by K. N. Banet
“I don’t need your endearment,” he growled, looking over the dagger Callahan gave him.
“Callahan, train your wolves better,” Alvina said softly, a clear warning. “If another insults me, it’ll be the last thing they say.”
“I’ll remind them to be respectful of the Tribunal, regardless of species.”
The room was cleared of furniture in a snap of Alvina’s hands, the couches, tables, and chairs disappearing. Alpha Price and I stepped forward, glaring at each other.
“No, I won’t be a party to this,” Alpha Lewis said sharply, making everyone look at him in surprise. “I can’t abide by this. Alpha Price has only ever spoken the truth, and Jacky Leon is a good soul who has proven she’s willing to put her life on the line for anyone, regardless of species. I can’t abide by this foolish behavior. I like a good fight as much as the rest of us, but this isn’t a good fight. Even if we decide Price or Jacky is the winner, how does that make the truth clear? How? This just needlessly kills someone. I’m bringing the humans. They’ll verify if they knew Alpha Price or not.”
“No!” Price snarled.
“Why the fuck not?” Geoffrey asked, throwing up his hands. “Price, please explain to me—”
“Don’t turn yourself into another traitor like Everson,” Price growled.
“Watch your tone,” Callahan warned. “Lewis is just as much an Alpha on this council as you are, and Everson is not the discussion today.”
“He’s always part of the discussion now that he’s one of the most powerful wolves in the world. Him and her, his little buddy who can’t even stay in line for her own family.” Price pointed at me with the dagger. “The fact anyone here would entertain her theories and drag me here shows me none of you are fit to rule the werewolves. Werewolves first—that’s what we used to believe. I’m going to take us back to that, and dealing with this is the first of a new future for our kind.”
The room went utterly silent.
“Are you challenging me?” Callahan asked softly, stepping closer to Price.
“Not yet, not if you prove yourself worthy to rule our kind,” Price countered.
Callahan looked at me, then back at his werewolf. He was the ruler of the werewolves, and it was apparent to everyone he was being held by the balls—caught between his responsibilities as a member of the Tribunal, his other Alphas, and Price’s claims.
“Did you try to kill Jacky Leon?” he asked softly.
“I did not. I don’t lie. Ever. I can’t.” Price was adamant, and there was no smell of a lie in the words, just as he had promised.
“Because you have magic that covers it, don’t you?” Hasan asked from beside me. His words sent ripples through the room. “You are Talented. I was beginning to wonder if I was going mad. You are a liar. You lie all the time.”
Alpha Price’s eyes went wide.
“You…you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Is that the truth, Price?” Callahan snarled.
Price took a step back, knowing he had been exposed.
“Grab him, wolves,” Callahan commanded. “Alvina, will you go into his mind and find the truth against his will?”
“With pleasure,” she purred, walking closer as the Alphas of the North American Werewolf Council grabbed their friend and forced him to his knees. Alvina was fast, grabbing hold of his head. Price screamed as his mind was violated and searched. She started to laugh, then pulled away.
“Oh, Hasan, you were always one of the smartest men I know. Such a useful ability, to lie without getting caught. He manipulates his scent.” She stepped back. “And he’s the one who told the human government Jacky’s name. He purposefully used it when he knew they were in the room, knowing they were already curious about her. This was all a game to him, honed to a deadly edge by the hate in his heart.” She smiled cruelly, those dangerous teeth showing through. “He had Liza killed, then killed the young werewolves, just as Jacky put together. Smell no lie, moon cursed.”
“Jacqueline, kill him,” my father ordered, his words cold. “You were his next victim. It’s your right.”
I walked across the room, vindicated as Price looked up in fear. His dagger was gone. He was unarmed, as all of us were when we entered the room.
He didn’t try to run, knowing his scheme was over. I grabbed his hair and shoved the dagger into his throat, feeling the blood pour over my hands. I yanked it out and stabbed again in his chest, aiming for his black heart.
I didn’t count how many times I stabbed him, but at that moment, I knew I hated him as much as he hated me. He had tried to destroy my life, everything I had been working toward, by revealing me. He had tried to kill me and destroy my family, as he had once before.
Hasan had to pull me off him, covered in his blood.
“Let’s go home,” he whispered. “Let’s take you home. It’s over. You did it, Jacky.”
37
Chapter Thirty-Seven
April 14, 2021
I was walking into the bar when I saw them. Three agents from the BSA, one with his arm in a sling, looking more upset than the other two, who were enjoying a drink. Special Agent Collins couldn’t drink while he was on the painkillers the hospital had given him, something I found both funny and sad. Instead, he spun his pack of cigarettes on the table, looking put out as Miller and an unknown woman toasted silently and drank.
As I watched the scene unfold, I heard the news on the televisions around the bar.
