The Tiger Prince's Witch
Chapter 37 - Anna's Plans

Anna and Jaz looked at each other with widened eyes. They were mated to princes but never thought about actually being crowned princesses. "You're going to crown us?" Anna asked quietly.

"Yes. It's high time we announce that the two tiger princes are mated. I know everything has happened fast for all of you, but the werecat community needs to know the chain of command. If something were to happen to me, I want them to know Kamryn and Anna are the ones to take over." Randal stated quietly. He was planning on fighting along with his children, but he didn't have any of their unique powers. He and Lynn both understood they might not come out of this alive. "What does the crowning entail?" Asked Stanley, worried about too many people coming into the palace.

"We will make the announcement today about the crowning. We're only inviting certain leaders. The heads of the werepanthers, werelions, werecheetahs, werebears, and the lycan king will be the only ones getting invitations. I have two goals in mind. I want to announce the two princesses, but I also want you to meet the other leaders. After our visit with Gary, it made me think Santi may have tried to get to some of them as well." The others nodded their understanding. "Do you think it will be safe?" Bryson asked.

"Yes, no one will try anything at a crowning. There will be too much security. If they come on Santi's behalf, I believe it will only be for the purpose of spying on us. Have you gotten through all the interviews?" Randal looked at the girls' parents. "No, we have about ten more people to talk to. We'll finish before the end of today in preparation for tomorrow's event." Caprice said, smiling at her daughter. Her little Anna was so grown up.

"If you have any doubt about someone, bring them to me immediately. I will not put this family in jeopardy. Lynn and I will send out the invitations immediately. Anna, how do you think we should do the training?" Randal asked. He respected her opinion and wanted to know her plan.

"The four of us need to learn how to use our powers to their full advantage. I would like those of the tiger community who are going to fight with us to work with the other witches of our coven. They can teach them tricks of staying out of the path of Santi's black magic. Do you think Alpha Gary would let us visit him? I would like to go over some things with him as well. I can have Legend teleport us wherever he thinks it would be safe for a meeting." She looked at Randal and Lynn, who stared at her in astonishment.

"You've thought of everything," Lynn said. Once again, she thought Anna would be a fantastic queen.

"I've tried to imagine different scenarios. I think whoever is behind Santi's actions wants us to use up our energy fighting him. So we need to see how we can have the maximum effect without wearing ourselves out. It's going to be imperative to our success. Yes, we have been giving amazing gifts, but if we don't know how to use them correctly, they won't benefit anyone." She looked at Kamryn, Jaz, and Micah.

"I agree. We need to start working on this today. Dad, can you reach out to the alpha to see if Anna and I can meet with him?" Kamryn asked.

"Yes. I will do that now." Randal took out his phone, and Anna turned to her parents.

"Do you think Shila would be willing to go with us and maybe stay there to help the pack prepare?" She asked, and her parents looked at each other in surprise. "Why, Shila?" Caprice asked.

"Well, she's a hybrid. Part witch and part werewolf. I know she's not the strongest with her powers, but I think she's the best to train wolves on how to fight black magic." Anna said, thinking of her friend. She knew Shila always felt like an outcast because she was different, but those of Spirit Energy never saw her that way. Anna thought this would make her see how useful she really was.

"That's a great idea. I often forget that she has a wolf. Can Legend teleport both of you?" Stanley asked.

"It shouldn't be a problem," Kamryn answered.

"The alpha said to teleport to the packhouse whenever you're ready. He'll be waiting." Randal said as he hung up his phone. Anna and Kamryn stood up.

"Okay, we'll fly to where the others in the coven are and get Shila, then we'll head to Black Mist," Anna said as she and Kamryn walked out.

As soon as they got outside, they flew into the air. Anna led Kamryn to an area away from the palace in the forest where the witches and warlocks had set up camp. This was only a quarter of them because they had split up to cover all four directions. Kamryn was amazed when they landed and saw they had little houses. It looked like a village that had been there for years.

"How do you know she's here?" He asked Anna as they walked around.

"I can feel the energy of those from the coven. So if I want to find someone, I focus on their energy and let it lead me to them. There's Shila sitting near the fire pit." Kamryn looked over and saw a small woman with long curly black hair. She had a golden tan complexion and dark brown eyes. He leaned down to whisper in Anna's ear.

"Are all the women of Spirit Energy small?" He asked, and she giggled.

"Most of us, yes. It helps to be small when we need to move fast or hide in tight places." Shila stood up and smiled when they got to her side.

"Hi, Anna. Kamryn I don't think we've officially met. I'm Shila." She held her hand out, and he shook it.

"Nice to meet you." He said.

"We have a huge favor to ask you," Anna said.

"Okay," Shila answered nervously.

"Kamryn and I are going to the Black Mist Pack to meet with the alpha. The person who's after us thinks the wolf pack is on his side, but they want to work with us to defeat him. Can you go with us and stay with them to help the pack prepare? I'm sure none of them have fought black magic, and with you being a hybrid, you'll be the best one to hone in on their unique abilities as wolves."

Shila stared at the couple in shock. They wanted her to train a wolf pack? She had always felt inadequate because she was different. She got tears in her eyes as she hugged Anna.

"Of course, I'll go. Thank you, Anna. I finally feel like I can do something beneficial." Shila said excitedly. She'd always liked Anna because she made sure to include her in everything she did. She had even practiced with Shila in her free time to help strengthen her magic.

"Alright, are you ready to go now? We have a special way of getting there." Anna said, looking at Kamryn, who walked into the trees so he could shift in private.

"We're not flying?" Shila asked, confused. That was their preferred way of travel.

"I don't want to risk anyone seeing us, so we're teleporting." They looked toward the trees and saw Legend walk out. Anna was still getting used to his beautiful white coloring. She scratched behind his ears as she climbed onto his back. "You want me to get on him?" Shila asked unsurely. She'd never been on the back of an animal, and her wolf Lea didn't like the idea of riding a cat.

"Yes. It will be fine. It's the only way to teleport. One second, we'll be here, and the next, we'll be at the packhouse." Anna tried to hold back her chuckle as Shila walked up to Legend as though he was going to bite her. She climbed on his back behind Anna and held on with her eyes closed.

Anna patted Legend, and he started running. The next thing they knew, they were standing in front of a large packhouse. Wolves came from all sides to see who the visitors were. Anna helped Shila off Legend's back. He went to a secluded area to shift into Kamryn so he could put on the clothes he had carried in his mouth. Kamryn walked out at the same time Alpha Gary came out of the packhouse.

Gary had heard the commotion when the large white tiger with two witches landed near the packhouse. He mindlinked everyone telling them he was expecting them. However, he didn't know two witches were coming. He'd only thought Anna and Kamryn were visiting. When he walked outside, he stopped. The sweetest smell of honeysuckle mixed with cinnamon spice hit his nose. His wolf Cyril was howling in his head.

Gary ran down the steps to see where the smell was coming from, and then he saw her. She was beautiful with long curly black hair, golden tanned skin, and so tiny he felt like a giant. Everything else fell away as Gary walked up to the woman, and she looked up at him with wide eyes.

"Mate." They said at the same time.