a look-see of this Commander Xander Oslo character.”
“You have seen him plenty of times.”
“Sure, from a distance. Never up close and personal like we will today. And I have never spoken to the Commander. I need to know if all the rumors are true that he is the gruffest, meanest, sexiest, most badass Kodiak bear shifter leader that this world has ever seen.”
“Really? You want to call the leader of our Regional Protection Unit a ‘badass’? God, I do hope you abstain from offending him later.”
“I promise I will be polite to the badass,” Coco squeaked.
“And try not to say anything of the sort when the Chancellor is around.”
Coco let out a squawk. “The Chancellor can kiss my…bad language.”
Before Kiera could say another word to her closest companion and animal guide, the regal bird flew off into the brisk air. Smiling, Kiera breathed in a whiff of the unique scent of her village at the center of old Chicago. There was coffee and destiny in the air. She looked at the ancient grandfather clock at the far wall of her bedroom and sprang out of bed, shaking her head at the irony.
Nine minutes past nine in the morning.
Of course.
Her fate seemed to be bound to the number nine. It had been nine years to the day since Kiera had lost her mother, and soon after that, had learned that she was one of the Chosen, and would be matched to Coco, her witch familiar. Nine months ago, the region’s leader, Chancellor Minassus, had formally announced that during this coming winter, Kiera would fulfill her role as the ninth Chosen witch, by casting a powerful spell to transform the newest troop of Kodiak bear shifters. The Chancellor had also switched Kiera’s room in the fortress to the one set aside for the Chosen nine weeks ago, allowing her to demonstrate and refine her spells after years of training. The region’s latest Chosen, Talise, was born nine days ago. A little over nine hours ago, Kiera received word that Commander Xander Oslo would visit the village’s Great Hall for their first one-on-one, in-person meeting. With her luck, something would happen nine minutes before their scheduled time to meet.
And nine days from today, Kiera would carry out the shifter transformation spell.
Thank goodness Chancellor Minassus had agreed to Coco’s attendance at Kiera’s meeting with Commander Oslo. Usually, the Chancellor would not tolerate the presence of other witches’ familiars outside of the fortress, but he had never been able to keep Coco from taking on her Osprey form and leaving whenever she pleased. But today was different. Today, Kiera’s request carried weight. Until the last selected man was transformed to a Kodiak bear shifter this season as a direct result of her witchcraft, she was the most important person in the region.
Commander Xander Oslo was next in importance.
She was already nervous about meeting him in person for the first time. Everyone around knew Xander Oslo. His bravery was legendary, but his overbearing presence and almost brutal temper made him almost as feared as Chancellor Minassus. With this awareness top of mind, she jumped out of bed. It was time to get ready, meet with Chancellor Minassus, and force some breakfast in her already queasy stomach before the big meeting with Commander Oslo.
Heading to the window, she opened the shutters the rest of the way so that natural light could fill the room. The windows were frosted over. There used to be a time when Kiera looked forward to winter. Back then, there were long, snowy yet cozy nights and days filled with playing in the high puffy snowbanks with her friends in the village. Mama would make the most delicious soups and stews, pies and cakes, and fluffy biscuits that Kiera would split open while they were still steaming hot and slather in butter and honey. A mixture of the two would inevitably drip down her chin, earning her a disapproving glance from her mother. But she could never quite help herself. They were so good.
Now, when the days grew shorter, and a chill touched the air, dread filled her heart—as it did the souls of everyone in the region, witches, shifters and humans alike. The destroyers came during the winter. They would swim to the island from every direction, making their way to the mouth of old Chicago’s shipping canals. Their only goal was to destroy, kill and lay waste to the little that was left of the world. After the destroyers first arrived