Strong Fort Spathí: Swords & Shields, #1

By Heather C Wright

Sinikka is returning home after a late meeting, but never makes it. Her best friend, Jordan, discovers she's missing. Before Jordan and his werewolf pack can begin looking for her, he finds himself host to Andrew Farkas. Andrew hopes to gain the support of Jordan's pack in his bid to become the leader of all the American packs. When Andrew's ward, Tyler, disappears as well, the entire situation becomes even more complicated. Will Jordan and Andrew be able to find Sinikka and Tyler? Will they be in time?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Heather C Wright
• Release date: Jan 9, 2015
• ISBN: 9781507031254

Book preview

Strong Fort Spathí

By Heather C. Wright

A Swords & Shields Novel

Text Copyright © Heather C. Thompson

All Rights Reserved

Cover © Jenna Rawe

All Rights Reserved

Dedications

To Matt, my moon and my muse, who always believed in me and the stories I wanted to tell.  I will always love you and miss you dearly.

To my beloved husband, who has always gone out of his way to support me and my writing.

To my parents and my sister who have been a constant source of support and inspiration.

To my wonderful betas: Keag, without whom this book wouldn’t be what it is; my mother, who offered invaluable advice; and Alex and Manda, who saved me from my own mistakes.

Table of Contents

Dedications

Prologue – Footsteps in the Dark

Chapter 1 – Missing Person

Chapter 2 – Unexpected Guests

Chapter 3 – This One Called to You

Chapter 4 – Captive

Chapter 5 – Oldest Memory

Chapter 6 – Wary Wolves

Chapter 7 – The Timên Phrourôn

Chapter 8 – What They Want

Chapter 9 – Dress to Impress

Chapter 10 – They Care for Their Own

Chapter 11 – Protective Friends

Chapter 12 – Reading People

Chapter 13 – Calling France

Chapter 14 – Prôtê Dikê

Chapter 15 – Sunrise

Chapter 16 – The Pain

Chapter 17 – Puzzle Pieces

Chapter 18 – Blood Called to Blood

Chapter 19 – For Jordan

Chapter 20 – Searchers

Chapter 21 – Fellow Captive

Chapter 22 – Heat to Spare

Chapter 23 – The Fae

Chapter 24 – Through the Cave Wall

Chapter 25 – Plan Gone Awry

Chapter 26 – Wounds, Oaths, and Magic

Chapter 27 – Blood Magic

Chapter 28 – Witch’s Light

Chapter 29 – Desperate Man

Chapter 30 – Safe

Chapter 31 – Oaths

Chapter 32 – Mother’s Voice

Chapter 33 – The Name of My Enemy

Chapter 34 – Unintended Consequences

Chapter 35 – The Only Option

Chapter 36 – Someplace Safe

Glossary

Translations

About the Author

Prologue – Footsteps in the Dark

Sinikka glanced behind her as the bus pulled away from the curb.  She could have sworn she heard footsteps, but there was no one there.  Shrugging it off as paranoia after four hours spent discussing the magic of concealment with one of her father’s colleagues at the university, she turned toward home. Walking at her usual brisk pace, she kept her head up and shoulders back.  Even as small as she was, an attacker was less likely to strike if she appeared alert and attentive to her surroundings.

She glanced both ways down the sidewalk as she took the steps up to the entrance to her apartment building, pulling her keys from her pocket as she went.  There was almost no one on the street.  A man from the next building was leading his dog away in one direction, and she thought she saw someone on the stoop two buildings down smoking.  It was almost nine, so it didn’t really surprise her that there were so few people out.

Slipping inside she stopped at her mailbox, but found it empty, which seemed strange.  She usually got five or six letters a day and a package almost every other day.  She still did most of her work as a translator and cultural expert via correspondence.  It created a lot less problems than dealing with anyone in person.

As she took the stairs to her third story apartment, she could swear she heard the echo of steps following her own.  Frowning, she paused at the second story landing.  It was utterly silent.

She could almost hear her mother telling her not to worry so much and Jordan telling her not to ignore her instincts.  Hers were almost as good as his after all, and werewolves were very instinctual creatures.

Smiling as she thought of her best friend, she took the last flight of stairs quickly, careful to keep her heels from making any noise on the stairs.

The weird echo didn’t return, so she shook off the unease it had caused. Flipping through her keys so she had her apartment key out when she got to the door.

