tim now.”

A stocky male of average human height with a barrel chest walked up as if he expected an attack at any moment. His brown eyes flashed in his grim face, in a clear attempt to appear forbidding.

Stefan
would show this shifter forbidding…

“Tim,” Dominicous said easily, stepping forward to
deliver a human handshake. “You know of Stefan, of course.”

Tim’s eyes snapped to
Stefan’s. The hard gaze tried for intimidating. Stefan almost laughed.

“I do,” the mongrel stated.

Stefan stuck out his hand, as was right in his role, for the human handshake. The man met the grip, squeezed, then stepped away, out of Stefan’s reach. Smart.

“
Let’s move past the pleasantries, shall we?” Dominicous asked easily. “Tim, you have some valuable possessions being transferred into your care. That is the reason for their guard. They are both extremely high in magic, but one, Sasha, is untrained. Our enemy seeks Sasha as a poor miner seeks gold. She needs to train, but most importantly, she needs to be kept well away from enemy lines. We have leaks in our establishment, which means they will probably know she goes with you. Which is why her exact destination is solely in your hands.”

Dominicous paused for a second, his
gaze sweeping toward Toa, who had directed his trademark stare at Jonas, loading supplies into an off-road vehicle. Jonas, strong, fierce, and resolute, either didn’t notice the gaze, or, most likely, was not bothered by it. Jonas had his faults in plenty, but he was loyal. He and Stefan had grown up together, and out of everybody, Jonas knew most why the filthy vermin couldn’t be trusted. He’d been there when Stefan had learned firsthand.

H
is focus returning from his linked mage, Dominicous continued, “We trust you with these most valuable possessions because we want to solidify our agreement. It is a huge leap of faith not only for our organization, but with Stefan and me personally. So, I must warn you, if you treat them ill, or have any dealings with our enemy, I will personally see to it that every one of your people is destroyed. Going a step further, I will personally make it my mission to eradicate your entire race from this earth, starting with the children. I hope you can believe me on that score…”

In a show of pure courage, or absolute stupidit
y, Tim said, “You forget, those aren’t the only…loved ones being exchanged. You have my Beta—my second in command--and his entire family. His wife is pregnant. We each have given over something precious to ensure this working relationship. It is that important, and so we will treat it as such.”

“Then we understand each other. I’
ll leave you to it. Stefan, you might say your goodbyes.”

Stefan
stared at Tim as Dominicous walked away toward Toa, wanting to verbalize his own threats, but refrained, knowing he’d only sound redundant. Instead, for his mate, he said, “Sasha thinks she fails constantly, which brings her down. I’d be grateful…” Stefan refused to let his jaw clench. “…if you would play positive around her. Keep her spirits up. She is truly a remarkable female, but she doesn’t know it.”

“In return, I hope you’ll keep Esmine comfortable. She is heavily pregnant.”

“We cherish pregnant females. She will be well looked after.”

Tim stared for a beat before saying
, “I know about what happened with your parents. It is a different pack now than it was then. We do not abide by such absolute cowardice. I want you to know that.”

Rage welled up in
Stefan, barely in check. Sasha looked over in surprise, meeting his eyes with a question. She felt his sudden turmoil and, like the dear heart she was, would leave everyone waiting to come over and check. Dear heart, but terrible leader. Trusting he could work his way out of situations was something she still had to learn.

For the moment, though, he was thankful—not that he could admit it, obviously. Especially in front of a sack of farts like this
pack of critters in front of him.

Stefan
calmed his mind so his mental trash-talking didn’t turn verbal and end the agreement right here. He nodded once, and then strode away.

Chapter
6

I stopped loading the few meager possessions I owned into the car and stuffed my hands in my pockets. I’d never really had a home, which was true. Living with a foster family didn’t allow me to get too comfortable putting down roots. Then my small apartment, the first space that became
mine,
had been something like a handout from the city for my parentless status. I paid the rent and didn’t get any breaks on rent after a year, but still, I hadn’t exactly earned it.

But now, as the door
was opened by a solid man with wild eyes, I felt a clump of lead form in my chest. If ever I had a home, this was it. I had my own area in a secret spot, with a standing invitation to treat Stefan’s rooms as my own. I had been given leave to decorate as I wished, hang pictures if I wanted, and otherwise have the run of the place. He had invited me in permanently; to share his space, make it mine.

On the cusp of deciding I would like that very much, I was being packed up again and sent on my way.
Sure, it wasn’t for that long, and yes, I needed to get trained away from spectators, but still, a girl could whine a little.

“Sasha.” The voice tingled down my spine and lit me up.

Stefan stood behind me, his eyes intent but soft, his face something from a magazine cover. “This is farewell. I will see you soon. Take care of yourself and come back to me safe, okay? Don’t do anything foolish and make sure to stay close to Toa, Charles, or Jonas at all times.”

