Read INVISIBLE POWER BOOK TWO: ALEX NOZIAK (INVISIBLE RECRUITS) for Free Online

he could do on the physical plane, as Idaho was thousands of miles from Paris. But working with the spirits, he could and had been doing much.
    So had one of his oldest friends, Philippe, though druids did not usually go out of their way to be of service to others.
    “Is this Council business then?” Jeb asked as silence lengthened on the other end of the line.
    “Yes and no.”
    Philippe was a cautious man, not an obtuse one, so Jeb waited, leaning against the front porch post, watching the first rays of dawn kiss Antelope Butte in the distance. This had always been his favorite part of the day, early when the sun slowly revealed herself and all was fresh and new. Jeb did not think of himself as a romantic man nor a verbose one. Aideen, the woman he loved so wildly, so dangerously, had always said he never shared enough with her. Then one day it was too late.
    He had tried since then to be both mother and father to his four sons and one daughter. Tried to fill the void left by their mother’s abandonment. Tried to raise his offspring, each with their own abilities and talents, to be good people.
    And they were. Even Alex, who had killed a man and was still paying the price. Just as Van was paying the price for being the type of man who took his responsibility as a soldier, as a citizen, so seriously.
    Jeb wasn’t sure why Van had disappeared, but the minute Van did, Jeb had started searching, seeking the truth, holding the knowledge from his other children so they would not feel the empty, gaping wound that Jeb felt every waking hour . Even as he watched dawn give way to morning.
    “Jebediah, we must speak.”
    Was that not what they were doing? Or did Philippe wish to connect in the supernatural realm, though they both were aware there were listeners there, too. Dangerous ones.
    Jeb found his tongue reluctant to voice what his soul knew. Even powerful shamans could break if bent under the burden of too much knowledge, too much pain. Yet his tone held no waver as he asked, “You are worried?”
    “ Oui .”
    If there was one thing Jeb had tried to instill in his children it was responsibility, whether it was accepting punishment for a childish prank or facing the consequences for choices made. Jeb could do no less. “Tell me what it is you wish from me.”
    “Come to Paris.”
    The answer felt like a body blow. Jeb walked the earth of his forefathers, gained strength from his physical connection to the high desert country of his home. He rarely traveled beyond his self-imposed boundaries, unless called by the Council of Seven.
    But Philippe was not the Council. One of its oldest members, yes, and that meant something as druids were known to be long lived, even older than many of the others on the Council. So why Paris? And why now?
    Instead of asking, though, Jeb did what he knew his friend would do for him. “I shall find the next flight available.”
    “ Bon .” Jeb could hear the relief in his friend’s voice, which worried Jeb even more.
    “I will contact you once I arrive.” Jeb took a deep swallow of cooling coffee.
    “I shall open my home to you,” Philippe replied, then added. “but I ask a small request.”
    “Yes?”
    “Tell no one you are coming.”
    “No others on the Council?”
    “Especially them.”
    Now Jeb knew the situation was dire. Philippe took his position as senior Council member very seriously, often acting as the lone voice of reason between the various interests and factions. Since the Council included fae, shifters, vampires, witches and demons as well as shamans and druids, reason often butted heads with warring needs and ancient feuds. These seven members spoke not only for themselves but for the peoples and the beings not represented on the board, and there were many.
    Juggling the needs of preternaturals made raising five children on his own seem smooth sailing in comparison. So why the sudden secrecy?
    “I will speak to no one,” he said, to allay his friend’s