I shouldnt be too long. The wards recognized her, flaring to life as they admitted her and Faine, re-knitting in their wake. Sorry about the mess.
He laughed at that; unless she described a glass on the counter as a mess, he had no idea what she meant. The place was ruthlessly neat and orderly otherwise. Ive seen how your sister is. This is positively orderly.
She shrugged. Shes a slob. Sort of an anomaly as most witches are orderly. But Simon is a neat freak so Im sure she works to keep it in check. Mostly. There was affectionate amusement in her tone but he knew things between the two hadnt always been so easy.
He wanted her to share that story with him. Of how she and her sister had ended up falling away from each other for the last few years. He knew the details from Larks perspective, but he wondered how the story went from Helenas point of view.
Make yourself at home. Ill be out in a few.
She grabbed a suitcase from the hall closet and disappeared into her bedroom. He contented himself with wandering the living room, looking at her books and the pictures on her shelves.
The woman won a lot of stuff. There were blue ribbons tucked here and there. Not really on display, but in and amongst her things. Statues and plaques. Pictures of her on graduation day, with her arm around Lark, her parents standing with them.
Shed been a swimmer. A runner too. Certainly a prolific reader if her shelves were any indicator. Books were everywhere, and of all types and genres. All in ruthless order by subject and even in like spine colors.
But there was nothing on her walls. They were all the same basic white as most apartments. No pictures hung. No open books sat on the arms of the chair or couch. She lived there, but the space didnt feel like a home.
Helena came out shortly with a suitcase, a weapons case and another smaller bag; given the scent, probably her toiletries.
Your weapons case is larger than the suitcase holding your clothes.
She laughed and the sound of it tightened things low in his belly.
A girl needs priorities. Also, I have clothes in Sacramento. Ive got a room there, at the Gennessee building I mean. Weapons? Well, those I keep with me because I have favorites. I can buy four of the same shirt in two colors, but my guns? Well, theyre a lot more expensive and Im partial to how they fit my hand.
He sucked in a breath and the moment between them stretched. Theres a lot to be said for a woman who appreciates a weapon the way you do.
Yeah?
He nodded but refrained from saying anything else. They needed to stop at his place and to get on the road. And he sensed the immensity of anticipation between them. Something was going to happen but it wasnt the time, no matter how much he wanted it to be.
He cleared his throat. Have everything you need?
She swallowed hard and he tasted her thundering pulse in the air between them. Yeah. If I forget something I can always pick up a replacement.
He led the way out after she let him grab one of her bags.
* * *
SHE wasnt surprised that Faine drove ridiculously fast. Or that he had the reflexes to handle the road at eighty without batting an eye.
At his place he exchanged her company car for his. A sleek and sexy BMW. The engine purred even as it roared down the freeway.
Settling back into the embrace of the seat, she pulled out her pad, a pen and her phone. She needed to call Agent Anderson because hed left her a message while she was in her meeting back at Gennessee.
Agent Anderson, its Helena Jaansen retuning your call.
Hello there. I just wanted to check in with you after last nights events. I wanted you to hear this from me, but Gentry Fenton is out on bail.
What? She wanted to turn the car around and go hunt him down so she could snap his neck. And then she wanted to find this FBI agent to do the same.
This was over our objections. We argued that he be held without bail. But his attorneys were able to show a lack of an arrest record, no history of violence, hes got a business in Signal Hill and roots in the community. They argued that he wasnt a flight risk.
This is bullshit. Utter and total bullshit. One of my people died last night. Children were targeted! Or dont they count because theyre shifters? No one gives a shit because only human children deserve to be able to play without being bombed by terrorists?
I understand. Im pissed off too, Helena. I promise you this was not what we wanted. My people will keep an eye on him and the others to be sure they dont leave the jurisdiction. Hell, maybe theyll lead us to something useful.
The other ones were released too?
He blew out a breath and she knew the magick threatened to boil over from her belly.
The ones that werent in the hospital. Im sorry.
What judge would allow that?
He paused so long she understood it. That was the problem. The judge was a pro PURITY person and had acted accordingly.
We were able to get an order for all of them to stay at least five hundred feet away from any known Other community centers or other organizations. Believe me when I say if they step one foot in that five hundred feet we will pull them in.
Where a judge will just let them go. When she hung up, she needed to get one of her team post photographs of the men arrested the night before out on the website and to all the community centers they knew of.
Im sure youre aware that we will consider it self-defense if any of these men get anywhere near our property. And who knew if thered be enough left of the perpetrators to call the cops over when it was all said and done?
