“Food?”
“Drex and Magnolia are taking care of that as we speak. Fearghas glamoured them, and Winnie gave them an extensive list.”
“You’ve thought of everything, then.” Rainey scoots off the bed and stands.
“It’s going to be okay, guys, I promise. This is a low-risk meeting.”
“For you,” Tarnley replies without missing a beat. “For me, it’s risking everything.”
“On that ridiculously swoon-worthy note, I’m out.” Rainey leaves the room, and Delaney follows. The door shuts softly.
“I’m going to be okay,” I promise him.
“You’d damn well better be.” He tugs me forward and kisses me, then steps back and heads for the door, taking my hand so I will follow. We head down the stairs. Winnie steps into view at the bottom and holds out a to-go coffee mug.
“You are my lifesaver.” I take it and pop the lid, inhaling the cinnamon and sugar she added. It’s my guilty pleasure, delicious cinnamon lattes. The flavor packs a punch, and I groan. “Like your French toast casserole in a cup.”
“You can thank me by returning safely,” she says, pointedly.
“Yes, ma’am.”
As if on cue, Bella bounds down the stairs. “You ready?”
“I am.”
Rainey steps forward. “I don’t think I need to tell you what’s going to happen should this be a trap.”
Bella swallows hard. “It’s not.”
“Good to know.” The hunter steps back to stand beside Delaney.
“I am ready.” To demonstrate my point, and to get Bella out of here before Rainey’s glare makes her pass out, I head for the door. She moves right on my heel, and soon, we’re stepping out into the chilly evening air. October is right around the corner, and it marks the anniversary of Elijah dragging Rainey into my clinic.
What feels like lifetimes ago was actually only a year ago.
My, oh my, how things change.
I climb behind the wheel of my car, and Bella gets into the passenger seat. By the time she settles in, her color is returning. “So how often do these meetings take place?” I question, as I use the circular drive to turn around.
“Not very often. We’ve only had three in-person since the group formed six years ago.”
“Three? Why so few?” I guide my car out onto the street, and head for the highway entrance that will take us into Billings.
“Everyone in this group has gone, or is going, against the council in some way. We’re all terrified they’re going to find out and send bounty hunters in after us.”
After my mother’s murder, I was terrified of the council. It wasn’t until my brief stint as a member that I realized they were nothing more than diplomats who make themselves wealthy off the spilling of supernatural blood.
Over the centuries, they’ve been paid handsomely by kings, noblemen and women, and other aristocrats who either wanted to become immortal or wanted their own problems dealt with. I’ve seen supernaturals topple entire nations, putting those who thought themselves above the laws of humanity in charge.
I can understand their fear. Their hesitance. But being afraid is a terrible way to live.
I merge onto the highway and head toward town, each second that ticks by bringing about a new understanding for the people I am about to meet. If they are truly afraid, why have they not banded together and done something about it?
Why haven’t they stood up and fought for their way of life as we have? We’re no more special than any other supernatural out there. Well, most of us. Delaney packs one hell of a supernatural punch, but the rest of us are—well, for lack of a better word—normal.
We’re witches, hunters, vampires, shifters—nothing particularly extraordinary—so why the hell has this fight fallen on our shoulders?
“Exit here,” Bella instructs.