They made their way across the office to the conference room where the television on the far wall was on. Carlo Powers stood with Marlon Hayes.
Today we have passed the Domestic Safety Act through committee and it will go to a full vote on the floor. Keep in mind that these monsters have had their own murdered for daring to speak out against their ways.
Faine looked over at Helena, who looked positively murderous indeed.
There was a general uproar in the press, people yelling questions.
I know because several of these patriotic men and women have disappeared. They were helping me and our cause and they are all gone today. They admitted what sort of monsters they are, told me all sorts of things. Things Ill be exposing to you all over the course of the next few days. But suffice it to say there is a lot these monsters have not been telling us, despite their claims of honesty and openness.
That bastard! Molly exploded from her chair and then, unable to pace because of the cast, sat back down. We havent been honest? He had spies in our ranks and its our fault? Rita, get all my contacts on the line. We need to respond. I need to get on all the networks to combat this.
We need to be ready for them to expose the existence of the Veil. Of demons and Fae and Lycians. Meriel sipped her coffee. But unless they have actual proof, we dont respond to anything. And what sort of proof can they have? Hearsay? Meriel shrugged. I dont give a damn about what someone, who conveniently isnt around, said about something he or she heard. How can we trust the word of people who wont appear on camera?
Helena smirked.
And we dont know a thing about any disappearing Others. Not unless there are groups of mages out there again, kidnapping them to satisfy their dangerous addictions.
People always underestimated witches, but they were just as hardcore as the rest of the Others when it was necessary. Meriel was a vicious, canny woman and he admired that a great deal. This was high-stakes politics and she was absolutely a player. Marlon Hayes thought hed shake the Others up with this, but he had no idea what was in store for him.
I need to get back to Los Angeles to get people trained down there and manage the movement of our people into the enclave communities. Helena stood.
Keep us updated. Ill contact Rebecca now. Im sure shes seen this mess already. Meriel was gone in moments.
Lark hugged her sister. Please be safe.
Ill do my best. You too.
Faine clasped his brothers forearm and then hugged him. Watch over your woman.
Simon nodded. You too. And be sure to eat plenty of protein because watching over a Jaansen takes a lot of fortitude.
I heard that, Lark called out from where she stood with her sister.
Simon waggled his brows her way and she rolled her eyes and turned back to Helena.
Keep checking in. Ill let you know what we get out of these prisoners.
Helena nodded. Ill go straight to the one weve got in holding. The wolves said we could keep him at Gennessee. Its safer there anyway.
Love you. Lark hugged Helena one last time.
Love you too.
Faine barely restrained himself from taking her hand but did allow a brief touch of her lower back as he guided her from the room.
Their bags were already in the car and they headed off to the airport. They didnt have Mia to fly them this time, but they had engaged the services of another witch whod handle the air travel for the time being.
They loaded in and Faine sat, patting the seat next to him. You may as well relax for the next few hours. Theres nothing you can do while were in the air. Sleep. I have a feeling youll need it.
I have work to do. She pulled out one of her dusty spellbooks. Theres some old-school arcane magicks in this. We lost our ability to work this sort of magick generations ago. Like a muscle you dont use, we got flabby. But with this power boost after the Magister, I think some of us can. And were going to need every weapon we can get.
Why do you think theres this power boost?
She looked up at him after she got strapped in. Ive thought on it a lot. Heard all sorts of theories. I think its that when the Magister left, all the unused magick from the Others that disappeared bled out and we soaked it up. We lost nearly half of our population worldwide. Yes, the mages stole some and the Magister too. But we generate magick by using it. Theres magick in the air and the earth. Less people to use it means more for each of us. Thats my best guess anyway. Morbid though it might be.
He sighed. A good enough guess. He leaned back and closed his eyes. He didnt need to sleep, but the quiet time to think and work things out would be welcome. There was a lot to piece through. Plus, he rarely got the chance to simply be still with her when she wasnt bleeding or being shot at.
She put her head on his shoulder and he opened his eyes, taking in the sight. Possession roared through him. Satisfaction that shed turned to him with a simple show of affection.
His beast pressed against the mans flesh, flexing its claws before subsiding. Just another way she was different than any other who came before. His beast approved mightily.
There were others on the plane and shed touched him that way. He held back a smile, settling for a kiss on the top of her head, breathing her in.
Thank you.
She sat back in her own seat so she could look up into his face.
What for, Alamah?
