Warrior Fae Trapped (Warrior Fae 1)

Devon nodded once, wary of the compliment. The next moment proved why.

“You made a grave error, of course,” Roger went on.

“Yes, sir. I tried to physically keep her from going back into the house, but she proved…elusive. By the time I got to her, she’d already crossed the threshold into their domain.”

“It seems you underestimated her twice in one night.”

“Yes, sir.” Devon’s jaw clenched.

“You’re young. Mistakes are to be expected. What do you plan to do with Jimmy?”

“Disciplinary action. I thought I would talk to you before I came to any decisions.”

“Good, yes. I need you to start taking out those newbies as soon as possible. They’re already out there gaining strength with feedings. For that, you need your whole pack.”

Devon’s spirits lifted. He wasn’t being taken off the hunt! Roger was giving him a second chance.

“But I think I promoted Jimmy too soon,” Roger said. “He is a little too immature for your pack. I’m going to transfer a new wolf to you. She comes from a southern region. She’s had some experience and is ready for the next level, I think. She’ll replace Jimmy for now.”

Surprised, Devon just nodded. He hadn’t seen that coming. It meant he’d have to train a new member, which took time and effort, but it also meant he wouldn’t have to worry about Jimmy. It would probably amount to an even trade.

Roger tossed a file in front of Devon. “That’s the new wolf’s file. You can review it later. We have more important matters to discuss. Charity.”

Devon slid the file to the side. Here it came.

“In a way, Jimmy’s incompetence was a huge stroke of luck. If he hadn’t chased Charity back into that house, she wouldn’t have had to escape. If she hadn’t escaped, I wouldn’t have seen, firsthand, what she is capable of.

“As you know, vampires aren’t the only creatures capable of wreaking havoc in the human world. Something is drawing demons to the Brink in record numbers. If the two groups are working together, there will be hell to pay. The elves are calling Lucifer in for a chat, but we can’t wait to step in. The elves and the Underworld forget how quickly things move in the Brink. It’ll be overrun if we don’t act. It is well within our right.”

“Excuse me for asking, but what does this have to do with Charity?”

Roger entwined his fingers on the desk. “Just as vampires aren’t the only nuisance in the Brink, shape shifters aren’t the only beings suited for peacekeeping and hiding the magical world.”

“You mean the Magical Law Enforcement offices?”

The MLE did a similar job to that which Roger’s pack performed, but they were connected with a secret branch of the Brink government and often got waylaid in red tape. Not to mention that vampires had been known to bribe the MLE officers, while other magical peoples, like the Mages’ Guild, downright scared them into inactivity. The Brink shouldn’t have needed two organizations to police the supernatural, but here they were.

“No,” Roger replied, and his tone could’ve turned water into ice. It was clear he didn’t appreciate the interruption. “In earlier times, shifters fought beside other magical creatures. For whatever reason, the shape shifters have seen growth, but other magical beings are in decline. Many have retreated deep into the Realm to regrow their numbers. Unfortunately, they haven’t ventured back into the Brink. Not even toward the edge of the Realm, where we are.

“One of the creatures we used to fight beside was a subset of the fae, gifted with enhanced strength, speed and fighting prowess. Their people called them custodes, or guardians. But outside of their people, they were referred to as the warrior fae, because they were fearsome fighters—strong, quick, and brutal. Their magic could turn the tide in a fierce battle. Their numbers aren’t large compared with fae as a whole, even going back centuries, but if you were lucky enough to have one on your side, you did everything in your power to use that weapon to its full potential.”

Devon had heard something of the warrior fae. Everyone had. They lived deep in the Realm and kept to themselves. He’d never seen one. In fact, he’d never spoken to anyone who had.

“Now, the warrior fae guard their children like we do,” Roger said. “Like humans do. And since this type of fae haven’t ventured out of the Realm for some time, that we know of, it is very unlikely we’d run across one of them.”

“Sorry, sir. I’m still not sure how Charity fits in.”

Roger’s stare zeroed in on Devon. “She seems mild-mannered, doesn’t she? To me she does, anyway. Listens, engages…she’s polite. But with you—when you assert your dominance, she pulls back her sweet exterior and shows her iron core. She won’t put up with you pushing her around. Her magic doesn’t flirt with yours; it entices yours. It challenges yours, doesn’t it? She senses her magical equal in you, I’d wager. Something in her rises to the occasion.”