by Lauren Dane
Tosh reeled. Other worlds? Veil?
Delilah leaned close. “I’ll explain later if she doesn’t now.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?” one of the Vampires asked.
“Because right after that visit the attacks began and we’ve been dealing with this brink-of-war stuff. We’ve been trying to keep the existence of other worlds out of human knowledge. If they’re this rabid knowing about us, what would happen if they knew there were countless worlds on the other side of the Veil?”
Meriel looked to Tosh. “If the military knew, what would they do?”
“I don’t know.” He shook his head, caught in the middle. “This is conjecture, understand, but some might see it as a threat. What’s out there? Can we control it before it controls us? Are they more powerful? If so can we get their technology? Some would want diplomacy.”
“Yeah, not the ones who have been trying to kill us since they found out we existed though. What would they do if they knew Simon and Faine came from a world of beasts who could take two forms? Where those beasts ruled their world in warrior castes? Hm? What if they knew about the existence of Fae? We could not take the risk.” Meriel said this all in a calm, measured voice. Tosh understood it and he agreed. There was no telling just what might happen if and when this information got out.
“We’ve been investigating some leaks within Clan Owen, and the de La Vega Jamboree also had a leak. And this afternoon, Helena got a phone call.” Meriel paused for a brief moment. “It has come to our attention that Carlo Powers, along with Marlon Hayes and the people at Humans First, has been working with the same mages who were helping the Magister. They’re trying to bring it back, thinking that they can either control it or wipe the rest of us out.”
Total silence engulfed the room and nausea rose in a wave through Tosh. If what she was saying was true, Senator Hayes was taking part in a plot that could end in genocide.
Worse, he had no reason to think Helena would lie about it.
“Owen found a leak toward the time we defeated the Magister. This is how we uncovered a network of Others giving PURITY and the mages intelligence on how we operate, who our leadership is. And some of what went down with the Magister.” She paused and took a deep breath. “Our people are working with the rest of the COO enforcement ranks to investigate the leaks in their groups as well. The information seems to have come from several places and we haven’t uncovered anything we believe could actually bring the Magister back. But it boils down to this. We’ve got traitors in our midst and they’re helping our enemies to attempt to bring the Magister back.”
Then chaos erupted once again.
Cade stood and all the wolves instantly got quiet. Max de La Vega stood and all the cats shut up. Another man Tosh had never seen stood and the rest quieted. Then the three sat again.
Helena spoke again. “Here is what we know. The mages have been working with the anti-Other groups for some time. An outclan witch, turned witch, and her human husband were working with one of the de La Vega jamboree members. The cats took care of this issue, though the turned witch is still at large, whereabouts unknown. The mages have been working with the turned witches. Turned witches are junkies. They’ve used stolen magic to boost their own. Each time they do, they eat away at their connection to their natural magick. Until there’s nothing left of that. Their ability to pull magick and use it in any type of spellcraft is destroyed. They have no ability to use the Font of their home clan because it won’t recognize them as witches. They sort of lose who they were before. It changes them into something else. Most of the time a turned witch dies within six months or so of that complete termination with their magick. Some seem to have found a way to live sometimes three or five years after that.
“But they’ve been working with these mages. Just recall, mages are humans who have enough natural ability to steal magick from Others to use to work spells. They don’t die like turned witches do, but they’re crazy and violent . . . and addicted, just the same. So the turned witches and the mages worked together to kidnap witches and Others to steal their magick. It’s how they first got the attention of the Helper, the being who procured for the Magister.”
“How is it they didn’t get used by the Magister then? How many of them are there that they could lose numbers like we did and still be enough to be a threat?” Gibson de La Vega, one of the cats, asked.
“Because neither the mages nor the turned witches have their own magick. We have magick, you know, with a k. Stolen? It’s not natural, it’s magic, no k. It’s cheap and used up fast. It’s not renewable. You won’t recharge when you run out. The Magister only fed on Others who possess magick. It was like it didn’t notice them and they were spared. I guess it didn’t like or couldn’t use what they had.”
None of this was anything Tosh knew.
“When we overcame the Magister, we also eradicated all those who were on the scene helping. We were able to kill the Helper. But their operation was worldwide. They had a network who stalked, kidnapped and transported Others to be drained. We figured they’d fallen apart after the Magister. The disappearances had stopped and in the face of the rising attacks by humans, we had to put our efforts on keeping our members alive.”
One of the people at the table shouted at Helena. “How could you let this threat go unchallenged? It was a mistake to let the witches head this up!”
Faine growled. Helena gave him a look.
Cade stood, gaze narrowed as he addressed the wolves. “We knew about this issue. The leadership of every Pack knew about this. And we all made the same decision based on the information we had. The disappearances had stopped. We had bigger threats to deal with. If you have problems with those decisions, look to me and the heads of your clans. It was the witches who saved us by getting rid of the Magister to start with. Don’t forget that.”
