Chapter Fourteen
"Nix, this is Leona."
Orion wasn't sure why he felt so nervous about introducing his mate to Leona. Nix eyed Leona with suspicion at first as the Wiccan greeted him with a soft smile.
"It's nice to meet you, Phoenix."
"It's just Nix," his mate mumbled, avoiding Leona's assessing gaze.
"Of course. Well, Nix, why don't we all sit down and talk."
"What about?"
There was an air of belligerence in Nix's tone. Orion leveled him with a look and Nix blushed.
"Why don't we start with an introduction," Leona said, folding herself gracefully into a seat. "I am a friend of Orion and of Orion's brothers. I come from Sable Coven, which is south of here. I'm Wiccan and the head of our Coven. Now, you."
Orion took a seat, willing Nix to take the hint and play along. His mate sat, rubbing his shoulder idly with one hand.
"I come from the mountains. My people are Metatherians. Mostly birds."
Leona considered that, nodding. "Yes, I can sense that in the magic around you. Bird… and something else. Wolf?"
Nix's eyes widened in surprise and he nodded, sparing a quick glance at Orion. "How did you know that?"
"What use is a little magic if you can't get a sense of these things." She frowned a moment later but it was at odds with her next words.
"I've met others like you before. Only a few. I hope you don't mind my saying this, but your magical energy seems very weak compared to theirs."
"I'm not strong," he replied, a blush spreading across his cheeks. "The runt of the litter."
"Yet, they named you Phoenix."
"I guess they had high hopes." Nix sounded so defeated that Orion almost put a stop to the questioning.
"For good reason, I suspect." Leona's answer pulled Nix's attention back to her. "I've met the mates of Orion's brothers. And they are both very singular, special people with unique types of magic. They both suffered through trials before finding their mates."
"I'm not special," Nix replied. "My father was special. My brother was special. But not me."
Leona stood, crossing to where Nix sat and crouching next to his chair.
"Orion told me what you believe happened to your family. I am so very sorry for your loss."
He expected an angry retort about what Nix insisted had happened. But Nix surprised him. "Orion said he was in Evenfall with his brothers when it happened."
"But that's not what your people remember?"
Nix shook his head.
"And your people have a Shaman, yes? A spiritual guide."
"Yes, March. He's been our leader since my father was killed."
"I've met another Shaman. They're very powerful people. How were you able to contact him to let him know where Orion was going to be so the coyote shifters could ambush you?"
Nix bit his lip, turning his head away from her, from him. "March came to my dreams. It's one of the things he can do. And that was the sign to communicate with him. We use fire for that, as a way to talk over long distances."
He turned to look at Orion then. "I left Briar Hill while you were gone, went into the forest, and lit a fire. That's how we arranged where and how they'd attack you."
"So March can manipulate dreams?" Leona looked thoughtful.
"You don't have to be asleep, but it makes it easier," Nix said.
"I see." Leona got to her feet. "Orion, could I speak with you outside for a moment?"
Orion stood, noting the worried look that crossed Nix's face.
"We'll be right outside if you need us."
He followed Leona down the stairs and out the front door.
"Can he hear us from out here, do you think?"
Orion considered the question, given the layout of the house, then shut the door. "Not so long as we keep our voices down."
Leona nodded. Orion waited for her to speak but, instead, she began pacing back and forth. Minutes passed, and he found himself leaning against the door wondering if he should interrupt her. Listening past the sound of her footsteps moving back and forth, he could hear Nix's heartbeat. It was a little fast but steady.
"That Shaman I met before. He had the same ability as Nix was describing."
"The ability to communicate through dreams?"
"One-way communication with his people while asleep or awake and the ability to manipulate dreams." She slowed to a stop in front of him. "But there is an added dimension. It's not just dreams the Shamans can manipulate."
And it was so blindingly obvious once she had laid it all out. "Memories. The Shaman can manipulate memories."
"Allowing Nix to recall a bear attack when there was no bear."
"Who knows what other memories have been twisted or changed? His whole life could be a lie."
"No," Leona said with a sharp shake of her head. "It takes a lot of energy to change someone's memories. There are going to be very particular memories that have been chosen or interjected. Most of Nix's memories will be true and intact. Well, as true as anyone's memories are."
"So how do we pick out the truth from the lies?"
"I may be able to help."
"You can fix his memories?"
"I may be able to undo the magic that's imprinted on his mind. But, Orion," she watched him with sad eyes, "it is very likely he'll believe we're the ones doing the manipulating."
Orion leaned his head back against the wall, looking up at the blue sky above them. "A day ago, he was convinced I was responsible for the death of his father and his brother. And now… there's some doubt in there. Just a chink."
"We can work with that," Leona said. "If you're willing?"
"Nix could be our greatest ally in stopping the coyotes. And he's my mate. Of course I'm willing." He didn't mean to take such a brusque tone, but he was tired and angry.
Before Leona could reply, he spoke again. "Why is it never easy? Why is it all such a struggle?"
"Haven't you learned anything from what your brothers went through? Did you think you'd be different, that you'd just waltz across your territory, pick your mate up, and carry them home?"
Orion bit back his retort. Truth was, he had believed things would be different for him. Thane had always been a complicated man and Cal, Cal went looking for trouble. Orion was known to like a challenge now and then, but nothing like this. The coyote shifters, their relentless dogging of him and his territory, had been the bane of his existence for almost five years. It was a blow, to his ego, to his soul, to learn they were entwined with his mate. Their love was supposed to be pure, to be true. The reality was swamped with mud.