Psyche Shield (32 page)
Characters and stories unfold within me whether I
write or not. So I write! I love to dream the impossible and bring magic into
the mundane. I believe beauty can be found in the most difficult of moments and
humor keeps us sane in the midst of chaos. My characters are fantastic creatures
that open our senses and let us see the world in a new way. Yet they are like
any of us with strengths and weaknesses, struggles and triumphs, and sometimes
they simply want to survive what life throws at them. When typing a
conversation feels more like transcribing than creating, and the words flow
naturally from their lips, I know I’ve successfully breathed life into the
characters.
Whether living in a cabin in the woods or a city apartment,
Idaho’s wilderness is my home. The wilds are true civilization, and its
inhabitants my sisters and brothers. I am most content with open sky above me,
trees surrounding me, and feet bare against the earth. I live a simple life.
Friends, family, art, writing, and community are my world.
Books by Chrissie Buhr
“If you talk to the animals
they will talk with you
and you will understand each other.
If you do not talk to them
you will not know them,
and what you do not know you will fear.
What one fears one destroys.”
~ Chief Dan George ~
Chapter 1
Black asphalt raced beneath us, ushering us out of
the city as we left Pack Territory behind. Buildings dwindled until farmlands
and open fields extended on either side. "You never mentioned Ontario when
we talked about this job. Or when I accepted it,” I repeated the complaint from
the passenger seat of Glenn’s car.
The Wolf diverted his eyes from the road long enough to
throw an amused glance my way. He could undoubtedly smell the anxiety building
in me and tapped his hand on the wheel. The corner of his mouth twitched in a
lopsided grin. "You wouldn’t have agreed. They can manage without us for
one night. You worry too much.”
With mock seriousness, I settled back into the seat and
waved a hand theatrically. “You're right. It's been a whole week since anyone
has invaded our territory and tried to kill us. You'd think I'd be over it by
now.” With a sharp breath I nervously checked the rearview mirror, watching the
Treasure Valley disappear in our wake. When stretched to the limits of my
abilities, I could sense everyone around me in a ten mile range. We’d moved
beyond that and I realized how much consolation I’d drawn from feeling my
packmates around me. This far away I wouldn’t know if they encountered
problems. I couldn’t protect them if the wrong Mage arrived in my absence.
Glenn chuckled, oblivious to the danger that loomed on the
horizon and the source of my fretting. After weeks of internal conflict, I had
Pack Status. Even the few packmates who still disapproved accepted me as Pack.
The Montana Wolves no longer hunted us and a week had passed without any menace
materializing. By all appearances life had returned to normal, or as normal as
possible within a Wolf Pack that included a Mage. It wouldn’t last.
“Enjoy the down time when you have it,” he advised.
“Live for today, not tomorrow. It's a great philosophy and
not one I’ve mastered yet,” I admitted. “That seems to be a Wolf skill. It’s
not as easy for the rest of us.”
Like most of my packmates, he’d initially distrusted me
because I’m a Mage. As his reservations faded, I’d discovered his quirky sense
of humor and boy-like charm. He drove with one hand on the wheel, a light
breeze from the window blowing his hair around his face. "Today we've got
a job to do, and tomorrow you'll be back in Boise where you can neurotically
guard the territory again.”
“I am not neurotic,” I replied haughtily, knowing full well
my recent behavior weakened the defense.
“If you say so,” he replied affably. "This convention
is the perfect venue to find the buyer. We'll have the scent by midnight, catch
a few hours' sleep, and drive back first thing in the morning.”
“You realize I have no sense of smell, right?”
“Good thing I do.” He replied with a toothy grin. We’d already
fine-tuned the plan for the evening, and we briefly reviewed it. Glenn worked
for our Alpha’s security and investigative agency, and they’d hired me as a
consultant. Industrial espionage didn’t interest us much, but it paid well. We
didn’t care about this case beyond completing it swiftly and professionally.
Glenn had already narrowed down the list of suspects and wanted me to read a
few minds and identify the guilty party. He’d follow up with some of his
remarkable computer skills to prove it without revealing how we obtained the
information.
To date, most of our conversations had centered on training
sessions or the case. I’d grown to like the easy-going Wolf and decided to take
the opportunity to get to know him better. "I can’t place your accent. Where
are you from?”
“I grew up in Vermont and went to school in New York. My
parents were from Switzerland.”
“That explains it. How'd you end up in Idaho?”
“I met a girl, got married, and we moved here to be near her
family. The marriage didn’t last, but I stayed.”
