Chapter Twenty-Nine
“Lord Raza,” Tiernan was saying as I entered the room. “Your son is safe. I assume that means you'll be leaving us as well?”
“Actually,” Raza shot me a sexy look, “I've found that there's more here to hold my interest than my son's plight. I intend to stay and see this situation with the witches through to its conclusion.”
“There may not be a conclusion,” I took my seat beside Tiernan and Teagan handed me the crystal ball. I looked down into Catan's grim face.
“I fear you may be correct, Princess Seren,” Catan said. “This is a complicated issue, one which must be brought before the High Councils. Councilman Teagan and I have agreed that we should both notify our high councils of these latest developments and allow them a say in the matter. Until then, Lord Eadan's hunt will assist the extinguishers and your team in locating any remaining Flight members. You must not extinguish any of them unless you're given no choice. We may have already instigated a war with the Coven but hopefully, we'll be able to avert it through negotiations.”
“You want to negotiate with the murdering witches?” I lifted a brow.
“I think they deserve a chance to at least plead their case before the High Council,” Catan sighed. “Murder is a horrible thing but extinguishing an entire race is even worse. Add to that the fact that they may have thousands of witches in these other clans who may seek to avenge their deaths, and we have a complicated situation indeed. We need to tread carefully here and perhaps a truce can be reached.”
“I understand,” I nodded. “We'll do our best to not killorbe killed.”
“Good,” Catan declared. “The prisoner will be escorted here by one of Lord Eadan's hunters and I will then transport him to the High Fairy Council on the Isle of Danu. After I discuss this with the high council members, I will scry you and inform you of our decision.”
“Yes, Sir,” I agreed.
“Oh, and Princess Seren,” Catan frowned. “I overheard Lord Raza's statement and I hope you'll give him every courtesy. It will take time for us to dispatch more hunters to your location and Councilman Teagan and I are concerned for the safety of his House as well as your person. You'd do well to keep Lord Raza close, he's a skilled warrior. I myself can attest to that.”
“As can I,” I said without making any commitments to courtesy.
A glance at Raza showed him to be smirking. I looked back to Catan and inclined my head respectfully. He in turn gave me a bow before the crystal misted over and then cleared completely.
“Well, I have my orders,” Eadan stood. “We'll need the key to the cell downstairs.”
“I have it,” an extinguisher held it up. “I'll escort them down, Head Councilman.”
“Yes, thank you,” Teagan said distractedly.
“After I see Barram out,” Eadan motioned to the hunter with him. “I'll be taking my team into Tulsa to scout the area. When we return, I'll report my findings to you.”
“Thank you, Lord Eadan,” I nodded.
“Princess,” he bowed and left with Barram and the extinguisher guard.
“There's nothing left to do now but wait, I suppose,” Teagan sighed.
“We could sleep,” I shrugged. “I happen to be really, really tired. What time is it, anyway?”
“3 AM,” Teagan noted wearily.
“Ugh,” I groaned. “And I need to shower before I can get in bed.” I looked to Tiernan and found him glaring at Raza. “Hey,” I snapped my fingers in his face. “Do you wanna help me with that? I might drop the soap.”
“Yes,” Tiernan grinned, focusing on me immediately. “I'd be most happy to assist you, my lady.”
Chapter Thirty
Within two days, the prison cells beneath the Tulsa Council House were full of witches. The Kavanaugh twins had interrogated most of them and we were slowly compiling files of information on the Coven and its members.
Flight and Pack were the most unified of the clans. They had groups that generally stayed together. If they moved, they moved as a whole. The others, however, spread out wherever they would, keeping touch with their clans but not necessarily living among them. Each clan did seem to have leaders with permanent locations though, so some sort of government appeared to be in place.
Just as with the Human Council, the Coven also had members placed strategically in human leadership positions. This included government officials, police, judges, and even news reporters. They knew all about the Councils, the Extinguishers, and the Wild Hunt. It looked as if they had been watching us for centuries and they were even aware of our current interactions with the Flight witches.
Which meant we could expect some visitors soon.
“We have to move them,” I said to the table full of council members, hunters, and my Star's Guard. Oh, and Raza.
