Acceptance. Understanding. Calm.
I gaze into Rayne’s eyes and search for the truth behind her words. I have to know she believes it. I have to know that she isn’t just saying this to make me feel better.
The honesty of the slow, sensual kiss she presses to my lips says everything I need to know. She curls into me, gripping tight, and I return the embrace pouring every ounce of myself through my lips into hers.
And then I’m crying again. But these aren’t painful tears or distressed ones. These are the tears of true relief, an emotion I haven’t truly felt in a long, long time.
Chapter Thirty-four
After a further night and day in observation the Omega team Grade Sevens allow me to leave. None of them are happy about it, but as far as anyone can tell, the marks on my back are healing like any other injury, maybe better, and seem to have no lasting effects.
They do insist that I return for regular check-ins and the Grade Six who passes on the message looks more than a little irritated when I firmly but politely decline.
I’ve no intention of returning to medi-bay unless I need to be there. Not when plenty of other agents likely need the space I’m occupying.
I know the woman wants to argue, but Rayne is quick to point out that both she and I have a meeting with Colonel Addington and that we can’t keep him waiting.
Seems the little white lie we told back at holding has spread further than we anticipated. The colonel has rapidly garnered a reputation for loud, angry outbursts and a virulent hate of tardiness which makes me both laugh and twitch with nerves.
As we leave the lower floors of HQ and travel upward to our more usual levels, Rayne holds my hand and gently squeezes my fingers.
“You okay?”
“Yeah.” I smile with more confidence than I feel. “Can’t get too much worse than everything else we’ve been through, right?”
“Indeed.”
The lift reaches the ground floor and stops long enough to let on another cluster of people. Among them are my teammates, Duo, Solo, Erkyan, Willow, and Hawk. The others are Delta desk agents, simultaneously alarmed and amused to find so many field agents in their midst.
They escape quickly on the first floor and leave me inside the traveling metal box with my team.
Nobody speaks. Or rather, they do, but not with words. I see plenty of raised shoulders, lowered gazes, and shuffling fingers. A low, inward curved tail and bowed heads also send a pretty clear message.
I clear my throat. “We’re going to be okay, guys.”
“Suspended is not okay.” Erkyan frowns up at me. “What will I do with no job? Before, I did work in cake store, but now I am SPEAR. I have training. I want to help. Can I still?”
The honest answer is I don’t know and I tell her as much. “As far as anybody else knows, we were investigating the missing agents when the weird Loup Garou-Blood Moon stuff happened. “I don’t really know what this is about, but all we can do is see. Anyway, I’m the team leader here, so you don’t need to worry. Any disciplinary or punishment they’ve got lined up is all mine.”
Duo yawns, flashing his rear-most teeth. “It all sounds like red tape and HR pandering if you ask me. But don’t worry. We’re behind you whatever happens.”
“But of course.” Hawk gives his wings a ruffling shake. “We’ll stand by you like we always have. You won’t be taking the blame alone.”
Nods of agreement from all those gathered. “No. They’re used to me pulling silly stunts by now, it goes with my rep. There’s no need for you to get dragged in too.”
Rayne touches my shoulder. “Dragged into what? Like he said, we’re all with you. Always.”
Stunned, I look round at my team, the misfits and rejects of the wider SPEAR population. Agents unafraid to break a few rules to get to the bottom of a problem. Agents who think up, down, and left and right instead of in straight, immovable lines. Agents who ask questions and require answers. Agents like me.
I find myself grinning. “You guys sure about this?”
“Hell yeah and we’re going to make damn sure that—”
Solo cuts off his brother’s gleeful response with a smart smack around the back of his head. “Very sure. Know that whatever happens, Danika, we will back you. No matter what.”
Those warm, encouraging words still ring in my ears when we open the door to the conference room.
* * *
It’s a small area with one large table with three chairs down each of the long sides. Can’t help but notice there isn’t enough space for all of us to sit.