I’d only heard about his mate, and news of a first wife
caught me by surprise. "What happened?”
His fingers tapped the steering wheel again. "That's a
good question. She packed a bag and said she was leaving. She didn’t tell me
why and I never saw her again.”
He seemed untroubled by it, and I wondered how many decades
had passed since then. He looked about forty years old, but appearances meant
little among Wolves. They aged slowly and if he started regaling me with
first-hand stories of the Great Depression or the Civil War it would not amaze
me. "That had to have been a shock. A few of my girlfriends did that, but
it was pretty obvious why.”
“What do you mean?” He asked without any sign of disbelief.
“When I thought I was Human, I tried to hide my mental
abilities. I always slipped up eventually. Once they started seeing it, they
didn’t stick around.”
He nodded sagely. "I can see that. You and Billie seem
to have it down, though.”
I thought back to those first few weeks with Billie before I
knew about Wolves and Mages. "I tried to hide it from her, but she figured
it out. At first she thought I was a Sensitive, but even when she found out I’m
a Mage she didn’t run from it. She was the first person who didn't.”
“Has there been a second?” His question hit me like a knife
to the chest and he backtracked, scowling at himself. "That was
insensitive. Sorry.”
I looked out at the passing landscape and replied sadly,
"Don't worry about it. That you'd even ask shows how true it is. It's
better than it used to be.”
“You’re Pack now. We quit trying to kill you weeks ago.
That’s improvement.” He didn't tiptoe around the topic, and the blunt statement
made me chuckle. My packmates' tendency for frank honesty could be
uncomfortable, but I’d grown to appreciate it.
“You're only pretending to try to kill me now. That is
definitely an improvement.” I joked before my thoughts turned sober again.
"It's easier with Wolves than it ever was with Humans. You may not like
what I am, but I don't have to hide it.”
He found the statement disconcerting and turned his scowl on
me. "You’ve been hunted almost every day since we found out you’re a Mage.
Right now it’s for training, but most of the time someone has wanted you dead.
That’s easier?”
The question didn't even require thought. "Yes. It's
honest and straightforward, and I can be myself. Besides, I’m not alone
anymore.”
His forehead creased as he considered my answer.
"That's messed up. How are you handling the training? We’ve been pushing
it hard, and you don't get any warning.” At my request, Glenn and a few others
had spent the last week hunting me. We explored my abilities and searched for
weaknesses they could get through. So far they hadn’t had much success sneaking
up on me, but I wasn’t the average Mage.
“I'm fine with it.” I assured him determinedly. His
skeptical look revealed his disbelief as clearly as if I’d read his mind.
"It really doesn’t. You guys can handle almost any Mage now, and that
makes me feel better. It’s been harder for Billie than me.”
Billie and I shared an unusual mental connection that even
our matebond couldn’t explain. They couldn’t warn her without alerting me. Some
of the strongest Wolves in the pack stalked and hunted her mate, appearing
suddenly and stopping just short of attacking me. She understood training and
knew better than anyone how important it was. Even so, the frequency and lack
of warning grated on her nerves. Highly protective by nature, she held back her
impulse to retaliate whenever they appeared.
The entire team had commented on their Beta’s mood several
times. They’d never hurt a packmate, and that finally included me. But instinct
oftentimes overpowered better judgment when a Wolf’s mate was threatened, and
Billie was more protective than most. “Her self-control is impressive. I don’t
know how well I’d manage.” He shook his head.
“She gets irritable, but sparring with Matthew helps her
work it out. She likes the progress we’re making. She knows it’s for my safety
as well as the pack’s. That helps.” The conversation reminded me that my
packmates could handle almost any situation without me. I started to unwind and
enjoy the road trip.
We reached Ontario and navigated the unfamiliar streets,
finding the hotel without difficulty. “Classy.” I commented as we entered the
posh lobby with overnight bags. Glenn checked us in and we rode an elevator up
several flights to reach our room.
“The bed’s yours.” He stated, setting his laptop on the
desk. “The floor’s comfortable in wolf form.”
I dropped my bag on the table and hung up my dress so it
wouldn’t wrinkle. “It’s been a long time since I’ve pretended to be straight.
It’s weird acting like your wife.”
“If it gets too weird we could pretend to have a fight and
get a second room.” He teased, leaning against the desk and watching me settle
into the environment.
“I know you’re capable of being a gentleman.” I teased.
“Do I look like a gentleman? I’ve been accused of acting
like a wolf.” He looked at me sideways in a comical imitation of a leering
scoundrel.
