“This is not negotiable if you wish to keep our alliance and your packs safe.”
Patrick was silent in the face of her demand. His lack of an argument told Jono he expected to have to obey the gods. Not for the first time did Jono want to strangle every last bloody one of the fuckers.
“You want us to somehow track Hannah through Patrick? He doesn’t have an affinity for blood magic, and messing with souls is illegal,” Sage said.
“Ah, but I do.” Ashanti tilted her head to the side, studying Brigid. “Take care with your demand, cousin. It is one of yours who aids the hells, after all.”
Brigid’s mouth curved at the corners, sharp and threatening. “As you have yourself over the centuries.”
“I am as I was made. I can be nothing less.”
Vampires didn’t have souls, but Ashanti had a godhead. Jono wondered what sort of power Ashanti carried or was able to externally access, and how much of it—if any—she’d passed down to her children over the years outside of walking in sunlight.
“If you want them to hunt for Cernunnos, I’ll stay and help,” Gerard said, inclining his head toward Brigid in a sign of respect, but his voice was firm and unwavering in his decision.
“I’ll keep searching through the veil for any traces he might have left behind. There’s enough that it brought us here to New York. We will hope there is more,” Órlaith said before Brigid could protest.
“Very well,” Brigid said after a moment, never looking away from Jono. “Do we have an accord?”
“Not much of a bargain in an order, but if it’ll keep you lot on our side, then yes,” he said. They’d been pushed into a corner he didn’t think even Sage could argue them out of, so there was no sense in trying. “We’ll help you find Cernunnos.”
There were so many ways that promise could get twisted, but Jono didn’t have time to carve out any more amendments to it. Fenrir didn’t seem concerned, at least not over the bargain, and Jono had no qualms breaking a promise made to a goddess if it meant keeping Patrick safe.
Fuck the gods and all the twisted lies buried in every last one of their promises. If they wanted Patrick, they’d have to go through Jono first.
“Good hunting,” Brigid said.
The Spring Queen turned on her heels and marched back down the hawthorn path with her escort, disappearing into a distant fog that swallowed them whole. Gerard and Órlaith remained where they were.
“You never said Ethan was after you,” Gerard said to Patrick.
“That status quo hasn’t changed for years,” Patrick said tiredly.
“This is different if they’re trying to do a stop and grab in the middle of Manhattan.”
“Let’s get off the hawthorn path before you two start arguing. I want some sleep before we fly to DC tomorrow,” Sage said.
Gerard frowned. “Why are you going to DC?”
“Congressional hearing,” Patrick said.
Gerard shared a look with Jono, raising an eyebrow in a silent question that was easy enough to interpret. The witchlights reflected oddly in his silver eyes, but his expression was clear enough to read.
“Estelle is still a problem. I can’t go with him,” Jono said.
Gerard nodded decisively. “I’ll go then.”
“Wonderful. You can help keep him out of trouble,” Sage said as she started back the way they’d come.
“Don’t I get a say in this?” Patrick asked.
“No,” Jono and Gerard said in unison.
Órlaith tugged Gerard into a deep kiss. “I’ll continue our hunt and will let you know if I find anything.”
“Be safe,” Gerard said, brushing the back of his knuckles over her cheek after they parted.
“Always.”
