Whispers

Whispers

## Original Cover

Whispers is the third book in the Feathers and Fire series.

## Blurb

**The Vatican is broken… And Callie’s hearing Whispers in the dark corners of her mind…**

One of the Vatican’s most infamous Shepherds has been murdered, and Callie’s friends are the prime suspects. To prove them innocent, Roland and Callie must risk their very souls…

Because Callie can’t reveal that she’s hearing strange Whispers when she uses her magic, or that she’s harboring an Angel’s Grace. And if the Shepherds discover the hellish bargain Roland made, the streets of Rome will flow with blood as brother turns against brother.

And with the Antipope pressuring the Vatican for change, and Nate Temple arriving unannounced to demand an audience with the Shepherds, things couldn’t get any more chaotic.

Until Callie learns of an ancient order of traitors hiding in the Vatican, and they’ll do anything to bring it down—brick by brick.

The only way to find the traitor, keep her secrets, and save those she loves is to raise her blade against these Holy warriors of God, shattering the Vatican itself.

And the Whispers in her head find all of this so terribly…*amusing*.

## Opening

*I stared down the big, hairy, mouth-breather. “Bring it on,” I growled menacingly.*

*All one thousand pounds of Kenai, a shifter grizzly bear, barreled straight at me like a snowplow, ignoring petty laws like physics. The beast rose up on two tree-trunk thick legs, towering over me as he roared.*

## Plot

In Bear country, to let loose and get rid of some energy, fights are set up.  Up first, Callie and Kenai.  The match up was decided on a drunk night.   Callie wins to keep status.  Kenai goes down.   Next up, Killian and Claire.  Killian uses mental ammo and confuses Claire, it’s a tie!  Afterwards, Claire needs counseling.

Up next, fun times with Starlight who sets up a spiritual ritual to relax them. Buzzed and naked, Callie has nightmares.  Starlight shares his story.  Killian loved his trip.  Claire enjoys her role as a guide.

### Pause here a moment WARNING, Possible Spoilers Ahead

After meeting Angel the Angel who wants Callie to work for him, she meets with Roland.  He tells her about a murder at the Vatican, the girls they saved from rogue werewolves found at the murder site, and plans to go there to help them.  Callie updates him on events and reminds him about a meeting with Haven.

Deciding to go see Haven at 3:00 a.m. to surprise him, Roland and Callie head there.  After a short cordial conversation, Haven calls Roland out on his deceit.  It can’t be ignored. After much discussion, Roland must make the ultimate sacrifice, become a vampire.  In addition to making things right, they also get news there is a recording of the murder at the Vatican that can clear the girls. To avoid a war, we must risk a war.  Roland is turned.  There is no turning back.  Haven gives Roland an amulet that will disguise him from the Shepherds.

Roland and Callie prepare for the trip to the Vatican City, and decide to shadow walk there in disguise.  When they get there, one of Roland’s friends and another Shepherd, Windsor, greets them.  He explains that their arrival set an alarm of entry to the city.   Going over events, he also noted that Nate Temple was in town. No reason given.

Windsor escorts them to the “shed” where the Shepherds live and work.  Callie meets a couple more Shepherds, Crispin and Fabrizio.  Callie connects with Fabrizio and ends up flipping him in jest.

Next up, a meeting with the Conclave to discuss the events and the murder.  Nate and Alucard are brought forward and they present a gift to the Vatican.  What surprises everyone is the fact that Alucard is holding a Bible.  They also discover that the Palmarians are in town as well as the antipope.

Callie and Roland have lunch with Nate and Alucard.  Alucard realizes Roland’s secret.  He offers whatever help he can.

Crispin sees Roland’s amulet and mentions that he doesn’t do bling.  Fabrizio takes a closer look and it zaps him.  Callie is requested to have a private meeting with the Conclave.  They question her about Nate’s visit.  They offer her a promotion, which shocks Callie.

Roland and Callie search the late Shepherd Constantine’s office for clues.  Before they can find anything useful, they are caught by Bishop Stork.  The Shepherds are not happy; they decide to put guards on them both while they were there.

Callie takes a walk, under guard, and runs into the antipope, Bishop Anthony.  He leaves and Roland appears, tells Callie about a report that might have evidence.

Callie is called in for her hearing.  She is questioned about a theft at the Vatican, news to her.  She discovers that they searched both their rooms and found the report, they'd had delivered to them by Contantine. Calle is accused but there is no evidence of guilt.

After comparing notes with Roland, they confront the other Shepherds, not sure who to trust. Contemplating the theft, is Nate the thief?  Confirmation that the house of God is divided.

In order to get away to discuss everything, Callie stages a passionate scene with Roland and they escape to Roland’s apartment in the city. They discuss a plan to free the girls and go home.

As Callie makes her move, she is attacked by assassins wearing scarfs with Pattee Crosses, one of which she grabs.  She is put on house arrest and detective Richter interrogates Callie.

The girls have their hearing where two witnesses appear.  One of them is wearing a disguise amulet, and Callie attacks him.  The Bishop Anthony shows up and professes to cleanse the house of God.  Callie is thrown in prison and Roland is outed.

While in prison, Callie reflects on everything.  She goes over everything possible; question of how the witness got the amulet, how they searched her completely and didn’t find the scarf with the Pattee cross on it.  So many questions….so many possible answers.  As she verbally cusses out the Conclave, antipope and the Shepherds, she gets a visit from Fabrizio.  As they talk, truth comes out - Crispin is guilty somehow and Callie realizes that she must be the one to save everyone.  She gets some help and gets free.

Callie frees the girls and takes a gateway to Roland.  It takes her to the antipope’s hideout at a church where she finds Roland chained on the pulpit.  Along with powers, Callie forges a break to the chains with an angel, the ones that were made to stop vampires.   The antipope, believing that Callie is an Angel, confesses and suddenly, Crispin arrives.  He is working with the antipope, believing monsters run the Conclave.  He gave up Roland.  An interesting twist, he killed Constantine because he found out Crispin was working with the Sanguine Council, all to have immortality.

One interesting thing.  No one admits to the theft!  Still a mystery.

Final revelation.  The truth that the Templars had their hand in all the blood, with their leader, Olin Fuentes.  And, in the midst of chaos, the antipope is bitten and will turn into a werewolf.  How can you explain that?

Roland, Callie and the girls, now called Paradise and Lost, return home. First up, rest.  And, now they must say goodbye to Abundant Angel Catholic Church. After being questioned by the FBI about the events in Vatican City (no evidence they were there), Callie gets a visit from Nate.  He confesses to the theft, an old Welsh Bible.  Nate and his books!