Nathan put an arm around Gabby to walk down the hallway, and Mordecai glued himself to my left side. He can fight right or left handed, but I’m much better fighting right handed.
“No one will attack you in the building,” one of the agents assured us, “but I’m concerned that you’re bracing as if you’ll be assaulted at any second. Who do you expect to attack?”
“Letting your guard down because you’re assured of safety is a surefire way of getting dead.” Nathan asked him about a list they were putting together to change the subject, and the conversation stayed there throughout the elevator ride and until we said goodbye at the security checkpoint.
A different limo was waiting for us, and Mordecai nodded to the driver before ushering the rest of us in.
“Change in plans,” Nathan told us once the doors were closed. “Marco sent a limo to get us, and we’ll hang out at one of his properties while we sort through this mess. We don’t want to be flying while we’re at risk of being attacked with magical mist.”
“Mordecai and I can get everyone home through the nothingness,” I told him.
“We’ll call that Plan C. We need to neutralize Manandán.” Nathan looked at Gabby. “The Rabbit King has a treaty with the Merrow, yes?”
Gabby gave a slow nod, thinking. “It could work.” She looked at Mordecai and back to Nathan. “I should go with Aaron and Sophia to negotiate. You’ll scare them.”
“And the Dragon King won’t?” Nathan asked.
“He’s known for being fair.”
Nathan seemed to take that in stride. “I doubt Aaron will let Sophia go, but we might be able to negotiate to get Mab or Titania to help.” He looked to Mordecai. “Having Gabby let it be known Manandán is working against her interests will help us politically. The Merrow King and Queen probably won’t fight on our behalf even with Gabby intervening, but they might help us get to Manandán without him expecting us.”
I wasn’t sure, but we seemed to be heading North, when Marco’s mansion had been east of Manhattan. “I thought we were going to Marco’s?”
“Marco has a place just above White Plains — six miles from the Hudson River on one side and about the same to the bay on the other, which should be far enough from the water to reduce the effects of his mists. Manandán’s powers are strongest near the ocean, though he’ll be able to draw from the Tennessee River as well, so I don’t understand why he waited until we were here.” He checked his phone, read something and looked back up. “Aaron and Sophia are going through Faerie and will meet us at Marco’s place.”
“What’s to keep Manandán from doing something stupid to give away the supernatural secret?” I asked. “He’s not in this realm, so the Concilio has no control over him, right?”
Nathan looked to Mordecai, who told me, “Whoever brought him here would have to pay. There are treaties in place because of past wars between realms, but they don’t have a lot of teeth. If Killian brought Manandán here, Killian would pay, and the Concilio would speak with Nereus about making sure his people stay in his realm, lest we send people to create problems for the Sea King.”
“The Concilio can’t find Killian because we don’t think he’s staying in this realm,” I reminded them.
Nathan sighed. “It’s possible we’d be blamed for Manandán’s actions, since he came here to capture us. Marco’s place is remote, which is why we’re headed there.”
“Aaron’s bringing Sophia?”
“That’s what the text says. I’m a little surprised, too.”
“I’ll meet ya’ll at the house.” Mordecai gave me a pointed look. “Stay with Nathan and the group. No stepping out; no going off on your own.”
I glared at him. I hadn’t planned to, but if I had to, I would.
“Do it,” he warned, “and I’ll bind you so you can’t step away, and then whip you to within an inch of your life.”
“I’ll do whatever I think is best under whatever circumstances I’m thrown into. You’re just going to have to trust my judgment.”
He lifted an eyebrow a half-second before he disappeared.
“The dude is seriously creepy,” said Gabby.
I sighed. She wasn’t wrong. “Is there a game plan I should know about?” I asked Nathan.
He looked at Patrick and back to me. He had his arm around Gabby, who looked like she needed the reassurance. “Get to the house and into the saferoom. I assume Mordecai is retrieving Horse. If I’m right, I’ll leave you and Patrick at the house with Mordecai, and will take Gabby, Horse, and possibly Sophia to Faerie. No idea whether Aaron will want to go with us or stay here.”