Erkyan and Willow take one look at the table and immediately head for the corner on the left. They sit on the floor with their hands in their laps, looking all the world like attentive school children. Duo and Solo share a glance, then position themselves in front of the door, guarding it from outside entry. Hawk gives a jaunty little wave and hops onto the right end of the table where he sits cross-legged and occasionally digs into a bowl of wrapped sweets with the end of his tail.
All this before I see who is in the room.
I clear my throat. “Um, hi.”
Addington, Jack, and Maury all sit on the far side of the table wearing mixed expressions of anger, surprise, and amusement respectively.
Maury merely shakes his head and gestures to the two chairs on our side of the desk.
We sit.
Addington stands. “This is a private meeting between Agents Karson and Rayne. The rest of you degenerates will wait outside.”
Duo picks his teeth with his index fingernail.
Willow signs something quick and rude that I’m certain I’m the only one to see.
Hawk stops digging at the sweets and sweeps a collection of empty wrappers onto the table.
Solo yawns and leans more heavily against the near wall.
Erkyan shoves a finger in her ear and twists until something grimy and slightly crusty comes out on the end of her finger.
Not one of them makes a move to leave.
Rage visibly fills Addington’s features. “Did you hear me? Get out of here right now. Now, or I’ll see you all suspended from duty.”
Rayne coughs gently. “Forgive me, Colonel, but my understanding of these disciplinary hearings is that all members of an affected team must be present to give evidence and character references. My teammates simply wish to follow said rule.”
Maury nods approvingly.
Jack sinks low into his seat, clearly wishing to be anywhere else.
“Evidence?” Addington’s voice jumps several octaves. “What evidence is there to be had? You two are the sole cause of this entire werewolf debacle, and your actions have endangered hundreds if not thousands of lives. You should be dismissed where you stand.”
Willow leaps to her feet and walks over to the table. As ever, her steps are light and dainty, and as she moves, a faint scent of willow bark fills the air. She stops between our two chairs to face Addington directly and begins to speak in sign.
After a few seconds, the blustering colonel looks ready to erupt. “What is this tomfoolery, what is she doing?”
“It’s Sprite Sign, Colonel.” Jack finally speaks, narrowing his eyes at Willow’s busy hands. “I don’t know it, but I recognize some of the gestures. She’s speaking to you.”
“Well, how the hell am I supposed to know what she’s saying?”
Jack sits a little straighter. I might be making it up, but I’m half certain he gives me the faintest of winks before speaking. “Perhaps a little additional training is in order? You can hardly do your best job aiding us in the protection of the citizens of Angbec if there are those you can’t converse with.”
Willow keeps signing, faster now, and I have to fight hard to stifle my laughter. She’s furious, telling Addington what she plans to do to him if he dares to take any of the team off duty. There are also plenty of rather rude names tossed in there which, truth be told, it’s probably better Addington can’t translate.
“Willow? W
ait, what are you even saying—”
Maury clears his throat, hard and loud. “Okay, Agent Willow, calm down, no need to get so distressed. Perhaps I should translate?”
Willow immediately stops signing. She looks a little worried, but Maury gestures for her to continue as he keeps speaking.
“I will be more than happy to tell the colonel exactly what he needs to hear, Agent. Feel free to keep signing.”
Addington’s face grows redder and redder. Any moment now I fear he might explode all over the conference table and splatter all of us with his impotent rage.
Meanwhile I can’t help but gape at Maury. “You know Sprite Sign? Since when?”
“I have a number of skills you know nothing about, Agent Karson, most important of those is when to keep my mouth shut.” He pauses, gaze boring into mine. “Do you understand me?”
“I understand you’re as much of a pain in my arse as you always were. Why can’t you just—”
“The first part of Agent Willow’s impassioned speech,” Maury cuts across me, “was an account of what happened a couple of days ago. But if Agent Willow would be kind enough to keep signing I’d be happy to translate the rest for you, Colonel.”