The wolf who’d been so angry was just afraid. Tosh could see it. Hell, he understood it because if these people were afraid, things were far worse than he’d ever understood.
“What’s our next step then? What do we do?”
Helena took a deep breath. “Our informant tells us the mages have let Carlo Powers know about some arcane magickal texts that might help bring the Magister back. We’ll let him continue to think that, but I’ve seen those books and they didn’t have anything like that in them. However, those books contain other things we don’t need PURITY or Hayes and their ilk knowing. We’ve worked with the leadership of the rest of the Others here and they’re already investigating their own leaks. We need to plug up that information immediately.”
Meriel stood, putting a hand on Helena’s shoulder. “There is a reason we remained secretive for so long. The powers we have come with responsibility. We don’t know what the mages know, nor do we have the total extent of the information that’s been shared with Hayes. We do know it has to be addressed before any more damage can be done.”
Meriel turned her gaze to Tosh. “Senator Sato, we’ve revealed things totally unknown to humans. Well, or so we thought. But we’re heading into some more controversial territory in a moment and I need you to make a choice. You can leave now and we’ll escort you back to the airport and be sure you’re protected until you get home. Or you can stay and help us.”
“That’s not a fair choice if I don’t even know what you’re going to say.”
“Life isn’t fair, Toshio.” Molly finally spoke. “Meriel’s mother was murdered after she’d helped send the Magister out of our world. We all lost people close to us. We continue to because of monsters like Powers. He is hell-bent on our genocide. He is colluding with the same people who preyed on us before the Magister and who worked with it to bring our end. We are done with peaceful attempts at problem solving when it comes to these groups.”
A chill worked through Tosh at that. “I understand. I do. And in your place I might very well make the same choices. But the fact remains that I’m an elected official. I can’t be here while you discuss illegal things. I�
��ll continue to support you all through the legislative process. You know I believe in your right to exist safely. I am dedicated to helping you. But I can’t break the law. Or know about it. I’m sorry.”
“I’ll stay.” Delilah remained in her chair.
“May I speak with you before I go?” he asked Delilah.
She nodded.
Meriel turned her attention back to the group. “Let’s open this to a question-and-answer session while they’re talking.”
“We can’t just let him leave here knowing this,” one of the wolves at the table spoke up.
“If Carlo Powers and Senator Hayes know this, Senator Sato can know it. He is under protection. No one is to harm him or impede him in any way.” Cade Warden spoke and his tone shut all the wolves in the room up immediately.
“Thank you all for the opportunity you’ve extended to me. My door is always open to you and I’ll keep Molly apprised on the legislative developments.”
He and Delilah left the room.
Molly and Helena caught up with him just outside.
“Tosh! Before you go I wanted to say thank you. Your help has been immeasurable to us and our cause. I’m sorry it has to end this way.”
Tosh took Molly’s hands, squeezing them. “I’m sorry too. But I understand why you’re reacting the way you are. And I respect it.” He hugged her and then Helena.
“My people will get you back to the hotel or the airport. Whichever you choose.” Helena kissed his cheek and she and Molly were gone, leaving him alone with Delilah, who frowned.
“I’m sorry I can’t stay.”
“I’m frowning because you smell like another female now.”
“What?”
She leaned forward and kissed his cheek, over the spot Helena had. Then he turned his head and caught her mouth the way he’d wanted to for so long. He pulled her against his body as she wrapped her arms around him.
“Now you smell like me,” Delilah spoke against his lips before stepping back. “I approve. Will you stay at the hotel? I’ll come back once I’m done here. I don’t know what will happen after I hear whatever I hear. But I’d like that drink and dinner you promised me.”
“What if they propose violence?”
“I hope they do. Toshio, they want to eradicate my people. To think they can control something like the Magister is insane. It doesn’t just endanger us. There’s no way to stop a cancer like Carlo Powers, not when he’s dead set on destroying us. Not with words. This is my family. These are the people who have suffered with me after the Magister killed so many of us. And Powers and Hayes, for that matter, have been working to bring that creature back? No. It ends here. It’s time to make a real stand. I understand that you can’t take that step. But if you would fight in a war against a nation that threatened ours, you should be able to get why my choice is different.”
He blew out a breath. “Put that way . . . yeah, I understand, and yes, I’ll go back to the hotel. Come to my room when you finish up.”
He left with a heavy heart.
Chapter 14
HELENA had been thoroughly shaken by the phone call from the witch who’d uncovered the leak to Hayes’ office. Worse, what they’d found in the man’s computer had exposed a network of Others who’d been working with the anti-Other groups and the mages.
To bring the Magister back.
Why? Why? Who’d want that after what had happened?
One of the witches they’d uncovered had been a male who’d known the location of the haven in Indio. A Gennessee witch. Someone Helena knew on a casual basis had sold out innocents to the Magister.
She was sick about the entire thing.
The witch who’d been the leak in Owen—the one Lark had uncovered just before the Magister had attacked the final time—had compatriots spread across different groups of Others across the country.
