by Ella M. Lee
“I’m sorry,” I said. “It’s…” I groped for anything to excuse myself. “Colder out here than I would like.”
Kostas didn’t seem put off by my reaction. He smiled broadly at me. I forced myself to smile in return, but all I wanted to do was seek out Nicolas. Kostas watched me, our eyes locked, waiting for me to say something, but I couldn’t think of a single appropriate thing.
A hand touched my shoulder. “Fiona?”
Nicolas.
I inhaled sharply, standing up quickly. “Yes?” I asked, a little too loudly.
Nicolas smiled when our eyes met. “Lunch is almost over. Can I borrow you for a quick minute before we resume?” He looked down at Kostas. “I’m apologize for stealing her away.”
Kostas stood, nodding at Nicolas as Andrea hopped up onto his shoulder. “It is no problem. Fiona, it was good to have a moment together. Maybe we can have a longer discussion later?”
“Yes, um, sure, of course,” I said, flustered at being caught between him and Nicolas. “Thank you, sincerely.”
Kostas inclined his head, and Andrea chittered something at me. “Nice to meet you, too,” I said to the falcon.
Nicolas beckoned, and I followed him out of the room and down the hall.
“I thought you may be eager to get out of that conversation,” he said quietly once we were alone in the huge entryway of the house.
“Wild wants an alliance,” I said, gushing the words out.
“I know,” he said.
“Why did they come to me?” I whined.
“Kostas likes you,” Nicolas said.
I gave him a dark, annoyed look.
Nicolas smiled. “Yes, in that way, you attractive woman.”
“God, if you are there,” I said, casting my eyes upward, “please smite me right now before I have to spend another minute here.”
Nicolas laughed. “Pay attention to him during the afternoon session. Sit by him at dinner. Flirt. We could use Kostas’s good will.”
I closed my eyes. “I hate this.”
“I know.” He glanced down the hallway and took my hands for a brief moment, squeezing them gently. “You are splendid. If Kostas wants to admire your beauty, let him.”
I coughed out a laugh. “I only want you to do that.”
He smiled, more warmly and openly than he’d smiled all day. “I do, frequently.” He leaned in. “Let me tell you a secret: Every smile I manage for these people”—he waved a hand toward the greenhouse—”is actually for you. You are always the inspiration.”
I shook my head, heat creeping up my neck and staining my cheeks, unable to say anything in the face of his sweet words.
“Listen,” he said. “Ryan and I had the chance to speak for a few minutes. We do not have much leverage, so we will not have a lot of room for negotiation, but I’m hoping we have earned the respect of the others and that our sanctions will be light. If we are allowed the opportunity to push back on any points, let me do the talking.”
“Of course,” I said. Nicolas always had more information than anyone else in the room. If anyone could steer a conversation, it was him.
I hesitated, about to reach out and touch his cheek, his bright gaze burning into mine, when I heard voices carrying down the hall.
I pulled away quickly, taking a step back, swallowing the strange tears that sprang to my eyes. I hated feeling off-kilter with Nicolas. I hated that we had important business to attend to when all I wanted to do was hold him and sort ourselves out. I hated that I’d need to spend the rest of the day and entire evening schmoozing these people while Nicolas cuddled up to Juniper yet again.
“Looks like we’re restarting,” I said.
“Fiona,” he began, but I darted around him toward the meeting room.
I was settled into my seat at our table by the time everyone else arrived. There were no more presentations to give, so the semicircle had been closed into a full circle, making for a rather close-knit discussion. I was glad my seat had been placed between Nicolas and Ryan.
Nicolas slid in beside me with a concerned look.
Later, I thought, trying to smile.
“Let’s begin,” Gemma said once everyone had taken a seat and the chatter had quieted down. “I’m sure each clan would like to make a statement about Lightning. There will be time for everyone to speak. I will start with Sky’s opinions on the matter.”
Nicolas leaned forward, attentive.
