Bruiser yanked armor out of the closet. I threw my bloody cloths into the corner, armored fast, and grabbed a bunch of my magical doodads, including the ones made with arcenciel blood, a couple amulets, a coyoteearring I didn’t remember getting but that always seemed to be with my magical stuff, and the broken stone I had taken off Gramma when she was first revealed asu’tlun’ta. I had no idea what to bring with me, so more was better.
CHAPTER 21
It’s Not Fair and I Don’t Care
Except for at the estate house—which was too far away to get to in time—at each of the circles was a witch and a security team to back up the witch. Each team included a trusted vamp and human. Each witch had a natural object ready to throw into the witch circle. In the mountains we might have used rocks, but rocks were not part of the landscape. Here, in Louisiana, shells were used for paving driveways and walkways, and sticks and blooming flowers could be found most any place, even in fall.
Liz was at the church with Eli, Tex with his dogs, and two other human team members.
Cia, Liz’s twin, was in Barataria, inside the house where the witch circle was located, where the floor used to be and the bomb had gone off. Kojo and Lorraine, one of Grégoire’s scions, and three human guards were with her. They had to step across the police tape from the ATF investigation, but as there was no police presence, they decided a little crime scene disturbance was acceptable under the circumstances.
Carmen was at the airport across Lake Ponchartrain. Thema and a team of four were with her.
There was no witch at the estate, but Jaymie seemed capable and willing to follow the witches’ orders. Paranormal group cooperation was still happening, which gave me a sense of accomplishment even though I had no idea if the change was in response to my reign or a result of the witch-vamp attack against us. Probably both.
The Truebloods and my strongest team were standing in the street with me at the null house. The previous team of vamps had all recovered and were providing cover from farther back. The human team was still on-site and were wanting payback for losing to the enemy vamps earlier. So in addition to the extra guards posted up and down the street, our team consisted of Koun, Quint, Bruiser (who was mostly healed, though he moved slowly and with great care, as if he still hurt), two other vamp guards, six humans, and me, along with the unexpected addition of Grégoire and Edmund, now that peace had descended on Europe. My primo (the Emperor of Europe) and Blondie (my warlord) hadn’t fought any duels or battles in weeks. Well, with the exception of me sorta nearly killing Grégoire. And that battle had seemed more like mild entertainment since it hadn’t ended in a beheading. I thought they might be bored.
I was tripping over my protective detail. If we were attacked, I would as likely die from being trampled by my own people as from enemy weapons. Of course, I had magical weapons on me, so there was that.
Grégoire was downwind, thank goodness. He had elected to not clean his armor between battles, allowing the blood-stench to build up. It was an effective warning to vamps that he always killed his opponents, but the smell was awful to my cat-snout.
Edmund, standing upwind of him, at my side, was wearing a metallic silvery armor with sterling silver bits on it, to show his power and his more muscular physique. Building muscles was hard for the undead, especially Mithrans, and indicated he had drunk from the conquered and drunk well, without having to track down humans as prey. Ed wasall glittery and drew the eyes. He’d also had his hair styled and his vamp-claws manicured and painted black. I hadn’t noticed until now but my once ordinary-looking primo was pretty hot.
The night was chill, a stiff north breeze blowing rare early-season polar forces at us. Our armor did a surprisingly good job of cutting the wind, but it was still cold. Quint, her face pinched with chill, was sneaking glances at Koun in his black-and-blue-tattoo-painted armor. Koun was all vampy stoic. He did make quite the example of vamp-hood in all his Celtic glory. Of us all, only the witches were not wearing armor. Humans and witches were all wearing winter fleece, but even with winter clothes from the mountains, Molly was shivering.
Softly, Big Evan said, “I can whistle up some warmer air.”
Molly frowned, glancing around, still afraid for her hubs to be outed for all the world to see as one of the rare male witches. “I’d rather shiver,” she said.
The big man pulled her close, his red beard fluffing out on top of her red hair like a hairy hat. They looked like a totem. A thing of love and power and family identity.
Into my specially constructed earbuds, Eli said, “Team leaders, check in.”
Each security team leader stated that they were ready. Koun gestured everyone back except the witches.
“Jane.” Molly jerked her head to the right several times. “Brute and a grindy showed up.”
“Okay,” I said, my voice tight, following her eyes to see the werewolf at the edge of a dead lawn. That meant this location was likely to be the site of trouble. The presence of the grindy usually meant werewolf trouble, even Brute-type werewolf trouble.
“We have this well in hand, my Queen,” Koun said. “Your friends and scions are safe with us. And unlike the other groups, we have backup.” He gestured to the two cop cars parked down the street.
The police had moved the public and media back, probably the result of the last time we needed backup and the enemies of the city shot the place up.
“Members of local law enforcement are here for assistance,” Koun said. “The media have, several times in the last few days, accused NOPD, New Orleans’ duly elected mayor, and various new police chiefs and mayors in the surrounding cities, of refusing to provide police protection for the populace. However, your Koppa team is here for you, and only you, My Queen.”
I chuffed softly and pulled the formal words to me. “I trust you with my life, my dear and trusted friend.”
Gently, Koun said, “Thank you, my lady.”
“The injured humans.” I gestured to the surrounding houses, the ones shot up before. “Are the residents okay?”
“Your Mithrans provided healing and care to all, your humans will repair their homes, and your legal team is in negotiations with the most litigious for a settlement. We have moved the closest humans into a five-star hotel for tonight.” The last was said with a trace of irony.
“This is costing a lot, then.”
“Yes, My Queen. When you win against Mainet Pellissier, the Heir, his estate will be served with an accounting and it will be paid.”
I looked over at Edmund in his fancy armor and Grégoire in his blood-coated duds. “They made a killing, didn’t they? I mean besides the actual duels and beheadings. They got rich.”