I slid my arms around his neck, letting him hug me close. He backed off enough to kiss me, his lips and manner indulgent, giving me something familiar and solid to hang on to. He didn’t rush me or hurry me along for the sake of his gruff leadership role. Instead, his tongue played, chasing mine, intertwining as his hands roamed my body,
as if he were feeling and remembering each curve to have something to hold on to when we had to endure our nights away from each other.

“Okay,” I said into his chest when my body started to heat up uncomfortably. It wasn’t the time for a quickie. “I’ll come back ready to lead an army.”

He smiled down on me. “I love you.”

I took a big breath and wiped a tear. “You’d think I never spent any time alone.”

He rested his palm lightly on my cheek. “It feels like we’ve been together all our lives. Keep your link open and I’ll feel you. It’ll lessen the distance.”

I got
a pang of longing as he stepped away. His face smoothed over into his familiar mask of steel as a burly man with a pronounced five o’clock shadow padded up with silent footsteps. He moved like a robust dancer, powerful but sleek. His brown eyes flicked at Stefan before landing on me.

“Sasha,” his graveled voice rumbled out of his chest,
“My name is Tim. I am the alpha, which means all decisions go through me. We’ll have an easy time of it, don’t you worry.” He stood at the door, silently asking me to get in and get on our way.

I took
one last look at Stefan, before I turned toward the car, and right into a staring, blue-eyed creeper. “Gah!
Toa!
Je-
sus! Warn a girl when you plan to sneak up behind her.”

“You should be sensing for others with your magic. I should not be able to sneak,
” Toa replied with silky patience.

I shook my head and climbed into the car.

“Your lessons have officially begun,” Toa said before the car had even started moving. “First we shall go over the principles of magic, starting with the elements. Now…”

My thoughts drifted sideways, Toa’s musical voice droning on as the city flashed by. I was interested to learn more about the
Mata
, wondering if they lined up with what I’d heard in stories, or if they, too, had a different twist on reality. I assumed they probably did, knowing Stefan wouldn’t have entrusted me to savage werewolves that bite anything they see and spread their werewolf ways through their bite.

Some thirty minutes or more after leaving the city,
and when Toa had just started on the water element, the cars all turned into a pull-out, with the woods reaching out to us in the darkness.

“Everybody out,” Tim said, hop
ping out of the car and opening the door for me. I passed under his intent eyes, his watchfulness calm but detailed, disconcertingly so as he seemed to catch my every movement.

 
“Why did we stop?” a rough voice demanded, suspicion evident.

Jonas appeared at
our side, huge and bulky, causing me a distinct urge to flee. As if he sensed it, Tim took one flowing step, positioning his body between me and Jonas’s bulk.

“We go on foot from here,” Tim said evenly. “Per Dominicous’s instructions, we’re taking her to an outpost where she has ample space to learn her craft.”

“That’s not the plan. You’re to take her to the main encampment to learn your way of life.”

“Plan
s change. She’ll have plenty of ability to learn where she’s going. Plus, defense is easier from that location. I’ve been told your crew isn’t as loyal as some are led to believe…” It was a dig, and appeared to be aimed at Jonas directly. To make his point, Tim stared up at Jonas, the Shape Changer appearing larger than his six feet, the weight in his gaze enough to send an entire army marching.

Jonas bristled, his whole body flexing, readying for action.
I stepped back, the car stopping my exit.

“Whoa, whoa!”
Charles jumped in, his body the same size as Jonasʼs, but his movements more like a puppy than a panther. “Jonas, bro, let it go. The Boss approved this. I was there. We’re good, bro, we’re good.”

Jonas stared down at Tim. Tim stared right back, ready. Five people, all about Tim’s build, took a step closer, ready to back up their alpha should he need it.

“Now, earth is an interesting element,” Toa rattled off, carrying on as if World War III wasn’t two seconds away. “It is often the hardest for a person to work, even though it is the most plentiful at any given time. You, I believe, are one of the individuals that suffer from this…”

Jonas’s
focus switched to the nearly white head of Toa, deep in contemplation. When Jonas looked back at Tim, his eyes showed resignation even if his face showed the love of violence. He didn’t nod, step back, or even marginally drop his shoulders, but suddenly the air loosened. The danger had passed. For now.

I was the only one that took a giant breath.

“You two," Tim ordered, addressing his own men at arms.  "Stay with Sasha.  Now let’s go!”

*****

Andris entered Trek’s work room at a fast walk. “White Mage, I’ve got information.”

Trek paused with his hands high in the air, the crackle of magic
tingling Andris’s skin.

“The Council is trying to join with the
Mata
.” Andris waited for that information to sink in.

“That was our idea,” Trek said in a whine.