She smiled. Youve set aside your life to help with all this. You could live in Lycia and no one would try to kill you. No one would discriminate against you for being what you are.
He chuckled at that. Things are not as perfect in Lycia as you might imagine. We go to war. There are dominance battles all the time. I came to you covered in battle scars, remember?
She smiled. Well, I guess thats true. But I . . . thank you for being there when I needed you. Youve given me so much great advice. Youve been someone I could turn to.
It is my pleasure to be there when you needed me. As for setting aside my life? Pah. This is my life. Here with you.
Lucky me, she murmured, but it wasnt sarcastic. He squeezed her hand before she went back to her book.
* * *
BY the time theyd landed Helena knew the news cycle would have begun to spin like a giant tornado. Being with Molly while they were all on the road together had taught her that much.
She turned on the news as they drove from the small airport back to the Gennessee offices. She wanted to ask Faine when they were alone why they couldnt just use trips through the Veil to cut through all this plane travel. There was a time she actually liked to fly.
But even with private planes, which she had to admit kicked ass, it was still hours she couldnt do stuff. Then again, it was hours she couldnt do stuff, and she so rarely got downtime she supposed she should appreciate it.
She didnt though. She needed to be making calls and dealing with email and all that stuff.
Brief me, she said to her father, whod picked them up.
Weve taken the havens and are transforming some of them into guarded enclaves for the witches and Others who live outside major cities. That was a very good idea. He winked at her and she smiled, warmed by the praise.
I have them sometimes.
There are four currently operating in the Los Angeles metro area. But thats not enough, obviously. Weve connected with the Weres. Some of them have huge swaths of private land already. Theyve hooked up with some developers about turning some of that land into mini subdivisions that would include schools, retail, that sort of thing. Oh, and networking hubs so people can work remotely without having to leave to go in to offices. Its not perfect, but its a start. Its a boom business for developers now, which is a good thing to come out of the bad, I suppose. Rebecca is looking into buying three apartment buildings on the same block in San Diego. The Vampires have offered up some property as well.
Really? Well, thats interesting. The Vampires werent much for playing well with anyone else.
Franco likes Lark. I think she drew blood at their first meeting.
Helena laughed. She did. I guess Simon nearly blew a gasket when she went into their nest and popped someone before theyd even gotten inside the front door.
Faine groaned under his breath.
So weve got a short-term solution for most of our people. There will be those who wont want to leave their current homes.
Helena nodded. I know. It wont be mandatory. But we cant offer protection to everyone. Its an option. People can take it or not. Its not an option or a solution for every Other. She accepted that. There was already one in Pasadena. A small subdivision had just finished the first houses. The developers were connected to the ones who created the one Faine lived in, so the new owners were all Others of one type or another. She had looked at a two-bedroom cottage-style that fit in quite nicely with the architecture in that part of the city. Maybe it was time to pull that trigger.
Evan has been working to get a schedule up and in place to patrol each of these enclaves. The Gennessee wants you to get some law enforcement structure in place with courts and that sort of thing. If were stepping totally out of human law enforcement its going to be more complicated than what weve been doing so far.
Shed already drawn up a preliminary plan the night before so shed be sure to stop in to see Rebecca first thing and drop it off.
I dont see any way around it. I wish I did. If theyre not going to help us, we have to help ourselves, and that means building our own structure. Maybe Im wrong.
Stop it now. Her fathers voice was terse enough to snag her attention and make her turn to him, mouth open.
Faine leaned forward but she held her finger up to stay him.
Stop what?
Now isnt the time to second-guess yourself. Youre in charge for a reason, Helena, and its not because Im your father. Youre not wrong. Youre doing what you need to to keep people safe in this new world. We cant afford to sit around and wish things were different. They arent. You know that more than most anyone. You have seen things most of us havent. Your decisions are good and sound and you have to stop this ridiculous guilt tripping over Indio and you have to do it right now.
Faine sat back as she thought of what to say.
Chris Stevenson was one of their spies. He was one of my people and I had no idea he was betraying us. Thats not good decision making.
He is, yes. And hes been questioned by me. He has a gambling problem. He owes a great deal of money in Las Vegas. The mages had been watching for just such a weakness and they sought him out. Once hed helped them the first time, they used that against him. And then when the haven in Indio was taken they had him for good. No turning back when your actions cause the death of twenty-two people. He wasnt evil. But his weakness is more than a flaw. Her father shrugged. This is more than a mistake. This is bone-deep selfishness that brought him to his knees and still he said nothing. Still he gambled and kept himself in debt and he continued to betray our people. That hasnt got one thing to do with your decisions.