I chuckled. “I think you’re too smart to try anything. But
your stomach is starting to sound wolfish. I can hear it growling. Come on, we
have a couple hours to kill and I saw a steak house up the street.”
We linked arms, playing the part, and left the hotel. It had
become habit to extend my awareness as far as possible, evaluating my
surroundings at all times. Following Glenn’s advice, I made myself tone it down
and enjoy the time off. A fall storm dimmed the afternoon sun, and gusts of
wind periodically hit us. “Do you think it’s going to rain?” I asked, looking
at the clouds above us.
“Nope.” He replied. “The storm’s moving out. It’ll be clear
in a few hours.”
I regarded at him closely. “You’re not guessing. You know
that for sure. Is that a Wolf thing?”
He nodded and looked at the sky. “Yeah, we have a sense for
the weather. And I pre-date cell phones and weather apps.”
“Do you pre-date computers?” I asked curiously as we entered
the dim light of the steak house.
“Oh yeah. I started hearing about them when I was young. I
was hooked from the get go. I even got in on one of the early projects, long
before they became available to the public.” A server interrupted our
conversation. The dinner rush hadn’t started, and he seated us right away.
I’d always discerned the emotions and superficial thoughts
of those around me, much like Humans noticed hair color or Wolves recognized
scents. A man eating alone caught my attention. He sat with his back towards us
and glanced over his shoulder as we walked by. Middle aged and thin, he looked
like someone with a high metabolism who didn’t bother working out. His modest
and lightly wrinkled business attire suggested he'd just finished a long day at
work.
Outwardly he ignored us, but his attention stayed squarely
focused on Glenn. His unease compounded with every minute that passed. He
projected it so loudly I didn’t have to touch his mind to feel it. The server
showed us to a table not far from him, took our drink order and left. I nodded
unobtrusively towards the man and muttered too quietly for anyone but Glenn to
hear. “He’s really scared of you.”
He replied almost as quietly, and I barely heard him.
"I can tell. I get that sometimes.” I had no doubt the Wolf could smell
the man's fear, but it didn't faze him. Something about the man nagged at me,
but I couldn't put my finger on it. I thought he might get up and leave several
times, but he continued eating.
“Why? Does he ...” I couldn't have the conversation I wanted
in an open restaurant and stopped myself. I didn't have this problem with
Billie. I almost raised an illusion to prevent anyone from hearing us, but
Glenn saved me the trouble.
“Yes and no. They don't know, but they sense it sometimes.
Maybe he's a little Sensitive.” Glenn referred to Humans with a Mage ancestor
who inherited some of our abilities. Wolves referred to these people as
Sensitives, though few knew of the Mage blood that flowed in their veins. We
ordered our food and changed the topic to a more Human appropriate
conversation. When the meal came, it didn't disappoint.
Billie and I could always sense each other through our bond.
Mindspeech allowed us to communicate more like a verbal conversation, and we
could speak as easily as if she sat beside me. I already missed her, despite
her constant presence in my mind. For the first time since leaving Boise, I
contacted her.
We found an amazing steak house. I'll to have to bring you
here someday.
The man at the nearby table nearly exploded in panic. With
great effort, he tried to act casual. He wiped his fingers with a cloth napkin,
dropped it on his plate, and left without a glance in our direction. I sensed
Billie's smile but the man’s retreat distracted me.
"That was weird.”
I spoke aloud and to Billie at the same time.
What was weird?
She replied, instantly concerned.
Glenn noticed him too. With a puzzled look he watched as the
man hurried towards the front of the restaurant. He lowered his voice once
again and asked, "What was that about?”
“I don't know. But now he's afraid of me. He sensed me
talking to Billie. I'm sure of it. Do you smell Mage?” He cocked his head at me
and frowned. None of my packmates would fail to mention a Mage in the vicinity.
"Okay, stupid question. Let's see who he is.”
Someone's acting very
strangely and I think he sensed our mindspeech. We're checking into it.
Be careful.
She cautioned.
Glenn and I rose from the table and followed him. He knew
but didn't turn or acknowledge us in any way. Quickly paying for his meal, he
left without waiting for his change. The server would receive a nice tip from
the situation.
“We'll be right back.” I assured the cashier with what I
hoped was a convincing smile. He nodded skeptically but didn't try to stop us.
Outside we paused for only a second. The man had disappeared, but Glenn had his
scent and I sensed him off to our right. We followed, picking up the pace. The
building ended at a parking lot, and when we turned the corner we came face to
face with the wide-eyed man.