Midnight Truth (Shifter Island #4) - Leia Stone Page 0,79

anything else besides a shield, and since all of the other shields perished…”

My brow furrowed as I tried to tease out exactly what she wanted.

“We want to offer to be shields for the new high mages,” Kaja explained. “Our family has always had the honor of—”

“All of you?” A strangled noise left my throat. As I looked at the Harvest alpha heirs, my heart dropped into my stomach. We were about to go into battle. If the blood mages hurt any one of the high mages…

My heart clenched with the thought of losing any one of them.

“No. Let’s ask for volunteers. Let’s—”

Fiona reached out and put her hand on mine. “We come from the longest line of shields this school has ever seen. There has never been a council of high mages without a Harvest shield. It is the greatest honor our family can have aside from being alpha.”

A tear trailed down my cheek, but I nodded. Who was I to keep them from such an honor? It was not my choice. If this is what they wanted … I needed to support it.

“I … I’m sure they would be honored to have you, I just don’t want anything to happen to you girls.” My voice cracked.

Fiona pulled a dagger from its sheath behind her back and snarled. “Just let one of those bloodsuckers try to get the drop on me.” She blew on her knife, and flames licked the edges.

Oh, Fiona. I loved her so much.

Nell stood, smoothing her hair. “Dibs on any of the high mages except that douchebag, Julian.”

We all snickered.

“Well, someone has to keep his ass alive,” Fiona growled. “I’ll take the douchebag.”

Rue grinned. “Aww, taking one for the team! Thanks, sis.”

“I’ll take the girl,” Mele said, still not looking up from her book.

Jane didn’t deserve a shield, in my opinion, but I was working on turning a new leaf with my fellow councilman, so this was a good start.

I frowned. “There are only four high mages in need of shields.” I counted the girls. Rue, Kaja, Mele, Nell, Fiona and Reyna made six.

Reyna and Kaja shared a look. Then Kaja reached out and touched my arm. “We know how much you love the Midnight brothers, and we wouldn’t want anything to happen to Rage…” She paused, and my mind went wild.

Holy crap! What if I died and took out the freaking king and all of his brothers? The wolves would be left in utter chaos.

“Reyna and I would like to be your shields, and you can let the other brothers go,” Kaja said.

Tears welled in my eyes.

“Well, I don’t want to lose you either,” I cried, pulling her in for a hug. She grabbed for Reyna, and then we were enmeshed in a group hug.

“Of course not. But the boys aren’t nearly as badass as we are. Imagine an all-female shield squad.” Fiona’s words were muffled into my shoulder.

“Oh mage. Don’t ever say ‘female shield squad’ again, or I’ll disown you,” Reyna grumbled.

We all broke apart, laughing.

It was such a kind, generous offer, but I didn’t know if I even liked the whole shield thing. Yet, at the same time, until Rage and I had kids and they were trained in spirit magic … there was no one else besides me to hold this magic.

“We want this,” Kaja pressed. “And you’re obligated to let me because we’re besties.”

“I need this.” Reyna peered into my eyes, her expression filled with anguish. “I’m so … lost. Please?”

Her begging broke me.

Nodding, I forced a swallow and then said, “Okay.”

Kaja pumped her fist in the air. “Female shield squad!”

Reyna bopped her on the back of the head, and we all laughed again.

I wiped my eyes and told Reyna and Kaja not to say anything to Rage or the Midnight brothers until I could have a talk with them.

With that, we finished our breakfast, and then the Harvest girls ran off to offer themselves as shields to the new high mages. I promised to meet up with Kaja and Reyna later after I’d talked to the Midnight brothers and cut them loose.

As I marched out of the camp of wolves in search of Jakko, away from my tent, I tried to shake off my worry and focus on my plans for the attack.

‘Nai.’

Honor’s voice startled me. I spun to see him right behind me, looking at me with a solemn expression.

I gulped. “Hey.”

He cocked his head to the side. ‘I overheard everything you discussed with the Harvest girls. I wasn’t