I should have known he had a gambling problem!
Do you remember two years ago when you suggested to Rebecca that all Clan employees have their financials checked routinely?
She blew out a breath. Yes. She said it was an invasion of privacy.
And if shed allowed it, at least for the hunter corps and those with access to sensitive data, it would have caught all his debt. But she said no. You tried once more and she said no again. Give yourself some credit. You cant doubt yourself. Not now of all times. I believe in you. Lark believes in you. Thousands of people are relying on you because they believe in you too. You will make mistakes. Hell, I made them too. More than you. I walk with a limp because I underestimated werewolves. Youre not omnipotent. But youre damned good at this. Let yourself believe it.
Chapter 17
ARE you still upset that I went to Lycia to see my brother and father without telling you?
Helena gathered her things as she planned to head home for a few hours sleep, a hot meal and a shower. Probably not in that order.
Distracted, she looked up at Faine, who took up the entire doorway of her office. What?
Are you still upset that I went to my father without telling you? He took her weapons bag and she was tired enough to let him.
I understand why you did it.
That doesnt answer my question. He tried to take her keys and she shot him a look, keeping them.
What exactly is it you want to know? You dont give a crap if Im annoyed you went to Lycia without telling me. You would do it again in a heartbeat because you believe it was the right thing to do.
The business part of the office was normally quiet, but not so much that night. Gennessee ran an array of successful businesses, including construction, which was getting a considerable bump now that they were moving forward with several enclaves for Others statewide. People pored over plans, talking on the phone, tapping away on keyboards in order to fast-track everything.
The hunter area of the office was also humming with activity. Her people looking at maps, giving orders, coming and going for their assignments.
Helena.
She paused at Nikolas desk. Yes?
The hunter handed her a file. Weve assigned three teams each to the three existing enclaves. Theyll work in shifts of eight hours each.
No one alone. Every patrol needs to work in teams of two or more. Have you spoken with the Alpha of South Bay? The werewolves had stepped up in a way she hadnt figured they would. They were doing it, so she wasnt going to complain about how it happened, only be grateful it had. She needed to send Cade Warden a fruit basket or something to thank him for lighting a fire over there.
I did. Therell be at least one Were on each team in the patrol. The cats are less organized out this way, but Gibson de La Vega tells me someone will be in touch to arrange to get their people trained with us.
All right. Good work. Keep me updated.
Gennessee had a hunter squad made up of sixty-five witches in Southern California ranging from the Mexican border to Valencia. She also ran a central California squad made up of twenty-five that patrolled the central valley out to San Francisco. Owen and Gennessee ran a united squad from Weed up through Oregon.
Those squads went out every single night to patrol the land around the places Clan witches lived. Helena was changing that along with Lark. They needed to pull the patrols in, no longer so worried about rogue witches or wolves and now necessarily putting focus on protecting their people from rogue humans.
She moved toward the garage again, Faine at her side.
I do care.
What?
Youre very distracted.
She turned to him at the car. Really? Am I? Shocking when I have so little to do just now.
Sarcasm. Unusual.
Are you trying to poke me until we get into a fight?
You should let me drive.
Why is that? You have a car here, dont you? Why are you riding with me anyway?
One of those brows went up. Youre staying at my house.
I am? And what makes you think that?
Would you like to continue this in the car? Or out here in the open?
She jammed her key into the lock and got in, tossing her stuff into the backseat. She popped the trunk so he could stow the weapons.
Now. He stood in the drivers side door, clearly waiting for her to move aside. She started the engine instead.
Times a wastin. She put it into gear and he heaved a put-upon sigh and walked around, getting in on the other side.
My car isnt here. I had it taken back to my house. We should stop at your place on the way so you can bring stuff to my place that would make you comfortable.
You live across the city. I live five minutes from here.
I live in an enclave and youre trying to convince your people its the safest thing. Shouldnt you be a good example?
You dont even believe that. Youre just saying it to make a point.
I do believe youd be safest at my home, actually. And its not me who is trying to pick a fight.
Puhleeze. She drove to her place, annoyed that he was right about being a good example. I like my apartment.
No, you dont. You have pictures on shelves, but none on the walls. The walls are all still white. You havent painted anything. You sleep there, but you dont live there.
Suddenly youre an expert on how I live?