Helena had seen a lot in her time. Had dealt with stupid people, selfish ones. Greedy ones. But this was something she could not comprehend at all. What Other would cooperate with beings who wanted to eradicate them from existence?
Lark was handling the questioning of the witches that’d been identified as leaks. Money seemed to be the main factor for them. But if there was more to it, Lark would find it.
Helena blew out a breath. It was over and done. All they could do was root out anyone left and tighten up their security.
Delilah Sperry came back in and Helena nodded to Meriel, who rapped her knuckles on the table to get everyone’s attention.
“Clan Owen, along with Gennessee and our confederation of covens and Clans, proposes a declaration of war.”
“Lycia has declared war and will sit on your council.” Simon spoke, his voice rumbling through the hall.
Helena narrowed her eyes at Faine. Clearly that’s what he’d gone and done while she’d flown back to Seattle. That he hadn’t just told her was an issue they’d have to work through, because right then she wanted to punch him for it.
Not the going back home part. Not even the declaration of war part. But the not telling her what he was up to part. Partners her ass.
“I have been declared a Liaison between Lycia and your Council,” Simon said.
“Why? What’s your involvement here?” Rebecca Gennessee spoke from her place via the video screen.
“My mate has been threatened on multiple occasions. My home—my den was attacked while my mate, my brother and his protected were there. The male who shot Lark is dead. My honor is satisfied there. But this is not to be taken lightly. No one threatens my family this way. I can be part of your solution or not. But war has been declared and regardless of how you all choose to move, we will not stop until Carlo Powers and those he’s working with are no longer a problem.”
Lark’s gaze shot to Helena a moment and then back to Simon. She hadn’t known either. Simon was in trouble too. Ha. Helena looked to Faine, who sat, back straight, regal and strong.
Helena realized she’d forgotten that Faine was a prince. A Lycian wasn’t a werewolf. He was something entirely different and she’d lost sight of that. This underlined it. His protected? What did that mean?
She didn’t want to look too closely at the way it had made her feel when Simon had said it. She liked it, damn it. She shouldn’t. Faine was a handful and he’d decided she was his before she’d even agreed to it. Though, frankly, she obviously had because he wasn’t maimed and she’d let him sex her up. Ha, let him. She’d sexed him up right back and she knew before he’d touched her that he’d had some imprint thing happening. He’d been up front and she’d been playing with fire like a fool.
But it wasn’t the time to obsess on that because there was more to do.
“Fair enough.” Rebecca shrugged slightly. “Lycia has been a solid ally. We welcome your assistance.”
Cade Warden nodded. “Earlier today the wolves also made their declaration of war.”
Max de La Vega lifted a finger. “The jaguars as well. And through us, the other cats are also on board.”
Franco Pendergast lifted a finger before he spoke. “As you all know, the Vampires declared war the moment a car full of Elders and our protected was blown up. We have been holding off as a courtesy as these last steps were being explored. The Magister is a threat we cannot take lightly. If they find a way, they can’t be allowed to continue to draw breath.”
Cade spoke up. “More than that, that they’d plan it means they are a threat we cannot continue to let go unanswered. PURITY will stop at nothing short of our total annihilation and the human government is doing little to stop it.”
“If you all have questions, Helena, can you speak to the issue of our safety steps in general?” Meriel asked.
She stood. “Our people are working on the investigation of spies in our groups. I’ve been in touch with various enforcers, hunters and law enforcement. Our efforts will bring to ground these traitors and they will be dealt with.” She knew the shifters had rough justice for this sort of treason. As did The Genn
essee.
“At the same time, we need to move forward on several fronts. The witches are urging their members to relocate to guarded enclaves. The designer of several enclave communities already in existence has volunteered to speak to you individually. We’ve tried to work with the situation already in place but the fact is, we cannot protect people. Not from the threat as it is now.”
Many nodded heads.
“There will be no return to the way things were. There will be a new normal. I’m sorry, but we can’t ignore it any longer.” Meriel sighed heavily.
“At the same time, we’ll need to create a militia. Our own army. We can get patrols up to protect our communities as well as enforcement groups to show up at crime scenes. The human police are not getting the job done in about fifty percent of calls now. They’re not protecting us so we have to.
“We need to train our people. If we can create teams that include fighters from different backgrounds we’ll be better off. Investigation, magick, defensive magick and also fighters.”
“Why shouldn’t we just go back and do our own thing? After all, it was one of your people who gave them the information they might be able to use to bring the Magister back,” one of the Vampires said.
“This network of spies and traitors seems to span across many Other groups. Money is a powerful motivator apparently.” Max de La Vega spoke. “My own brother Carlos was one of these spies. Vampires can do what they want, but the cats are happy to work together with other shifters and witches to create a militia and enforcement teams. It’s the only way. If we’re going to make a stand, let’s make it so strong the first bloody lesson can be the last. Or at the very least, make it painful enough they’ll think twice before attempting it again. They can fear us, or hate us, as long as they leave us alone.”