“Shade?”
“It’s what they’re calling the new operatives.” Joe pushed his way through the revolving door and out into the fresh spring air. “I wouldn’t have let you come if it wasn’t a done deal. I’ve talked to the Watcher who is recruiting for this area. The first group the council is putting into training isn’t large. Until they get the kinks shaken out, they’ll be limiting enrollment. But I sang your praises, mate, and Cara said there’s a spot for you.”
I bumped into Joe again, grateful that he’d managed to get me in. The thought of traveling the realms, working to enforce council rules and protect the secret, appealed to my restless soul.
Except for the gating part, of course. I figured I was going to have to grit my teeth on that one.
“Don’t know why you want to do this, exactly,” my cousin said. “Protecting Cryptid interests sounds—well, exhausting.”
“Aren’t ya doin’ the same thing here in Manitoba?” I asked.
Joe snorted a laugh. “Yeah. When there’s action, we’re in it. It’s tricky with the Sabres running the show. Most Manitoban ones are okay. But you know our history with them runs deep. Working side by side with cats on Cryptid missions has its issues.”
I’d had a few run-ins with our local Sabres and understood where Joe was coming from. “Well, if there were enough of them to go around, the council wouldn’t be needing new agents.”
“True enough.” Joe shrugged easily. “I’m a homebody. Don’t mind troubleshooting around here. Realm-hopping is another thing entirely. But I’m not you.”
“Nope,” I said. “Not nearly as good-looking, for one thing.”
“Dream on, mate.” His laugh boomed throughout the underground parkade, loud enough to draw attention to us, before he continued. “Cara has whipped off to Kenora to attend to something. She’ll pick you up on her way back. So it will give you time to meet the pack.” He unlocked the van door and threw my carryall into the back before climbing behind the wheel. “Emily and her twin are going to be attending the new school, but they’ll be in the advanced program with a few others.”
“There’s an advanced program?” I glanced at him in surprise as I climbed into the passenger side.
Joe started up the van. “Yeah, well, some of these people have already used their powers in pursuit of the greater good. So they have some experience but need to hone what they know.”
I stared at him. “Can Emily really throw fire?”
The other Dire laughed. “More like balls of red lightning. And believe me, you don’t want to get nailed by one.” He waggled his brows at me. “So don’t piss her off, okay?”
I grinned at him. “Message received.”
He continued, prattling happily about the talents some other advanced class members might have, but I only half listened as I watched the buildings roll by.
I was here to join this effort. And maybe, just maybe, I’d find what I searched for.
If Fate decided to smile upon me...
4
Anna
Work at the diner kept me hopping. I was relieved to be finally heading home—my tired brain felt like mush. And I’d been jumpy all morning while serving customers.
As I drove past the house to the alley entrance, I noticed a bright-blue Jeep sitting on the street. I’d never seen it before, and as I turned down the lane, I experienced a stab of unease.
It was a relief to unlock the house door and be greeted by Trix. She wiggled and jumped all over me, which was normal, but she also stuck like glue to my leg as I walked through the house, which wasn’t. Was this a holdover from last night? Or did something else have her spooked?
I’d just got changed from my uniform to jeans and a tee when the front doorbell rang. For a moment, I contemplated not answering it. I skittered to the spare bedroom window and peered through the curtains.
Two women stood on the step.
It bothered me that my decision to open the door was based entirely on their sex, but there you are. My perspective on life had skewed since last night. I wanted to avoid any more naked-cloaked-guy entanglements. But judging from what I’d affirmed over the last year, the basics still held—dogs were huggable. Women were safe. Children adorable or annoying, variably.
Humongous green-eyed dream beasts were hot.
Okay, that last was a bit out of whack. It had popped into my head completely unsolicited. Damned dream.
Anyway, I opened the door to a relatively safe pair of women, both shorter than me. One was slim and older, although her exact age was difficult to interpret. Waist-length white hair was both braided and pulled back from her face into a ponytail. The braids were full of decorative crap—mostly crystals that glittered. Her unlined face had coppery skin, as though exposed regularly to sunlight without the benefit of protection, and her vivid-blue eyes were riveting.