I freeze in my seat. Even Rayne has become still, that statue-like lifelessness that only vampires can achieve.
“Fine.” Addington returns to his seat, quieter but not at all calmer. “Not that it makes much difference, but I’d be pleased to hear it.”
“Go on then, Willow. Just as you were before.” Maury’s voice is low and heavy, with curious stress on each syllable.
Willow eyes him for a few moments more, then returns to signing, this time fast enough that I have no hope of catching it with my meagre knowledge. Maury, by comparison, speaks quickly and elegantly, his gaze fixed on the motions of Willow’s hands.
“‘While it may be that my companions were involved with the rampage of the wolves earlier this week, it was not in an instigating sense. They sought only to smooth inter- and intra-pack relations and, if you wish, I have several witnesses who will attest to this. They will also confirm that without the calm, rational decision-making, and quick-witted action of these two agents, the resultant damage would have been far worse.’”
The still in the room is palpable. Not quite as intense as Rayne’s but obvious just the same.
Willow gives Maury another of those odd looks.
“It’s okay, Agent. Keep going.” Maury gives a comforting smile. “I take it you have more to say?”
She nods and signs again.
Maury translates. “‘It’s also true that the recent restructure of werewolf packs has left something of a power vacuum. It’s likely that without proper SPEAR intervention, more battles for dominance will break out in the coming days. Despite the unfortunate passing of the Dire Wolf alpha, it remains clear that all the packs of Angbec trust Agents Karson and Rayne above any and all others. If SPEAR wishes to be involved with werewolf packs on good terms going forward, I believe it imperative that they be allowed to continue service.’”
My mouth is hanging open. I know it is. I can’t help it. Rayne gives me a savage jab in the ribs, and as subtly as I can, I smack my lips shut.
Maury stops speaking. Willow stops signing. “Is that everything you wanted to add, Agent Willow?”
She hesitates for the barest second, then nods. With the same dainty steps, she returns to her seat on the floor next to Erkyan who stares at Maury as though he’s grown a second head.
“Well, then.” Maury rubs his hands together. “As I and several others have been telling you, Colonel Addington, these two agents are among the best we have. To remove them from duty now would be to make all our jobs that much more difficult.”
The colonel blusters and slaps his hand on the desk. “But you saw the reports, Maurice. That one in particular,” he points at me, “could be a vehicle for all manner of evil. We have no idea what those signs on her back mean and what kind of problems they could cause down the road.”
Jack clears his throat. “Yes, about that. I meant to bring this to the table earlier, but I got distracted. The Clear Blood Foundation has come into some funding which I intend to funnel into new research. With SPEAR’s assistance of course. We would be more than happy to put our research team in charge of discovering anything and everything we can about this strange black creature and the mark it put on Agent Karson. Phillipa is one of most talented and trusted researchers. I’m sure she’d be more than happy to head the team.”
I can’t help but sit straighter at that. Pip is going to look into my back?
I open my mouth, but Jack continues right over me, louder and faster than before. “She has already shown promising results with investigation into blood mania and synthetic blood substitutes, all things I’m sure you’ll agree are incredibly important to our continued understanding of edanes here and in the wider world.”
“That’s as may be, but you seem to forget about Project Revival. While the emergency protocols are in place, I have full operational control over all aspects of SPEAR, including assessing the field-worthiness of all agents.”
Again I try to speak, but this time Rayne grabs my hand. It’s under the table and subtle, but savage enough a squeeze to choke the words at the back of my throat. I try to catch her eye, but she’s still looking at the three men on the other side of the table, her expression fixed into one of polite interest.
Seems I have no choice but to watch these men discuss my future, but damn it, I’m not happy about it.
Jack nods slowly. “Indeed you do, but the crisis for which I initiated the protocol is now over.”
“What?” Addington seems to lose steam.