“Is it safe for Horse to come back? What about the mists?” I asked.
“Gabby and Horse are formidable together, and no way is he going to let her go to Faerie without him.”
“Are we sure that was Manandán? Killian can use the mists too, right?”
Nathan looked to Patrick again, and Patrick said, “The mists smelled of divinity to me, and not Celrau.”
Nathan nodded. “I assumed the same. Gabby?”
She considered a few moments. “I’m not sure we can say for sure. I’ve met Manandán and…” She shook her head. “I wouldn’t swear to it being him or not him.”
I’d smelled something when the mists had enveloped us, but I didn’t have the scent vocabulary to understand. If forced, I’d have called it earthy and magical, but I had no idea what that meant. No one asked me, so I didn’t offer my opinion, but told them, “Killian controls bears too, and Horse had a problem. Marco also warned us of bears. Do ya’ll really need to go to Faerie?”
“Yeah,” said Nathan. “Even if this was Killian, we need to put Oceana on notice about Manandán’s activities.” He looked at Gabby. “You don’t need to go. Sophia can handle it with the Merrow King and Queen.”
Relief washed over Gabby’s face. She hadn’t complained or given even a hint of how scared she was. She’d have gone without blinking an eye because she’s brave, but the bunny inside her had been terrified.
I considered how everyone had been affected, even Patrick. He’s an Alpha wolf and damned powerful, so anyone who could threaten him had serious Mojo. Even Nathan had been in trouble.
“Neither Killian nor Manandán have control over wolves, right?” I asked. “Or lions? Rabbits? Because all of you were having trouble before I shielded everyone in the limo.”
“Someone was pulling on my wolf,” said Patrick. “I had to draw on the power of the Pack to hold onto my human form.”
“Ditto,” said Nathan. “I had to draw extra energy to maintain control. I helped Gabby as well, but it was a lot.”
“Horse drew on me and I drew on him,” said Gabby. “Usually, it works when we do that, and our combined energy is more than it should be, but…” She shrugged. “I don’t know what happened.”
“Shouldn’t we figure that out before we start splitting up?” I asked.
Nathan crossed his arms. “We’ll talk it over when we reach the house. Aaron and Mordecai need to weigh in as well.”
No one spoke for the rest of the ride. I closed my eyes and sent feelers out, but didn’t pick anything up.
9
We got off the interstate and went through a small city, but before long we were on a two-lane road through the woods. We drove perhaps five minutes and turned onto a badly paved driveway, and two long and twisty miles later, an imposing house loomed over us. It wasn’t quite a mansion, but since a vampire owned it, I figured there was as much underground as above.
It was painted the same green of the forest, with tan shutters and trim. I followed Nathan into the garage and, predictably, down some steps to the basement. A shapeshifter I didn’t know led us to a safe room, where I wasn’t surprised to see Aaron, Sophia, Jonathan, Kenny, Mordecai, and Horse.
Kenny was currently Randall’s Delta, his fourth. It was assumed he’d end up Cora’s third in command once our new Pack was formed.
“Who showed us to the room?” I asked.<
br />
“One of Marco’s people,” Jonathan answered. “The primary daytime guard.”
I looked around. “We should probably assume Marco will hear whatever’s said, yes?”
“Undoubtedly, but he’s on our side, so it’s okay.” Aaron looked at Nathan. “What do I need to know?”
“Whoever attacked us affected every shapeshifter and almost forced a change. Patrick and I drew on the energy of our Pack and Pride. I gave extra energy to Gabby, and Horse drew from her. Kirsten shielded us all, and I don’t know how long we’d have been able to hold out if she hadn’t.”
I looked around and found a camera. “If you’re listening in, why not open up communications so you can give your input as well.”