I know you better than you want to admit.
That much was true.
I havent had much time.
Youve lived there for a year and a half. Youre a nester, I can tell. You have not nested there. Feel free to nest in my home all you want. Since well be living together I want you to feel at home.
You totally are trying to start a fight. She pulled into her spot and noted the graffiti. Great.
He didnt say anything, but she knew he added it to the reasons to stay with Faine category in his head.
Her place was fine. The building was well lit and her neighbors were an assortment of artists and other types that seemed to love having endless potlucks and building-wide block parties every few weekends. After the revelationas the media had dubbed the day when the world realized there actually were witches and Vampiresshed been stopped and hugged more than once by her neighbors.
But Faine was right. She hadnt really settled into her place. The house shed shared with Lark had been a home, but this apartment was a place to sleep and eat. She just kept putting finding a house to buy into the after this settles category. Along with getting back to dating and going to the dentist.
She would be setting a good example by moving into an enclave. She would be safer and, damn it, she would be with him and that made her happier than she ever expected to be.
She pulled out a big suitcase and he gave her a look. What? You win. Happy?
In two steps he was on her, pulling her close, crushing his mouth against hers. Her spine loosened as she held on. His taste thundered like her pulse. He took over, the scent of his skin, the feel of his muscles as they bunched and shifted like the predator he was, she greedily took him in. Even as she knew somewhere in the back of her head that he was being a bossypants.
When he finished and she struggled to regain her composure, he set her back. I am happy, but this is not a game where you lose and I win. I want you with me in my den. Its my nature to want my woman in my home where I can keep her safest. I want to be with you because I like to be with you and it makes having lots of sex with you easier if youre within reach whenever the mood strikes.
She rolled her eyes.
Youre grumpy because your world is falling apart and youre doing your best to build a new future.
Im grumpy because you are pushy and bossy and you take over when you should back off.
He grinned for a moment. Alamah, you knew I was bossy and pushy when you let me get you naked.
He was so right she should be embarrassed. You have other attributes that seem to blind me temporarily to your overbearing nature.
He laughed. Thank goodness then. Come on. Pack up. Shall I grab the books on your shelves so you can study them at my house?
Fine.
She moved into the bathroom to gather her toiletries. And to get some space. He clouded her judgment with his . . . well, his gorgeousness and his ability to be really good at everything and the way he just let her be bitchy and kissed it out of her when he got a mind to.
Lord, she was in such trouble.
She tried to be annoyed that shed have to drive so far to get to the office, but when she licked her lips she tasted him again and it fled.
Her clothes went into a garment bag. She only wore a few different pairs of shoes to work, but she brought many others to his place because one never knew when she might want to wear some pretty heels after all.
If he claimed to want to be with her, he needed to understand she had a lot of clothes. And shoes. And bags. And books too.
Hed clearly run some boxes down to the car while she had pulled her stuff together in the other room because her shelves were a lot more bare when she came out.
I took the liberty of grabbing the teas and your teapot and some of the stuff in your fridge so it wont spoil. Will you allow me to drive home? I know all the back ways and you can make calls if you need to.
See? How hard is it to ask instead of giving an imperious now and frowning at me?
We both have to adjust, no? He kissed her again and took her suitcase and garment bag when she was hormone addled.
You can drive if youll point the car through the In-N-Out drive-through on the way.
I can do that.
He walked out, wearing a smile and when he wasnt looking, she gave one too.
* * *
THERE are two full closets. Ill give you the one here in the master and take the one in the other bedroom. He brought her suitcases into the house.
She shoved a few more fries into her face. I can take the other closet. Theres no sense in you moving everything.
I want you to feel at home here. A safe place.
He was so sweet she couldnt resist moving to him and kissing him. Sorry about the salt.
He licked his lips. Somehow you can make salt sexy.
She moved into the room shed slept in just a week before. A week. Jeez. So much had happened in that time.
The closet was gigantic with racks for shoes and bags and lots of space to hang things. Even without the utterly beautiful male standing a few feet away looking adorably uncertain, shed live there for this dream of a closet.
This is a fabulous closet. Ill take it.
He smiled and it warmed her. Man, she was in big trouble.
Why dont you look at the one in our bedroom first? Then you can decide.
Im going to eat this Double-Double with cheese and suck down my milkshake first. Then Ill look.
He put the box hed been holding down on the bed and followed her out. Ill get plates. Sit.
