Stronger Together chapter 79 (Patreon)

I groaned in agony as my eyes fluttered open. I wasn't in a hospital  bed, or even a bed at all I was just layingin the snowy ground with  Ebenezar grinning down at me. He looked up with a chuckle "He's fine" He  was addressing who I could only assume was the girls and the other  wizards. His eyes flicked back down to me with amusement and he held out  a hand "Get up boy, walk it off. You're fine...somehow." He pulled me  up to my feet with an easy heave and dusted the snow off me as I tried  to steady my still spinning head.

I  blinked a few times to clear my eyes "What the hell just happened? I  felt like I pancaked on the shield but my bones don't seem to be all  broken. What did I..." then it hit me what probably happened and I  cursed. My aura held up and didn't break until the last second, saving  me from the impact, but I'd over drafted myself again. My cloak had a  safety limit on it, but that just stopped after I hit the red, my  lightning magic had been burning more on top of that and I'd drained  myself dry pulling past my safe limit. I was pretty lucky I hadn't died.

Ebenezar  chuckled at my annoyed expression. "That was a damn strong attack lad,  if you can manage it without knocking yourself unconscious you might be a  real threat. Until such a time however I'd say maybe take the rest of  today off. Go out and see the town and try to relax and let your soul  recover. You all saw a few hints of what needed seeing and maybe some  discussion and time off will be the ticket to realizing your own  defensive philosophy." He grinned over at the other wizards and headed  off with0ut another word.

Cinder  came over to check on me "I still haven't gotten used to the idea that  you can kill yourself overusing Aura here. It's a frightening thought.  I'm glad you're alright though Cameron, I was worried when you  collapsed. Barbara and I both rushed to your side, Kara knew you were  alright because of her senses but she made sure to catch you so you  didn't hurt yourself in the fall." She gestured to both girls who gave  me concerned smiles and I gave what I hoped was a comforting nod in  return.

We  decided since Ebenezar and the others gave us the day off we should take  advantage of it and go do lunch. It took us a bit to decide on what  kind of food to get. Kara was pushing for McDonalds but was summarily  overrules by everyone else in favor of actual food. Seeing the super  powerful blonde pout about missing out on her usual dose of crappy fast  food burgers was honestly one of the most adorable things I could  imagine. Cinder was pushing for a steakhouse, and I was all for that,  and Barb was missing the italian food from Gotham, apparently the mob  presence meant they had some great places there.

Eventually  though we won Barb and Kara over and we ended up at a really gorgeous  place called Steakhouse number 316. We won Barb over with the historical  aspect of the place, and Kara over with promises of meat. Apparently it  was originally a mining cabin in the eighteen hundreds but had been  upgraded to a classy dining establishment. Rich woods and velvet and a  gorgeous atmosphere. We had to stop to do a bit of shopping first sadly.  Cinder was thew only one dressed for a formal meal. That worked fine  though since the place didn't open until four thirty anyway.

We  settled on Marcus for the outfits and decided to pick up Cinder's other  clothes while we were there. The amber eyed girl preened at the idea  and I smiled deep down at the sign that some parts of Cinder were every  bit as normal as the rest of us. She liked fancy new stuff just like  anyone else, it was a cute look on her. Her dress had already hinted she  might enjoy formal wear but it was nice to know she liked shopping and  going out with friends. Seeing her be normal with us softened up Barb  and Kara too, and the three of them were bonding slowly but definitely  forming friendships.

Training  was a formal thing and easy to avoid connecting over especially  separated as we were, but this time out was a great chance to get to  know each other on a more personal level. I slid up next to Cinder "So,  what kind of warm clothes were you thinking? You can pick whatever you  like, we can afford it, I'd love to see more of the kind of style you  like to wear." I saw a gentle flush cross her cheeks, though I did my  best not to mention or acknowledge it. Cinder was the kind of person who  abhorred showing weakness.

Unfortunately  Marcus was female exclusive, so I headed over to J. Hillburn, a mens  stylist nearby. We agreed to meet in an hour or two and head back to get  ready when we did. I considered sticking with them but the girls seemed  to be bonding and we had the whole night to relax and talk. I slipped  into the place and ambled up to the counter. The sharp dressed man  behind it had a shiny bald head a dark goatee and piercing blue eyes.  His eyes snapped up as I walked in and he stared intently before  nodding. "I am Gustav. What are your needs?"

His  voice was germanic and sharp, concise and formidable, as if he  disdained speaking and considered it an inefficient form of  communication. I offered my best bright smile. "Hi there, I'm Cameron, I  was hoping to get a suit for dinner tonight?" Gustav gave me a once  over, then flicked his eyes away as if dismissing me instantly. He held  up a finger to wait and then turned and without a word to me prowled off  into the racks of suits, leaving me standing there mostly confused. I  expected him to be right back, but after ten minutes I started to  consider leaving.