A few seconds later, the large television on the wall blinked on, and Marco smiled at us. “A note about Killian, since I had a few run-ins with him around seven hundred years ago. He can control the mists but they act differently than they do when Manandán forms them. Killian generally causes confusion and mayhem. Manandán either uses them to travel without being seen, or sends them off with a magical spell — often one that makes people forget specific people, things, or events. From the description, I’d say it sounds more like Killian.” He sighed. “Manandán doesn’t usually pick sides. He’s one of the trickster gods, but he’s rarely inherently evil or good.”
“Marco is correct,” said Mordecai. “The mists felt like they came from a god, but acted more as you’d expect if Killian were creating them. We need to go to Faerie to let the Merrow King and Queen know what Manandán is up to, but I’m not convinced he attacked us in New York. Unfortunately, I’m not convinced it wasn’t him, either.”
“Bottom line,” said Nathan, “we don’t need to be in a plane until we resolve the issue, and while Mordecai can get us home quickly without the need to fly, I’d like to resolve this before going home. Too many of us are in close proximity of the Tennessee River to risk letting this go on.”
“As I told you,” said Marco, “I managed to keep this house secret until a few years ago, but its location is widely known. If you’d like me to leak your location so they’ll attack you there, the loss of the home won’t be a big deal, and recompense will be easily negotiated.”
Aaron crossed his arms. “I’ll pay to have a similar sized home built elsewhere if we destroy this one, but I won’t pay the real estate value for either location.”
“Agreed. I’d like you to wait until after sundown, so I can get my people out of there.”
“Of course.” said Nathan. “Leak the information when you have everyone clear. The shifter who showed us to the saferoom — what kind of bird?”
“Doesn’t matter. He belongs to one of my vampires and won’t be interested in scouting for you.”
“Not a problem,” said Aaron. He looked around the room and leaned against the edge of a table. “Kirsten, you should nap, so you can stay up and fight tonight. I’ll send Nathan with Sophia and Jonathan. Once they’ve talked to the Merrow, he’ll take her to the Swan Castle and return to us.” He looked at his wife. “Stay in Faerie until I come to get you. Do not leave the castle unless Mab or Titania is with you.”
Sophia rolled her eyes but didn’t argue.
He looked around again. “On second thought, Kirsten, come with us to the portal to see them off. If we’re attacked, you’ll be able to shield her and Jonathan while Nathan and I fight.”
“I’ll come with you,” said Mordecai. “Kirsten doesn’t leave without me.”
Aaron looked at him a few seconds, debating. Finally, he said, “We’ll talk on the return trip, old friend.”
Mordecai looked at me. “In Aaron’s case, calling me old friend is a reminder that he’s putting up with me because we’ve known each other for millennia and our bond is strong.”
I looked at Aaron, considering. “It’s been too long since we’ve had a heart to heart.”
“He’s worried about you,” said Sophia, “and I have a few concerns, but I’m also secretly cheering you on because… well…” She looked at Mordecai and back to me. “I don’t want anyone except Aaron, but if he weren’t around…”
“And with that,” said Aaron,” I believe it’s time for me to look at some maps and figure out the best route to the portal. We came in through one on the property, but I don’t want to use the same one.”
“Already worked on it,” said Jonathan. “I don’t want to risk an ambush if we use the same one.”
While the two of them looked over old-fashioned paper maps, Sophia and I went into another room under the guise of needing to freshen up. What the fuck does that even mean? Freshen up. Women have to be meadow fresh all the time, but men can get gross and sweaty?
Sophia typed on her phone instead of talking to me. The triplets are with Mab, so they’re safe. I’m returning to my castle to keep from giving the appearance of running scared, but either Mab or Titania will meet me there and stay, to be sure no one gets to us. We’ll be safe, but I’m worried about Aaron. He thinks he’s invincible and ya’ll are going up against GODS!
She looked at me, clearly worried, and kept typing. I’m glad you have a thing going with Mordecai, because it means he’ll stick close to you. Will you try to stay close to Aaron? Please?
I pulled my phone out. What are you not telling me?
She blew out a breath, met my gaze, came to a decision, and typed, Killian was a half-demon human before he was turned. He’s a demon Celrau.
“Fuck me.” It sounded louder than I intended, but couldn’t be helped. Why did the men want to keep this shit from me?