Okay then. Thanks.
He brought plates and she put all the food out and they sat in companionable silence for some time as they ate.
Once theyd finished and cleaned uphe dried and she washedtheyd brought the rest of her things into the house.
She busied herself getting the layout of the closet and the built-in drawers. It was a weird thing she knew. But organizing stuff made her relax, enabled her to let go of all the insanity of the last months and focus on some problem solving. Not just where her socks would go, but how to organize the new teams going out into the field.
She turned to see him pocket a silver box. One shed noticed on a side table earlier.
Whats that?
An old silver piece. It doesnt really go in here. He looked her over with that face of his and she forgot why she had that little frisson of uncertainty.
This is your home too. I want you to . . . feel that. Put things where you like them. Tell me what color you want walls to be and Ill take care of it. Dont like the bedding? I can change that.
Youre such a prince. She grinned as she watched him as he stalked her way. I have no doubt you can snap your fingers and make all sorts of things happen.
I am what I am, alamah, and youll need to get used to that too. I want you to be happy. Ill do what it takes to make that happen. He shrugged as if most people were that way when they werent. Despite how fast things had jumped from hot chemistry to ohmigod youre it for me, it moved her that he was so focused on her well-being. No one had ever been that for her. It was overwhelming but in a good way.
Im really hard to live with. She shrugged. And then she remembered the box. Funny thing about having such a sharp memory. There was a stylized L on the lid. Lydia perhaps?
He barked a laugh. You can organize your books by color and spine size. Ill make an effort to comply.
Oh that. Well, thats why its a good thing I can have my own closet. I like things in their place. It makes me feel better to know exactly where stuff will be. But Im sort of temperamental.
Again he laughed. I havent noticed. And then he kept laughing.
Har. Look, Mister, Im just trying to be up front, as you seem to want to try this living together thing. Im not all purple scarves and glitter like my sister. Or flirting behind fans and elbow-length gloves and stuff.
You bring that up as if I dont know. Youre not anyone else but you, thank gods. I crave you, not anyone else. I admit it, Im sort of strangely turned on in anticipation of seeing what your closet will look like once youve finished.
She shook her head at him, unable to hold back a smile.
Im particular. I get up very early and Im often bitchy about it. I am intolerant of generic ice cream. I only like Kraft macaroni and cheese or homemade. I am religious about my coffee. My mother will make you eat tofu and mung beans. You need to accept that. Shes a total hippie. Her name is Rain after all. She will talk to you at length about how awesome veganism is and how cake with no eggs or butter is just as good as cake with, and you have to nod and pretend such a thing could ever be true. Ill need a workspace here where you will not lay your crap or borrow my pens.
Are you trying to scare me? Because youre not. There are four bedrooms here. You can have any of the other three to use as an office. I wont borrow your pens. He snorted and she sent him a raised brow. I promise. Or lay my crap on your work things. Though, alamah, I dont lay my crap anywhere. I dont even have crap. I have belongings.
I told you I was difficult.
But youre worth it, so stop trying to scare me off.
Im not nice. Or easy to be around.
He paused, leaning over to take her hand. Whats this about? Hm?
She squirmed, uncomfortable that he knew her so well. I dont know what you mean. I just think it should be clear what youre getting into. She wasnt a high-born fancypants Regency ladytype person. His wife probably had been gentle and had soft hands and never said boo. Helena didnt have gentle manners, though, if she did say so herself, shed wager her fashion sense was as good as, if not better than, Lydias had been.
He merely looked at her carefully. Your scent changes. Just a small, nearly imperceptible bit when youre being evasive. Did you know that?
No. Ive never dated a Lycian before.
Of course you havent. Also, were not dating. Youre my woman. What arent you saying? Youre standing here in our home talking about how I should know what Im getting into. And believe me, beautiful, beautiful witch, I do. Youre troublesome. You have a special talent for attracting the sort of people who seem to want to blow you up or shoot you.
He kissed each eyelid with such gentleness she found her eyes stinging with unshed tears.
You make me vulnerable. She didnt know how to be. Not emotionally vulnerable anyway. She could deal with physical vulnerability. It came with her job. She could work on being less of that. But emotional stuff?
He tipped her chin so he could look in her eyes. Alarm raced over his features when he saw the tears. Of course I do. If there werent this enormity of feeling and connection between us, youd easily evade feeling deeply for me. I would never hurt you. Not on purpose. Your heart is safe with me. Dont you know that?