by Lauren Dane
“Me too. Now, let’s drink and have food. In a few hours we have to leave here and face the day back home.”
“Oh that.” She winked and squeezed his hand. “I’m sorry I don’t have a ring for you. But can I tell you how much I really love those braids you’re rocking? I’m going to need to learn how to do them.”
“I’d like that. I was thinking that we could get rings designed once this mess was taken care of. And I’ll need to come back here to receive the binding marks.”
“Oh like the ones Seymeon has over his heart?”
“Yes.”
“Would they do it for me too?”
“It’s old-school ink, Helena. Sharpened bone tapped into the flesh. It takes multiple hours over a few days.”
“I understand.”
“I don’t know how you always manage to say the right things. But I thank you for it.”
“That’s why I’m your key, right?”
“Right.”
They turned to their loved ones, still holding hands, and received all their love and well wishes.
• • •
TOSHIO had overheard something he was sure he shouldn’t have. He hurried down the hall, heading to Delilah’s office, which was closer than his own.
“Toshio!” The hail at his back sounded an awful lot like Carlo Powers. The way the man had just been saying what he had and also referred to Tosh by his first name instead of Senator Sato rubbed Tosh the wrong way.
He was a veteran. A JAG. An elected official and most definitely not a coward. He would not run from this garbage.
He slowed and turned, not bothering with a smile.
“I didn’t realize you meant me at first.”
“I called your name.” Powers’ smile was smarmy and patronizing.
“No, you called Toshio instead of Senator Sato, so I was sure you didn’t mean me.”
“Ah, I thought we were past such formality.”
“Why would you think that? What is it you want, Mr. Powers? I’m a busy man.”
“There’s no need for hostility. I saw you in the hall outside Marlon’s office and we hadn’t yet spoken about the troubling issue of the Others.”
“Like your despicable call for the death or incarceration of a significant minority of our citizenry? I should think such a conversation wouldn’t be necessary. I find you and your ideas repugnant. That you have a senator in your back pocket makes it more so. My opinions regarding the civil and human rights status of Others are well documented. I’ll pray for you, Mr. Powers, but there’s no use in discussing your ideas because they’re disgusting and un-American.”
The smarm fell right off Powers’ features then and the mean settled into his eyes. Tosh had seen that brand of meanness, usually before someone used a racial epithet on him.
“I’m sorry to hear it. I’d hoped you’d choose America over your Other-loving ways. But I guess once you get one into bed you lose your mind.”
“I’m not surprised your mind is in the gutter right along with your soul.”
“Save it, Toshio. You’re nothing and neither is that werewolf whore.”
Delilah materialized at his side as if he’d dreamed her up. And thank goodness she was there to grab his fist before it slammed into Carlo Powers’ face.
“Careful there, Carlo. Your pornographic imaginings might get you into trouble. Run along and go find your white sheet.” Delilah actually inserted herself between them, giving Powers her back in what was a supreme wolf insult.
“I was just on my way to your office.” He dismissed Powers before he lost his shit and beat the crap out of him like he preferred to. “Oh, and Mr. Powers? That’s still Senator Sato to you.”
They continued to Delilah’s office and he shut the door, leaning against it and scrubbing a hand across his face. “I apologize you had to hear such filth. I wanted to punch him. I should have punched him.”
She waved it away and took his hands, bending to kiss each fist. “I appreciate the chivalry. But I can assure you, Toshio Sato, that once you do get into my bed, you won’t be the same.”
Her grin eased his spine a little. “Listen, I have to make a call right now. Can you be sure we’re not overheard?”
“Only if you tell me what the heck is going on.”
He did and her eyes got wide. “Be right back. I’ll send my staff out to get me something to eat and have Allen watch the door.”
He got his phone out and dialed Molly.
“Tosh, how are you?” He smiled at the sound of her voice.
“I’ve been better. Nearly punched Carlo Powers in the face for calling Delilah a whore five minutes ago.”
“What? There’s something very wrong with him. Why is he always lurking around the senate offices anyway?”
“I need to talk to you about that. You might want to have Meriel in on this too.”
“That doesn’t bode well. I’m not at the office right now. I’m on my way to a COO meeting.”
“Okay then, you can tell them all when you get there. I overheard something today. Something I shouldn’t have. Marlon and Carlo were in Hayes’s outer office. They have some sort of book. Someone gave them a book and Powers says it has a spell that will open the way to bring the Magister back. One of the turned witches told him they could kidnap Rebecca Gennessee and she could perform the spell. They have her address and handed it over to the turned witches.”
“Holy shit.”
Given that Molly rarely ever cursed, it was an indicator of how seriously she took what he just told her.
She sighed. “Okay. I’ll pass all this on. Did they know you heard? You said you had an altercation with Powers.”
“He saw me in the hall, he said. But I don’t think he knows I heard.”
“You need to be on the alert and take extra precautions. Delilah too. Thank you for telling me.”
“Of course. Let me know if I can help in any other way. I’m calling Agent Anderson at the FBI when I get off the line with you. They need to know. As for the bill, we’re debating this on the floor later today and into tomorrow.”