“Well, yes. I required aid for the corralling and control of werewolves on a rampage, but as you’ve clearly seen over the last day and heard from—Agent Willow, is it?—the werewolves are now on a path of peace and self-policing, just as they always have been. All thanks to Agents Rayne and Karson.”
“But—”
“Quite right, Mr. Mayor, you’re quite right.” Maury widens his eyes as though shocked. “To think, Colonel, I’ve kept you here all this time when your help was no longer required. I’m so sorry. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
“But—”
“It’s quite all right, Colonel. You’ve no need to worry. I’ll issue the orders right now. Operations here at SPEAR are to return to normal with immediate effect, while you and your soldiers are free to return to your base. Thank you for your time, Mayor Cobé. I’m sorry to bring you here unnecessarily.”
Jack grins widely and holds out his hand for a shake. “Don’t worry about it. Things can be difficult to keep track when one is so busy protecting the people. I’m sure I understand.”
“Right. In that case, I’ll start the cessation procedures.” And Maury is suddenly up on his feet and scooting round the table. He offers Hawk a genial pat on the shoulder as he goes and a quick handshake for Solo who is red-faced and sweaty. At the door, Duo holds it open and gestures our commander through with a quick sweep of his arm.
Addington bolts from his chair so hard the whole thing tips. He follows Maury’s path around the table, straight past Hawk and the two wolves just in time to chase my supervisor as he strides out the door and out of sight. I can hear him calling as he hurries down the corridor, frantic to regain Maury’s attention.
* * *
With a long, slow smile, Duo wraps his hand around the handle and pulls the door shut. “So that went well,” he murmurs.
Solo bursts out laughing. It’s such a loud, free, and genuine sound that I’m startled to hear it from his ordinarily serious mouth. But he’s not the only one. Duo joins him, Hawk too, and the three of them gather together at the end of the table slapping each other on the shoulders and roaring with mirth.
On the floor, Erkyan and Willow grasp hands and hug each other, bouncing up and down from their seated positions.
And Jack? Jack slumps back in his chair and rub
s a hand across his forehead, exhaling hard and sharp through his nose. “Damn it, Danika,” he snaps, “you might be the best agent we have, but did you hit your head or something?”
I gape at him. “Okay, what?” I cry. My voice is higher than I might like it to be, but I don’t care. “What just happened in here?”
Rayne rubs a comforting hand over my knee. “I think our mayor and good Agent Cruush just saved us all from further bullying at the hands of Colonel Addington and his men.”
“You nearly blew it when you interrupted Willow. Good thing she caught on and kept going.”
“What?”
“Come now. You know as well as I do that Maurice can’t speak Sprite Sign.” Jack rolls his eyes. “Good thing he and your teammates are pretty quick off the mark. Oh, and that the colonel is a narrow-minded idiot.”
I gaze around the room. Duo, Hawk, and Solo are still laughing, but they’re walking over now, joining Rayne and me on our side of the table. Even Erkyan and Willow approach until they too are close by, all seven of us facing Jack over the conference table.
Jack sighs again. “Maurice and I probably could have done it alone, but you stepping in was a brilliant touch, Willow. Thank you. Couldn’t have done better if we planned it.”
She looks a little startled but accepts the praise with a blush and faint wave of a green tinged hand.
Maybe I did hit my head. Maybe I have been off my game after Flint’s attack, but I still have no idea what’s going on. I look helplessly at Rayne.
She cups my cheek. “We were going to be suspended, Danika. Anybody could see the colonel was ready to lock us up and toss the keys from the moment we entered the room. By having independent agents—who have already passed their tests, by the way—give such glowing accounts of our work with the werewolves, Agent Cruush was then able to pass credit for soothing them onto us. And after that moot, all the werewolf packs are in a current state of truce, so it’s easy to say that Colonel Addington and his soldiers are no longer needed.”
Moon Fever Page 33
