by T K Eldridge
Evan caught my eye in the rear view mirror and I gave him a thumbs up, then faked a groan.
“There’s a pull out just up ahead, can you hold on that long?” he asked.
“I’ll try, just hurry,” I moaned as I moved to the passenger’s side of the car and prepared to jump out. I pulled power to me and when Evan moved us off the highway, I jumped out of the car and made a retching sound – while I pulled the front passenger’s door open and slammed a wave of magic into the gunman. I heard a yelp as the gun hit the floor. Evan dove out of the driver’s side door and I reached in to yank the gunman out towards me, a fist poised to strike if he was still conscious. He wasn’t.
Evan got to his feet and brushed himself off.
“You okay?” I asked him.
“Yeah,” Evan replied.
“Got any zip ties in this thing?”
“Yeah, in the trunk. One sec,” Evan said and went to get them. I fashioned a pair of zip cuffs and bound the gunman’s hands, then checked his pockets. I found his wallet with his ID, a few bank cards, and some money in it, and a cell phone. “Cameron Marius,” I read out loud. “Evan, help me get this guy into the trunk. We can put the emergency bag up front. Don’t need him getting any ideas.”
We loaded the still unconscious Cameron into the trunk, put the gear bag in the front seat, and I pulled a plastic bag out to pick up the gun and wrap it up. Once everyone was back in the car, I told Evan to take us to the SPD station.
“You okay to drive?” I asked him as he jangled the keys a few times.
“I am. I was so pissed at myself for getting jumped like that. He told me he’d shoot me if I gave away that he was in the car. I’m sorry, Sin,” Evan said.
“Not your fault. You did just the right thing because we’re all alive and he’s going to jail,” I told him. Mira curled in close and rested her head on my shoulder as we pulled back into traffic. “Are you okay, Mira?” I asked, voice low.
“I’m fine. I shielded and watched you handle him perfectly. I was going to say, ‘like a pro’, but you are a pro after five years as an agent. I’m grateful for your skill, but I’m also grateful that you won’t have to use it on a regular basis.”
“My biggest concern was that the concussive blast of magic would knock Evan sideways, which is why I had him pull us over, first. Then if the guy had his finger on the trigger, the blast could make him jerk and the gun would go off. I had to be quick and accurate, and magic like that isn’t a precision tool.”
I pulled out my cell phone and called the Commander.
“Sin, I thought you were out with Mira tonight,” he said as he answered.
“I am, sir. We’re on our way to the station with a perp in the trunk. Who’s on that I can pass him off to?”
“A what?” he asked and I explained what had happened.
“I’ll call it in for you. I think Jim Blundell is on intake tonight. Let me know if you have any problems.”
“I will, sir. Thank you,” I said and disconnected the call.
Mira stayed tucked against my side until we pulled into the station and I directed Evan to the side intake door.
“Leave it running, Evan. I’ll only be a moment,” I said and got out. I opened the trunk and Cameron Marius lay there, smug fury in his expression.
“Mr. Marius, I believe this is your stop,” I said and waved to the agent that stepped out of the building. “Agent Blundell?” I asked.
“Mr. Boudreau, the Commander said you had a special delivery for me. I must admit, this is the first time I’ve had a perp delivered in a Bentley,” Blundell said with a laugh.
“Meet Cameron Marius,” I said and handed over the wallet and cell phone to Blundell. Two intake agents came out to drag Marius out of the trunk and marched him towards the station, and I waited until he was inside before I handed the bag-wrapped gun to Blundell. “He held my driver at gunpoint. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to get my wife home for the night. Evan and I can come in tomorrow morning and give our statements.”
“No problem. We’ll book him on the attempted kidnapping with criminal intent for now. With the weapon charge, he’ll be looking at a nice long stay,” Blundell said. “Good work, Boudreau. I hope med school knows what a great agent they’re getting.”
“Thanks, Blundell. Good night,” I said, but his words really made me feel better about my decision. I had been a decent enough agent, but I was going to shine as a doctor, doing what I loved. I got back in the Bentley and we went home.
I spent the rest of the night showing my wife just how much I adored her.
Chapter Thirteen
Sid
Once we got Drake’s stuff moved into my place on the farm, he went out to do a grocery run and said he would be cooking more because he loved my kitchen. I called Grandma Maggie and asked if she and Grampa Fionn would be available for a short meeting tomorrow – and she said they’d make time. If I wanted to come for lunch, that would be ideal – so I made plans to do just that.
Drake returned, and we unloaded the groceries and put stuff away, then made some coffee to go with roast beef sandwiches and pie for dessert. We ate while sprawled across my sofa in the living room and watched TV.
“I’ll be having lunch with the Royals tomorrow,” I said. “And I never asked just how involved you wanted to be in this council project.”
“I will help as much, or as little, as you want,” Drake said. “All you have to do is ask.” His hand wrapped around my ankle and he gave a little squeeze. “I find you beautiful and desirable, but it was your brilliant mind that captivated me first.”
“When I first saw you, I thought you looked like a pirate,” I said.
Drake laughed. “Well, that’s a first. And you still let me in?”
“Grizz was with you. I trusted him,” I said.
