Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)

Chapter 459 - It’s Always The Most Reasonable Ones Hiding Things

"So what you’re telling us overall, is that our covens aren’t merely tolerated here, for now. But that you expect us to be even more load-bearing to whatever sort of safety we can carve out of Vossden here."

Webber said all of it very slowly, as if attempting to lay each word of his assertion down like stones without gaps. I knew either one of them would say it, or I would have to. My ability to allow others to be optimally warm, no matter what temperature around them, really will change a lot.

But it means nothing without their cooperation. It means nothing if the people with magic that enable the not-magic find our side less appealing than seeking out another Chosen.

"Yes. You are as essential as I am, if not more considering your other practical skills. If you’d like to think of me in terms of your magic, I am more like a conduit for a spell. One that provides no benefit to anyone else on her own."

Strangely, despite my logic telling me that and my emotions mostly agreeing, I also feel some inner pushback to the last statement. It comes along with the eyes of that silly, leftover white wolf plushie in my mindscape gaining fire-opals for its eyes.

> Don’t look at me like that. Like you’re trying to remind me she said she needed me. I haven’t... forgotten. <

"N-not to the thousands down below... I only have room in me most times to care about the safety of that child over there."

Martha’s eyes caught mine across the table. A look that said she understood, but didn’t believe me, all at once. The kind that suggested she’d have things to say later, if we found room to talk.

A good a reason as any to slink away quickly when this is all over!

"Which brings us back to you specifically. Now that I’ve laid out everything I know, I’d like to extend the first *formal* invitation among your peers. If you’re still willing."

"What does it involve?"

"Physical contact for six seconds. A moment of intent from me. And then you would be connected the same way Martha is. Hopefully contributing points passively, but definitely receiving the Tolerance benefit the rest of the pack now shares."

Which, I was told, created lots of pandemonium when people realized. Martha was able to remediate quickly for me that day, for all of those who were up on the floor for ’my people’. While I was busy finishing up with Kyrie and the bear.

> And I also learned while trying to get along with Anise, that... one of her problems seeing me yesterday was feeling and having Tolerance explained to her. She’d felt guilty about having to think if it might have somehow saved Jessica... just like I did. <

"I won’t pretend. You would be bound to something I don’t fully understand... in a way that I am not sure can be undone. I have seen evidence that you can change which Chosen you pledge to, which suggests there may be many - but you may forever be connected to a force of mysterious origin, as I seem to be."

His hands came together over the table, fingers lacing into a bridge with a patient look on his face. A have a feeling he has things to say to me, too. The way elders always look when they have wisdom to provide.

"I’ve been ready since I wrote that note. If the Lunar Goddess wanted something else to be happening, she would not have blessed you - or made it abundantly clear that the Rimecoat pack has special favor. But I appreciate you letting me hear the full picture first."

"Even if it was all spoken for our sake and not his."

Dr. Lifton speaks her version of these events. One not entirely wrong, but definitely not worth correcting, as I stand and put my hand over his. Glowing green in my sight...

> Tch. I even knew that this not-magic couldn’t be seen by others, why didn’t I even suspect about the eyeglow?! <

| TARGET: ??? Webber |

| SPECIES: Human |

| VITALS: Normal, ??? |

| NOTES: ??? |

...

"Something wrong?"

My eye twitches at his question as I’m reminded again that this seemingly omnipotent system sometimes has elusive points to it. Martha also had unresolved question marks on her Vitals and Notes. I can assume that it has something to do with being a witch.

But what is with his first name still being hidden?

"I’m not sure. Uh..."

| ANNEXATION ⚝! |

Well, of course. Things were going so well, seemed about time for complications. Staring at the unresolved tangle of word that I’ve only seen mentioned as immediate Success before now, I almost don’t notice how his name actually moves to the Pack Roster.

Tilting my head and taking a small step back, I tap on his name and frown. Narrowing my eyes, feeling my claws lengthen, I take another *firm* step back and place myself in front of Asha and these people. These witches who have... seemed so nice.

"Do you have something to tell me, Mr. Webber?"

"Not unless you’re forcing me to admit it out loud. We usually just don’t talk about it. This is really interesting, by the way."

Watching the old man flex his hand, touch different surfaces, and ultimately smile and nod is unnerving. Mostly because of what I’d seen added to my | Occultic Reservoir | gain numbers.

Giant compared to Martha’s fourteen. But more than that, it *jumps* wildly with the lowest at an 18 and the highest a 99. But not so quickly I can’t see some kind of pattern. Every two digit number that flickers adds back together to nine.

Revealing things... that chill my blood and make me growl.

> Fucking nines! Hells damned fae-loving blood magic Asura... no, no calm down. That’s my world, not this one. Not... <

With that firmly in mind, I also catch on the very frequent seeming 72, which I believe has something or other to do with this world’s... demonology? From a man who told me what a warlock was!

My clothes stretch with my partial shifts. Good clothes. Ones I would have preferred to not destroy! A fact which finally calms me enough to think about things from different angles. Before fur can sprout all over my body.

When I was glancing around the internet for supernatural information so many weeks ago, I also saw something about angelic beings and that number. Numerology is highly culturally relevant.

> The mathematics of this world’s illusory state - and the religions that developed upon it compared to my own - may not align. <

That same value could mean a lot of things. Even just a sense of spiritual harmony. I won’t know... unless I ask someone who does know. Someone I can trust.

Webber still looks slightly amused, but not at me. Michelle has her hands over her head, as if it could protect her from the violence I might unleash... while Sue just drinks the last of her tea. Martha is the only one looking at me - and waiting.

"Lodestone: Why would a magical practitioner’s name be hidden and what importance does nine have toward this world’s mystical practices?"

...And look at that, apparently what I trust most is some other kind of created ’system’...