Fall into Fire (Shamans of the Divide, Book 2)

Chapter Sixteen

It turns out, the council members who were present had very different ideas about how to proceed. On one side of the argument sat Coyote and Adoette. They thought aggressive action was in order.

Skye had moved to the edge of the sofa nearest to me, mostly taking in the conversation in the dining room, but offering a play-by-play for my benefit when necessary.

"She's going to keep striking out until she kills someone," Coyote said. Adoette nodded.

"Asha's getting stronger every day," Adoette added. "She can find a rip from 300 miles away."

Asha smiled at the older woman and I shot a questioning look at Skye.

What could Asha do from 300 miles away?

"She's a tracker," Skye explained. "A good one, too. She can get a read on something on the wrong side of the Divide and have it cornered in half a day."

I nodded.

"She's really good at finding what we call rips," he continued. "Breaks in wards on the Divide—where things slip through. It's a rare talent according to my dad. She's the first one in about sixty years."

Seemed like another feather in Asha's cap—beautiful, talented, and rare.

"She would have come in handy in Shades," I mumbled, remembering the circles they ran looking for the dzoavits.

"Maybe," Skye replied, not paying much attention. "But your ghost friend came in handy. Who needs a tracker when you've got an inside man?"

True. She could track ghosts, but I could talk to them. Well, a couple of them, anyway.

Leonard was speaking now while Silas nodded.

"...not safe sending anyone on a wild chase without knowing exactly what we're up against," he said.

I watched Coyote lean back in his chair in frustration.

"He's not used to conceding, is he?" I asked Skye.

He shook his head.

"They rarely disagree," he said. "This isn't normal."

Billie leaned forward in her chair and rubbed her eyes. I listened as she spoke.

"Coyote and I have been talking and we think July might be safer back home," she said, without looking at me. "I love having her here and she's learning so much, but I'm afraid they're bolder in their attacks out here in the middle of nowhere and she'll get caught in the crossfire."

My heart sunk a little.

Leonard disagreed with his wife now, and said I'd be in more danger by myself in Shades with everything going on.

I wasn't surprised, but knowing Billie was now on Coyote's side stung.

"What do you think?"

Skye grinned at me.

"I think things are always more interesting when you're around, Sheriff."

"Thanks, Skye," I said sarcastically. "Glad I hold some sort of value to you."

He shrugged.

"I'm just waiting for the cat fight," he said. "That's when things will get really entertaining."

Rolling my eyes, I waved the comment away.

"Not going to happen," I said. "She won. She can have him."