Pretty sure Marco doesn’t know. I’m not even sure Mordecai does. Abbott, Aaron, and Nathan do, possibly Patrick. They’re keeping it close.
I mouthed, “Why?”
They don’t want the dark side to know we know. It gives us a leg up.
I was still holding my phone, and I typed, But I’m the damned demon fighter. It doesn’t make sense not to tell me!
She sighed, and it told me all I needed to know. She agreed with me, which was why she was telling me now.
I typed, I’ll try to stick close, but you know how he is. Thanks for telling me. We need to come up with a conversation or they’ll get suspicious.
“Is Mordecai as scary in bed as he is everywhere else?”
I rolled my eyes at her, but answered, “He’s fucking scary everywhere, and that’s all I’m saying about it. I don’t suppose you’ll tell me Aaron’s concerns?”
“Other than you being taken to Olympus and not returned?”
I sighed. “Yeah, I don’t think he’s too far off the mark. We’ve had that conversation, and I’m pretty sure he’d do it if he thought there was a snowball’s chance I’d one day forgive and forget.”
I waited to talk to Aaron until we were away from the house in one of the armored cars, headed towards a waterfall portal. Nathan drove while Aaron kept lookout from up front. Sophia and Jonathan were in the middle seat, and Mordecai and I were in the back.
“Why are Gabby and Horse here? Gabby can’t fight and shouldn’t be subjected to it, and we know Horse is compromised because two of our enemies can control bears.”
No one answered, and I tried again. “Tell me you aren’t keeping them here as bait, or I’ll personally take them somewhere safe and out of the way.”
“Can’t you just leave it alone?” Nathan sounded beyond annoyed and headed towards pissed, but that’d never slowed me down before.
“I need an answer.”
“You know I have feelings for Gabby,” said Nathan. “We aren’t going to do anything to put her in danger, or to bring harm to Horse. She needs him too much.”
“Then why are they here?”
It was Mordecai who finally answered. “I have suspicions that the vampire who owns her father is the mastermind, the one pulling the strings. She’s safest with us, for now.”
I ran it through my head from every direction and couldn’t figure out why she’d be in danger.
>
“And?”
“He’s big on matched sets,” said Aaron. “He has the father, odds are he’ll want the daughter. He’s part of the Concilio. We wouldn’t be able to appeal to them for her return.”
“Does she know?”
No one answered, and I turned to Mordecai. He rolled his eyes. “No. She’s scared of her own shadow. It can’t do any good to scare the fuck out of her.”
Point. “Okay, but you’ve told Horse, right?”
The look on his face told me he hadn’t. Well, I could fix that easily enough when we returned.
“You’re my employee,” said Aaron. “I forbid you from telling him.”
Nathan and Mordecai both gave a short laugh.
“Give me a reason not to.”
Mordecai’s hand was on my thigh, and he gave it a tiny squeeze. “Kitten, we need to keep him focused on himself right now. Two power players who can control bears? We’ll keep them safe from the vampire, but he’s going to have to dig for some major inner strength to learn how to hold his own. Let’s let him focus on that.”
I leaned into Mordecai while I considered his advice, and how best to tell him it was wrong.
“Horse is an adult. A powerful grizzly bear with a damned scary organization behind him. Stop treating everyone who isn’t long-lived like a child. You’ve nearly gotten me killed by keeping things from me on more occasions than I can count. Horse needs to know, and then we need to let him decide what Gabby needs to know, because he’s the one who knows what she can and can’t handle. She might be a rabbit who scares easy, but she’s also a damned strong woman. Trust her to pull on her strengths.”
“You may as well know,” said Sophia. “I agree with Kirsten. In fact, I agree so much, I told her something you’ve kept from her, and I know we can’t talk about it out in the open, but she needed to know.”
“It wasn’t your information to tell.” Aaron sounded pissed, but Sophia wasn’t the least cowed.
“And yet, I told her anyway. If there’s fallout, I’ll accept it, but she needed to know.”
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