“I’ll be watching. Be careful, Tosh.”
“You too, Molly.” He hung up and looked to Delilah, who handed him a cup of coffee. “Now to call Gil Anderson.”
Chapter 23
HELENA was still riding on a lovely joy-inspired high when her phone rang. It was Molly and she smiled, answering. “Hey there, Moll.”
“I wish I was only calling with congratulations.”
Helena sighed. “Uh oh.”
“First, congratulations. I’m so happy for you. Faine is perfect and the two of you are so wonderful together. I’m sorry I had to miss the ceremony, but Lark says your parents are planning a big party for a few months from now so Gage and I will definitely be at that one. We’ll need to throw a bachelorette party. Belated of course, but still.”
“Looking forward to seeing you wearing a hat with penises all over it.”
Molly paused and Helena laughed, just imagining her face just then. “All righty then. On that note, and really speaking of dicks, I have some news about Hayes and Powers.”
“Ugh.”
Which of course was an understatement once Molly had updated her. She started her walk over to Rebecca’s office. “I’m on it. Does Lark know?”
“She’s next on my list. I wanted to call you first because it dealt with Rebecca.”
“Have Lark call me once you’re done. Do not go anywhere without Gage, do you hear me?”
“Yes, yes, of course. He was with me when I got the call. He hasn’t been out of reach since.”
She sighed. “All right. Thanks.”
Faine appeared at her side. She didn’t even need to look to know he was there. Aside from his body heat, she just knew.
“I heard part of that. I’m not going to be leaving your side either.”
“It’s The Gennessee we need to be worried about. Listen, I’ve been meaning to ask you about travel through the Veil. Wh
y haven’t we been using it? I mean it takes hours to fly to and from DC and even back and forth to Seattle. If you can leave here and exit in Lycia and then head to Seattle, can we do that and go to DC?”
“What are you thinking of?”
“Can it be done?”
“In some cases. I was able to leave here to go to Lycia and then meet you in Seattle because I came through with Simon. He’d come through in Seattle. But it’s not so straightforward when it comes to originating in one place and coming out another. There are rules about Veil travel. Mainly it’s about keeping numbers down, so different species can’t send an army through to another place. That’s why we can’t send an army of Lycians here en masse all at once. It would have to be done in stages. And even then there are caps. It’s the same with the Fae and anyone else on the other side of the Veil. Why do you ask? Other than making travel to see your sister quicker. Which we can do if they meet us in Lycia.”
“I’d like to sneak to DC and install some spells in Hayes’ and Powers’ homes and offices. We need to know what the heck is happening. They’re up to all this stuff, and while I don’t think they can bring the Magister back, they’re fooling around with dangerous stuff. We have no idea just what it could result in.”
“I can’t get us to DC. Not that way. There are no portals within about six hundred miles of DC. I don’t know why, but that’s the truth. But . . .” He paused. “Mei, Card’s mate, she’s Fae. They can travel that way. Let me call her and see what we can arrange.”
“All right. I need to get permission first anyway. And if we’re a go, I’d like to do it tonight.”
“I do like it that you said we.”
“I know you. And I need the backup. I’d ask Lark, she’s great at the sneaky stuff, but she’s got enough on her plate.”
“Okay. I’ll call when this meeting with Rebecca is over.”
She rapped on Rebecca’s door. “I have some news.”
“Come in. Hello, Faine. Congratulations are in order, I hear.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry to say my visit isn’t a happy one. Molly just called. Senator Sato overheard Powers and Hayes talking about a plot to kidnap you to force you to perform a spell that would open a portal to bring the Magister back.”
“Well, that’s bollocks. We know it’s not possible. I trust our scholars over anyone they might be talking to.”
“Yes, turned witches are not reliable, and none of them are ranked highly enough to have known any of the magicks to even try such a thing. But that doesn’t erase the danger you’re in. For the turned witches and mages, you’re a king-sized snack. They could very well be manipulating the PURITY thugs into grabbing you for their own goals, but it’s still a plot to kidnap you. You have five guards. There are guards stationed at your home as well. I’d like to request that you temporarily move into quarters in an enclave. There’s one here in Pasadena. You and the kids can live there until this passes.”
“Passes? Helena, what if it never does? Am I supposed to just yank my children from the only stability they have right now? From the home they shared with their dad?” Rebecca had lost her husband to lung cancer three years before. She had three kids ranging from nine to fourteen. They were currently being educated in the school the Clan set up two years before. Thank goodness they had, it was one less worry, a safe place free of the harassment the children of Others worldwide were facing in public schools.
“One step at a time. What would the Clan do without you? What would the kids do? We all need you. It’s my job to keep you safe. I don’t think they can bring the Magister back. But I do think they can use you in a horrible way. I’d prefer that not happen.”
“This threat needs to be addressed in another way too.” Rebecca looked straight at Helena. “Faine, I need to speak of something very sensitive.”
“You can trust me. As Helena is Gennessee, I am Gennessee.”
She shrugged and spoke under her breath and the privacy spell knitted around them.
“We need to think about what we’re going to do if and when these bills pass through Congress.”
