Psyche Honor (Psyche Moon) (5 page)

I woke to silence and the mental noise of several
people coming into Billie’s home. Alarmed, I froze and then relaxed as the
sleep fog lifted enough to identify Billie, Kathryn, and Amy. According to the
lack of light coming through the windows, it was either very late or very early.

We didn’t mean to scare you, love. We were trying not to
wake you.

That’s okay. I’m just jumpy these days. I’ll be right
down.
Donning one of Billie’s silk bathrobes, I made my way down the
stairs.

“Being quiet works about as well on a Mage as it does on a
Wolf,” Amy grinned cheekily. The three women stood in the kitchen eating
muffins. “Good to know in case I ever need to sneak up on one.” I appreciated
how Amy didn’t tiptoe around my heritage. She appraised my healing bruises
silently. As Pack Medic, it was her job. Still I appreciated that she didn’t
make a fuss.

“That’s an idea, actually.” I yawned involuntarily. “I could
help you guys train.” I looked at the clock, and decided to stay awake. Opening
the cupboard, I pulled out a bag of coffee grounds and heated some water on the
stove.

Kathryn gave me an indecipherable look. “The Pack needs a
little time to become accustomed to the idea that you’re one of us. I hope in
time you will help us against adversarial Mages.”

Amy swallowed a piece of muffin. “Yeah, it’s too soon for
that. I don’t want anyone getting excited and thinking you’re a real Mage
invader. Mage Invader. I like that. It has a nice ring to it. I don’t like
saying ‘Mages’ anymore as if you’re all the same. Not now that I know you.” She
pointed a muffin-filled hand in my direction. Words have power. And I for one
am tired of certain people calling her Mage instead of using her name.”

Kathryn’s face tightened. “I’m doing my best to show him his
prejudice.” Her voice softened and she met my eyes. “Be patient with him, my
dear. The nightmares had just begun to fade when you came to us. He’s facing
his greatest fear and his deepest pain with you. It’s bringing out the worst in
him.”

“I know. It hurts that he suddenly hates me, but I can’t
blame him for it.” Kathryn’s response to her husband’s attitude touched me. I
hadn’t wanted to tell her how deeply Richard’s rejection hurt me.

“I cannot condone bigotry in a man who has fought against it
his entire life.” Kathryn looked me squarely in the eye. “He needs to see the
hypocrisy in his words and come to terms with who you are.”

“I hadn’t thought of it that way,” I responded slowly.

“Of course not,” Amy piped in. “You’ve been too busy
thinking you deserve it.”

I startled at the truth in my friends’ statement. “You’re
right. I don’t even know any other Mages and I’m comparing myself to them.”

“You are who you choose to be,” Kathryn stated succinctly.

Billie enjoyed the conversation silently, watching my eyes
open. The water began to boil. “Anyone else want a cup?” Everyone nodded, so I
filled the French Press to the brim. “How was the run?”

Amy giggled. “Adrienne was injured.” Stunned at her joy over
an injury, I cast her a bemused look. She went on to explain. “It was her own
fault. Pure stubbornness. And she’ll be fine in a couple of days.”

Billie explained. “Nathan was panicking and instead of
moving out of his way, she let him run into her. He snapped and took a bite out
of her leg. She knows better.” Billie clearly didn’t think very highly of
Adrienne despite her neutral words.

Amy continued. “I didn’t see that part, but she was all
upset at Billie. Only I couldn’t tell if she was upset at Billie for saving her
or for not saving her quick enough.”

Kathryn added her two cents. “Both.”

“You saved her?” I asked Billie, pride swelling in me.

“I pinned him until he calmed down.” She shrugged as if
unimportant.

Amy elaborated excitedly. “Nathan was chewing Adrienne’s leg
off, so Billie grabbed him by the throat until he rolled over. Second time she
did that today, only the first time it was because he grabbed my butt. Then
they chased a rabbit.”

I shook my head at her. “Just when I think I’m getting used
to your world, Amy says something to make it sound completely bizarre.” Billie
laughed so hard, she choked on her muffin.

Amy’s eyes lit up. “The coffee smells ready.”

I extracted coffee cups, sugar, and creamer from their
various locations, feeling comfortable in Billie’s kitchen. “So does that mean
his first run went well or not well?”

