Shift (Castlerock Shifters Book 1) Read online

  “The shifters at that time only knew that the Shroud were responsible. And so, they made the decision to pull the power of the valley around their villages. That removed the ability for the Ishaks to sustain them and the Shroud all died off in a very short time.”

  “But then what triggered the Shroud to start killing if they were all coexisting before?” Seff asked.

  “That is the exact reason the council did not want me to marry Lydia. They explained that in the histories there are hints as to what happened. They believe a shifter had mated with a human of tainted blood, rare blood – like Lydia and me – and had a child. Apparently, the child somehow ended up living with the Shroud. And near the time he was approaching his first shift, he was bitten. Whether on purpose, or accident, we don’t know. But we do know it changed him. He became like the Shroud, needing the blood to sustain him. But unlike the Shroud who did not murder, he did. It’s not clear if something in him changed the others, but our ancestors blamed them all for the deaths, so the elders have theorized that he might have infected the other Shroud somehow – prompting the war which followed.”

  “But, in the end, we killed all the Shroud. They have been extinct for hundreds and hundreds of years. So why would it matter now?” Seff asked, feeling as if he was missing some vital piece of information.

  “Well, it is true we all believed that the ancient evil was eradicated. And without Shroud venom, no others could be created, so there should have been nothing to worry about. However, the elders have believed for a very long time that the Ishaks might be trying to bring them back. The Ishak’s life spans were cut to normal because they no longer have Shroud venom in their systems. And it is entirely possible they managed to save some venom from those original Shroud.

  “Regardless, the elders have no proof of any of that, so they have just watched and waited. And they have kept some facts to themselves, but they have forbidden unions that would result in offspring with potential to be changed,” he finished.

  “Jaisey,” Seff replied.

  He stared at Kenyon in horror. Jaisey had the potential to be changed. Kenyon nodded grimly at Seff.

  “Yes, my daughters and my sons are at risk of becoming that ancient evil. That’s why we kept them from returning to the mountain when we realized they were turning. I’ve been trying to protect them since we discovered that.

  “We figured that once they were adults, we could explain their true lineage and let them make the decisions for themselves. But then, my father died. So I had to come up to stay permanently to take my place as an elder – protecting the power in the valley.

  “Lydia and I talked it over and decided the best thing, the safest thing, would be to remove me from their lives. I know it sounds extreme, but had they known I was alive, they would have searched me out. We figured once they were all adults, we could explain everything and let them make informed decisions. But until that time, they could not be allowed near the valley power. Their mother used an excuse to come and visit me in the summers. She and I were never truly apart in all those years, but I was separated from my children. Never has a day gone by where I have not thought about them and missed them with everything that I am.”

  Kenyon paused to clear the emotion from his voice.

  “I found out about Lydia’s passing, but honestly, I never expected to see Jaisey or any of the kids here. But then, after she came up to the bluff to say goodbye to her mother, I thought she would leave. Hoped she would. But she didn’t. And now, she has stayed too long. She’s one of us and she could be turned now.”

  Seff sat staring off into space. His thoughts were reeling. He’d thought to come to convince Kenyon that she needed to stay. But now…

  “What do we do? We have to protect her. Quinn thought that it was me with the target on my back, but it’s been Jaisey all along. They really want Jaisey so they can turn her.” The panic was clear in Seff’s voice.

  “Well, actually I’m not positive that the Ishaks even know about her,” he said.

  “But there was one there when she hiked to the ranger station and then in the forest near the swimming hole and then on the…” but Kenyon silenced him with a raised hand.

  “No Seff. I think they have been after you, or at least a young shifter, all along,” he said.

  “But why?” he asked confused.

  “The valley power that is in your blood. I think they have already created a new Shroud and they need to feed it. A young shifter would be much less a threat than an adult,” he said.

  “You think they have a Shroud already? That they’ve managed to bring that evil back into our world?” Seff asked, eyes wide.

  “Think back to the day you were attacked. Do you remember the feel of the forest moments before?”

  “I just remember it was wrong. Something was wrong, but everything happened so fast,” he replied, wishing he could remember what had bothered him.

  “I felt the evil that day Seff. We elders were being blocked from seeing something. At first, we thought perhaps the Ishaks had found a way to mask their presence from us. But when the Ishak attacked you, we knew the moment he shifted to wolf form and touched the ground. He was still in that blocked area, but we could sense him. We hadn’t been tracking the auras in the sky, or we could’ve seen and stopped him before he got close enough to attack you. So, the area that was blocked had to be blocking something else, and with the evil I felt, there can be only one conclusion.”

  Seff shivered. He did remember the way the wolf had tried to pull him from the road, as though he was trying to take him somewhere. Could their ancient enemy exist again? A Shroud? He shuddered at the word. It had become a word full of myth and horror in the centuries that they had been gone.

  “If the Ishaks are unable to feed their blood drinker, it should die. We aren’t clear on how long that will take; we think only months, and we think that end will be soon. But we’re watching. If any more of the Ishaks come across our border, we’ll track and kill them before they can further harm any of our pack. Thanks to you, we know to watch our skies as well.”