“Despite the unconventional nature of what the Lightning magicians have done,” Gemma said, “it is not against any laws to create a new clan. From what Sky has investigated, there have been no negative impacts on the community’s secrecy or the stability of any clan’s power.” Gemma looked at Ryan, then me, then Nicolas. “We appreciate your open and forthright demeanor. Renaldo and I, after consulting Wind, agree that you are being honest in your communication and intent.”
“Thank you, Gemma,” Nicolas said. “That has always been my plan.”
Gemma folded her hands in front of her. “Before today, Sky’s wariness about the situation stemmed from the unknown nature of what you created, as well as your goals in that creation. After today’s demonstrations, I believe we”—she shared a look with Renaldo—“are satisfied with our preliminary understanding of your magic, and we are confident you are speaking the truth when it comes to your goals. The sanctions we are asking for will serve to reinforce your stated plans and serve to prove your intentions.”
“Please, go ahead,” Nicolas encouraged.
“Sky has three sanctions to issue. The first: Lightning will not be permitted to recruit additional magicians for a year and a day from now. The second: Lightning will not be permitted to expand their clan house locations for a year and a day from now. The third: Lightning magicians will not be permitted to take up permanent residence outside of their clan house for a year and a day from now. Violations of these sanctions will result in punishments up to and including execution.”
I looked at Nicolas. His expression hadn’t changed.
“Do I need to explain the reasoning for these sanctions?” Gemma asked.
“No, we understand,” Nicolas said.
We’d expected something like this—limits. Sky wouldn’t want us growing stronger, branching out or messing around in their territory. A year would give them a lot of time to digest our research, which we had promised to make available, and study us from afar.
“What does Lightning have to say?” she asked.
Nicolas leaned around me to study Ryan, nodding after a few moments. His eyes went to me next, and they asked, Input?
They are kneecapping us, I thought. If they want to deny us strength, they should be willing to protect us. And they should be willing to guarantee our safety.
Nicolas nodded at me before turning back to Gemma. “We understand your concerns, but we have some of our own. Agreeing to these sanctions, which we are willing to do, means we will need to reveal the location of our clan house to Sky. In return, we would like Sky’s binding word that you will not reveal that location to others. We would also like your assistance in securing our location, as you are severely limiting our ability to do it by ourselves. Finally, we are to be a sanctuary. The land on which Lightning’s clan house sits cannot be invaded by Sky for any reason, and Sky agrees to protect us from invasions by any other clan for any reason. Access will be invitation only as long as the sanctions stand.”
Gemma leaned into Renaldo, and they conferred quietly for a few moments. I cast my eyes around the rest of the room; everyone else seemed somewhere between bored and mildly interested, waiting their turn to speak.
“Agreed,” Gemma said. “We will put the binders in place before the conclave ends. If Lightning is committed to peace, sanctuary status is not a problem. Sky yields the discussion to Water.”
Claudius smiled. “Water has no sanctions to suggest. We have established our support for Lightning and wish them the best.”
Nicolas inclined his head. “That
is much appreciated.”
“Water yields to Flame,” Claudius said, waving his hand at his neighbors.
“Flame has nothing to add,” Laurine said. “Stay out of our lives, and we will stay out of yours, Auspex.”
She said his epithet like a curse, and then shot me a venomous look. Nicolas looked between us, his gaze darkening.
“I am happy to stay out of your way, Lady of Flame,” Nicolas said sourly. His mocking words set off awkward shuffling through the room. Or perhaps it had been Laurine’s reminder to the others of Nicolas’s feared title.
Laurine noticed the slight. “Yield to Verdant,” she spat.
The Verdants had been quiet for the whole conclave, mostly keeping to themselves. “Verdant has nothing to add. Yield to Wild.”
Whatever Ryan had been saying to them had worked. I suppressed a relieved sigh.
Kostas spoke to me rather than to Nicolas. “Wild would like the opportunity to create a binding agreement of alliance with Lightning. As a small clan ourselves, we would like assurances of peace.”