A  feminine chuckle rumbled from behind me I turned to catch sight of a  pair of bright amber eyes and for a moment though Cinder had caught up,  but instead the eyes belonged to a beautiful olive skinned woman with  shaggy grey flecked dark hair. She gave me a grin I could only describe  as wolfish. "He will be back, their kind doesn't keep track of time very  well. The Heinzelmännchen, or tailor elves, are eccentric but excellent  craftsmen. You will be pleased, I think." She took in my steady gaze  and nodded approvingly "And a strong spine as well. Appropriate for that  one's apprentice. I bring a message for your mentor."

I  raised an eyebrow "He's nearby, you could just track him down and pass  it to him yourself. Also what the hell is a tailor elf? And what would  one be doing all the way out here?" I felt like I recognized her from  somewhere, but not directly, more like I'd heard a description of her,  but honestly the ensemble cast for Dresden was fairly large and there  were so many people who never got enough screen time. She just stared  impassively at me, not answering or moving. God her stare was intense. I  finally sighed "Ok fine, go ahead. I'm listening."

She  gave another approving nod "You are wise, boy. Tell you mentor Tera  West said that he was followed here. The corpses have been tailing him,  surveying his actions for some reason. They employ magics in their  stealth. I cannot embroil myself in this matter with the creature, as a  new mother my child is my priority, but before I left I wished to partly  repay my debt to him. Beware their thralls, they have been her for  weeks, arriving soon after yourselves, and have had time to entrap some  of the locals." She recited the entire thing like a grocery list, like  she was checking off mental boxes before nodding and turning to leave.

I  held out a hand to stop her but didn't touch her "Wait. You're the  wolfwere. The one who taught the alphas and who Harry met years ago.  What are you even doing here? I thought you were living in the mountains  or something." I looked around blankly "Or I mean, I guess you are, but  what are you doing in this specific spot." It seemed awfully convenient  she was around here, I didn't trust her random warning coming from  nowhere and I didn't want to get Harry sucked into more nonsense.

She  huffed out a wolfish laugh, sort of a chuffing sound rather than the  chuckle of earlier. "Wary of strangers, he picked well indeed. This  place is old and well protected, until recently the creature avoided the  city, it didn't want to attract attention by hunting to close to its  lair. The curse laid on Macfinn's blood bred true, and many things wish  for their own Loup-Garou. My child will wield power in his own way, and  power is always sought after. Now though, the creature grows bolder, and  the corpses infiltrate the town. I must flee, but I wanted to leave a  warning. I may see you again, there are other protected places near  Chicago. I've heard tales of an island upon which none will tread."

My  eyes widened at that but I heard a noise and turned to find Gustav  coming back. When I returned my gaze to Tera she was gone. Well fuck,  hopefully she decided not to settle on Demonreach. Or maybe it wouldn't  fuck with her too much. Who knew. Fool Moon hadn't elaborated on her too  much, but she came across as something kind of unique and in touch with  the land. Maybe that would help her, even in that hostile place. I  shook my head and turned to a blank faced Gustav.

He  held out a suit to me, which I took and he pointed to a changing room  in the back. "You will try the suit. It will fit." Once again, zero  fucks given about politeness, but I could respect the straightforward  thing. I headed into the back and got dressed quickly. Give the man...er  elf? His due, he knew how to pick a suit. The thing fit like it was  custom made, which admittedly it might be given what he was. Still it  was a damn nice suit and I had no problem paying the few thousand  dollars for it. I felt a tiny spark of magic when I put it on, and I  wondered if it was the magic used to make it or if it had some magic in  its nature.

Gustav  nodded in satisfaction as I paid and headed back out, looking nervously  around as I hung the garment bag over my shoulder. Tera had warned of  corpses, and given what was going on in Chicago soon I was betting Black  Court. Mavra must be having Harry followed to make sure he stays out of  her business. Smart move not picking a fight with the kind of muscle he  had at hand but I didn't even know what she had been doing in Chicago  during Blood Rites. Whatever was happening them being here was bad, and  I'd have to stop in and let Harry know.

Luckily  we had Kara here, and she was basically Black Court kryptonite  ironically enough. Heat vision would do fine on the dry bastards if we  could pierce their disguise magic. Whoever she sent wasn't a schmuck  either, fooling Kara's hearing well enough not to notice a couple people  walking around with no pulse or breath was no mean feat. I headed over  to where the girls were still shopping, I suddenly had the urge to wait  with them.