Beauty's Beast - By Jenna Kernan Page 0,2

goes to my friend Nicholas Chien, a wolf and great tracker. His wife, Jessie, is a Spirit Child.” He stared at Blake. “They knew this day would come. His wife will help you bring the Niyanoka to join us. Blake, do you remember all I have told you?”

Samantha’s suspicions were confirmed at the nod of her brother’s head. She felt hollow inside. She wasn’t trustworthy. She’d sneaked away to work her healing arts and endangered them all. Blake had a purpose. They all did. All but her.

Her father continued his instructions. “Convince your mother’s people to join us by any means.”

Blake stood, his body straight and tall, but his dark eyes filled with uncertainty. “I’ll try my best, sir.”

Their father squeezed Blake’s shoulder and then released him. “Succeed. You must.” Her father turned to her. “You go to my friend Bess Suncatcher, a raven. Her mate is a Spirit Child, a Soul Whisperer.”

Her mother’s words echoed in her mind. You know who she calls family.

A Soul Whisperer? Her eyes rounded and a buzzing began in her ears. Her mother had taught her that this was the most cursed of all Niyanoka, unclean for speaking to the dead. Her blood slowed like water turning to ice, but she did not object. How could she when she had brought this Armageddon to them?

“Bess has some dangerous ideas, but none know the Toe Taggers better than she. Find her. Learn what you can. Tell her it has begun and ask her to join me. But be watchful for Toe Taggers. If you see one, run. If you cannot run, kill it before it kills you.”

Her eyes rounded and her stomach dropped.

“Do you understand, Sammy?”

She shook her head. What did he ask her to do?

But he was already looking to his wife. Samantha’s lip trembled as she held back tears. Her parents had never left them and never felt they could not protect them, until now. Blake and her mother would rally the Niyanoka and her father would bring the Skinwalkers. To what? For what? Samantha began to shake.

Her mother grabbed hold of her husband in a last embrace. Tears choked Samantha so she could not speak. Their auras flared, suddenly visible even in the fading daylight. She knew her parents were true soul mates, with the bond of shared emotions and thoughts. She longed for such a connection.

“What if we’re wrong?” Michaela whispered.

Sebastian stroked her glossy hair. “It only works if we split into four. He can’t follow four, not all at once. Some of us might...”

His words faded. Samantha’s breath caught as she realized what he meant to say. Some of us might escape. Whom would Nagi follow? Which one of them would die? She hoped it was her. She could not bear being responsible for their deaths. Was that her purpose, to lead Nagi from those she loved? Calm crept into her heart like cold crystals of ice, but she was no longer afraid. She would be last to leave. She’d see to that.

Her mother cradled Samantha and kissed her hair. It felt like a final farewell. Samantha lifted her gaze to stare down at her mother, who was average height but not tall enough to meet the eyes of her daughter, now six feet three inches tall. The two embraced and then drew apart.

With her eyes still pinned on Samantha, her mother spoke to her husband. “Call the Whirlwinds and pray they can carry us to safety.”

Sebastian lifted his arms to the heavens, chanting a prayer Samantha knew by heart. Dark, menacing clouds swept in from the north. A storm blew, lifting the rocks and sand to pelt them. All four turned their backs to the wind.

The Thunderbirds had long ago taken the Skinwalkers into their hearts. These Thunderbeings had the power to harness electrical energy on earth and stir the winds into storms. For reasons none could recall, the Supernaturals would carry the Skinwalkers in their claws if they deemed the matter grave. Apparently, at some point, the Spirit Children had decided the Supernaturals were a private jet service and were now on the no-fly list. But no Skinwalker ever called a Thunderbeing unless his or her life depended upon it, for all recognized that such an arrangement was not to be abused.

“Look,” cried Blake, pointing to the sky.

Samantha craned her neck and thought she saw the great beating wings of a huge eagle sweeping down upon them.

Her mother screamed and pointed. Samantha turned to see the gray billowing