Helena, I know this is atrocious. Please understand this task force is on your side. We want to stop all these hate crimes. Were doing the best we can, and we can do more if you help us.
And what does that mean?
Im not saying you dont have the right to defend yourselves. But a less confrontational manner . . .
Youll need to give Rebecca Gennessee a call on that one. Good luck to you with that. I can tell you it is the policya policy we made very clear to Humans First two weeks agothat we would no longer be turning the other cheek. If you firebomb our children, we will be confronting the hell out of any garbage washing up on our shores trying to do it again.
She hung up, so pissed that she knew if she kept talking to him shed say something worse.
I used to be so much more diplomatic, she snarled. Lark, she was the hothead. I was the calm one. Look at me now, hanging up on FBI agents.
I heard. The conversation I mean. I think you showed amazing restraint, as it happens.
I like having you around. Youre a bad influence. And I mean that in the best way. She grinned at him, some of her anger ebbing. I need to make calls about all this stuff.
Go on. Im not going anywhere.
Helena handled calls for two hours more, including one to Rebecca Gennessee, who let forth a curse-laden invective the likes of which Helena rarely heard. She actually felt sorry for Agent Anderson, who she did believe meant well.
She instructed her staff to deal with the alerts to all community centers, covens, clans, et cetera, with the pictures of the PURITY people whod been released. Theyd have their own team watching the men, and if they got anywhere near anything that could harm an Other, theyd know what a mistake theyd made.
Eventually Faine pulled off the freeway and into a place for some food. It was a little diner shed stopped at often enough on her way to San Francisco. Nothing fancy, but a lot of food for reasonable prices and their iced tea was good. But their milkshakes were heaven.
It was also run by shifters, which made her feel safer.
She dug into her cheeseburger and watched him drain a milkshake and order another as he demolished a French dip and shifted to his next plate.
I envy your metabolism.
He smiled her way. You seem to do okay.
I have a physical job. But if I ate like you, Id be unable to move.
There are benefits to being Lycian.
Being in a diner run by shifters, being surrounded by Others of all types, meant it was easier to speak about their world without fear. It was nice.
So nice she wanted to keep the topic away from current events. And know more about him, too.
Tell me about it. Whats Lycia like?
His surprised smile made her glad shed asked. Its beautiful. Forests and lakes mainly.
Industrial? Or? Im sorry. I know my ignorance is shameful. I guess youre my brother-in-law and I dont know much of anything about where you come from.
Weve never taken much effort to educate Others here on what were like. He lifted a shoulder. Not industrial. We do have machines and production, but its nowhere near the scale you have here. Life is slower.
Easier I suppose when you live so long.
He nodded. Yes. Theres no rush-rush-rush attitude there. Life is savored. Theres much time spent with family and Pack. Our young are kept home for far longer than yours. We tend to live in familial groups. Leviathan land is very large, spread out over hundreds of miles. We live in clusters, usually with our immediate family. Ill take you. When we get some breathing room that is.
She smiled. To Lycia? Really?
Youd like that?
Are you kidding? Id love that. Ive been dying to go since Lark first told me about it. A world of warriors? Im thrilled.
His smile, which was normally laid-back and slightly dirty, widened into something else. It would be an honor to take you.
If we survive Thunderdome, that is.
Thunderdome?
How long have you been here? On this side of the Veil, I mean.
Mainly Ive lived in Lycia. My father has a private security force; I have been a lieutenant there. I came here and lived for thirty years or so in the eighteen hundreds. That was an interesting time. Then for about a decade in your nineteen twenties. Ive only been here for short periods of time since.
Thunderdome is from a movie. Dick of a leading man, but its a fun movie. Plus, Tina Turner is in it, big win. Essentially its an arena, two men enter, one man leaves. She bet they had stuff like that in Lycia for real.
Ah, I understand. You and your sister like cultural references.
I can see I need to expose you to more movies. You know, update your knowledge. Theres plenty of downtime stuck in hotels on this damned roadshow. Ill take your education on. She winked. Also, I cant quite believe youre old enough to have been here in the eighteen hundreds.
They paid the bill and headed back to the car after a stop at the mini mart when they gassed up. You never knew when you were going to need Red Vines or peanut M&Ms after all.
Soon he was back on the freeway, which had been mainly empty once theyd cleared the Grapevine and had descended into Central California. They hit pockets of traffic here and there, but nothing too heavy.
He started to speak again, taking up the conversation from back at the diner. The world here was different then. In eighteen forty. I lived in London.
Really? Did you go to balls and dress up and all that stuff?
I had a wife.
She paused. A human wife?