Andris had to restrain himself from taking two quick steps and knocking the young fool on the side of the head. He didn’t feel like a magical duel today.

In a patient voice a teacher might use, Andris said, “It was, yes. But given that we are just one of a large magical community, and given that the
Mata
are organized, with excellent fighting capabilities, it is logical the Council would seek to make amends.”

“But I thought you said that stupid Boss of theirs hates the Shape Changers.”

“He does, yes, but he is a company man, and this has come down from the top.”

Trek dropped his hands and made his way to a large chair, not quite the throne from his bedroom, but close. He sat with a
plop
and picked at his nail. “What should we do, then?”

“I’m working with another pack up north. They have tie-ins everywhere; people that are loyal to the cause. For now, though, the
Mata
has our girl.”

Trek sat up straighter. “Get her!”

“They took her to a remote location, intending to keep it secret. Obviously I had men following their progress to keep an eye on things. I would imagine Stefan would, as well, with how much he trusts the Shape Changers. As soon as we make a move, he’ll be alerted.”

Andris
crossed the room to lean against the wall. “Their position is easy to defend, and they have a large task force of people protecting her; all
Mata.
There are only a couple of our kind, but one is a white mage with power levels above yours. We need to plan this out.”

“Above mine?”
Trek stared at Andris for a second, his brain churning. “Impossible.”

Andris’s nostrils flared in irritation. “There are a great many with power that rival
s, or exceeds, yours. With a lot more experience.”

Trek’s eyes widened before his face closed down in indignation. His chin rose,
as he apparently chose to ignore that comment. “Can your elusive source sneak her out?”

“Yes. But unless we have a distraction, someone is bound to notice
the human’s absence. I want her halfway to Canada before Stefan is told she is gone. And we’ll need to deal with that link between them.”

“And the loyalty of these
Mata
? Will they come over to our way of thinking?”

Andris shook his head, not sure where this was going. “I doubt it. Tim, their alpha,
takes great pains to lead normal lives within the human society. He’s set some things up that have money rolling in. His people are prospering and happy. He’s not going to jeopardize that.”

Trek stared at him
. “Then they’re not needed.”

“True…”

“So kill them. There’s your distraction. I’ll take care of the other mage. Get your source to ferret out the girl. Do you know this
secret
,” Trek used his fingers like rabbit ears, “location?”

“Yes. The source is in place.”

Trek hopped off the chair. “Good. Plan it. I’ll get an army of
Dulcha
at the ready. I’ll need some sacrifices, obviously.”

“Of course.”

Andris left the room strangely hopeful. Trek was a dippy youth, but put a target in front of him, and he busted his ass to claim it. They’d have this girl within the month.

Now, to plan that distraction.

*****

“So… just drape it on?” I asked uncertainly, eyeing the
five men and women sitting patiently around the room, allowing themselves to be my guinea pigs. These people had courage in droves—they’d seen some failed spells and still volunteered to help.

We were in the cabin I used as
my home base, the middle bunker—as Tim called it—within the cluster of cabins in this remote location. I’d met every one of the shape changers over the last week, a bunch of serious-eyed, combat-ready fighters that went about their duties to secure the location while still making it feel like a home in the woods.

I was in my usual strange situation with them as I had been with everyone else my who
le life. Pretty much, regardless of the group of people I found myself with, I was the oddball. At least I was used to it.

Toa stood off to my right, staring.
Nothing new there. Jonas, the leader in not trusting the
Mata
for any reason, at any time, sat near the door. He rarely let me out of his sight. Pretty much if I wasn’t on the toilet, he was in the same room. And that was only because I threw a tantrum when he tried to linger in the bathroom. Charles was off scouting, making sure Tim was doing a thorough job—Jonas had sent him. And here I was, trying to figure out this magic stuff.

I sighed a lot these days.

“This is not a new spell,” Toa said quietly. The man was under the impression I had bionic hearing.

“Yes,
but this is the first time I’m trying to do it. Last time it just happened.”

“Do it,” Jonas barked.

“Oh, yeah, being an impatient a-hole is the right way to help,” I muttered.

“We trust you,”
a slight girl with large, luminous brown eyes said. She, like the other four around her, changed into wolves. They apparently worked together like a wolf pack in the wild, and had been largely assigned to guard me.

Tim didn’t trust
Stefan’s people any more than Jonas trusted the
Mata
. The partnership wouldn’t be formed quickly, despite Dominicous’s hope.

I called the elements,
struggling and working to get and keep control of the tide that threatened to overwhelm me constantly. I shot past the red power level, flew past the orange and gold, slowed down at the white, and landed in black. Toa said I shouldn’t practice in anything but the black from now on. That to learn, I had to grow accustomed to my correct magic level. I had to admit, it did make things easier in the spell department.