Celeste nodded, “Death for murder, it’s permanent, and I’m not sure its punishment enough.”
I snickered, “Keep them alive so they can suffer.”
Celeste winked, and said, “Exactly.”
“Trials?” Karl asked.
I nodded, “The accused will be lawyer, judge, and jury, through truth potion. We don’t need an elaborate justice system to get at the truth. All we’ll decide is the punishment as the council. I’m okay with no death penalty, how many years for murder? We could go with human standards, first degree, second degree, and manslaughter, that might help us sway them to our side over time. Keep in mind, you’ll all live for centuries, if you manage not to get run through by a sword.”
They all looked startled at that.
Karl said, “I think we should adopt all their standards, at least for major crimes.”
Sabine elbowed him, “You do know arson is a felony in the human world, don’t you?”
Everyone laughed.
“Well, once your all trained that won’t be an issue, and accidents aren’t crimes.”
Sabine smirked, “I’m okay with Karl’s idea. Misdemeanors, we’re too cool to worry about.”
I snickered, “Alright, it’s a start. The punishment itself will be easy enough, as long as I’m still alive. I can build an enchanted bracelet that’ll shrink around their wrist and not be removeable if I use earth magic as well. It will siphon all their power as they recover it, and Muriel can use it to add a prison and maintain it. They’ll be human at that point, without their magic and greater strength, and unable to escape. We can discuss what they’ll have available to them, and what kind of rehabilitation we may want to try another time.”
Sabine said, “What happens after?”
“When I’m dead? That depends on a lot of other things. If the hunts have ended, because I plan to live for centuries if not millennia, we can team up with the humans for it. The bracelets will still work, we’ll just need a prison for them with people running it, since Muriel will be gone and can’t provide meals and everything else they’ll need. Even the bracelets can be replaced once I’m gone, if the current council is at peace with the fae and pay them for the enchanting. Parts of this place will still be here as well, so our children and the new generation might decide to run it. It’s certainly nothing we need to decide on today, or ever, we’ll hopefully be leaving our descendants plenty of options.
“And if I die tomorrow, well then you can figure it out, because it won’t be my problem anymore.”
I grinned.
Karl rolled his eyes, which made me smile wider.
Sure, it was serious stuff we were talking about, but humor helped I think. It was too much for all of us, not just them but me as well.
I said, “Things will evolve over time. Right now, we’re still on plan A. Even if we all choose to create our own community, all of this is up to us from beginning to end as we hide from everyone else. Once the hunts end, if they end, things will slowly change. We’ll still police ourselves, but we might get some help from the humans before we absolutely need it.
“So, one more thing. We discussed if they went after humans it was murder, if they go after the council and Nephilim it’s war, since we’re all agreed they are our true enemy. This part is a bit stickier, what if they slaughter a shifter pack, or go after a coven of vampires, or witches? I don’t believe they are truly our enemy, though they work for our enemy it’s under coercion and they don’t get a choice. Self-defense against them while going after the council, I could see, but going after them if they’re not ready to go after a council yet… is stickier.”
Celeste asked reluctantly, “Do you think they’ll do that?”
Yeah, I didn’t want to make the decision either, none of them did, but someone had to, and there wasn’t anyone else.
I frowned, “I don’t know. Linda wasn’t all that impressed when I tried to explain why the Nephilim are our true enemy and the other races their puppets. She hates them all, including the humans who stand by and let them get away with it. She sees them all as her enemies. I’m hoping she and Joseph goes for the head of the snake, from their point of view, but we can’t depend on it. We have to decide as a group, if going after shifters or the others is an act of murder and terror, or if their deaths should be considered as part of the war.”
Silence reigned for a good half a minute as they all thought about that. I wasn’t going to rush them.
Terrence said, “It would be a good tactic to take out the council and their agents piecemeal. Take out most of a pack, and then wait for a hunt team. Take down the hunt team, wait for more, then go after the council itself and raze their building. I’m not saying it would be right, but it would be a smarter way to fight if they truly managed to get their hands-on military ordinance like they suggested. I’ve been checking the news sites, and there’s been no reports of it, but I imagine if one of the military’s depots were raided that they wouldn’t be keen on letting that out.
“I suppose what I’m saying is, they might not be our true enemy, but they’re far from innocent bystanders or non-combatants. They made the choice to not only bow to the Nephilim, but to suck up to them and murder in their name. They’re the upper class right, and they do have a choice, they could walk away and be outsiders instead of rolling in blood money and lent authority. I think we should draw the line at the outsiders. They have no authority, and don’t work or fight for the councils. Anyone else is fair game, and we shouldn’t try to stop them.”
Damn, I think Terrence just managed to change my mind. He wasn’t wrong about the blood money, or authority, or their arrogance. They sold their souls for all of that, by being the Nephilim’s sword hand.
Sabine said, “Agreed. I feel like we’re using them, even though I know it’s not true. We all told them not to do it, and it was the wrong move. But… I think I’m going to vicariously enjoy it, when they kick our enemy in the balls.”
