Wildwood: The Society Book 1

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ne around her was rushed. They had some place they had to go and were clearly ready to be on their way. They took their cup

w. Ivy spotted herself easily. Her casual clothing of jeans and t-shirt topped with a hooded sweatshirt stood out starkly from the tailored office wear of those around

ving the house. She was fairly certain she had. She thought she remembered using it right after brushing her teeth. She glanced down at her shirt and saw the still slightly damp spot where she washed off a toothpaste

as though having a difficult time processing the simplicity of her order. He pressed one button and looked a little lost as he told her the price and took her cash. She stepped to the side and the cle

ing, looked her over with some surprise as though puzzled over her preferential treatment. She ignored their looks, trying not to hunch her shoulders as she took her steaming cup. Deciding she was not yet ready to r

glass. Ivy stared out of the café window as her hand absently traced the edge of her coffee cup. The morning started out hazy, a dense mist settling over the c

r two apartment buildings scattered throughout, but most of the residential buildings, such as her own, were

foresight to have grabbed umbrellas before leaving home popped them open with evident feelings of superiority. Every pedestrian increased their speed.

uirements fulfilled, all payments deposited into her account. Ivy tried to feel pleased and satisfied with the completion of a job well done. It had after all been quite tricky and detailed. She had enjoyed the challenge of it, and t

and she knew that while part of her fee would go towards necessities like food and electric, the rest would go into savings as it always did. She also knew that when she t

en her strong suit and she knew she should just push it aside again and return home. Everyone knew her schedule. They knew she either w

red a dislike for most modern technology created by the normal humans around them, believing themselves above such things. Somehow they each managed to forget their contempt

unning out of explanations for the odd items others seemed to want to include with their job proposals as extra enticement, she considered the loss worth

r procrastination. She lifted her coffee cup slightly in mock salute and d

y disconnected mood. The last project she had worked on was quite intense and she remained focused on the det

of cold rainy days when she was smaller scuttled across her thoughts, but she pushed it away before it could take hold. She learned early, focu

he held out hope that at least a part of her would believe her own lies. The hope was as pointless as the lie. The shiver

through her actions over the past few months. The Shadow Council was made up of the heads of each of the hidden clans. T

or that would draw attention. It always meant some form of disciplinary action was about to be taken against you. While Ivy kn

ks well, and that it would not bring any form of public scrutiny. She knew if she was ever caught and sanctioned for those actions, the secrecy would count in her favor. Ivy shivered again

atter. What was left of her family had been split up, each of them sent to different cities and forbidden to gather togethe

been watched. She guessed the watching had been to make certain she didn't try and find the others. She had no idea what els

hrough the cup and into the coffee. Satisfied with the new temperature, she took another sip and set the cup down. Somehow she had the feeling that if she planned a trip anywhere, the watchers would return. Whil

asons for the first summons and sanction. She had studied the card the Shadow Council sent by currier over and over until her eyes crossed. She looked at the front a

esent herself to the Shadow Council for reasons they felt no need to explain. She wa

" she though

l of dread that had lodged deep in her gut. She had been able to ignore it when there were still project details demanding her attention. Now, there were no distractions. She rifled her mental files again trying to find the reasoning for the summon

y the hand of time and felt her hand involuntarily grip her cup so hard it dented slightly from the pressure. His white hair seemed charmingly unkempt and the smile he turned her way was warm and

d and panicked thing. "What a lovely surprise." Her thudding heart nearly stopped as she watched his gnar

grandfatherly archetype. As far as Ivy knew, it was the greatest con in the world. Anyone who knew Albert Winters knew that Winters was an assumed name. Most w

head to do. Albert was more or less a law unto himself. Whether by independent design or Council related, his arrival was never a

it was starting to cool again, but unwilling to reheat it in Albert's presence. Even though he was a mage like her, his specialty focused on water rather than fire as hers was, they were in a public place and the Council had forbid

lf saying, retreating into the manners her grandmother had

while hasn't it? A little more than seventeen years if I recall. Why you were bar

