I’d grown so accustomed to this charade, I’d forgotten about it.
I tensed, but Jann appeared suddenly at my shoulder, whipping off his cloak and throwing it around my shoulders.
“It’s necessary,” was all he said, meeting eyes with Jhonas over my shoulder, as he wrapped me in the thick wool he used to keep us warm when he flew.
The problem was that my body had grownstrange.Sometimes I couldn’t get warm. Others I couldn’t cool off, and the moment that cloak closed around me, already warmed by Jann’s body, my cheeks flared with heat, and I immediately began to sweat.
“How the hell is thatnecessary—”
“You’ll receive your briefing, and you’ll understand—”
They both bristled and swelled, and there was no fucking way I was doing thisnowwith a hundred witnesses, and the two males in my life who were the most insufferable.
“Stop, both of you,” I said out loud, while reaching for Jhonas’ mind through the link.‘He’s my mate. I’m pretending to be his slave. It lets us move freely in the city. Trust me, he’s not lying. It’s necessary.’
Jhonas looked like I’d dropped a rock on his head.
Jann glanced at me, obviously guessing that I’d spoken in my brother’s mind. But I wasn’t going to be the reason this entire meeting derailed, or either of the men I loved left with bruises.
“It’s so good to see you, Jhonas. I’m glad you made it. I thought you were staying back. Who else is here? We could use a few more shadow walkers…”
I continued, marching away from my brother and into the gathered men as I would if I still wore my uniform. Though many of these men weren’t Shadekin, so wouldn’t understand the position I held. Still, no harm letting them know I was a woman with authority of my own.
Then, without warning, another man stepped out of the crowd to salute, his face bright with happy surprise.
“Captain! It’s so good to see you safe!”
“Lane!” I cried, then caught myself—I couldn’t hug the kid like my brother. He was a Sergeant under my rank. But I’d never held the attitude that a commanding officer should show no emotion towards their men. So, I smiled widely. “I’m so glad that you’re here—and safe!”
“Yes, Ma’am.” He bowed quickly, then his eyes widened as he looked over my shoulder and caught sight of Jann.
“But don’t mind him, he outranks you,” I said hurriedly, then grinned. “And he looks a lot scarier than he actually is,” I quipped, unable to help myself. I couldn’t remember if Lane had been in the mists when Jann and I travelled through together. Still, it was fun to take a breath away from all the fear, and poke at my mate.
“That’s debatable,” Jann muttered, but he accepted Lane’s uncertain salute with a nod, then turned to Jhonas. “Where’s Hever? Are you the highest rank here? Melek should be here soon, and I’d like to have the leaders gathered—”
“I’m here.”
That voice, like crumbling, rotted wood, made my skin crawl. We all turned to find the gray-skinned, yellow-eyed Hever staring out from under his hood, in the dark shadow of a massive stalagmite at the edge of the cavern.
I sensed the communal flinch of the Shadekin. Yet, no one reached for me, or spoke. Jann acted as if the air in the chamber hadn’t suddenly gone cold.
“Excellent. Have you formed a plan? Who do we need to gather before—”
“The others are coming in flights every two days—new waves of Neph each rest for one round, then return for the next. It will be slow going, but everyone will be here in ten days, fourteen if the weather worsens. As for me, I’ll reveal myself to the Council tonight. Lucifer already awaits my appearance. I’ll put myself among the Advisors, and provide key information about the movements of the Centaurs and the Shadekin in Noctharrow Haven—critical information to prove my hard work and loyalty,” he growled.
Jann frowned. “Is that enough to distract the Fallen from—”
Hever snorted. “That male will never be truly distracted. If you need a window to get past him, your best chance is to present conflicting priorities in the same moment. More than one battle to fight. He is not God. He cannot be in two places at once.”
“He appears to be able to travel without time.”
Hever shrugged. “Who knows what the Fallen can or can’t do?”
“I was under the impression thatyouknew,” Jann growled.
Jhonas gripped his sword more tightly, but I whispered a caution in his mind.
Hever seemed unconcerned. “All I can tell you is, the male isn’t omniscient. Give him too many problems at the same time, then find the gap in his oversight. He’ll be forced to choose which problem to address personally. Do your best to guide him in the directionyou’dchoose.”
