Elvi

The Shift

Rowan watched Elvi’s eyes roam from one side of the page to the other as she finished the article. Slowly the crease between her eyebrows deepened, until finally she was scowling at the page.

“Well,” she started, pulling Rowan back to reality. “You seem to have quite the group of admirers,” she finished handing the paper back to Deimos, but looking at the King.

Rowan’s heart fluttered as he noticed a hint of jealousy behind her eyes. He would have to finish reading the article later tonight to see what had sparked that in her. He knew very well he shouldn’t be enjoying himself, but he most certainly was. His mate, if he wasn’t mistaken, was feeling territorial over him. Rowan closed the gap between them, placing a hand on her lower back, he leant to her ear to whisper, making sure no one else could hear.

“You have no one to be jealous of, Mate.”

Elvi shook her head to free his affect on her, then stepped away, scowling at herself. Rowan chuckled, unreasonably proud of himself. Deimos watched the interaction in silent curiosity. The King was entirely taken by Elvi in his opinion; she on the other hand was very resistant. Deimos didn’t blame her considering the history of the King and his family. He didn’t like to think how he would have reacted if Elvi was from his Coven.

“This is Veless (vel~less), my Highest, and Voronina (ver~ow~nee~na) my Higher” Deimos said, indicating to the closest man and the woman. Deimos watched in satisfaction as the King bristled at his man's contact with his mate. He was going to enjoy the day immensely. “The others will be tending to the wagons and horses on our journey there. Roughly how long do you think it will take to get to the prison, Witch Slayer?” he asked, dropping the King’s informal title to see his reaction.

“One hour at a brisk pace” Rowan answered in a clipped tone, losing all the joy he had felt moments ago.

“Get in your places” Deimos called to his Coven, “We haven’t a moment to lose then.”

The wagons rolled out, Elvi and Deimos falling into place on the right side between the wagons, Fiadh falling dutifully in behind them. Rowan slipped in the space opposite on the left side, jealous at his place being taken by the stranger. Frequently he found his eyes watching Elvi and her reaction to the conversation with Deimos; scowling at the smiles that flew so easily to her lips for those that were not him. The man held himself like a true leader. Rowan now understood why it had been so hard for them to find anyone from the Levana Coven. This man was a warrior.

Rowan stopped dead as he heard the snapping of twigs off the side of the road. He whistled, signalling to his shifters to stop. With sharpened eyes he watched the trees for signs of life. Alarik made his way to the King’s side, watching the trees. Something was wrong. There was a smell in the air that called danger to his wolf senses. Rowan was acutely aware that Elvi had made her way to his side of the wagon, observing the gaps in the trees, and he held out a hand to keep her back. A flash of brown went from one tree to the next and within seconds Rowan was standing in his wolf form.

“Get in the wagon’s and put up a shield” Alarik shouted before changing into his wolf as well.

Elvi was pulled backwards to the front wagon, and shoved unceremoniously into it by Fiadh and Deimos, joining her quickly inside.

“Is everyone inside?” demanded Deimos.

“Yes” shouted Veless from the other wagon.

“Dome, now.”

Elvi envisioned the dome, covering both Wagon’s and five metres either side of it. She pictured the four wolves of their convoy and envisioned them walking through the charm without restraint. How times had changed that this feature needed to be added to their shield. Once she felt the locking of the charm she exited the wagon. She watched as at least fifteen wolves made their way out of the forest from all directions. Their wolves were outnumbered to a detrimental degree. Rowan growled as she came into view over his shoulder.

“The dome is up. The only wolves that can get in are you, Alarik, Llyall and Delroy.”

The Wolf King tilted his head slightly, obviously surprised by this addition to their shield. Howling from the invasion force was now all encompassing, and if Elvi was honest with herself, she was glad to be inside of the charm. What the King didn’t realise was that she had added a quick glamour to the dome; the invading wolves would not be able to see them outside of the wagon. To them, they appeared to remain in the wagons, giving them an upperhand. A striking black and white wolf dove towards the King, Elvi reflexively placed a spinning vortex of water in front of him, knocking the wolf off of its feet. The King leapt upon the wolf before it had time to register what had happened and tore its throat apart, blood flowing rapidly over the fallen leaves.

A pure white wolf stalked towards Delroy, not realising that Deimos had come to join the fight from within the dome. The man sent an onslaught of spears into the wolf’s stomach from below the ground. The wolf howled before falling limp. Within seconds the Witches were throwing everything they could through the dome shield at the invading wolves, while their companion wolves fought off and finished the remaining. When only one wolf remained the King pinned it to the ground, his teeth holding on to its throat and growling so loudly that Elvi covered her ears, demanding submission. Once the yelp he required was heard he transformed, his suit torn, hair a mess and blood pouring from a wound in his side. He appeared quite wild as he loomed over the cowering wolf.

“SHIFT,” he bellowed at the traitor.

Elvi walked to the very edge of the dome, before deciding that she had to go to him. They needed one of them to stay alive. She watched the wolf shift into a boy no older than sixteen. Instantly, she put a bubble shield around him, protecting him from the King and the King from himself.

“Elvi, get back in the dome” he said with a growl. His eyes were the colour of pitch again. “This isn’t a request.”

“We need him alive.”

“You can keep the shield up from inside that one” he said pointing to the wagons. “Get in there.”

“No” she answered defiantly. Rowan prowled towards her, making her match his steps backwards, his long strides closing the distance quickly. “Elvi,” he started in a low rumbling voice, “I will pick you up and put you inside there myself.”

Elvi placed her hands on his chest as he stepped into her space. She looked into his black eyes as he loomed over her, engulfing any idea of a world outside of him.

“Get in the dome. Don’t think I won’t do it just to have my hands on you” he whispered, leaning his face so close to her, she could feel his breath on her neck. Elvi subconsciously moved her head giving him better access to her neck, watching his lips.

“Elvi, get in the dome” Alarik called roughly, from where he paced by the side of the wolf in the dome, snapping her out of the situation and reminding her that they were not alone. “Keep this one up or I may just kill him myself.”

Elvi held her place, not taking her eyes from the King but surprised by his second’s words. Elvi realising that she had forgotten why Alarik was the King’s second, and what his shifter nature was, she had momentarily lost her focus. She watched Rowan nod to himself, before hastily picking her up, throwing her over his shoulder and handing her to Fiadh inside of the safety of the dome.

“You have to be kidding me” exclaimed Elvi. Fiadh laughed at her charges' indignation, grabbing her wrist to keep her in place, the feeling of being glued together spreading over her where their skin touched. Deimos exited the dome to stand beside the King and Second. Elvi huffed, before turning to watch Llyall and Delroy prowl around the wagons, still in their wolf form.

“Can you at least talk louder so we can hear what you are saying?” Elvi shouted to an answering chuckle from Deimos, and smirks from Rowan and Alarik.

“Anything to make you happy, mate,” Rowan called over his shoulder, winking and making her blush.