“Then you aren’t going to punish me for talking to Ysandra?” Surprised, but relieved, I relaxed. I’d been expecting nothing short of a beating, although knowing Lannan, it wouldn’t be a flogging but another humiliation scene.
“No. The Petros woman is nothing for me to worry about. The Consortium is as corrupt as the next institution, but if they offer help, I will accept it. Frankly, I could care less about fighting Myst. This is not my war. Geoffrey started this battle, and he wanted to soothe his bruised ego. So I welcome help. We may not need it, but I won’t turn away those who might be useful to me in the future.”
And with that, he stood and motioned to the door. As we passed through into the hallway, Lannan offered me his arm. Startled, and feeling unable to refuse—when Lannan showed a gallant side, it paid to acknowledge it—I took it and we quietly descended the staircase.
I had deliberately avoided telling Lannan about our plans to help Grieve, and I hoped no one else would spill the beans. Right now, we needed to focus our efforts on emptying the town without interference from Myst. Luck was with me when we entered the room. The others looked over at us but said nothing.
Grieve’s face was overcast with a dark shadow and I knew he’d felt Lannan’s advances toward me. As he glanced from Lannan to me, I shook my head at him, mouthing Let it be. Leave it alone…into the slipstream. Grieve snarled. Still scowling, he did nothing. But he kept his gaze glued to the vampire.
“We’d better make plans now that you’ve had a chance to sleep for a while.” Wrath spread out a blueprint on the table. “Here’s the radio station—it’s housed in the WorldCom Building, midtown. The building is used for a number of businesses, including a local credit union and a series of offices on the upper floors, which house architects, a couple of lawyers, and a decorating firm.”
We studied the plans. I flipped back to the first floor and tapped the paper. “The New Forest Radio Station looks to be recorded in a studio on the main floor. There are numerous entrances and exits, too many to assign guards to.”
“I disagree.” Lannan said. “I have enough willing guards here to cover every door into and out of that building.” He looked up, daring anybody to challenge him.
I stepped up to the plate. “That’s not the most productive use of your men. It will scatter them too widely. If you cover every stairwell, every door, the Shadow Hunters will be able to overpower them. That would mean a loss of manpower because while you are better matched to fight the Vampiric Fae than we are, your men can still be destroyed.”
“Then what do you suggest, my lovely Cicely?” Lannan glared at me.
I shrugged. “I think it’s better to cover the studio doors with numerous guards and set up several men on the roof with cell phones to keep watch. Then send out the rest of your men to the streets. Because you can bet that the moment word goes out that you want people to evacuate New Forest, the Shadow Hunters will be hunting anybody they can find. I believe the Regent is under legal obligation to guard the city in cases like this.”
“Does Myst even know you’re making this announcement? Why should she think anything amiss? Why are we expecting a fight tonight?” Peyton leaned back in her chair. “I agree, we should be prepared, but I am curious as to why you think she has inside information.”
Lannan shrugged, turning to Peyton. “Geoffrey still has spies among my men. I know this, but haven’t been able to ferret them out yet. I think he would not be above sabotaging my efforts by arranging for Myst to overhear the scuttlebutt. Also, an announcement that I’m making an emergency speech has gone out in the paper this afternoon.”
“Myst has eyes and ears everywhere in this town.” I shook my head. “She’ll be ready. And when she arrives, she won’t be alone.”
“Myst had a personal vendetta against you before,” Rhia said. “But after that little show in the chamber room, I don’t think she’ll stop at anything to avenge herself.” She turned to Peyton. “Myst was there. She almost had the heartstone, but Cicely snagged it right out of her grasp. The look on Myst’s face was terrifying.”
Peyton sucked in a deep breath. “I’ve seen that look.” And she had—Myst had captured Peyton, and Heather had given her life to save our friend.
Rhia shivered. “I thought she was going to swoop down and rip you apart right there…but then…when you went after the Shadow Hunter, something changed. You frightened her. And a vicious dog is bad enough, but one that’s cornered—far worse.”
