always then thought better of it. Sometimes ignorance was bliss.
John looked at me steadily. “I won’t let you be put in any danger.”
I forced a laugh. “I can look after myself. More than most shifters can.”
“The Brethren aren’t like most shifters. In Cornwall we’re generally an amiable and peaceable bunch who fight off the odd wild bunny.”
I smiled despite myself.
He continued, “Don’t dismiss what you’ve already heard about them. They’re different. But also don’t forget that they’re strong and unforgiving because they have to be. Without the Brethren keeping the local packs like us in check then there are those shifters who would,” he paused for a heartbeat, “cause trouble.”
Actually I knew of a few who’d cause more than trouble. “But you’re the alpha here. Can’t the local alphas keep the trouble-makers in their packs in check?” I was aware that there was an irritating whiny note to my voice but seemed unable to prevent it. John’s voice, in return, remained calm and steady.
“A lot of my power comes from the fact that I can draw on the Brethren when I need to. And alphas can be trouble-makers too,” he added with a slight smile.
I nodded slightly, trying not to let the nervous panic rise up any further. I usually tried to forget that there were big bad things out there like the Brethren. It wasn’t good for my health to think about the what ifs. What if the Brethren discovered who I was and killed me? What if they killed the whole pack for harbouring me? What if my mother hadn’t ever compelled the Cornish pack to take me in? What if she was still alive? What if…
Nope. It didn’t do any good.
“Anyway,” John continued, “from what I hear the new Lord Alpha is eager to stamp his authority across the Kingdom. He’s already made several visits to different packs and I have no doubt that sooner or later he’ll make his way to us whether we wish it or not.” He watched me carefully. “It might be better to get it out of the way whilst we can still maintain some control over the situation.”
I snorted. “Whatever,” and quickly changed the subject back to the wichtlein’s stone. Bureaucratic protocol might demand that we had to inform our Lords and Masters about it, but I was curious as to whether ‘large-scale death and destruction’ was really going to happen, or if it was just scare-mongering. “How seriously should I take this rock?”
John’s expression was suddenly completely humourless. “As to that, I’d say as seriously as possible. The ways and actions of the otherworld are rarely without good reason.” He held the little black stone between his finger and thumb and gazed at it quietly for a moment before placing it inside his shirt pocket and buttoning it over.
I frowned. If John was treating the situation that gravely then it definitely merited my more earnest attention. “I’ll stay here and scout the area, see what I can find.”
“Are you armed?”
I had my usual throwing daggers taped to my arms. And, of course, there was my blood. “I’m good.”
“Okay, then. I need you back at the keep by sunrise though or I’ll send Anton out looking for you.”
I threw John an evil look. Anton and I were not exactly mates. He laughed lightly and, picking up his broad rimmed hat that he’d left at the side of the clearing, turned towards the keep.
I watched his retreating back for a moment and then started to look around, belatedly realising that I hadn’t thought to ask him about the rumours he’d heard that had made him come here in the first place. Scuffing the dirt in a few places that looked as if they might have been disturbed, I wondered if they were related to the stone. It had certainly made a strange noise but it would never have been loud enough to attract anyone’s attention from far away, and the village itself was at least ten kilometres from here. Maybe the wichtlein that had left its little offering in the first place ha been of the loud variety. I shrugged and continued looking carefully around me. Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t find any more shiny stones though, or any traces of anything else. I paused for a moment, trying to use my Spidey senses but clearly I was either no superhero or there was nothing to be found. However, my gaze fell to the area on my right, which was dark