Billie grinned, “It went well. He only panicked once, we
sustained one moderate injury, and he returned to human form when I threatened
him. Compared to my first run, it went very well.”

Amy nodded, solemnly. “Yep. I remember that one. I had three
very injured patients that night. Didn’t get any sleep. It was pure luck that
Richard didn’t bleed out, and you were a furball of broken bones before you
stopped fighting. Could have been a lot worse!”

I turned to my friends curiously. “What was it like for the
two of you?”

Kathryn smiled warmly. “It was lovely. The full moon was
high, and my best friend ran beside me.”

Amy nodded. “Feeling four feet beneath me for the first
time. It was perfect, like I knew exactly who I was for the first time in my
entire life. We feasted on a deer my first run.”

“I fed on a hare,” Kathryn reminisced.

Billie sipped her coffee in silence as her friends compared
memories.
You feel cheated out of something special.
I commented. Billie
nodded without reply.

Kathryn noticed the solemn exchange. “Much is different for
those who are turned forcibly. Many of our special memories are haunted for
them. That is not our way.”

Billie assured her friends and mate. “I love being Wolf. If
that’s the way it had to begin in order for me to have this life, I’m happy for
it.” Billie put an arm around my waist. “If I hadn’t been bit, I would never
have moved to Boise, and I wouldn’t have met you. How can I complain?” She
pulled me close, kissing me deeply.

“Okay, now I’m getting jealous!” Amy protested. “I’m 91
years old and haven’t found my mate. Billie finds hers at 33.”

Kathryn patted her hand. “You’ll find your mate, my dear. I
was not young when I found Richard.”

Amy jumped at the opportunity to pester. “Which would make
you how old?” she questioned.

Kathryn smiled sweetly but did not respond.

Amy retorted. “100? 120? Come on, Kathryn! We’ve been trying
to guess your age for years.” Kathryn only patted her hand again, enjoying the
endless game.

Amy sputtered. “Okay, Sadie, I know you’ve got rules and
all. But please will you do this one little thing for us and find out how old
she is?”

Kathryn glanced serenely between the women as I shook my
head. “Nope. I promised Jason.” I turned a conspiratorial look at the women and
placed a finger to my chin. “Does anyone outside the pack know her age? Because
I only promised to stay out of Pack minds.”

Amy and Billie began brainstorming. I winked at Kathryn who
replied with a bemused grin.

After a time Billie glanced at the clock. “I have to go. I
told Nathan we’d meet after breakfast and a rest. That would be about now. I’ll
be home this afternoon. Will you still be here, or do you have plans?”

“Other than a long hot bath, I have no plans for my day.”

“My bathroom has the best jets, and you’ll find bath oils
and salts beneath the sink,” she offered. “Enjoy. I’ll see you later.” Billie
kissed me lightly and hugged her friends goodbye.

Amy and Kathryn lingered only a little longer. Amy asked how
I felt and touched my face to assure herself the bruise was healing cleanly.
“Your eye’s red now. Any change in your vision?” I said no. “That happens a
lot, and it’s usually nothing to worry about. If your vision changes at all,
call me right away.”

“I will,” I promised.

“Your nose looks good. How’s the rest of you?”

“Still tender and achy pretty much everywhere, but it’s
getting better. My face and that bruise on my thigh are the worst.”

“Can I see your thigh?”

I nodded and pulled Billie’s robe up to expose an ugly
looking bruise twice the size of my palm. Dark blue patterns spread outwards
making it appear worse than a few days before, and the edges had begun to
yellow. Kathryn gasped, seeing the bruised thigh for the first time.

“I don’t even remember this one,” I told her.

“That is not uncommon,” Kathryn replied and clucked at it.
“You were fortunate not to break your leg.”

“It’s healing nicely,” Amy declared after making me wince by
touching it.

“How long until they’re all gone?” I asked her. “I know
Billie’s just being her protective self, but I’m tired of feeling her anger
every time she sees them.”

“Another week and almost all of them will be gone. This one,”
She pointed at my leg “and the one on your face may take a little longer. Want
me to say something to Billie?”

“No. I got it” I thanked her. They said their goodbyes and
left to start their day.

I lingered over the rich coffee in a suddenly empty kitchen,
enjoying the growing light cascading into the room. The back of the house,
covered in large windows, looked upon the foothills. No homes or other sign of
human habitation could be seen from the vista. A large dog trotted across the
landscape, too far out to see the breed. I relaxed into the view, a few birds
flitting about and the crisp morning promising a warm day.