“Yes. I’ve created a master plan for full military mobilization. I’ve coordinated with the wolves, cats and Vampires on this plan through the COO. We do not have the numbers the humans do, but we have the power they don’t. Lark is working with the witches to get spells in place to shut things down. The power grid, their communications network. The Kelly sisters up in the archives at Owen think they have a spell that will create a version of an EMP, which would disable nearly all their vehicles and everything else electrical. We’d need to be sure ours are shielded and Gage has been working with Marian and reps from different Other groups to get all that in place.”
Rebecca nodded, smiling. “You’re very organized.”
“I feel better when I make plans. If they try to advance this plan to arrest us and put us in camps . . . or worse, we have contingencies in place. I just finished it all when I returned this morning. I hard-copied everyone rather than taking the chance and emailing. It’s probably in your inbox.” She pointed.
Rebecca leaned forward to sift through her mail and found the envelope. “Smart to hard copy. We just don’t know if they have anyone else in our ranks, or if they have ways of hacking into our email or phones.”
“There’s a basic evacuation plan. The kids in the school will be transported to the nearest enclave. That’s where we’ve got the best numbers for protection. They’ve all been warded up tight. Once a physical evacuation has started, we’ll get the spells in place. You, Meriel, the other Clan leaders, Warden, de La Vega and Franco Pendergast will issue a statement of noncompliance. I’m told you all have that in hand?”
“Yes, we agreed on wording just a few hours ago. Meriel pre-recorded it and it’s set to go if and when we need it.”
Helena tried hard not to think about it in a big-picture way. If she just took care of all the preparatory steps she didn’t have to focus on the fact that they were actually really going to war with humans.
“I don’t think the humans have a majority on these ideas. I think the fringes are driving this bus.”
Helena tended to agree. “Hopefully if this ridiculous legislation passes through the both houses, the president will veto and the people will stand up and tell their elected officials to back off.”
“I hope so too. But planning is important. And how are we situated here?”
“If we’re stuck here, we can hold out for some time. The bottom floors are fortified. We’ve got food, water, generators. The armory is stocked. Several staff are trained medics.”
“A year ago, if someone had told me this would happen, that I’d be sitting here in my office planning an actual war with humans, I’d have told them they were crazy.” Rebecca blew out a frustrated breath. “All right, I’ll move to a enclave. Today. Keep me apprised on this business.”
Helena paused. “I think we need some eyes and ears on the ground in DC.”
“Yes? And what do you propose?”
“I think they’re watching us here as well as they can. I may have a way to travel to DC quickly and without notice. If it works out, I can go to DC, plant some spells in the homes and offices of a few people, and be back in a few hours.”
“Do it then. But damn you, Helena Jaansen, do not get caught and for all that is holy do not get killed. I love you like you’re one of my own and that would be something I’m not sure I could recover from.”
“I’ll do my best. I’ll have Marian coordinate with you on getting moved into the enclave as soon as possible and report back when I hear more.”
They left Rebecca’s office. “Have you eaten today?” Faine asked her as they walked.
“I had wedding cake.”
He smiled down at her, unable not to. “Be that as it may, other than what we ate at three in the morning, have you eaten?”
“Not in a while.”
“Here’s what we’re going to do. We’ll have lunch while I call Mei to se
e what we can set up for later tonight.”
“All right. There’s food set up in the conference room for the live feed for the floor debate in the senate. I’m expecting a call from Lark soon as well so I’ll have to step out at some point.”
“I’ll make the call and meet you in there. Save me a seat.”
She nodded. “Thank you.”
Rebecca wasn’t the only one who wasn’t sure she’d be able to survive it if anything happened to her. He’d keep doing what he was doing, which was everything possible to keep her safe while helping her do her job.
He dropped her off at the conference room.
“I’ll make you a plate too, but I can’t promise I won’t steal your pickle so don’t be gone too long.”
He shook his head. “Be back in a few.”
He headed to her office and put in a call to Card’s place, hoping they had stopped in San Francisco instead of heading to Tir nA nOg.
Card answered. “It’s Faine, is Mei around?”
“What trouble are you going to get my lovely wife into?”
Faine snorted. “You know me well.” He explained Helena’s plan to them both, as Mei had picked up the other line.
“Easily enough done,” Mei said. “Jayce can help. He’ll bring you, since I imagine you’re not going to let the two of us go alone, and Card will want Jayce with me anyway since he can’t go.”
“Exactly.”
“We’ll meet you in your living room at half past nine our time tonight.”
“Thank you, Mei.”
“She’s something else, your Helena. I’m glad to help.”
He hung up and headed over to watch the floor debate.
Chapter 24
MERIEL Owen appeared on the screen. Beautiful. Confident and calm. The perfect spokesperson on their behalf. Helena tried to relax her spine, but it was impossible.
She’d been on some of the news shows, as had Tosh and others on their side of this issue. But they also bought commercial time so she could speak directly to the American people.
“Today, the United States Senate will have a floor debate regarding the so-called Domestic Safety Act. This legislation calls for the wholesale removal of citizenship and basic civil rights for all Others, regardless of their status before the Magister appeared.
