Page 21 of Shifters Reckoning

It was like that life ended and this one started… Never the twain shall meet.

Or however the hell that saying went.

It would also be a good time to bring a copy of my will back with me. Everything would be left to Sophia, my adoptive mother. Probate fees would be small, and Dr. Wise could help her get everything worked out. We’d already been through it all once with Dad.

I settled into one of the upholstered seats in front of Logan’s desk. Checking on my alleged uncle Marcus was on my to-do list also. His blindness must have changed his life too. However, Logan would flip his lid if I mentioned that one aloud.

Instead, during a lull in their conversation, I asked, “Which territory do I need to train with next?”

“You’re still doing that?” Olivia asked, tucking her long blonde hair behind her ear.

“Yeah. Which clan gets me next?”

“Bear Trees,” she said.

“After that?”

“Red Tail.”

“After that?”

“Nobody else reached the required five. Many had three. Several reached four.”

“Then the twenty hands at the meeting weren’t all fivers.” I leaned forward in the chair and dropped my elbows to my knees. “That’s a relief. Torbin and Flynn have both been pretty dependable in their support of me. Treachery isn’t in either of them.”

Though, I hadn’t been able to tell that Salali had turned to Acheron before I’d caught her spying for him.

“Those two are only marginally better than anyone else,” Logan growled. Then his eyes widened. “No, Torbin’s not better at all. Acheron attacked Bear Trees and sent all those shifters to Six-Mile for healing. Do you not remember that, Emma?”

Crossing my arms kept my hands from visibly shaking. “Bear Trees is still better no matter what, and we should be glad for that. After our conclave at the Gathering Place, I’ll be headed to Bear Trees. Tomorrow morning, I want to make a solo trip to Willow Creek. I need to check in with everyone there.”

“Solo?” Logan snapped.

“Solo.” I turned to Olivia. “Can you get everything ready for the council meeting and conclave without me? Oh, can you also find out if my mom’s around?”

“Will do,” Olivia answered.

Logan glowered behind his desk.

Stop pouting, Logan. Using the bond between us had been getting easier with time.

I’m not used to being the third wheel in my own fucking headquarters of my own territory.

Don’t have time to soothe your ego, love. Can you be okay with it for now?

He grunted as though I’d punched him in the stomach. With a sigh, he leaned back in his squeaky desk chair and spun toward the window.

“When you send the runner to Bear Trees,” I said, “let Torbin know that I’m headed to Bear Trees, after the council meeting, in his company, if he’ll have me.”

“Understood. Need anything else?” Olivia asked.

“Not from me.”

Logan grumbled a long string of expletives. A little louder, he answered, “No.”

Olivia nodded and left the room.

“What do you plan to do now?” Logan asked softly.