“Lightning has no issues with Wild,” I said.
“Regardless,” Kostas said. “If you are unwilling to provide such an agreement, we will consider it an act of aggression.”
I looked at Nicolas, startled. I had no idea what to say. Nicolas put a hand on my wrist.
Go ahead and give him what he wants, Nicolas said silently. We have no plans which involve Wild.
I waited another few moments as though considering. “All right.”
Kostas, who had apparently expected pushback, smiled. “Yield to Wind.”
Flynn spoke this time, with quiet Edmond keeping his eyes down. “In exchange for allowing Lightning the freedom of research that they desire, Wind requires meteorological assistance in some of our regions, either directly from a Lightning magician or via notated spells.”
Nicolas spread his hands. “We can only agree to minor weather help and guidance, as we do not understand the long-term effects of our magic yet. Does that suit you?”
“As long as you are not hiding anything, and your assistance is rendered in good faith.”
“Agreed,” Nicolas said. “We can enact the binder later.”
“Yield to Smoke,” Flynn said, offering a nervous glance toward Stephan.
Nicolas steepled his hands, his face sliding into a blank mask. Stephan didn’t speak immediately. He cast his gaze on Ryan for a moment, and then quickly moved on to me. I couldn’t help the slight pucker of my lips as anger boiled into my throat, and Stephan tilted his head at me, amused. Finally, he studied Nicolas.
“Smoke would like access to a Lightning magician for our own research,” Stephan said.
“No,” Nicolas said, and I was shocked the word had come out as a polite rebuff and not a growl.
“I think I’d rather ask the magician herself,” Stephan said, and my stomach turned over. When his eyes met mine, I drew back.
Nicolas’s magic crackled around him dangerously for a moment, and a spate of hushed murmurs rose up from the other pinnacle members.
“Fiona,” Stephan said, his tone deceptively sweet and kind, “as the only living person who was inside Lightning’s sanctum at the time of creation, Smoke would like you to come to our clan house and submit to a round of interviews and testing.”
Nicolas’s breath caught next to me. Calm down, I thought to him, but he didn’t relax.
“And if I don’t?” I asked Stephan, not bothering to hide my hostility.
“Smoke will consider Lightning to be uncooperative to collaboration and act accordingly,” he said with a slight shrug.
Nicolas had warned me of the wording Stephan used right now. To “act accordingly” meant that Smoke would withhold their own research from us. It would be a blow, as we’d be cut off from new magical developments, but there were other ways we could get around that in time—access we could procure through other means.
“I see,” I said. “The answer is still no. While it will be a shame to lose collaboration with like-minded magicians, I think everyone here will understand why we do not find you trustworthy.”
Stephan closed his eyes in disappointment. “So be it. At the very least, Smoke would like physical samples to study—blood, tissue, hair, and static magic.” His gaze bore into mine. “From you.”
“You can have your samples from me or nothing at all,” Nicolas snapped.
That made perfect sense. Stephan already possessed samples of Nicolas’s blood and tissue from his captivity, so he would not learn much more from additional specimens.
Stephan sighed. “We have similar goals, Nicolas: the betterment of magic. I fail to see the point in being unreasonable.”
Nicolas’s magic crackled again, poised, and I glanced at him. Maybe it was Nicolas we should have left at home. He was farther off the rails than usual with Stephan around.
“Are you going to impose a sanction now that we’ve declined your requests?” Nicolas asked venomously.
Stephan was quiet for a long time while the room held its breath. His eyes went once more to me as though asking a question.
I looked away.
Finally, he shook his head. “No.” He smiled at Nicolas. “Yield to Meteor.”
Xiao gave Nicolas a thin, mean smile and said, “Meteor requests a communications lockdown for Lightning.”
Nicolas laughed. “You can’t be serious.”
What Xiao suggested was lunacy. A communications lockdown—there hadn’t been one placed on a clan in decades—would mean that we’d be unable to contact any member of any other clan without first going through a Sky representative. A simple phone call about nothing important at all wouldn’t even be allowed.
