Corrigan Fire Bloodfire - Helen Harper Page 0,39

country remained strife free.

‘Don’t worry, my Lord. We’ll find out what’s really going on here. Concentrate on the London attack.’

I beckoned Julia over. ‘I have to leave at dawn. The majority of our contingent will stay behind to help you locate and destroy John’s murderer.’

Her expression was calm. ‘I have no doubt that we shall. We can probably manage it on our own, however. She…’

‘It has already been decided,’ I interrupted. I could understand her desire to deal with the problem herself but even with the strength of shifters like Mack and Anton, they wouldn’t manage it alone. ‘In the meantime, let’s complete the ceremony and name you as alpha. You’ll need to nominate two witnesses.’

‘Tom and Anton.’

I raised my eyebrows. Traditionally, the strongest shifters were the ones who were nominated to witness a new alpha being sworn in. It helped dampen down any animosity with those who perhaps disagreed with the succession. Tom was an effective werewolf and I was happy to allow him entrance to the Brethren ranks. Mack, however, was far more powerful. I looked into Julia’s eyes, but her expression was guileless. I couldn’t shake the feeling that the prickly werehamster, if that’s indeed what she was, was not the only person around here hiding something. Given everything else that was going on, it wasn’t a priority though. As I’d told Mack herself, I could easily return here when things were less fraught and conduct more of my own investigations.

‘So be it,’ I said. ‘The garden in an hour?’

She nodded and withdrew.

***

There were five of us present. Julia and myself, of course; Tom and Anton, the latter of whom had a black glower on his face; and Thomson, who I’d selected to join us merely so I could keep an eye on him. I wanted him to start to gain a better appreciation of the responsibility we had as the Brethren. It wasn’t all about swanning around the city with bigoted opinions and machismo swagger. In fact, I had to admit that I felt a little squirm of nervousness. I knew exactly what the ceremony entailed and what was required. I’d been to enough of the damn things myself. Conducting it personally was a different matter to merely looking on, though.

I stepped forward, inhaling the cool night air. ‘We are gathered here to formalise the succession of a new alpha in accordance with the Way,’ I intoned, trying not to sound too gruff. ‘Julia Aspen of Cornwall has received the Voice. She has been deemed adequate.’ I hated that word. Whichever long-since dead Brethren leader had thought that ‘adequate’ was the best they could come up with when someone was agreeing to take on such a dangerous and difficult role should have been shot. I was reminded that as soon as I had some free time and was no longer being bedevilled by murder, I was going to start changing a lot of the Way. Tradition be damned.

Julia joined me. I looked over at the waiting witnesses. Thomson appeared incredibly bored. I had to resist the urge to smack him hard around the head.

‘I was born into the pack of Cornwall.’ Julia’s voice rang out clear and unwavering. ‘I offer my allegiance to them, pure and true, until such time as I am either unfit to continue or gone from this world. I will maintain order, promote the Way and provide succour and safety to all.’

She held out her palms. I placed mine against hers, for a moment realising just what a small woman she was. Her size didn’t matter, however. I knew she had enough strength of character to do well. In fact, this entire ceremony was starting to feel like nothing more than lip service.

‘Julia Aspen, you are hereby deemed as worthy. From this point on, the position of alpha in Cornwall is filled.’

For a brief moment, the pride in her eyes was replaced by surprise. ‘I can feel it,’ she whispered. Both Tom and Anton leaned forward. Thomson inspected his fingernails. ‘I can feel the power.’

I watched her, wondering again why I hadn’t felt the same sensations as her when I took office at the Brethren. The natural order clearly wanted her; perhaps it didn’t want me. She bowed her head.

‘It is done,’ I said. I smiled at her. ‘Congratulations.’

‘Thank you.’

There was a rustle of movement from somewhere behind us. Frowning, I turned and spotted the mage hovering there. What the hell did he want?

‘Hello!’ he waved, although his pale, strained face seemed