“That’s my thinking. She knows I’m a real adversary and I’m a little afraid she’ll overestimate me and plan accordingly. She won’t rest till I’m gone.” I stared at the plans bleakly. “We’re going to have to wing our way through this. There’s no way to predict what’s going to happen but—” I stopped as one of the butlers entered the room.
He bowed to Lannan. “Sir, a contingent from the Consortium to see Miss Cicely.”
“Show them in, but keep a close eye on them.” Lannan turned to me. “If they pull anything stupid in my home, all bets are off.”
“Understood.” My neck was on the line.
As we waited, the butler led the group in. I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would they all be in robes? Would they all be carrying staves or wands? Would they be crackling with magic?
One out of three wasn’t bad, considering the odds we were up against.
The group filed in, silently. I was shocked to see Ysandra leading them, wearing a catsuit, formfitting and pure white. But her belt was made of crystal—quartz spikes ringing her waist—and they were humming with energy. Her hair was pulled back in a sleek braid that hung down her back, and her glasses were gone. The prim librarian had turned into Lara Croft. She smiled at me, nodding.
Behind her, the range was as varied as one might expect in a costume party. Five more women, and six men, stood at attention.
Five were in robes—three of the men and two of the women—like I’d thought they might be—the material flowing and black as the night, and they carried wands ranging from silver to copper to wood.
The rest of them wore jeans and what looked like hoodies, which I soon realized were made of a very thin, slick material.
Ysandra noticed my gaze. “We’re all dressed according to our abilities and what we intend to do. The material of their jackets will keep them warm in the snow but not impede movement.” She turned to Lannan. “You are Regent?”
He nodded, as the door opened again and Regina came hurrying through, regal as always, but her heels marking a swift pace on the floor.
Regina Altos—Lannan’s sister and his lover—was Emissary to the Crimson Queen, and she was also one of the scariest vampires I’d met. She was ruthless compared to Lannan, but she was also willing to listen to reason. And she adored her brother. In many unnatural ways.
“There are Fae at the door.” She stopped, staring at Ysandra and her group. “Consortium…”
“Yes, we are from the Consortium and we’re here at the request of Cicely and the Moon Spinners. They are members of our group and they have a right to call on us for help.” Ysandra stared down Regina, an act I’d never found advisable, and to my surprise, Regina looked away first.
“I see.” Regina turned to Lannan. “You knew of this?”
“I did. Let it drop. If Cicely is correct, and I happen to believe she is, we will need all the help we can get. Let the Fae in.” He turned to Wrath. “Perhaps you should escort them?”
Wrath excused himself and headed out of the room. I turned to Regina. “I’m glad to see Geoffrey didn’t harm you.” And honestly, I was. Even though she scared the crap out of me, there was something about Regina that I respected. She was a hedonist like Lannan, but first and foremost, she was wedded to her job. She took her position as Emissary seriously and I admired her work ethic, even if I wasn’t all that fond of the vampires.
She gave me a surprised look, but then an aloof smile stole across her lips and she inclined her head. “Cicely, you are looking well. I hear that Geoffrey tried to have you and your cousin kidnapped. We cannot allow that to happen, so I told Lannan to bring you here.”
I blinked. “You told Lannan…” Then I stopped. Lannan had led us to believe it was all his idea but apparently not. Instead, I simply smiled back. “Thank you for your offer. I hope we aren’t an imposition.”
“The living are always an imposition of one sort or another but one we willingly accept into our home at this point.” And with that backhanded compliment, she turned to Lannan. “I have orders from the Crown. You are to proceed with your plans to evacuate the town. We cannot allow Myst to take control of New Forest, nor can we allow her to destroy the population. It would damage our position and treaties with the yummanii and the magic-born.”
Ysandra stepped forward. “That is precisely why we are here. The Consortium’s treaties forbid us from turning a blind eye when one of our members’ lives is threatened, whether personally or by a force intent on overthrowing local government. Since you are local government—”
“We do not rule,” Lannan started to protest, but Ysandra waved away his arguments.