All our lives were taught to avoid humans. Short life-span, you see, means that should you love one, youll see them grow old and die. Thirty years is nothing to me. But to her, my Lydia, it was from the bloom of her youth until she passed, devastated by tuberculosis. She was fifty-five. Which for then was a ripe old age.
Helena hadnt even thought of him being married. She tried to wrap her head about it.
Im sorry.
It was over two hundred and fifty years ago.
Well, seems to me that to you, thats not so long ago. And some things arent so easy to get over.
He breathed out. His eyes were hidden behind some snazzy sunglasses so it was hard to know what he was feeling just then.
Was it difficult? The fact that theyd have seen you as black?
He was nearly unbearably handsome. Tall and broad. Dark skin, luscious lips, deep brown eyes. Like Simon, he tended to dress up in suits. He often looked like hed stepped out of a magazine ad for designer menswear. But in eighteen forty, people would have been less accepting of his skin color.
I had a lot of money. That tends to ease the way. There were plenty who did not speak to me and who avoided my presence. But more who sought ways to ease me into their company because of the wealth I possessed. The rumor was that I was an African prince of some sort.
Well, you are a prince, so that part was true.
He snorted. Yes. I havent thought of Lydia in some time. Thank you.
What was she like?
She had no idea why she asked. It wasnt really her thing to poke around about a mans old girlfriends or exes. But his Lydia had been dead over two hundred and fifty years. It wasnt like there was a threat. Nor should she even be thinking about it that way because, hello, she was his friend and colleague.
Kind. Beautiful. Theyd needed the income and no one had offered for her. It made her sad. She knew horses really well. Thats how I got to know her. She wasnt helpless like many women of her time were bred to be. She was smart and well read. I loved her. He shrugged. We got on. We married and she moved into my home and we had a life together for a time. She died and I went back to Lycia.
Did she know? What you were, I mean?
No. It wasnt something she could have accepted.
Helena reached out, squeezing his hand. She couldnt imagine having to hide such a big part of yourself that way. She wondered if he felt like half a person.
You have a good heart, Helena.
She laughed. Dont tell anyone.
Do you think its a secret?
I understand how people see me. Lark is the touchy-feely one. Shes wisecracks and wild-colored hair. Im the cold, logical one.
He harrumphed. Shes certainly touchy-feely, as you say. But shes got her share of cold logic and you have your share of warmth and compassion. I see how you are with your people. You risk your life for them daily. Others see it as well.
She shrugged, uncomfortable. He changed the subject.
What do you think of Lark and Simon?
As a couple?
Yes.
I like Simon. He seems to adore my sister. She doesnt let him run her life. Hes strong and able to protect her, but he lets her do her own thing. She needs someone like that. Shes happy and so Im happy.
Its good that you are so close.
Weve had our rough spots, trust me. But I love my sister and would do anything for her. It keeps me going. I hate that shes in Seattle. Its been a good move for her, though.
Shes been hugely integral to strengthening the Owen hunter team. She credits you often with things she teaches to her people.
We ran this squad for years. Were raised in it. Shes good at what she does. The best, really.
Hm. She says the same about you, and from what Ive seen, shes right.
Ive made mistakes. Her tone was laced with regret. He knew there were things unsaid. He had a level of intuition he knew he got from his mother, who was a high-ranked demoness. As much as he wanted to poke at her to get her to reveal her hurt spots, he realized it was wiser with Helena to let her come to it in her own way.
You were engaged once. It didnt work out. Tell me about it.
Didnt work out is a pretty way to put it, I suppose. Her phone rang and she answered quickly.
Jaansen.
She thought she could avoid the subject. Faine wisely kept his snort mental as he continued to drive. She was silly to think so. He could wait. He was good at it. Trained to wait for the perfect opportunity to pounce and disarm his prey.
Hed grown to know her over the months theyd traveled around, guarding Molly and the others. He was four hundred years old and he knew when a female interested him on more than just a friendly level.
She looked at his mouth longer than was necessary. Her pupils got larger when she stared at him. Her pulse sped and her skin warmed. The aroma was enough to bring his beast to the skin every time. She wasnt the only one interested.
He wanted to know Helena better. A lot better.
And so hed wait.
* * *
ONE of her San Francisco hunters waited for her as they entered the Sacramento offices of Clan Gennessee. She nodded once and the hunter relaxed. Slightly.
Caspar, good to see you. You know Faine.
Theyd made the nearly six-and-a-half-hour drive in five and some change, even after stopping for lunch. He loved driving. Didnt do it much in Lycia, but here he had a sleek, powerful machine. The straight shot from Los Angeles to Sacramento gave him an excellent opportunity to drive hard and fast. It was nearly as good as sex.