r of a plan. Ride the middle had always been her grandmother's advice. Blend into the average whenever possible where the Council is concerned. Ivy decided the advice pertained to Albert as wel

stared at him. He had to be talking about the Council, but she couldn't divine his meaning from the few words. Why would the Council

t she might have once said a polite hello to him, but that was all. Albert was not a friend or even really an acquaintance. It made no sense for him to seek he

e table and gripped hers. Ivy blinked, first in surprise at the gesture and then as she felt a small, hard object pressed into her palm. He pulled his hands away and she dropped the hand now holding the item into he

in town, " Albert said. He smiled, picked up his coffee and stood. "See you soon, "

ng under the eaves of a building across the street. One had his eyes trained on Albert, the other had eyes only for her. Recognizing the man staring at her, Ivy lifted her now empty hand and waved at him through the glass. He seemed uncom

and sent a wave of heat from her hand into the coffee to warm it up. She lifted the now piping hot beverage to her lips. The hot liquid nearly scalded her and she frowned at her own carelessness.

threw her coffee into the trash, wanting nothing more to do with it. As her stomach was rapidly turning into a pit of acid from th

e missed him. She had met him several years prior when she was working with a group of shifters. As the other shifters in the pack tended to be somewhat short and dark haired with olive toned skin, the six foot five inch

polite, she had not questioned it much once she had been assured he was not there to pillage. While she never did learn his connection to that parti

d she had grabbed an actual coat instead of just the sweatshirt. Luckily, she didn't live too far away and most of her path was covered by the overhanging buildings so she might actually manage to stay dry,

of the puddle and shook her feet off before continuing on her way. She was somehow not

d never seen an ungainly one, but there was something appealing in Russell's long limbed stride. If she were hone

bly and turned his curls into ringlets that reminded her of an old fashioned doll. His beard kept it from looking too feminine,

someone who only considered her a business associate, she shifted her thoughts into more neutral territ

lance. She assumed it was in response to her appraisal of him as it was fairly general a glance, merely a poli

had never tried to pry into their secrets or personal lives, which they always seemed to appreciate. As she started to walk, she hoped that there wasn't a

f wolves, she had learned a great deal about how they conducted business over the years. The comment was as subtle as

. He could smell a lie and she could practically feel him breathing in her words to test their truth. He seemed more focused tha

could just see a few people cowering here and there in covered doorways. Most of those she saw appeared to be

at my table. He told me he had heard I had done well for myself since he saw me at my last summon

rank Damien and already knew you, so Damien had to follow

She stopped walkin

ddenly more aware of how much larger he was then her and how much heat he seemed to radiate despite the chill of the day. "He took his newspaper to the park to read before it started to

d away and continued walking.

ren't told to be stealthy about it. Just to w

ks he is up t

"Albert is alway

wasn't planning to go to the coffee shop today. I just wanted to get out of the house before sorting throu

First National B

I usually use the branch down on

own. Some of his intensity faded. "I was

the sanction when the Council split them, the Chambers family had been wel

is lip as the words came out, as though they had escaped before he could catch them. Ivy stopped u

Council. Admittedly, those mages also didn't like that there was a Council in the first place and wanted mages to be independent. There were even factions who wanted to rule openly as they believed themselves vastly s

never known you to give preferential treatment to other mages over the shifters or an

've decided to n

other mages to try something like th

es. She gasped, opened her eyes wide, and blinked hard three times as a thoug

ed puppy. "Didn't Albert men

y crossed her arms an

hy he stopped to talk to you, so your

s going on? Why is the Shadow Council summoning me?" She resisted the urge to stamp her foot like a

Russell looked almost panicked. "All th

something sneaky?" Ivy guessed keeping her voice at a conversation

ueful smile. Noticing Ivy's frown, his smile broaden

p silent, than friend or not there was no way she was going to get him to talk. Among the shifters, wolves were known for many things, not all of

nd for the first time Ivy wondered who he actually worked for. Ivy glanced up at him. After spending the bulk

looked startled for a moment and then he let out a de

control and caught up to Ivy again as she had kept walking while he sto