Read Online Bobcat: Tales of the Were (Redstone Clan) by Bianca D'Arc - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Bianca D'Arc
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while they were growing up. Many twin pairs had been lost over the centuries to enemies. Others had been influenced and corrupted in subtle ways.
Bob was glad these two seemed to have loving and protective guardians who were well able to take care of them. The fact that they were bears was something unexpected. Bears were some of the most magical of shifters. Grizzlies even more so. If the Lady had chosen bear shifters to lead the next generation, Bob worried what it might mean for the world at large. Would their immense magical strength be a sign of bad times to come? He hoped not, for the sake of everyone —shifters, vamps, mages and humans. Everyone who served the Light, no matter what they called it, would be impacted if bad times were coming.
Still, the cubs were awfully cute. Bob couldn’t help but be affected by the playful toddlers. In general, shifters loved babies. Shifters weren’t quite as fertile as humans, so every birth was an occasion to be celebrated. Twins were almost unheard of. Identical twins happened only once in a generation, in each region of the world, and marked the next set of leaders for their people. At least, that’s how it had always been for the were .
Other kinds of shapeshifters had other power structures, but the wild were had always counted on the Mother Goddess to appoint their leaders. Cougars, although they were big cats, had little in common with the more exotic cats who had founded their societies on other continents. Tigers, lions, panthers and others, had kings and queens that had fancy titles, but cougars had always followed the were Lords.
Rocky came back in and then sat down behind his desk. He took a sip of his coffee before speaking.
“You understand the need for secrecy.” It wasn’t quite a question, but Bob definitely understood.
“I swear I will do nothing that might put them in danger. As far as I’m concerned, I never even saw them.”
“I appreciate that,” Rocky said, but his expression was still troubled. Bob wanted to erase that frown from the grizzly’s face.
“You need to hear the final report, and then you might feel a bit better about this. We were up to the part where my brother Mag got involved with the vampiress, Miranda van Allyn.”
“I thought you were trying to make me feel better,” Rocky quipped. “For the record, were mixing with vamps does not make me feel better.”
“Just wait ‘til you hear the whole thing,” Bob answered with a grin. “I promise you’ll like the ending.”
Bob proceeded to go through the report of what had happened with Mag and Miranda, adding all the texture and nuance the dry, written report lacked. He talked about the vampire uprising in Las Vegas and the surprising results. Rocky seemed to be alternately impressed, surprised and ultimately pleased, just as Bob had hoped.
“So you see, at this point, the Master Vampire in Las Vegas has openly declared himself for the side of Light. He gave all his people the option to either do the same, or leave his domain. My family also instituted something similar for the Clan,” Bob explained. “Any of the Others who come under the Redstone banner had to swear fealty—the same oath I just repeated to the little ones—or they were invited to leave. Our priestess and her mate, your friend Slade, oversaw it all. They have ways of knowing if anybody tries to cheat or lie their way through the oath. So far though, everyone has been honest. I take that as a sign my little brother Matt is doing his job. He’s in charge of Personnel for the company, and he also does the dossiers on any shifter group seeking to join our Clan. He’s very thorough. We don’t let just anybody into the Clan, or allow just any shifter to work for the construction company.”
Rocky let out a harsh breath. “You don’t know how glad I am to hear it.”
“I understand. We’re all protective of cubs—especially those two. Are they yours?” Bob couldn’t help asking. Their scent
Bob was glad these two seemed to have loving and protective guardians who were well able to take care of them. The fact that they were bears was something unexpected. Bears were some of the most magical of shifters. Grizzlies even more so. If the Lady had chosen bear shifters to lead the next generation, Bob worried what it might mean for the world at large. Would their immense magical strength be a sign of bad times to come? He hoped not, for the sake of everyone —shifters, vamps, mages and humans. Everyone who served the Light, no matter what they called it, would be impacted if bad times were coming.
Still, the cubs were awfully cute. Bob couldn’t help but be affected by the playful toddlers. In general, shifters loved babies. Shifters weren’t quite as fertile as humans, so every birth was an occasion to be celebrated. Twins were almost unheard of. Identical twins happened only once in a generation, in each region of the world, and marked the next set of leaders for their people. At least, that’s how it had always been for the were .
Other kinds of shapeshifters had other power structures, but the wild were had always counted on the Mother Goddess to appoint their leaders. Cougars, although they were big cats, had little in common with the more exotic cats who had founded their societies on other continents. Tigers, lions, panthers and others, had kings and queens that had fancy titles, but cougars had always followed the were Lords.
Rocky came back in and then sat down behind his desk. He took a sip of his coffee before speaking.
“You understand the need for secrecy.” It wasn’t quite a question, but Bob definitely understood.
“I swear I will do nothing that might put them in danger. As far as I’m concerned, I never even saw them.”
“I appreciate that,” Rocky said, but his expression was still troubled. Bob wanted to erase that frown from the grizzly’s face.
“You need to hear the final report, and then you might feel a bit better about this. We were up to the part where my brother Mag got involved with the vampiress, Miranda van Allyn.”
“I thought you were trying to make me feel better,” Rocky quipped. “For the record, were mixing with vamps does not make me feel better.”
“Just wait ‘til you hear the whole thing,” Bob answered with a grin. “I promise you’ll like the ending.”
Bob proceeded to go through the report of what had happened with Mag and Miranda, adding all the texture and nuance the dry, written report lacked. He talked about the vampire uprising in Las Vegas and the surprising results. Rocky seemed to be alternately impressed, surprised and ultimately pleased, just as Bob had hoped.
“So you see, at this point, the Master Vampire in Las Vegas has openly declared himself for the side of Light. He gave all his people the option to either do the same, or leave his domain. My family also instituted something similar for the Clan,” Bob explained. “Any of the Others who come under the Redstone banner had to swear fealty—the same oath I just repeated to the little ones—or they were invited to leave. Our priestess and her mate, your friend Slade, oversaw it all. They have ways of knowing if anybody tries to cheat or lie their way through the oath. So far though, everyone has been honest. I take that as a sign my little brother Matt is doing his job. He’s in charge of Personnel for the company, and he also does the dossiers on any shifter group seeking to join our Clan. He’s very thorough. We don’t let just anybody into the Clan, or allow just any shifter to work for the construction company.”
Rocky let out a harsh breath. “You don’t know how glad I am to hear it.”
“I understand. We’re all protective of cubs—especially those two. Are they yours?” Bob couldn’t help asking. Their scent
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