Free Sealed with a Kick by Zenina Masters

Chapter One
     
     
    She knotted her hands in the shirt of the man across the table from her and snarled. “I am a fucking professional!”
    The mages gathered in the room looked nervous, and her boss, Miiko, pried her off the man who had called her a bit of fluff.
    “There, there, Maestro. I am sure that he didn’t mean it. You have to admit that it is an accurate description of your other form.”
    She gave her boss a dark look and let the mage fall back into his chair. She backed off the table she was crouched on and returned to her seat.
    The chairman of the meeting cleared her throat. “As I was saying. We are having a problem with skin stealers heading to beaches and taking advantage of the seal and walrus population. Are you able to assist us, Agent Maestro?”
    Berry drummed her fingers on the table next to her. “Yes. Of course. Just because mages like to prey on those they perceive to be weaker doesn’t mean that they should get away with it.”
    Miiko chuckled. “If my niece is up for it, you can guarantee that they will not succeed in whatever they have planned. She is a tenacious agent.”
    The four mages in the room looked at her warily and nodded slowly. The chairman cleared her throat. “We can see that.”
    Berry cocked her head. “Do you have any supplies for me?”
    The mages recoiled. She was asked, “You can use magic?”
    “No. I can use pre-set magic. There is a difference. I can’t set the spell, but I can set it off.”
    The chairman nodded and lifted up a box from the floor next to her. “I was asked to bring this; I just didn’t know why. These are transport cuffs. Snap one of these on a suspect and they will be transported to our holding area.”
    The chairman dismissed the other mages and smiled when it was just Berry, Miiko and herself.
    “I have the coordinates for transport. I can get you there in a matter of minutes. We know that they are going to strike today. Seals are on their list for skins.”
    Berry shivered. The process of skin stealing for magic was cruel and vicious. The prey was skinned alive, connecting the skin with the animal for all eternity. Using the animal souls for their own benefit was definitely not something she wanted them to get away with.
    “I will get them. You will have them in a matter of hours if your intel about location is accurate.” Berry smiled. She collected the cuffs and held the four rings loosely with her thumb and forefinger.
    Chairman Willing smiled. “I must say, you are more aggressive than I expected, considering your beast.”
    Berry smirked. “Fucking right.”
     
    Two hours of stakeout on the beach with other fluffy white baby seals was about to come to an end. Berry Maestro made like a curious critter and approached the men, making a plaintive mother-call.
    “I never expected one to come right to us, Rob. This one will make an amazing call-beast.”
    One of the mages hunkered down and beckoned to her.
    The man behind him smacked his shoulder. “We need an adult. The fur on this one isn’t suitable for long-distance swimming.”
    They ignored her, and that was fine with her; she called for them, and one of the men patted her on the head before they got a net out and circled the mounds of mothers and pups.
    Berry silently shifted and got to her feet, wrapping her arm around the neck of the man immediately in front of her and holding tight until he dropped to the rocky shore.
    She kicked out at the man nearest her, taking him to the ground. Two thrown rocks took out the two holding the net.
    She went to the man she had kicked down and kicked him in the head.
    When they were all out, she ran from man to man and snapped the bracelets on them, activating the spell.
    She collected the net and the debris that they had dropped. With all of the scattered items collected, she headed for the high beach and her clothing.
    “Look alive, Stacey. It is time to go home.” Berry smiled at her transporter as she jumped.
    Stacey closed her