“I just recently started seeing someone.” The Trust had no official rule against dating a co-worker, but I saw no reason to invite trouble.
Mr. Foxworth nodded, as if that were the correct answer. “And are you a virgin?”
I was glad now he hadn’t offered coffee. I might have spewed it across his polished mahogany desk. As it was, I gaped and felt myself color. Never in my wildest nightmare had I imagined being asked such a question by a man old enough to be my grandfather. A man who could fire both me and Barry with a word.
Sunlight backlit his silver hair, giving the impression of a halo, though the arrogance radiating from him didn’t seem in the least angelic. I wished I could see his face, read there what his interest in me was, but ultimately it didn’t matter. I liked my job, and I wanted to keep it, but I wouldn’t be cowed. “That’s none of your business, sir.”
Foxworth chuckled. “Normally, you’d be correct, Ms. Benton, but the Trust has an important project in mind for you, and your answer is pertinent.”
The Trust collected and collated information about anomalous events and paranormal activity. Why could they possibly need to know about my sex life?
Barry touched my hand briefly. “It’s okay, Marianne. I already told Kincaid.”
“What? Why?” I glared at Barry, boggled he would share that intimate memory with our boss. He gave me a weak smile, but he didn’t meet my eyes. I returned my attention to Foxworth. “So you know I slept with Barry. I won’t deny it. We’re healthy adults. There’s nothing wrong with what we did.”
This was surreal. Why would the head of the Trust come to San Diego for this? Were they about to fire us? But if that was all it was, Kincaid would have done it.
“No, Ms. Benton, your jobs are safe.”
My attention sharpened. This was the second time Foxworth had seemed to read my mind. Was that how he kept close tabs on everything within the Trust?
“Mr. Kincaid told me you’ve been sleeping with Mr. Mackson, but I needed to learn how comfortable you are with your sexuality. That’s why I’ve asked you these personal questions. Our project requires a discreet young woman who has nevertheless embraced the modern, more progressive cultural attitudes.”
Now I was really confused. He wants a woman who doesn’t think sex needs to be saved for marriage. That described most of the women I went to college with. What was this all about? I was pretty sure this wasn’t personal. The sexual vibe wasn’t there, and there were much better ways to find a mistress. “Why?”
“You will not be under any compulsion to accept this assignment. You are free to refuse. However, what I’m about to tell you is quite delicate. Regardless of what you decide, you cannot discuss this with anyone outside the project, not even within the Trust. Do you agree?”
My curiosity was piqued. There was no way I could refuse without knowing what this was about. “Yes, of course.”
“You’ve heard of the Golden Path?”
I entered information into the Trust’s database from all over. “Yes, they’re a fraternal organization that likes to use occult trappings in their meetings. They sponsor a children’s medical charity and host an annual fund drive.”
Foxworth nodded. “On the surface, that’s all true. Publicly they’re the fraternal organization you described. Beneath the surface, however, they’ve been influencing trade and governments in Europe for several hundred years. The Trust has long known there was an occult connection, but we thought they were mostly dabblers, that their interests were mostly of the usual sort. Only recently have we learned they have access to a true Power they’ve been drawing upon.”
“A Power?” The capitalization was clear in his voice, but I wasn’t sure what he meant by it.
Foxworth’s brows drew together in a frown, but he continued in the same even tone. “An Elemental. They’re using it to pursue goals that are becoming increasingly ambitious and alarming. The decisions of world leaders are being manipulated by magic to adopt policies and instigate wars so Upton and other companies can profit from arms sales and raise prices of scarce resources. They’ve used spells to create unnatural outbreaks of disease so they can sell medicines. People are suffering, all for profit and power. Their influence is growing. It’s all quite legal, and quite evil. We need your help to pull the plug on them, to cut them off from the source of their Power.”
My stomach clenched. Politicians were influenced enough by money. What hope did average people have of controlling their own lives if magic was being used to stack the deck against them? What Foxworth was saying was horrible, but what did he expect me to do about it? “How am I supposed to do that? I don’t know magic. I’m not even psychic!”
“Actually, the tests you took when we recruited you show you have a fair amount of latent talent, but that’s not what we need from you now, Marianne. May I call you that?”
He might as well. He already knew about my sex life. He couldn’t get much more personal. I nodded.
“The Golden Path has an Elemental held captive. A Spirit of Power whose strength they’re syphoning to use for their own twisted purposes. This Elemental volunteered a thousand years ago to protect the last surviving child of a leader destined to bring order to the world. Unfortunately that man failed, but the Spirit, Aldwyn, is bound to his line. Over the centuries the man’s enemies evolved into The Golden Path, and approximately 160 years ago they discovered a way to bind and use Aldwyn’s Power. He’s been serving them unwilling for well over a century. It is our goal to eliminate their unnatural influence in Europe and the Middle East. To do that, we need to free Aldwyn and prevent them from regaining their hold over him.”
All very interesting, but he still hadn’t answered my question. “What has this got to do with whether I’m a virgin?”
Foxworth pressed his steepled fingers against his pursed lips and considered me for a moment.
I knew I wasn’t going to like what he was about to say.
“Lucius Altesse is the owner of Upton Industries.”
I frowned. He still wasn’t answering my question. And what did an international conglomerate have to do with this? “I’ve never heard of him.”
“That’s because he prefers to keep a low profile. Altesse lets the CEOs of his various corporations take the limelight. He doesn’t need or want the public’s interest. He’s one of the Circle of Five, and the man who holds Aldwyn in thrall. He’s guarded both by magic and by mercenaries.
“His son Conrad, however, has just transferred to UCSD. Altesse the younger is not fond of restrictions or his bodyguards, so you should be able to get close to him.”
I was still waiting for an explanation, and I was starting to feel annoyed. “And do what exactly?” I asked a bit sharply.
Foxworth ignored my tone, answering in the same measured cadence he’d used all along. “Seduce him and conceive his firstborn child.”
Table of Contents
Title page
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
EPILOGUE
Lightbringer Page 22