Celeste snickered, “Me too. But you’re right, we’re not using them, they refused to go Kyra’s way, our way with it. It’s all on them. I know the odds against them, but I too can’t help but hope they make a difference.”
Karl nodded, “Might as well make it unanimous, I’m not truly sure, but I’ll go with you three.”
“Make that four, Terrence changed my mind. Though a more pinpoint campaign, and going after the architects still makes more sense to me, I’ll agree it is part of the war. We draw the line at the outsider groups, they aren’t involved past informing to save their own lives, and it would be murder. That’s all I had, anything from you?”
Karl nodded, “Do we post it and let the world know? Our interim council, decision on the laws, abolishment of the death penalty for supernaturals as far as our community. If yes, do we include that we as a council won’t turn to violence until we have the support we need and the councils haven’t backed down, but that we also won’t stop rogue elements in our community because we are at war for our very survival?”
I thought about that for a minute.
“My first impression is that could backfire, but then I considered it might be better to state our position before Joseph and Linda act. That might lessen the impact. On the other hand, we’ll be warning the councils that two of our number are on the hunt, which could further degrade their chances.
“I think the middle road will be best. Post about the council, the laws, and our decided punishments. About our hopes to work with the humans on incarceration in time, perhaps even get a jab or two in toward the councils and their barbaric death penalty for everything laws, including disobeying a council order. That might get more humans on our side, and humans angry about the council and humane treatment even outside of our issue with them.
“Then when something happens, we can post our response and beliefs on that matter, that it was war not murder. Those two have very little chance, close to no chance, and I don’t want to make it harder for them even if I disagree with what they�
��re doing. Once their first attack happens, what we do about it is moot, the enemy will know already.”
Sabine said, “What she said.”
Terrance and Karl nodded, while Celeste said, “Okay. I just wish there was more we could do to help them, without doing something incredibly stupid ourselves.”
I nodded, “I feel that too, even though they betrayed me, and are no longer welcome here. A part of me hopes they’ll fall on their face, but escape, and finally come to the conclusion that I was right and hide while they master their magic. But… that seems unlikely.”
Karl said, “I’ll get that posted, I’ll also let Carlos know what happened. I think he expected your plans and ideas to be far worse than what just happened.”
I replied, “I don’t blame him, I don’t want this responsibility either, not really. I’m sorry for pushing it all on you so soon.”
Celeste snorted, “We won’t break. Plus, we really put it all on the humans, since we decided to follow their laws and penalties. Honestly, that took a lot of the stress off of the whole thing, outside of the war decisions.”
I snickered, “True. We can blame them if it all goes to hell.”
Sabine giggled.
Our first ever half-demon council meeting broke up after that. In truth, I was damned proud and impressed by all of them, but I’d have felt weird saying it out loud.
Chapter Fifteen
After a post-workout shower later that early evening, the scents from the kitchen drew me like a moth to a flame. The chicken fried steak sizzling in the pan made my stomach gurgle as I snuck up behind William and wrapped my arms around him, pressing my breasts into his back as I nipped the back of his neck.
Was there anything sexier than a man cooking dinner for me? Especially when Muriel was more than happy to make our meals on demand, it wasn’t like either of us had to cook.
“Hi,” I said breathily, then giggled when he spun about and kissed me.
I was dressed casually, pretty sure we were in for the night, in a pair of stretchy shorts and a long t-shirt.
He asked, “How’d it go?”
“Better than I expected, Karl is going to post all our decisions on the website for public perusal. Dinner smells fantastic, and so do you.”
He grinned, and leaned down to sniff my neck, “I’m not the only one,” then nipped it sending a burst of warmth through me.
“You’re a dangerous man,” I said softly, completely lost in his captivating green eyes and his potent embrace. Not to mention the feeling of his growing manhood against my stomach through our clothes. It was giving me ideas.
He laughed, “Look who’s talking,” he turned around reluctantly and flipped the chicken.
There was also a pan of white gravy, mashed potatoes, and I could smell cornbread baking in the oven. He also had some ears of corn boiling on the stove.
“So, how was your day?”
He smirked over his shoulder, “Good, I’m digging these two-hour workdays. I worked out a bit after our morning session, and then spent the rest of the day relaxing.”
I laughed, and then caressed his back as I walked away and started to set the table.
He said, “I’ve been thinking of taking some online classes. After our workout the kids all do their homeschooling thing, and it’d fill the time while your cackling around your cauldrons and studying your magic.”
I asked teasingly, “How did you know about the cackling?”
He snorted, “So, do I need to read about it like everyone else?”
While he finished dinner, I went over the first half-demon council meeting and all we’d talked about and decided. It took me about ten minutes to get through it all, stealing kisses all the while.
He grinned, “I like that, it’s going to make the supernatural councils look barbaric in comparison. That they still kill for just about anything. It’ll be clear to anyone with a brain that imprisoning supernaturals with fae help would be simple post emergence.”
