Page 29 of Shifters Reckoning

I winked at Riley and Shannon. “Guess he’s my cue to get back. I’ll try to come back for a visit around Thanksgiving. Maybe I’ll bring green bean casserole.”

Shannon hugged me, followed by Riley.

I turned to Logan and put my hands on my hips. In for a penny, in for a pound. “Race ya home. You can gripe at me when you get there, or whatever else comes to mind. Maybe a good tongue-lashing for your favorite animal doctor?”

Riley and Shannon shared a look and then giggled.

“This is great,” Shannon added.

Then I wagged my eyebrows at Logan, scooped up my helmet, placed it on my head, and marched out of Vixen’s with his curses and Sheila’s laughter echoing behind me. Catch me if you can.

CHAPTER EIGHT

emma

The Gathering Place

Between Bear Trees & Red Tail Territories

“Please repeat your request, Multimorph,” Torbin rumbled from his spot at the head of the table, his Scandinavian accent heavier than normal. “It is most unusual.”

I stood at the front of the Gathering Place between the council seated at their large table and the crowd seated on the tiered benches. Someone had scrubbed the stage and the table clean of any trace of Salali’s trial. Judging by the collection of stony expressions and the murmur of dissent among the attendees, Olivia hadn’t been kidding about the alphas and the high-ranking representatives being pissed off.

When I had gotten back to Six-Mile, I’d parked my Ducati in one of the shops and gone to find my mother. She’d been in her cabin, had made tea for both of us, and had smiled sweetly while she caught me up on what Dr. Wise had been teaching her. Nothing I’d said about anything surprised her. She was convinced I could do anything successfully.

Then I’d spent the rest of my time preparing to manage this hostile host of jerks. After hanging out with the easygoing Riley and Shannon, I found shifters to be such a prickly pain in the ass with all the politicking, all the egos, and all the posturing.

Per my request, Logan had begrudgingly agreed to stay in Six-Mile, and we’d said our goodbyes before I’d left. By my decree, he still wasn’t allowed a council seat. I wanted to run the conclave on my own. He’d sent Olivia in his stead.

Now I resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of my nose before I continued convincing them to do what I wanted them to do. “As I outlined previously, I’d like to enact a shifter exchange program,” I announced. “We need to practice fighting together, and this is the best way to accomplish that. If each clan has the opportunity to work with the varied skills of other kinds of shifters, then we’ll be that much ahead of the game when training begins at Six-Mile.”

“What does this look like in execution, Multimorph?” someone other than Torbin asked from the council table behind me.

I spread my arms wide. “Each clan will send six warriors, one each to six different shifter groups. This will help keep the cost on resources as even as possible. Beyond that, you can also send up to two dozen additional warriors to Six-Mile, where Olivia and Logan will begin basic weapons and battle training,” I said. “This is in addition to any shifters who may be convalescing there already.”

“Impossible,” one of the shifters hissed from the audience.

“As a kindness, in the interest of supporting the whole, Six-Mile has offered its grounds. It is the most affluent clan, and as the home of the multimorph, it will likely remain so. There is no reason for another territory or clan to take on the expense or responsibility of housing an army in training. Six-Mile can handle the billeting.”

More grumbling.

Placing my hands on my hips, I glared at the assembly. “Listen. We are not currently ready for a direct confrontation with Acheron, and we don’t have time to wait for each of you to get used to the idea of mixing ranks. Our lives depend on the skills we build between now and the final battle.”

And it’s borrowing on hope to believe he’s not on our borders already. But I didn’t say that part aloud.

“Please recall that I do not require you to agree with my plan or even believe it is a good idea. You simply need to do it.”

Another disgruntled groan rumbled through those in attendance.

“And what will you be doing while our warriors are in Six-Mile?” the raccoon alpha asked. “What will the multimorph deign to do?”

“I will be training others in Bear Trees, as I promised. They were the next clan to send five warriors to Six-Mile per my original request. Breaking my word isn’t an option, and Bear Trees earned my time.”

The raccoon shifter chittered in response.

Torbin snuffed before growling. “Bear Trees relinquishes its right to the multimorph’s time. She is clearly needed in Six-Mile.”

I glanced over my shoulder and shot Torbin an appreciative look. Despite his offer, it was important to his clan for them to see me in his territory and for me to see his home.