Nearly. Faine kept his focus on Caspar and tried not to think about sex. With Helena.
Caspar nodded seriously at Faine and turned his attention back to Helena.
We need to get up to speed here. Im going to get changed and then head over to Senator Satos home. Were meeting there instead of his office. Hes concerned about leaks and security issues at the capital offices.
Yes, maam. Ill be working on the schedule then. Just come by when youre ready and Ill drive you over.
Faine would wait to disagree with that until they were alone.
Again that nod before she headed upstairs, he followed in her wake. The office building was three stories and held workspaces along with several apartments and a central kitchen. It was where theyd be staying in Sacramento. The last time they were in town, theyd stayed at a hotel, but Helena had decided to keep them at the Gennessee building. All in one place. All locked down like a fortress.
Faine approved. Especially after theyd gone through several checkpoints and hed noted snipers on rooftops.
Faine, you can take a few hours downtime if you like. Ill take Caspar with me.
He simply looked at her. Let me unpack my things and get the other stuff from the trunk inside. Then we can all head over together.
Youre very stubborn. She unlocked a room and he decided to take the one across the hall. Im going to shower and get ready. Meet you out here in forty-five.
He paused, touching her arm. If Im stubborn I could take lessons from you. Youre the one who needs downtime. At least eat.
Her smile was pale, but there. Tosh says therell be dinner served at the meeting. Shifters will be in attendance so you know itll be a huge spread. You really dont need to come. Im capable of protecting myself.
You most certainly are. But Ill be there. Protecting you while you protect everyone else. Thats how it works. He kissed her forehead and stepped back. See you in forty-five.
Chapter 5
HED kissed her forehead. It was . . . startlingly tender. Not patronizing, though she nearly wished it had been. She could have easily resisted patronizing.
The phantom of his touch remained on her skin as she got out of the car at the airfield where the plane carrying Molly and her team had just landed.
She greeted Molly as they got off the plane.
Just a gentle hug. Helena smiled. The bruises are fading. Too bad, you looked like a hard-ass with them.
Molly grinned. I did?
Totally.
You can sign my cast with prison graffiti then. You know, for effect.
Helena chuckled. Gotcha. Though Ill have to look some up on Google. Wouldnt want to do something that looked tough but really meant, Im a fluffy bunny, pet me and give me a cookie.
Ive missed you. You look tired though. Mollys smile faded into a concerned frown.
Lets get you in the car. You can keep lecturing me once were behind bulletproof glass. Helena led them the few feet from the plane to where the cars waited. Faine stood at the door, bowing slightly when he saw Molly. Her friend smiled back, tiptoeing up to kiss his cheek.
Gage shook Faines hand and clasped his forearm before sliding into the car next to Molly. Faine will ride with you. Ill be in the car just ahead. She closed the door and moved to the car in front, leading them all from the airfield and back to the Gennessee building.
She knew Faine frowned, but he was too disciplined to question her orders in front of anyone. She had her reasons.
It was after one in the morning so the traffic was light. Theyd driven by a few protests earlier on their way over to Satos place, but now things were quiet. She was glad to see, though, that despite the lateness of the hour, her staff at the garage they used to park their vehicles in was on the ball, using all the checks shed put into place.
Once inside she showed Molly and Gage their room, got the rest of the group settled and told Molly shed meet with her in fifteen minutes to brief her on the days events.
As she figured, Faine caught up with her in the hall outside her room. Im your guard. I cant do that from another car.
I cant do my job effectively if all my best weapons arent spread around. If my car had been attacked, youd have been able to deal with it immediately. You wouldnt have been in the car that was hit. If your car had been, I could have dealt with it and youd have been there to aid Molly and Gage.
He paused, thinking, and finally nodded. I understand your reasoning. But I do not like being separated from you when there are dangerous situations.
She knew what he meant, of course. But the possessive edge in his words sent a thrill through her.
Dangerous.
Dangerous and stupid to let herself get any measure of woo-woo over this male. He was too much, like all alpha males were. Too much to handle. Too intense. Too everything.
But she tingled nonetheless.
Okay then. Im going downstairs to talk with Molly and Gage. Are you coming?
Yes. That would be good.
He followed, the heat of him at her back.
Ill listen to your update but only if you have a cup of tea with me and maybe some toast or something. Helena, you look beat. Molly came into the common room looking moderately relaxed.
Sit. Ill get the water on. Gage gave them both a look that dared them to argue, so Helena nodded her thanks and sat across from Molly.
