Corrigan Fire Bloodfire - Helen Harper Page 0,64

cloth is?

Yes. He paused. You don’t think…

Unfortunately, I do. I growled under my breath. Drat that woman. Switching the direction of my Voice, I made sure. Boran, where is Mack now?

She’s heading towards the beach. We have her in our sights. Shall we stop her?

Has she seen you?

No. His response had an air of slight puzzlement.

Boran? I prompted.

The wind is picking up and it’s gusting in her direction. She should have scented us by now.

I frowned. He was right. All shifters, even werehamsters, had an enhanced sense of smell. Then it occurred to me that Mack was probably well aware that she was being tracked. She was simply choosing to ignore the fact. I supposed I should be gratified. Her blatant disregard extended to all the Brethren, not just me. Switching direction, I started moving towards the beach. What was the bet that she was taking it upon herself to enter the portal alone? Teamwork and a planned strategy to ensure success were both clearly alien to her. I ignored the flicker of admiration I felt at her courage. She needed to damn well learn to think first and act later. I didn’t need her alerting our target on the other side before we’d managed to organise ourselves properly.

Staines, find the damned mage.

I felt, rather than heard, his acquiescence. Then I picked up speed.

I emerged onto the beach and close to the portal before long, just as Mack was handing a can of Coke to the first guard. Keeping my footsteps light, I padded towards the small group. Despite the relaxed chatting she was engaging in, I couldn’t help notice that she was carefully angling herself towards the portal itself. It remained bound for now so whatever she’d cooked up with Mage Floride wasn’t yet in motion. I’d have to have damn words with the Arch-Mage again about keeping his people in check. Not that I was having any luck with keeping Mack in check, of course.

I moved to the right so my body was buffeted by the sea breeze – and my own scent wasn’t carried down to the hovering group. Then I got closer.

‘So, I hear our Lord Alpha has offered you a place,’ I heard the werefox mutter.

A tiny smile played around my lips. How was Mack going to respond to this?

‘Uh, yes, he has,’ she answered. There was a distinct lack of enthusiasm. ‘The Brethren’s not really for me, I think though.’

Except if Mack became the new alpha in Cornwall, part of her duties would mean that she’d have to travel to London to meet with the Brethren – and me – on a regular basis. If she didn’t become alpha, then it would probably be Anton. And he hated her. It was just possible she might end up changing her mind.

‘It’s a great honour,’ the werefox said.

‘Well, I prefer a quiet life.’

I almost snorted aloud at those words. Hardly. Unable to keep quiet any longer, I stepped up to her. ‘And yet you’re such a skilled fighter,’ I interjected.

Mack turned, her eyes spitting sudden glowing fire. ‘My Lord. What brings you out tonight?’

‘You were spotted leaving the keep. I was concerned,’ I paused slightly, ‘for your safety.’

‘Well, I appreciate your concern, my Lord. However, my skills at fighting, which you so gratifyingly highlight, mean that I am more than capable of looking after myself.’

She had all but admitted she was ready for an attack. ‘You wouldn’t be thinking of doing anything stupid, now would you, Miss Mackenzie?’

‘I have absolutely no idea what you could mean, My Lord.’

I couldn’t decide whether her innocence was real or faked. Regardless, the portal remained shut. Trusting that Staines would locate Floride and prevent him from trying anything stupid, I started to relax, taking another step closer to Mack. She, in return, took a step back. Bristling at her desire to keep well away from me, I ignored the two Brethren guards and kept my attention trained on her.

‘From what little I have managed to glean of your nature, Miss Mackenzie, you have about as much sense of self-preservation as a kitten would.’ I might not want to make her feel demeaned by referring to her as a little cat in earshot of others, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t have a little fun. I raised my eyebrows at her and forced the issue, watching her reaction carefully. ‘I wouldn’t put it past you to try to run into the portal stupidly thinking that you could save the world single-handedly.’

‘But