“Do you trust me now?”
“With my life,” I replied as he leaned in to kiss me.
The next day, Drake had to go help with the restocking run for the palace and he had plans to hang out with the guys at Finn and Katy’s place, so I went to lunch with the Royals alone.
The weather was nice, so we sat out on the back deck under an awning and had club sandwiches, homemade fries, and cold tea.
“I can’t get over how much happier and relaxed the two of you are these days,” I said. “You look years younger and just brighter overall.”
“I think I can speak for us both when I say we feel younger and lighter,” Grampa Fionn said.
“I hear Drake has moved in while he’s building his house?” Grandma Maggie said.
“He did. We’ve still not bonded, but it’s becoming more difficult to resist his charms,” I replied. “I’m starting to question my reasons for avoiding it all, but until I’m sure, I’ll wait.”
“Smart girl. Besides, sometimes waiting makes it all the sweeter when you finally do give in,” Grampa said and winked at Grandma.
“He’s saying that for my benefit, Siddie. I made him wait,” Grandma replied. “We had wed out of necessity, but I made him put out a bit of effort before I truly became his queen.”
“So you understand,” I said. “It has to be a choice, not just a happenstance.”
“Precisely that,” Grandma replied.
“Have you come to give us your decision on the council?” Grampa asked.
“I have. I will help set it up, but I want to run things by the two of you as we go along. I’m also going to bring Drake with me as my right hand when I go to meet Roisin. That way I have his wisdom and protection, and I’m not just strolling into the enemy camp alone.”
“That sounds like a good plan,” Grampa said. “I wouldn’t trust Roisin the slightest bit. She’s going to be angry that you won’t let her be on the council ballot, and she’ll likely try to find ways to cause more trouble.”
“I’ll be honest, you guys. I’m so done with Auntie Roisin and her bullshit. It’s time she got a reality check and I’m going to be the one to deliver it.” I only
wish I knew just how prophetic that statement would be in the end.
“Are you guys planning on moving back into the palace?” I asked as we finished up lunch.
They looked at each other, then Grampa sighed. “No, we’re not. In fact, we were presented with a few options and wanted to talk to you about them.”
“I’m listening,” I said.
“I want to move back to the farm,” Grandma said, her voice soft. “I was hoping to talk to you about taking over your place when Drake is done building your house.”
I blinked at them both, then chuckled. “It’s kind of small, and there are no servant’s quarters.”
“Chef said he would come by a couple of times a week and make prepared meals for us to heat up, so we didn’t have to cook everything for ourselves, and we can have a housekeeper come in like regular people do, to clean once a week,” Grandma said. “We already spoke to my Lissa and her Liam, and they said it was up to you.”
“I think, if you two can manage in such a small space, it would be a nice change for you. Maybe do an addition like Sin and Mira did, and add a full bathroom and bedroom suite on the first floor,” I said. “What will you do with the palace?”
“Well, part of it is, truly, a museum. We would have that part open to the public. The rest will be reworked and used as a school for the younger ones that live on the Isles. While the older children can board at Finn’s place, or Bastien’s, the young ones can’t be away from their parents like that. This will give them a more structured option on the isle,” Grampa said.
“I like that idea. What about the Archives, though?” I asked.
“Well, you know that stone conservatory in the back corner of the palace grounds? We’re going to have that refurbished and get Oak to link the Archives to that building. It will be protected, and yet still open to those who need access,” Grampa said.
“Wait, link the Archives?”
“Yes, the Archives are their own realm. Oak sealed it off for now, with the siege and all, but he can link the portal wherever we choose,” Grandma replied.
“That’s kind of fantastic,” I said and grinned. “You seem to have figured out everything, except how I’m going to get Roisin to go along with all of this.”
“You’ll do it. I have faith in you,” Grampa said.
“As for the house stuff? Yeah, I’ll happily hand you the keys when we leave. It’s going to take a few months though, even with magic.”
“We’ll make our plans, then. Anything we can do to assist, just let us know,” Grandma said. “Thank you, dear one.”
* * *
That night, Drake made us meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole. It was delicious comfort food and I, for one, was grateful. We sat with our coffee on the screen porch as the light started to fade, and I told him about my visit with the Royals.
“So, they want this place when ours is done? I guess it’s a good thing I have the blueprints then,” he said.
“You do? When were you going to tell me?” My excitement was pretty obvious in my voice and Drake laughed.
“After dinner. I wanted to spend some time with you before we went into house plans mode.”
I got to my feet. “Too late, I’m in house plans mode now. Show me, please.” I even bounced on my toes.
We went inside and he got the tube of rolled up plans, and we spread them out on the kitchen table. He showed me how to read them, and as I listened to him describe the house, I could see it in my mind’s eye. It would be gorgeous…but it needed a few tweaks. No, we did not need to put the toilet in its own closet – that just made it impossible to clean. The office needed to be open to the main house with pocket doors to close it off when needed – and we needed two offices, not just one big one.
A window moved here, a door placement changed there, and I smiled. “Now it’s perfect.”
Drake looked over the changes and shook his head. “It’s not a lot of changes, but it really does help with the traffic flow and overall enjoyment of the space. You’re really good at this. Maybe you should look at the plans for the other houses for the enclave.”