She remembered the cool feel of the keys in her fingers, and the soft jingle they made against each other, but she never remembered actually unlocking the door.

Chapter 1 – Missing Person

Jordan tried calling Christopher’s cell again as he drove to the office.  It went straight to voice mail.

Damn it.  It took all of Jordan’s control not to throw the phone across the car.  He dropped it into the seat beside him and made the turn onto the main road.  He’d spent almost half an hour hunting around Sinikka’s apartment building for any sign of her.  It was like she’d vanished into thin air at the apartment door.  She must have been coming back from campus, because it smelled very faintly like one of those specialty teas she liked to get at the organic coffee shop.

It didn’t take Jordan long to get to the office, and he parked in his usual spot.  Christopher’s car wasn’t in the lot, but Robert’s was.  They sometimes carpooled, so Jordan headed inside, going up the back stairs to check Christopher’s office first.

Jordan growled when he found the office locked tight.  Christopher wasn’t here.  He’d told Jordan he’d be at the office for another couple hours when Jordan left at four.  Where the hell was he?

Leaning his head against the door, Jordan tried to calm down.  Usually he had better control than almost anyone in the pack besides Christopher.  Panic wasn’t helping.

Jordan? Robert asked.  I thought you left early on Fridays.

I do, Jordan answered.  He ground his teeth together, trying to keep from snapping at Christopher’s second in command.

Did something happen? Robert asked, putting a hand gently on Jordan’s shoulder.  You look wrecked.  His voice was soft, the soothing murmur their ippótês used when he needed to talk someone down.

Sinikka’s missing, Jordan bit out.  The panic threatened to overwhelm him again.  He couldn’t even be sure how long she’d been gone, but her cell was going straight to voice mail, the apartment phone rang until the answering machine kicked on, and she hadn’t answered any of his four emails from the day before.

"Your spathí?" Robert asked, sliding his arm across Jordan’s shoulders.  The pack hadn’t seen much of Jordan’s spathí since they moved to town six years ago. Despite that everyone knew the girl was the daughter of a renowned witch who had an alliance with their pack.

She’s not at her apartment, and isn’t answering her phone, Jordan answered.  She always answers her phone, or at least texts me if she can’t.

She wouldn’t just be out?  Or have gone on a short trip without telling you? Robert asked.

No, Jordan snarled, jerking away.

Easy, Robert said, holding both hands out in an attempt to placate the other wolf.  He’d never seen Jordan have any kind of control issues.  He was one of the people they could trust to keep it together enough to rescue other zooanthropes from the drunk tank at the local precinct.

She always tells me when she’s going away.  Especially with her parents out of the country.  She wouldn’t have just left without telling me.  Jordan was livid.  How could Robert even suggest that Sinikka would be so flighty and irresponsible?

Any other local friends she might be with, or have said something to? Robert asked, keeping his voice as neutral as possible.

No.  Almost all her friends aren’t local.  She corresponds, belongs to on-line groups.  She knows almost no one in town except family.  Jordan wished Sinikka had made more of an effort to make friends when they moved from Delphi, but she’d been happy to keep the ones she already had.

You’re obviously upset about this, Robert said.  I get that.

I was looking for Christopher, to see if he could help, Jordan said.

He’s tied up with some pack business, Robert said.  "Why don’t we sit down in your office, and you can tell me as much as you can about your spathí, and where she would normally be, and we’ll go from there?"

Jordan nodded and turned toward his own office door.  He knew he needed help.  The police wouldn’t get it, and wouldn’t even take a report until she’d been missing for another 23 hours, so he didn’t see the point.  The pack could find her a hell of a lot faster anyway.  He’d know if she was outside pack territory.  The problem was, that was the only thing he knew for sure.  She could be hurt or unconscious.  Unless someone made her bleed, or her injuries were life threatening, he’d never know.

He sat down at his desk with Robert in the chair across from him.

Let’s start with the easy stuff and work our way through everything you’re comfortable telling the pack, Robert suggested.  Her full name, a good description, where she would normally go, her routine, that sort of thing.

Jordan sighed.  Christopher ran a good pack.  And Robert was the most reliable and compassionate ippótês Jordan had ever met.  He was a good man, and good wolf, and he really was the next best thing to their Archêgós in an emergency.  It was time to trust his pack, Jordan decided.

