“Wade seems like he could wriggle his way out of anything, and he knows dangerous people that put Niall on the defensive,” Saoirse added.
Riordan gave both his siblings a pained look. “I don’t think we should rely on the support of two master vampires when they said they didn’t want an alliance.”
“Then what do you want to do? I’mnotlosing you, boyo.”
“I’m with Saoirse,” Donal said, meeting Riordan’s gaze. “Even if we’re on the run until Wade and Ella can get Saoirse’s skin back, that keeps you and the clan out of Niall’s hands.”
“Going on the run means we give up our territory, andhewins,” Riordan protested. “I won’t let that happen.”
“Then let Wade do his thing while we go to ground in Boston for a few days.”
Riordan wanted to believe their options would work, he did, but he knew what Niall was capable of, and he was terrified of leaving his sister to that fate. “You need to be prepared to take over.”
Donal reached out and gripped his shoulders, giving him a shake. “You need to be prepared for us not letting you go.”
Saoirse threw her arms around both of them, squeezing in her own hug. “It’s all of us or none of us. That’s what we promised when we left for these shores.”
Riordan closed his eyes and pulled his siblings close into a tight three-way hug. He ducked his head and closed his eyes, breathing in their scents, committing everything to memory. “All right. Let’s get the clan safe.”
More than fifty selkies were part of Clan Maguire, some of whom traveled west with them centuries ago and all the others finding their way to them over the years. They’d been lucky in that none who’d become clan had ever tried to break the clan up. Riordan was never cruel, and he was willing to work hard to keep the clan and territory safe. He wouldn’t ask anything of his clan that he wasn’t willing to do himself.
Donal got a pot of coffee brewing while Saoirse went upstairs to pack go-bags for each of them. Riordan settled himself at the kitchen table and pulled out his phone, opening up the group message that had the clan’s captains’ contacts. Each person in the chat was responsible for notifying upward of ten selkies in their contacts cohort to give out his orders. This way, Riordan wasn’t trying to wrangle dozens of people at once. He’d give the orders that needed to be given, and the others would see them done.
He knew none of them would like what he had to say.
Niall has called in the bargain. I want the clan to go to ground in Boston. No arguments. It hopefully won’t be for long. If things get bad, Donal will be chief.
“No I won’t,” Donal said as he set a mug of coffee down beside Riordan. “Because we’ll find a way out of this. We always do.”
Riordan tapped furiously at his phone as he tried to respond to the anticipated deluge of text messages that was filling up his screen. “Right now, I have to get the clan out of harm’s way.”
It meant needing to stay at their home for the next few hours because inevitably some of the clan stopped by to try to change his mind and others to figure out how to handle the clan’s myriad of businesses. Maguire’s Pub could still stay open and be run by the mundane humans on staff. Donal had to revise the schedule, and the pub would be closing early on two of the nights due to staffing shortages. He’d see if Ella could send some werecreatures around to keep an eye on it.
“Is that it?” Saoirse asked a little impatiently after they’d seen the last clan member out of the home. “Send another text and tell people to stop coming around. We need to leave.”
It was close to noon, and so far, Niall hadn’t come around, but that wasn’t to say he wouldn’t. Riordan pocketed his phone and nodded at his sister. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Our bags are already in the car.”
They were taking only one because Donal and Saoirse were insistent that Riordan stay with Wade. He didn’t like leaving them alone, but they had a condo in Back Bay the two would lie low in for a day or so.
Someone knocked on the front door before they could leave for the garage in the back. Whoever was on the porch felt like fae to his senses.
And they felt familiar.
Donal went to open the door, revealing their guest. “Lady Caith.”
Riordan peered over his brother’s shoulder at where Lady Caith stood on the porch, dressed in a sleek white business suit with a gold metallic blouse beneath the tailored jacket. Her magenta hair fell down to her waist in styled waves this time, the delicate points of her ears peeking through. She wore minimal jewelry, even if the pair of fae guards with her were practically bristling with weapons most likely glamoured to be hidden.Riordan could pick them out because fae magic was easy enough to sense and adjust for while this close.
“Chief Riordan,” Lady Caith said. The use of his title made Riordan blink in surprise, as it was rare to have someone of her stature actually acknowledge his rank. “May I come in?”
“We were just leaving,” Riordan said, but he still stepped back, and Donal did as well. Saoirse was practically vibrating beside him with the clear desire to get moving.
Lady Caith stepped inside their home, her guards coming with her. Donal inched closer, subtly putting himself between Riordan and the guards. Lady Caith glanced around, letting nothing show on her face about her opinion of their home. Riordan knew it didn’t look like they had money, even if they did, but he was proud of the home he and his siblings had been in for decades.
“My fae tell me that Niall has become the target of the Boston Night Court.”
“We didn’t broker an alliance with Abhartach. He wasn’t receptive.”