  Seff nodded. The elders had instructed them all that if the Ishaks crossed again, they would call everyone home. They were told to shift and run back to the village immediately if that were to happen. They had already started traveling in groups of two or more for safety. But Jaisey, she was alone in her cabin so often. Granted there were usually at least two of them out in the woods, but if they were called back to the village, she’d be vulnerable.

  Kenyon nodded, mirroring Seff’s thoughts, “Yes, something more will have to be done to protect Jaisey. The elders have been doing their best by sending you boys to watch and protect her, even if you didn’t know that’s why you were there. But the situation has gotten more complicated with her becoming more and more like us. I know at some point she will shift. She needs to be prepared for that. But once that happens, I think that might be enough to protect her from the Ishaks and Shroud for good. Something about the way we shift changes us – changes our blood, it might be enough…” he trailed off. It was clear he wasn’t sure if that would be enough and it worried him.

  “So, you think she should stay and we should get her to shift?” Seff asked, almost disbelieving. That was more than he’d hoped he could get the man to agree to. It was the result he’d wanted, but the path to it had taken some different, seriously twisted turns.

  A slight smile crept onto Kenyon’s lips, “I’ve spent all these years trying to protect my family from our life, but I guess I finally realized that this life is perfect for some.”

  Seff nodded, “Jaisey.” She was more suited for their way of life than many who were born and raised in the village. She loved the mountain so completely – it was very much in her blood.

  “Seff…” Kenyon began, but then he stopped.

  “Yes?” he asked, wondering why Kenyon was hesitating now.

  “There’s more I’d like to say, concerning Jaisey. And you,” he said.

  S
eff raised his eyebrows. How could there possibly be more?

  “I really needed to thank you. You’ve been a good friend to Jaisey this summer and I think she needed something to help her move past the loss of her mother,” he said sadly. “I’d never even thought a time might come when Lydia wouldn’t return. At least, not while she was still so young.”

  “Jaisey has talked with me a few times about the accident,” Seff said softly, figuring that Kenyon would not have known the specific details of that night. “They’d gone to dinner and when they were driving home a truck ran a red light, skidding on the icy road and struck the car on Lydia’s side. Jaisey was told that her mom died instantly. She didn’t suffer.”

  He stopped. Kenyon’s eyes were brimming with tears. They sat in silence for quite some time before Kenyon spoke again.

  “Thank you, Seff. As I said, I’m grateful you’ve been such a good friend to Jaisey,” Kenyon said quietly.

  “I love her,” Seff replied with a shrug. “She’s like a big sister. She feels like family. I don’t know how to explain it really.”

  “I must say then that I’m glad I can give you this,” Kenyon said with a genuine smile. “She is your family Seff.”

  “Wait, what?”

  “Your mother, Daciana, was my sister. That makes Jaisey your first cousin,” he explained.

  “But… how – why didn’t someone tell me this before?” Seff asked. He should probably be angry, but this was such good news he could barely contain himself.

  “Your mother and Ulric were promised to each other, but at their first solstice festival, she met your father, Felan. Their souls shifted, Seff. They were true soulmates. It doesn’t happen that often, but when it does, it’s permanent.”

  “Is that what happened with you and Lydia?” Seff asked.

  “No, but I believe she was my soulmate in any case. No person on this planet has ever understood me better than she did,” the sadness crept back into his voice.

  “So, my parents were soulmates?” Seff prompted. He’d never had anyone that had been willing to talk about his parents to him.

  “Yes. Your mother should’ve left custody to me before she passed away or at least to your grandmother Ylva, but all she could think of was how much Ulric had meant to her. She thought if she left you… a piece of herself with him, he might someday forgive her,” he explained.

  Seff nodded, “I understand.” And he did understand. Everything Ulric had done over the years suddenly made sense. He felt bad for him. What sadness it must have caused him to have Seff under his roof.

  “Anyway, we were all bound by your mother’s wishes, though over the years I have many times thought of stepping in. It was hard to watch Ulric and the way he responded to you. I’m sure it wasn’t what your mother had in mind when she left you to him. I asked the elders, your grandmother Ylva in particular, to step in on your behalf – which is why Quinn started keeping an eye on you. I haven’t done as much as I should have, and for that, I am sorry.”

  Seff sat there stunned. Not only did he have family that he’d never known, but he also found it was the best possible family he could want.

  “So, now that you know my history, as well as your own, what can I do for you?” he asked with a hint of humor.

  “Um… well, it feels a little pointless now,” Seff laughed. “I wanted to ask your blessing on getting Jaisey to stay.”

  “My blessing you have,” he responded with a grin. “However, I have conditions.”

  Seff nodded for him to continue.

  “I’d like to be the one to talk with her about all this. I know it’ll be hard to keep this from Jaisey, but I owe her that much. She cannot be allowed to believe I have any feeling other than love toward her,” he said. “And also, would you please tell Quinn to stop avoiding her?”

  That was unexpected. Seff knew he was keeping his distance, but avoiding?

  “I guess you’re too young to see a shift of that kind yet, but they are true soulmates as your parents were,” he replied.