Her full name is Sinikka Anwen Priddy, Jordan started.  He proceeded to tell Robert as much as he could think of about Sinikka and her usual activities: her job, freelance translator; her routine, which changed weekly if not daily; places she frequented, Jordan's place, her parent's house, and the university; and people she saw regularly, basically just Jordan.

I’ll get the word out to the pack, Robert said when Jordan was done listing off everything he knew.  If you have a picture I could distribute, and maybe a shirt or something she left at your place for those who haven’t met her?

I’ll email you a picture, Jordan said, reaching over to boot up his computer.  He knew there was at least one somewhere on it.  I’ll have to see if she left anything.  She usually doesn’t.

Everyone knows your scent, so they’ll at least be able to use that, Robert replied.  Do you need a ride home?

I drove, I’m good, Jordan said.  He found the picture he needed and emailed it to Robert.  It was from his first year working for Christopher, when Sinikka had come to the office Christmas party.  She hadn’t changed a bit.  Standing with Jordan in front of the tree, her long glossy black hair stood out against Jordan’s red shirt, and her bright blue eyes glittered as she smiled happily.  She’d been so thrilled that he’d found a job working with other zooanthropes so he didn’t have to hide so much of himself.  It could still be hard, even though they were a protected group now.

You don’t have anything more recent? Robert asked, looking at the picture on his phone.

She hasn’t changed, Jordan answered, turning to meet Robert’s questioning gaze.

She looks twelve.

She’s just petite, Jordan answered, smiling at how he parroted Sinikka’s usual answer.  She always has been.

Okay, Robert said, getting to his feet.  You head home and talk to your roommates about all this.  I’ll start coordinating the pack and talk to Christopher as soon as he’s available again.

Thanks, Robert, Jordan said as he shut the computer down.

No problem, Robert replied, coming around the desk to give Jordan’s shoulder a squeeze.  "She’s your spathí.  She’s as much pack as you are, and we look out for our own."

Jordan just nodded.  With his pack to help him, he could handle this.  He could find her.

Chapter 2 – Unexpected Guests

Jordan unlocked the door to the house and stepped inside to find seven wolves assembled in the living room.  His three roommates were among them, which was reassuring, but the other four were complete strangers.  No one told him they were going to have visitors.

How did it go? Alex asked, getting up from the couch.  His dark blond hair was mussed, like he hadn’t had time to fix it before their guests arrived.  He kept his pale green eyes focused on Jordan as he walked across the room, looking for indications of how upset his friend was.

Jordan shrugged, his focus remaining on the strange wolves.  It was taking a considerable amount of willpower to appear unconcerned by their presence.  This was his home, the place he felt safe, and he really didn't like strangers in it.  His wolf didn't either, but neither of them was going to make a fuss until his packmates told him who they were.

Two of the four strangers were leaning against either side of the chair; a third sat with the last at his feet.  That kind of seating arrangement usually meant the one in the chair was the one Jordan needed to be worried about.  He had golden brown hair that fell in smooth waves to his chin and deep blue eyes that glittered like gemstones.  He wasn't bulky, but his arms showed enough definition that Jordan wouldn't want to get into a fight with him.  And he wasn't as intimidatingly muscled as either of the two leaning against his chair.

They’re okay, Alex whispered, leaning in to rub his cheek against his housemate’s.

Jordan closed his eyes and leaned into the touch.  He knew he needed the comfort.  Sinikka’d never gone off without telling him before and she wasn’t answering her phone.  She always answered her phone or at least sent him a text back if she couldn't.  He hadn't been this stressed out in a long time, so it was a small miracle he wasn't having a fit about all the unfamiliar energy bathing the room because of their visitors.

They’re staying for dinner, Alex said as he leaned back, putting an arm around Jordan’s shoulders.  After that we'll all go out and look, okay?

Thanks, Alex, Jordan answered, wrapping his arm around his friend’s waist as they joined those in the living room.  As soon as he’d told his three best friends that Sinikka was missing, they’d promised to do everything they could to help track her down.

This is Andrew Farkas, Steven, Michael, and Tyler, Alex said, indicating the man in the chair, the blond muscle, the brunette muscle, then the slim man at Andrew’s feet.

Jordan continued to study them for hints about who they were.  Both Steven and Michael were fairly nondescript muscular guys and were even dressed alike, in jeans and dark brown t-shirts.  Andrew was in dark blue jeans and a white button down shirt.  If Jordan had met the man in another place and time, he might have been tempted.  He'd always liked that look.

On closer inspection, Tyler appeared to still be a teenager.  He had