“Why him specifically?”
Spencer shrugged tiredly. “The poltergeist was their ancestor. Takoma killed the guy’s sons after they murdered some of the elders and children from his tribe. The government never charged them with a crime, so Takoma made sure they paid for it. John Adler didn’t take that well.”
“Crazy never does.”
“I think their prayers gave him more power, made his ghost capable of possession like a demon. Vampires don’t have souls, and Astaroth couldn’t stay in Takoma without one. The poltergeist acted like one for the Duke, but it would’ve killed Takoma in the end. It was starting to.”
Patrick nodded slowly. “All right, I can spin that for you.”
“You’re not SOA anymore.”
“Retained expert, remember? Priya will listen to what I have to say when it comes to the hells.”
“You saying she won’t listen to me?”
“I’m saying you get some sleep while I make sure no one drags your good name through the mud. Been there, done that, it ain’t fun.”
Spencer made a face, but he really didn’t have it in him to argue. Sleep sounded better than talking right about then. “You didn’t have to come.”
“Now I know the drugs are working. In what world did you think I wouldn’t after you called?” Patrick snorted as he stood. “Don’t answer that. Just get some rest, okay? I got this watch.”
Spencer’s eyes were already falling shut, sleep lapping at his thoughts, the drugs coursing through his veins a buffer he was willing to hide behind for now.
* * *
It took three days after he woke up before Spencer was discharged and another four to even begin to untangle the aftermath of his first case with the SOA. In that time, the local news reported on the betrayal by the Cascade Coven as opposed to the threat the Night Court represented, because nothing said traitor like siding with the hells. Most of the coven had died supporting Caitlin’s fanatical revenge, including the sorceress herself. The case the government had been building against them was currently in limbo as Legal figured out what the few survivors could be charged with. The government couldn’t prosecute the dead, after all.
The SOA, based on eyewitness testimony from Spencer and Wade, reluctantly agreed that the Seattle Night Court hadn’t broken any laws in defending themselves against the Cascade Coven during the meeting at the museum, although the attack on the substation was still being looked into.
The director, according to Patrick, had been told to bury Wade’s involvement with the power outage by General Noah Reed. No one needed to know dragon fire had been the cause of the explosion.
“I’m still not joining the military just because he did that,” Wade stated from the back seat of Spencer’s car, where he was getting some last-minute cuddles in with Fatima.
“Did I say you should?” Patrick asked in a mild voice from the front passenger seat.
Wade muttered something too low under his breath for Spencer to hear. He shared a brief look with Patrick before rolling his eyes and returning his attention to the road. They were almost to the airport, and traffic was backing up a little on the way in. Patrick didn’t want to overstay his welcome with the Seattle god pack, and he’d done all he could to help Spencer smooth things over with the local SOA field office concerning the Ouroboros Mirror case. Their private jet had put in its flight itinerary, and the two were ready to fly back east.
Spencer followed the GPS instructions to the private terminal at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, where people with money flew out of. The New York City god pack stayed afloat by way of tithes, but Sage had married a billionaire, and Marek basically funded whatever they needed, up to and including letting them use his private jet.
They passed through the security gate, and Spencer followed the route to the tarmac and the private jet fueled up and waiting for them. He put the car in park and yanked up the emergency brake, all of them getting out. For once, it wasn’t raining, and the sky was clear. He figured they wouldn’t have any delays getting off the ground.
“Keep in touch, okay?” Patrick said, giving Spencer a tight hug. “Next time, I better come out here for something fun, not anything life-threatening.”
“You’re one to talk, Razzle Dazzle,” Spencer said.
“Shut up, Dead Boy.” They pulled apart, grinning at each other, and Patrick knocked him gently on the shoulder with a fist. “Don’t be a stranger.”
Behind Patrick, Wade was holding Fatima up to his face and repeatedly kissing her on the nose. She seemed enthralled. Spencer told himself he wasn’t jealous.
“I left you the rest of my snacks in the car, okay? Don’t share them with Spencer,” Wade told Fatima as he set her back on the ground.
I will not, she replied.
“You know she loves me, right?” Spencer said.
Wade waved off his words. “Not enough to share snacks.”
“Whatever.”