I nodded, “I’ve been thinking about that. They wouldn’t even have to be paid like I suggested in the meeting, the drain of the bracelets putting all that extra magic into their mounds would be more than enough to get them to do it.”
He frowned, “Would that work for them though, without Muriel to purify the power?”
“Oh, I’m going to swoon, you do listen to me,” I said faux dreamily.
He snickered, “Behave.”
“Never. The enchantments would have to be more complicated than mine, but it’s still possible. Muriel just makes a lot of things easier by picking up the slack. Like when I brew rejuvenation potions for a specific shifter, I’m in essence transforming my own earth-witch magic to match the shifter’s magic through his or her blood as the potion is made. Similar idea, the fae enchantment would just be a more advanced version of my hiding enchantments.”
I helped him move the plates and bowls of food to the table, and we sat down and started to dig in.
“Where’d you learn southern cooking, growing up in Portland?”
He smirked, “My grandmother was from Texas. I know a few southern recipes that’ve been passed down. My mother insisted I learn to cook, alongside Celeste.”
“She made you cook and dance?”
I was sorry I’d never get the chance to meet her.
He said in a deep voice, “And cleaning. I drew the line though, when she taught crafts.”
I giggled.
“It’s delicious.”
He said, “Thanks. I enjoy cooking sometimes.”
“So, how do you feel about having a relationship with a woman that will age much slower?”
He teased, “We’re in a relationship?”
I glared. And he tells me to behave?
He snorted, “That doesn’t matter me to me. On the deep end it doesn’t matter, on the shallow end I think I’ll enjoy you staying young and sexy for me.”
I smirked, “You say that now.”
He shrugged, “Don’t overthink it. I’m not worried you’ll trade me in for a younger version, guys don’t think that way, or at least I don’t. If anything happened, it would be because of deeper reasons. Plus, you have that potion, so I’ll be able to keep up with you when I’m old.”
I frowned, “Be serious.”
He grinned, “I am. Satisfying your insane libido is my life mission.”
He shook his head, “Sorry, you’re right. I just… Kyra, you drive me crazy. I can’t imagine my life without you. I love you, already. I feel like I’ve known you forever, not just four months, and only been with you for a few weeks. It’s crazy, but true.”
My heart picked up as my mouth dried up. I felt vulnerable as I looked into his eyes.
“I love you too, William. It’s why I had to bring up the talk.”
We hadn’t really had the relationship talk yet, before then. It was clear enough we both hoped we’d go the full distance, even if it was far too early for engagements or promises, we were discussing it.
He grinned, “So, just out of curiosity, how old will you look in sixty years? Assuming I make it to eighty-four.”
I shrugged, “No idea. There aren’t any other half-demon fae witches running around. At a guess, somewhere between my lower twenties and thirty. Certainly, no older looking than that. Fae and half-demons age about twenty to one, so I’d look three years older in sixty. Witches are three or four to one, so I’d look in my mid-thirties. It depends on how much that quarter witch has influence on my age expectancy in my DNA, but I suspect it will fall somewhere in between.”
He nodded, “That makes sense, I guess.”
I said, “We’ll have a good idea in ten years, and if I still look like I’m eighteen then we’ll know for sure within twenty.”
He said, “What if you live even longer, if the fae part gives your half-demon part a boost.”
I snorted, “I doubt it, you just want me nubile and hot forever.”
He smirked.
My phone beeped, and I pulle
d it out and read the headline.
“Holy crap.”
He asked, “What?”
I grinned, “Two senators have launched a committee investigation into the whole issue. I’m not holding my breath, but it’s more than I expected so soon.”
I put my phone away, and then took a bite out of my butter-soaked cornbread. I could read the whole article later, maybe much later.
He said, “That’s good news, let’s hope it’s not just politics as usual to cover their asses and nothing will really change.”
I nodded, “Plan B was always long term, but I won’t cry if they surprise me.”
William changed the subject.
“Do you want kids?”
I almost choked on a piece of chicken, but I managed to swallow it down.
“Eventually? Things are a little crazy right now. You?”
He said, “I want to make them,” and waggled his eyebrows.
I snorted, “William.”
He grinned unrepentantly, “Yes, I do. I’m not asking yet, I’m just seeing where we both are.”
“I want to be married first.”
He nodded, “I’ll see what I can do.”
I snickered, “You’re terrible.”
He winked, “You love it, and me. This is about us, and our private relationship. I’m not sure I want it all dependent on everything else, our lives will always be interesting. The danger won’t go away, even if the councils give in officially.”
I nodded, “It’s a dangerous world, and always will be. I agree, but right now I’m too young, and we need some stability at least.”
Maybe I was overthinking it, but he hadn’t asked me to marry him yet, had he? We had plenty of time to figure it out.
He got up and slowly rounded the table, and I stared into his eyes until he’d pulled me to my feet and into a deep kiss.
I melted against him and sighed into his mouth as his hands caressed my waist, over my hips and onto my ass when he squeezed firmly. Gods, my whole body felt electrified in that moment, how did the man have so much control over my body.
Demon Underground: Kyra Bell Book Three Page 14