The bitter laugh that came out of me was answer enough.
The other spirits weren't like me. In many ways, I was the odd one out—just like that hare shifter down there.
I'd have my revenge on the other spirits. But to do that, I needed more magic. I needed what was stolen from me.
I closed my eyes and sensed it flowing through me. It was strong, no doubt about it. This was the powerful magic born from fated mates. It was something spirits couldn't create—only mortals.
As a matter of pride, spirits didn't like knowing mortals were better than us at something, myself included. I abhorred admitting it, but this pack of brothers and their heirs proved stronger than I thought they were capable of.
After following this family for so long, after trial and error, after risking physical harm and my own precious magic, and suffering mysterious stomach-churning bouts of jealousy… I'd finally figured it out.
These mortals were at their strongest when protecting their loved ones.
If I separated the weakest link, one of the few remaining adults without a fated mate, the others would rush in to save them. My skin tingled at the idea of just how powerful they would be if they worked together.
I'd bargain for their magic—magic that mortals didn't even have a use for—and I'd return to my former glory.
Then the other spirits would see what happened when they crossed me.
So the question remained: which one of them was the weakest link?
To my knowledge, there had been three adults without mates. That number was now down to two with the she-wolf's return. Even if her aura didn't screamnewfound fated mate, her loud mouth picked up the slack, blaring it across the land.
That left the mountain lion girl and the hare.
My first impression was to pick the hare because he was male. I wasn't interested in women. But then I realized what an utterly ridiculous idea that was. I wasn't kidnapping one of them to fall in love—I was kidnapping them to regain my powers.
I shook off the unexpected thought and focused. I had to think clearly about this.
But when I read the aura of the mountain lion, it wasn't weak. It was whole and complete, surrounding her like a fortress. She didn't feel the need for a mate at all.
I drew back, blinking in confusion. She was happy just the way she was. I had a strange feeling in the center of my chest. Why couldn't I feel like that? Why couldn't I be like her?
I pushed the thought away. Now wasn't the time to get caught up in my emotions, and I was sick of envying mortals.
That left only the hare shifter.
"Leveret," I murmured. That was his name—a fluid word that rolled off my tongue.
I had a good feeling about this one. His aura was watery and thin, mingled with sparks of jealousy. In a way, I felt sympathy for him. I knew what that was like.
But I couldn't afford to be sympathetic towards mortals. I'd walked that path already and it led to nothing but disaster.
Leveret was a tool, a means to an end. And before this night was over, I'd have him in my clutches.
Three
Leveret
After a disappointing conversation with my dad, I stepped away from everyone and everything. I found an empty nook by the trees and curled up at the base of one, bringing my knees to my chest and hugging them.
Too many bodies, too much sound, too much happening.
I just wanted to be alone.
I closed my eyes and buried my face in my knees, turning everything dark. That helped a little. Being by myself dampened the roaring waves in my chest, but they didn't disappear. I knew from experience that these spikes of high emotion always went away. But it took time. All I could do was wait.
Doubts clouded my mind. Was I blowing my family's reactions out of proportion? I did that sometimes, even when I didn't want to. But this felt different. This time, I had a reason to be upset. How could I not be when they made such random assumptions about me? Even my own father didn't realize I felt so strongly about finding a mate.