Says the woman with two casts.
Gage scowls at me until I rest. Aside from re-knitting broken bones, Im doing all right. I even got eight hours sleep for three nights in a row this week. And dont tell anyone, but I napped twice.
Because she was nearly asleep on her feet, Gage called out from where he set the kettle on the stove.
She winked at Molly, who rolled her eyes, but looked back to Gage with affection all over her features.
So fill me in.
Went to Satos place earlier. Helena tucked her feet beneath herself as she leaned back into the couch cushions. Weve got a basic schedule for tomorrow and the day after. Youve got a series of hearings and meetings. The wolves sent their people over to sniff the rooms and theyll be in place tomorrow as well.
Gage looked to Faine, who shrugged. These have been trained by National. Bomb sniffers, that sort of thing. I trust them.
Helena barely resisted the urge to snap her fingers. She got it, they were all experts and Faine had worked with Gage more than Gage had worked with her. But.
In the future, Id appreciate it if you spent even a minute amount of time pretending you take my word for things. Or do me the respect of being more aboveboard in asking someone elses opinion. This is either my team or you can run it yourself.
Gage started as everyone grew very quiet. Then he blushed.
Youre right. I meant no disrespect, but I can see how it came off that way.
Molly smoothly intervened. I think the water is about to boil.
Faine stood. Ill get it. Rainthats Helenas mothersent a dozen kinds of tea for us.
Oh, your mothers tea is delicious. Mollys pleasure was genuine. She sent some up care of Lark for me while I was healing.
She likes to take care of people. Ill let her know your reaction; itll totally make her day. And itll give me another reason to call and check in. My dad, well, hes the hunter. Shes the nurturer. She just hangs on and claps when we win things and tries to get us to hug it out instead of punching each other when we have conflict.
Gage laughed. I think our mothers would get along great.
When this mess dies down, they want to have a big party for Simon and Lark, youll meet them then. Having met your mother a time or two, Gage, Im sure theyll hit it off.
Faine came back with tea and he simply stared at her until she took a sip.
I had the schedule sent to Rita. Rita was Mollys assistant. Molly was a control freak, like they all were to some extent. She liked to know things in advance and any changes to her schedule were to be made with her knowledge or she got pissed. Helena totally understood that and tried to work within those guidelines.
First thing youve got is a meet with Sato, Carroll and Sperry. Its at nine thirty. Then a closed-door meeting where they want to talk with us about this new FBI task force theyve created recently.
Molly snorted. The one you said you hung up on earlier today?
Helena blew out a breath. Yes. It was stupid. I shouldnt have.
No, you totally should have. Gage sipped his tea. From what you said, its lucky you didnt tell him off first.
I understand. Totally. Youre frustrated. Were all frustrated, and letting Fenton go was offensive beyond bearing. They need to understand that were not going to take this stuff quietly. Im not mad. It was just by way of reference. Molly reached over and patted Helenas arm.
I dont even know how you stay so calm.
I think your mom puts drugs in the tea.
Helena barked a laugh. I wouldnt put it past her. So anyway, Ive got clearance for all the members of our team and their guard. Because Im on Sato, Ill be able to use some of their back hallways and that sort of thing.
Im worried about Tosh. Mollys brow furrowed. Hes human. Hes got no natural defenses.
Hes no slouch, Moll. He was in the navy. Hes a JAG. He knows how to defend himself. I went through his home and his officeback before the bombing, I meanand gave him a list of improvements I thought he could make, and when I was at his house earlier tonight, hed made them. All of them. And his personal guard includes a former Ranger and former marine.
Well, its his own people trying to harm him. Gage lifted a shoulder.
Helena got it. Tosh liked Molly. Respected her and felt protective of her. A man like Gage would be jealous of that. Sato was spectacularly handsome and charismatic too. That would rankle.
Look, Tosh is a good man. Hes risking himself not for points or votes, but because this is the right thing to do. And its made him a target. Im happy to be on his team. I met some of Sperrys team tonight too. One of them couldnt tear her eyes away from Faine and an unreasonable desire to jab her pen in the female shifters eyes had washed through Helena. Theyre all highly trained. They did listen to me about having bomb-sniffing dogs used before all your public hearings here in Sacramento and also in DC.
Molly nodded, making notes with her good hand. When is the next hearing on 877? House Bill 877 was a far-reaching anti-Other bill that would, among other things, chip all nonhumans with GPS trackers, put them in relocation camps and divest them of property and their jobs. There was a Senate companion bill that wasnt quite as bad, but still gouged a hole in their civil liberties and essentially made them noncitizens without any basic rights.