A Promise on White Wings (Wiccan-Were-Bear) by R. E. Butler Read Free Book Online Page B

the time he fell asleep.  He was always an early riser, and his parents had teased him, quoting the saying about the early bird getting the worm.  It was hard-wired into his DNA.  He just couldn’t sleep late.
    He rose quietly and grabbed a pair of slacks out of the closet.  When he came back out into the room, he saw the glint of Chance’s eyes and knew he was awake now.  Jes whispered, “I’m going to check on the situation with her den.”
    Chance nodded and Jes smiled as Danika turned into Chance’s side and snuggled closer but flung an arm out behind her as if she were searching for him.  Even in her sleep she wanted both mates with her.  It was tempting to stay in bed with her, but he needed to know if anything had happened overnight with her den and begin the process of moving the rest of the lions into the nest.  His to-do list for the day was a mile long and the sun was barely above the horizon.
    He met Ley in the kitchen.  He turned around with a mug of coffee in his hand and gave it to Jes.  “Did you and your mate and the lion Prince sleep well, Sire?”
    Jes smiled at Ley’s formality.  “We did.  Thank you for all of your preparations.  How did you know that we would need blackberries?”
    Ley looked thoughtful.  “There was something in the air last night, Sire.  I don’t really know how to explain it.  I was thinking about the prophecy the Wiccans shared about you and our people, and when I was preparing the late meal for you, blackberries seemed like a wise addition.  Did you need them?”
    Nodding, Jes said, “Yes.  Our mate shifted last night, but only partially, into something like a hybrid of falcon and lion.  The blackberries were needed and appreciated.”
    Ley blushed scarlet and busied himself cleaning off the counter that was already spotless.  He didn’t like to be praised for doing what he believed was his calling in life.  Taking care of the leader of the Bishop Nest was all that Ley wanted to do, and he was the very best.
    Jes turned from the kitchen to go to his office and stopped, saying, “Do you know where my brothers are?”
    Ley looked over his shoulder.  “I saw them head to their rooms not too long ago.  I set up rooms for the pride in the East wing, the King is still up in the War Room.”
    Jes wasn’t surprised that Jantha was still up.  Like Jes, Jantha cared about his people and would want to watch over things personally.  Jes didn’t feel guilty for spending the night taking care of his mate.  He trusted his brothers and the males who were trained in their military to handle things in his absence.  If there had been a serious issue, he knew that no matter what was going on behind the closed doors, his brothers would have interrupted him if they needed him.
    The War Room was a large conference room on the first floor.  The table was twenty-feet long, carved by hand from a single piece of solid oak.  His grandfather, who had been a master craftsman, created it.  Scenes of famous falcon battles were carved in the center of the table, and Jes had spent many hours as a child staring at the images of the warriors with their broad wings and long swords.  In times past, the War Room was named so because every nest leader had a place where he would meet with his most trusted advisors during times of war.  Now, the War Room was where he met with his highly ranked males to discuss nest affairs.  It was more Board Room than War Room, but the traditional name was kept.
    Two guards opened the elaborately carved double doors of the War Room as Jes approached, ducking their heads in deference.  He found Jantha sitting not at the long table, but at the bank of monitors displaying the security camera images.
    Two of his computer techs – twin falcons Frost and Glacier – were manning the cameras and reporting anything and everything to the males who walked along the stone wall.
    Jantha turned slowly in the desk chair and cracked his neck.