“Today, we’re bringing you an amazing revelation that will change our country and the world. The Bureau of Supernatural Affairs has confirmed the existence of yet another supernatural species, the werecats.”
It had been similar for hours since the news broke at noon. Everyone was rehashing what the BSA put out to the public over and over again.
I wasn’t too worried at the moment. No one was trying to kill me, no one knew who I was, and no one knew I was the woman who spoke to the President that morning, thanking him for his respect for the deal I had come to with the BSA.
I own a bar, and I talk to the President. What a fucking world.
“I thought we had a deal,” I finally said loudly as I walked toward the agents. Dirk was behind the bar, serving them, and groaned as I came closer. He was only there helping the other bartender because of the agents. That’s how I knew they were even around. He was keeping an eye on them for me.
“We’re having a drink in celebration,” Special Agent Miller explained. “For…you know.”
“And with this, we wanted to introduce you to someone,” Special Agent Collins said, getting off the barstool and walking closer to me, making a semi-circle perimeter. “If you have a moment.”
“Yeah—”
“Hey, Jacky! Did you hear about this?” Joey asked across the bar, pointing up at the screen closest to him.
“Yes, I did,” I confirmed patiently.
“Have you met any?” he asked.
I smiled and knew my eyes shifted to my feline gold. “Yes, Joey, I’ve met a werecat or two.” Or a dozen. “And that’s the only time I’ll indulge that question.”
He paused, his eyes going wide. I waved and walked out the backdoor, letting the agents follow me.
“Who are you?” I asked, turning to the female agent.
“Agent Kirk, but you can call me Bethany. I’m the agent who will be stationed here to continue working with you. I currently live in Houston, but I’m looking for a home here in Jacksonville because you’re going to be my number one priority.”
“I’m going to have to train another one of you?” I frowned at Collins and Miller.
“We tried warning you that we’re not the people who get to stay,” Collins said without any sympathy. “Agent Kirk is good, and you can trust her. We’ve briefed her on everything we can.”
“I understand you live a very private life and will do my best to respect that.”
“Yeah…” I sighed. “We’ll catch up later. How’s Sunday when I
’m off? Tonight is a friend’s birthday party, so I need to head out.”
“That’s fine.”
“Wait,” Collins said, trying to step around me to stop me from running off. “You never did tell us what happened to the men who tried to kill you.”
“Oh…uh…” I tsked. “That’s too bad.”
“Miss Leon, anything is better than nothing.”
“One of them has been given work with another pack, a clean start. The two others were a little less repentant, and that’s all I know. I let the werewolves deal with it because they were the ones who sent them after me. That’s how these things work.” I shrugged.
“That’s not—”
“They’re not dead or being abused. That I can promise. Reach out to Alpha Lewis. He’ll be able to give you more details.”
“I’ll do that,” he warned.
“Alpha Lewis already knows you will. Now, I’m leaving. You’re not supposed to hang out in the bar in uniform, so…fix that. Customers or not, you can’t be agents drinking in my bar. That doesn’t work for me.” I waved them back inside. When Dirk saw me, I pointed at them behind their back. “Keep an eye on them,” I mouthed.
He nodded and started chatting them up the moment they got back to the bar. He was reminding them of the same rules I had put down for them after I killed Alpha Price. Miller was trying to argue, but it wasn’t flying with Dirk, who was finding comfortable confidence in his new position. He was a tough guy and didn’t let people intimidate him. It worked out.
I smiled and went out to my new car, a Kia Soul…with a roll cage installed, and a number of other things that didn’t come standard. It had a nice bit of space in the back, though, and it was an incredibly normal vehicle otherwise, something I thought was important. I certainly didn’t need the one-hundred-thousand-dollar SUV Heath had tried to convince me to get, even if I could afford it.
I drove away from my bar, feeling normal for the first time in weeks, even with pictures of my werecat form being splashed all over the news. I tried the radio and realized it was hopeless, too. Everyone and their grandmother had something to say about the new supernatural species. Everyone was wondering how many were hiding in the world, what we could do if we were just like werewolves, and more.
The identities of my people were safe. Even if the BSA leaked me, it was just me. I knew it would get hard to hold that fragile barrier up as time went on, but it was something I could survive.
I pulled up in front of Heath’s, grinning as Carey came out to greet me, her father right behind her.
I was home, and everyone was safe. Alpha Price couldn’t take this away from me. I grabbed the presents I put in the new Kia the day before and handed them off to Carey after a hug. Heath wrapped his arm around my shoulders as we closed the front door.
“How do you feel?” he asked softly.
“Like we’re going to enjoy a moment of peace, then something else will happen,” I admitted. “I just met Agent Kirk, assigned to me by the BSA to be my permanent liaison. You know that’s going to be a problem.”
“Yeah, but we’ll enjoy the new normal while it lasts.”