  Seff sat back in his chair, “Seriously?”

  “I can’t imagine how Quinn has had the strength to stay away from her as long as he has,” he replied. “Once Jaisey has shifted the first time, it’s going to hit her like a brick wall too. Though I suspect a huge part of the connection is already established.”

  “Wow,” Seff replied. “Actually, Quinn walked her home last night after your… appearance.”

  “I suppose I didn’t handle that very well. I was just upset with the council. They promised me that they’d keep her out of the valley. I truly didn’t expect to see her sitting there in the village,” he explained.

  “That was actually my fault,” Seff responded. “After my attack, I guess I was in some kind of coma. Aatu had her brought to me, to talk and try to get a response. So, last night wasn’t her first time there.”

  “I should’ve realized she’d been there before. She looked so comfortable among you and your friends,” he said.

  “Did Quinn take your boys to the village?” Seff asked.

  “No, but the boys would’ve only needed to be near the valley to begin the change. It’s easier for us to access the power without even knowing about it. But for girls, well, it’s different for them. If you’ve ever noticed, the girls in the pack don’t start shifting until they’re already in their teens. I think perhaps they have a harder time feeling the power,” Kenyon said.

  “Really? I had no idea,” he replied. Of course, that was probably because he didn’t hang out with the girls in the pack much. Jaisey was his first real friend that was a girl.

  “But, once Jaisey crossed that village boundary, her lineage caught up with her,” he said.

  “So how soon do you think she’ll be able to change?” Seff asked.

  “I don’t really know. Her aura is nearly as golden as yours, so probably not long.”

  Seff shook his head. His thoughts were still reeling. There was so much information rolling around his head, he could barely concentrate on one thought before the next interrupted.

  “I think we should get you back now,” Kenyon suggested.

  Seff glanced at the window and saw the sky beginning to lighten. Yes, he needed to get back. He had a lot to do; he needed to talk to Quinn and the guys.

  “Wait, I can share all this with everyone, right?” he asked, unsure if this was supposed to be common knowledge.

  “Absolutely. The more you all know, the better prepared you’ll be if something happens,” he replied.

  “Why haven’t the elders told us about all of this?” he asked.

  “Well, the council has their own way of dealing with things, though not all the elders agree with that,” he replied.

  Seff realized the mistake he had made in his phrasing. It was the council that was being evasive, not the elders. Kenyon was an elder and he was perfectly willing to share what he knew.

  “Thank you for being so honest with me. It was certainly more information than I thought I was going to get,” he said with a chuckle. A lot more information. How would he even begin to process what he had learned?

  “Seff, I know this was a lot to take in for one night, but let me say this, I truly am sorry for not coming to you sooner – telling you of your own past. I’ve spent too much time letting things slide, thinking they’d get better. I apologize for that. I was wrong and I regret not having spoken with you sooner. You deserved better,” he said.

  Seff felt the flood of emotions hit him.

  Family.

  He had a family.

  It wasn’t a traditional family, but it was still his. Something he hadn’t ever really had. Kenyon reached for him and Seff found himself embracing his… uncle. What a wonderful feeling. He knew this night would be etched in his memory forever.

  Twenty

  Quinn

  Quinn sat in his living room in the dark. It was quiet, but his thoughts were in such turmoil he couldn’t focus on anything. He had tried to figure out a soluti
on to his dilemma with Jaisey, but he kept hitting a wall. He could see no way out of her leaving, and he couldn’t see himself leaving the mountain to follow her. He knew he would be needed, and he couldn’t just abandon the pack. He felt as if he were being torn in two.

  Hours later he heard a knock on the door. He’d pulled his curtains; no one should be bothering him, which meant it had to be Seff since his mother wasn’t around. He sighed and let the kid in.

  “What do you want Seff? I’m really not in the mood to…” he began, but Seff interrupted him.

  “I have a lot to tell you, but you have to promise to hear me out completely before you run off and do something crazy.”

  “Why would I run off and do something crazy?” he asked.

  “Just promise,” Seff insisted.

  “All right, I promise. What’s going on?” he asked impatiently.

  “I went and talked with Kenyon about Jaisey,” he replied.

  “Wait, what? Why?” That was so not where he thought Seff was going with this conversation.

  “I just wanted to see if I could get him to help us keep Jaisey here since she’s his family and she clearly belongs here. I thought if I talked with him, he might be willing to help,” he explained.

  Quinn just stared at Seff, impressed he’d figured it all out on his own.

  “So, check this out, did you know that Kenyon was my mom’s brother? He’s my uncle so that makes Jaisey my cousin,” he said in a rush.

  “Really?” Quinn asked. He’d had no clue they were related.

  “Yep. I have a legitimate claim on her now – on both of them, oh and Ylva too, she’s my grandmother,” he said with a huge smile.

  Quinn couldn’t help but smile back. Ulric had said that Seff had a blood uncle in the village, but he hadn’t thought to pursue it to find out who it was. He mentally kicked himself for that. Once again, he was too hung up on other things to see something that was right in front of him. He should have known better. Seff had always been touchy about not having a family, so of course, this was the best possible thing for him.