“Sure, I’m happy to help. Oh, I want to drop in on Roisin tomorrow, while you still have the free time. You game?”
“Yeah, I’ll run these back to Mack and then we can go after that?”
“Works for me. Just know I’m nauseous at the idea of actually having to speak with her again.”
“You’ll do fine,” Drake replied and pulled me in for a hug. “I’ll keep you safe, beloved.”
I lifted a hand to brush his cheek and the softness of his goatee. “I know you will. Beloved.”
* * *
We got on the ferry in the late morning to head over to Faery Isle, and found a seat on the upper deck where we could stay out of the wind. The sun was bright where it peeked between clouds that promised a thunderstorm later in the day.
“Breathe, Sidonie,” Drake said as I twisted my braid around and around. “You’re not doing this alone, you’ll be fine.”
“I know,” I said, but I didn’t feel it.
“She’s one person, and she’s not even all that important. Find out what her motivations were for her actions, then counter them. You can do this.”
I could do this. I wouldn’t be alone. I needed to just breathe and get this done. The worry about dealing with Roisin had turned the moment into a beast in my head and I was psyching myself out. The ferry docked and we hired a car to take us to the Dowager House. Roisin still had her home on the outer isle, but she had been staying here during the siege. We got out and I walked up to the guards, Drake a couple of steps behind me.
“I’m here to speak to my aunt, Roisin Murphy,” I said. “I’m Sidonie Boudreau.”
The two guards, one male and one female, both stared at me, then smiled. “Right this way, Ms. Boudreau,” the male guard said and opened the door for me. Drake moved to follow me inside and the female guard tried to stop him.
“That is my bodyguard and right hand. He comes with me or we both leave,” I said. I had read that Roisin called her second in command her ‘right hand’ and that the woman in the position was never away from her side. I chose my terminology with a purpose.
“My apologies, Ms. Boudreau,” she said and let Drake pass. We weren’t scanned for weapons, but I did feel a ward as we passed through the main hall, so I guessed that might have done the scanning for them. Searching us for weapons meant little when you were dealing with supernatural beings.
The male guard passed us off to a woman in a neat skirt suit, hair up in a bun.
“Ms. Boudreau, I’m Emmeline Fisk. Would you like some water, or coffee?”
“Coffee would be nice, thanks. Is Aunt Roisin available to meet with us?” I asked.
“She’s finishing up a call. Follow me. You can wait in the conference room and she should be with you shortly.”
Emmeline led us to a room with a table and chairs, as well as a pair of sofas around a low table. A fireplace hearth on one wall had fantastical carvings in the stone pillars and marble mantle, while two windows ran from floor to ceiling and were thrown wide to the warm light and ocean breezes.
“This is a lovely room,” I said and took a seat at the table where I could easily reach a window if I needed to.
“I’ll have someone bring you a tray in a moment,” Emmeline said as she left us in the room and closed the door behind her.
Drake moved a wing chair to a place to the side and behind me, also near the open window. He leaned over and whispered, “They can probably hear us.”
I nodded and pointed at the chair, then the window, and leaned up to whisper back. “Escape route, yes?”
“Exactly that,” he replied and took a seat.
I expected to be left waiting for a good hour or more, a tactic often used when someone arrived unexpectedly. It showed the waiting person that the other was just so very busy and important, thereby shifting the power balance. So, imagine my surprise when Roisin herse
lf entered with a young man behind her pushing a cart with the coffee about ten minutes later.
I got to my feet and offered a polite nod. “Aunt Roisin, thank you for seeing me.”
“The honor is mine,” Roisin said and gestured for me to reclaim my seat as she took one across from me. “Who did you bring with you?”
“My right hand, Drake Eldhress,” I said and Drake offered her a nod, but remained seated.
Coffee was poured for Roisin and I, since Drake refused any, and a plate of assorted cookies was set on the table between us. The cart was pushed off to the side and the young man left before Roisin began to speak.
“I’ll be honest, I’m grateful you came. I had hoped to sit down with you before now, but I haven’t had the opportunity,” Roisin said. “I need to apologize for the violation of your privacy that was perpetrated upon you by one of my more enthusiastic followers. They have been punished for their actions, and any proceeds from the sale of the book have been donated to the local food pantry. I hope you find that acceptable?”
I was surprised she led with that, but the idea of the proceeds being donated was a good one. “I’m fine with that. I would appreciate receiving an apology from that person. It’s always good to know who was responsible for the insult.”
“That can be arranged,” she said. “So, what brings you to my door?”
“There is to be a council and I’m the one arranging it all. The Royals and the other species leaders have already agreed and each community is choosing two people to be on the ballot, then everyone in the whole region votes. Aware humans, mixed hybrids, pure species, the only qualification is that they are under one century of age.”
“This has been tried before, and failed,” Roisin said, dismissing the idea.
“It was tried poorly before and failed. This is a new era, with technology and a more balanced view of races and species. The reason the candidates must be under one hundred years of age is because too many over that age are unwilling or unable to work with the new viewpoints or the new technology. We need to work together instead of against each other.”