“We will,” I agreed. “Let’s have cake and ice cream and pretend everything is fine.”
He laughed and held me to his side as we entered the dining room, where Carey was watching Landon put candles on the cake. She looked up and smiled at us.
“I like this,” she declared. “You two. I was mad at first, but you know, now that I’ve thought about it a lot, it’s pretty cool.”
“Well, with her approval, who would dare tell us to stop?” I laughed as I sat down. Landon even smirked, shaking his head a little.
With this odd family I had found, I felt as though I could handle whatever was thrown at me next. We’d survived everything…so far.
Keep reading for more information about the next release or jump to my website and sign up for my newsletter at kn-banet.com/mailinglist.
Dear Reader
Thank you for reading!
If you don’t like the call to action on the previous page… Let me know? It’s my first time doing it.
I want to mention a special project I have coming! You know that whole Zuri plot part of this book? THERE’S A BABY! There’s also a novella coming telling her story while she’s been away and how she ended up where we see her with Jacky. You can find it right in the Call of Magic Anthology! Preorder now for only $0.99 on any platform.
Call of Magic Anthology
Ancient and Immortal: A Tribunal Archives Story
October 26, 2021
Now we’ll talk about the book you just read.
I mean, humans know about Jacky and werecats now. And while it might not be what would realistically happen in our world if we discovered werecats, let’s remember, this is not our world. They’ve known about supernaturals for more than a couple of decades now. This world is something parallel to ours in technology and culture, but it’s a split from our timeline, I guess. They had werewolves come out to the public and that’s changed everything, including human perspective and politics.
Meaning, it’s my world and my fake United States will act however I want it to.
Now, onto the best news… WHEN IS THE NEXT BOOK?
ROYAL PAWN
JACKY LEON BOOK SIX
COMING IN JULY 2021
And if I still have you head over to my website to get the latest updates on the next book in the series! You can also find free POV chapters and shorts in my blog. kn-banet.com
Or you can come join me in The Banet Pride, where I’m always hanging out with readers.
And remember,
Reviews are always welcome, whether you loved or hated the book. Please consider taking a few moments to leave one and know I appreciate every second of your time and I’m thankful.
The Tribunal Archives
Jacky Leon is a series set in the world of The Tribunal. Events between series in this world will be cross referenced and secondary characters will show up in different series.
For more information about The Tribunal Archives and the different series in it, you can go here:
kn-banet.com/books
There is an official timeline that includes every book so far in the world on my website but it is not the recommended reading order. Due to the nature of the world, each series stands alone and can be read at any time.
You can find the official timeline here:
kn-banet.com/tribunal-archives-timeline
Acknowledgments
I’m very bad at giving really public praise. I shower people in praise in private. But that’s not everyone’s love language and that’s okay.
So this little page shall now be dedicated to everyone who helps me get these books from the concept to the release and beyond. From my PA, to my editor and my proofreader, to my wonderful friends helping me through the hardest moments. To my husband, who doesn’t read my books, but loves that I write them.
And to you, the reader, for without you, I wouldn’t have anyone to share these stories with. I’m a storyteller at heart and you have given me the greatest gift of listening.
I love all of you. Thank you for continuing to go on this journey with me.
About the Author
KN-BANET.COM
K.N. Banet loves to read books that make people cry. She likes to write books that make people cry (and she wants to hear about it). She’s a firm believer that nothing and no one in this world is perfect, and she enjoys exploring those imperfections—trying to make the characters seem real on the page and not just in her head. Worlds of action, adventure, trying times, and true love are the things that get her writing.
She might be crazy, though. Her characters think so, but this can’t be confirmed. You might want to try asking her husband, two dogs, and cat.
Also by K.N. Banet
The Tribunal Archives
Urban Fantasy
Jacky Leon
Oath Sworn
Family and
Honor
Broken Loyalty
Echoed Defiance
Shades of Hate
Royal Pawn (July 2021)
Volume One: Books 1-3
Kaliya Sahni
Bounty
Snared
Monsters
Reborn (June 2021)
Everly Abbott
Servant of the Blood (September 2021)
Tribunal Stories
Ancient and Immortal (Call of Magic Anthology)
Also By Kristen Banet
Reverse Harem
Epic Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, and Paranormal Romance
Age of the Andinna
The Gladiator’s Downfall
The Mercenary’s Bounty
The Warrior’s Assault
The Rebel’s Vision
The Enemy’s Triumph
The Champion’s Ruin
The Avatar’s Flight (April 2021)
Volume One: Books 1-3
Complete Series
The Redemption Saga
A Life of Shadows
A Heart of Shame
A Nature of Conflict
An Echo of Darkness
A Night of Redemption
Wild Junction
The Kingson Pride Series
Wild Pride
Wild Fire
Wild Souls
Wild Love (Novella)
The Wolves of Wild Junction Duet