“Do not attempt to deceive me. I’m fully aware that the Vampire Nation truly rules a good share of the towns where you have established Regencies. The Consortium does the same, although we tend to keep a lower profile. While there are puppet governments in place, most of this world is now divided between your rule and ours.” She glanced over at me. “Don’t gape, it’s not becoming. Surely the influence of the vampires and the magic-born has not escaped you?”
I pressed my lips together and shook my head. Then, finding my voice again, I said, “Influence, yes, but controlling government, not so much. But I spent most of my life in bigger cities, on the run with my mother. Remember—I had as little to do with authority as possible.”
Lannan, Regina, and Ysandra stared at me, then shook their heads and went back to discussing politics. I sidled away, moving next to Luna and Zoey.
Zoey had a strange look on her face. “This is why we keep our records,” she said softly. “This petty bickering over who controls what. They’d all be surprised if they would read some of the records in the great halls of the Akazzani fortress. There are older powers than both the Vampire Nation and the Consortium at work in this world. And no, I’m not talking about the Fae.”
I glanced at her, wanting to ask her more, but at that moment Wrath returned. At his side marched Lainule, and behind them, the contingent of Fae.
They were solemn, looking neither right nor left, as they spread out in two lines behind their King and Queen. As I gazed at them, my heart soared, a surge of pride racing through me. I realized I was beginning to identify with my Fae nature more and more.
Lannan looked at the Fae, then at the magic-born. “We might as well move to the bigger chamber and bring in my men as well. It’s time to talk strategy so we don’t all end up shooting each other by mistake.” And with that, he and Regina led the way and we filed out of the rapidly filling room and into one of the ballrooms where we could spread out and discuss plans.
The next hour was a flurry of consulting with Lannan, Regina, Lainule and Wrath, Ysandra, and my own group. The warriors—Fae, vampires, and magic-born—stood at attention, listening and keeping quiet so that everyone could hear us.
We argued, mostly about where to post the guards. Lannan still wanted to cover every door, but neither Wrath nor I thought it practical. Finally, we agreed on covering the main entrances, securing the side doors, and keeping lookouts armed with cell phones on the roof so they could call us with any developments.
I glanced over at the Fae warriors. Their obsidian blades still called to me. Wrath caught my look. “You dare not take your blade into battle—look at what happened with the fan.”
Lainule frowned. “What are you talking about, my husband?”
Wrath stared at me and—reluctantly—I explained the hold the blade had over me. Lainule forced a cold smile to her face. “It gives her an edge. And any edge over Myst…”
“You cannot be serious, my wife. It puts her in danger.” Wrath stared at Lainule, shaking his head. I held my breath, hoping they wouldn’t have another falling out this close to battle.
“Danger? We are all in danger. She is your daughter, and she is as good as my adopted daughter, but whatever danger there is, we all share it.”
“Would you be so quick to put your niece in as much danger?” Wrath’s nostrils looked pinched.
Lainule narrowed her gaze. “Leave that subject alone, my husband. That discussion is for another time.” Her voice was hard, cold, and she stared at Wrath until he finally inclined his head in agreement.
Ysandra broke in. “There is time for arguing later. We are agreed, then. We cover the main doors, the hallway leading to the studio, and the roof. Meanwhile, Lannan—Regent—you send out troops onto the street to guard against insurgents from Myst’s court taking the city when the word goes out.”
Lannan nodded, a look of amusement playing over his face. “As you so wish, Lady Ysandra.” But his tone was lightly patronizing and his lip twitched when he said her name. I had the feeling Lannan would just as soon have retreated to his study for an evening of reading.
“We have gone as far as we can with these plans. Myst must make the next move.” Regina pushed out of her chair and stood. She’d not bothered to change, still in the red leather bustier and black pencil skirt she’d worn earlier. Her perfectly coiffed chignon and brilliant red lips never shifted, and I wondered if she ever got dirty or unkempt. A little part of me wondered what she looked like when she and Lannan were at it, but I quickly dismissed that thought. I didn’t need to know and I sure didn’t want to be invited to join in.