For the first time in over a week, I let myself unwind.
Without realizing it, I began humming. As I turned to fix a second cup of
coffee, I heard the flap of the doggie door. I panicked, searching mentally for
whoever made the noise, before turning. I could sense no one, familiar or
unfamiliar. Hesitatingly, I turned around to find a red leggy canine with a
white chin and neck standing in the room. I’d seen wolves like him on
documentaries, but I couldn’t place the breed. He appraised me with intelligent
eyes, sitting on the floor calmly and waiting for my response.

“Hello?” I said nervously. “I don’t sense Wolf. Are you a
regular wolf? Because that would be strange.” He cocked his head in a quizzical
look. I finished preparing my coffee while babbling to the animal. “I know. A
regular wolf showing up in my girlfriend’s home is strange. A Wolf is normal.” I
shook my head at the multitude of absurdities. “Well, you don’t act like a
regular wolf and you don’t have the mind of a Wolf. So which are you?”

The red wolf grinned, and with a shimmer, an ancient black
man stood in front of me. Bright intelligent eyes stood out so brilliantly, I
barely noticed anything else. Even the waist-long unkempt hair and nakedness
couldn’t compare to the depths of his eyes. Whatever prevented me from sensing
his presence before ended, and I knew this Wolf to be someone of great age. I
shivered nervously, though he gave me no reason to fear him.

“I am Kato.” He stood still with his hands relaxed by his
side, not wishing to startle me further.

I looked at him blankly for a moment before speaking. “I’m
Sadie. Billie’s not here if you’re looking for her.”

“I came to speak to you.” He continued to search me, looking
far beyond the surface. Usually I unsettled people this way, not the other way
around.

“Me? Why? Who are you?” I started babbling again, a nervous
habit that seemed to worsen every day.

“I am Kato. You are the Mage who’s come to save our pack.” I
stood speechless, mouth dropping open and staring at the old man. “Please do
not inform Billie of my presence. I will explain, and you have my word I will
not harm you.”

I believed him but didn’t know how to respond. “Why hasn’t
Billie told me about you?”

“She is prohibited from telling you what is spoken in an
Elder Meeting. She obeys.”

I nodded as if it began to make sense. “You are one of the
Elders.”

“I am Eldest.”

He spoke the truth, and I sensed only gentleness from the
man. So I nodded and collected myself.
How does one respond in a situation
like this?
I wondered. “Would you like some coffee or breakfast?” I asked.

“Food and water would be greatly appreciated.” Sensing me
relax, he advanced into the kitchen and stood with his hands resting on the
counter. “Food from the ice box is sufficient. We have little enough time to
speak and should not waste it unnecessarily. I enjoy cold food and when sated, we
will speak of important matters.”

I bit my lip and opened the refrigerator door, pulling out
leftovers and a bottle of water for the Wolf. We ate in silence, each observing
the other. “You’re different from other Wolves,” I commented when I’d eaten my
fill. “You sense me. It’s different from how I do it, but you sense my emotions
and thoughts. How is that possible?”

“I see emotions and the nature of a person. I do not read
thoughts as one reads words on a page like you do. Before becoming Wolf, I was
born Sage.”

“That sort of makes sense with what I’m sensing from you.” I
paused, uncertain whether I wanted to have the coming conversation.

“We have much to discuss.” He had my full attention despite
the foreboding that gripped my chest. His grave eyes held mine. “I’ve seen what
is to come. All but five of us will be lost to the Mages, and of those five,
only two will live. This will happen unless you step forward to save our pack.”

My gut clenched and head spun, wanting to deny the
statement. Somehow I sensed absolute truth in his words. I could barely
breathe. Billie, Amy, Kathryn, Richard, Jason …

He continued speaking. “The fate of Mages is obscured from
my vision. I see the outcome of your choice but not of you.” The kindness
behind his statement helped bring me back.

Deliberately I cleared my head and focused. “Let me make
sure I understand.” He nodded patiently. “Mages are coming, and the Pack will
be destroyed unless I help. Two will survive, three will die, and the rest will
be collared. You do not know what will happen to me if I help or if I don’t
help.” He nodded. “Do you know what will happen to Billie?”