“We do not trust that Nicolas and his clan are not planning something subversive. The creation of Lightning was blasphemous. If he was willing to keep that plan hidden for years, who knows what else he is capable of.”
Nicolas raised his brow. “I’ve already divulged our goals in front of a truth-teller. What more could you possibly desire?”
“Assurances that you aren’t conspiring with any clan to destroy Meteor.”
Nicolas sighed, his magic sparking. “I have no current or future plans to plot Meteor’s downfall, by myself or with any other clan. I have no desire to destroy or harm Meteor Clan. You have my word.”
I swallowed my laugh. Those were certainly all true statements, excellent lies by omission that still felt comprehensive.
“There,” he continued. “You now have my promise recorded in front of the pinnacle members of each clan and in the presence of Wind’s esteemed truth-teller. If that isn’t enough for you, I don’t know what to say. We will not accept a communications sanction.”
Xiao didn’t speak.
“Your response?” Gemma asked, after the silence had stretched so long that the rest of us shifted uncomfortably in our seats.
Xiao stood, shaking in anger, and headed toward the door. Before she could take even a few steps, Stephan caught her wrist. She looked down, startled and offended, and attempted to pull her arm away. He held her tightly. With blazing eyes, he jerked his head.
“Take a seat,” he growled, and Xiao stumbled back, nearly falling into her chair.
Gemma watched their exchange with interest. “Xiao?” she prompted after a moment.
Xiao appeared lost in thought, her angry eyes glazed. “Nothing further,” she said, but her gaze slid to Nicolas.
Gemma paused, confused. “You are retracting your requirements?” she pressed.
“Retracted,” Xiao muttered.
I frowned. She’d cooled off more quickly than the previous day. Jabari leaned over to whisper something in her ear, but Xiao merely shook her head sullenly. My frown deepened. What connection did Stephan have to Meteor that had made her so compliant so quickly?
Why was it that everyone here capitulated to him so easily?
But people also capitulated to Nicolas regularly. Nicolas and Stephan had the type of
commanding and unyielding presences that I would never in my life be able to produce. I didn’t understand how they managed it, so maybe it was hard for me to understand how it could produce the reactions it did.
“Any final comments?” Gemma asked the group.
Silence.
“Well,” she said, “in that case, I think we can conclude today’s business with Lightning and move on to our next agenda item: extenuating circumstances and tenure length when it comes to liaisons…”
I took a deep breath, relieved. Ryan took my hand gently and squeezed it for just a moment. I smiled at him. We’d gotten off lightly with our sanctions and any fallout from our clan’s creation.
Nicolas had been right—our policy of openness and honesty had eased the minds of the other clans, and we’d done a good enough job with our diplomacy to ingratiate ourselves to everyone here.
Well, except Meteor, but Nicolas had plans for them. I didn’t think Xiao would last long as a pinnacle member. Not with that temper, and not when she so flagrantly annoyed Nicolas.
Nicolas gave me a wolfish smile that told me I’d nailed his thoughts exactly before turning back to the others with the attentiveness and open expression of someone who had nothing to hide at all.
Chapter 17
“I’m American, actually,” I said to Kostas, who leaned into me with interest. Andrea was on a perch by the windows tonight, watching us closely as we sat side by side in the formal dining room. Now that I was getting to know them, I could see a slight connection between them, a taut shimmer to their interactions that felt like magic, but not quite.
“American!” he exclaimed. “I would not have guessed.”
“And you?” I asked, taking a sip of white wine.
“My mother is Bulgarian, and my father is Greek, but I grew up in England,” he said.
“Ah… that’s where the handsome good looks come from,” I said, hating every word of my flirtatious lie.
He smiled broadly. “And your pretty blue eyes? A product of your heritage?”
“I have my mother’s eyes. No idea what her heritage is,” I said. “I think it’s buried under a dozen generations of our family being in the U.S.” I laughed. “I’m nothing special.”