“Yes,” Julius said, suddenly uneasy. “Have you met her?”
“No,” Sir Myron said, a smile spreading over his face. “But we’dverymuch like to.” He pulled out his phone. “Do you know when exactly she killed Vann Jeger? Would it have been the night before Algonquin shot the Three Sisters? Say early evening, your time?”
“Yes,” Julius said again, getting more suspicious by the second. “Why?”
“It’s not every day someone kills a spirit of that size,” the mage replied, typing down a series of rapid notes. “I’m just impressed.”
He finished with a pleasant smile, but Julius was more on guard than ever. He’d lived among dragons long enough to know a lie when he heard one, and he didn’t like the undersecretary’s sudden interest one bit. Unfortunately, he’d already offered Marci’s help. Revoking it now could poison his nascent peace deal, which Julius wasn’t willing to do. Especially since, other than lies just now, the humans from the UN had been absolutely truthful. Whatever else they were hiding, when it came to Algonquin at least, they were definitely on the same side. Also, no matter what suspicions he harbored, Julius was certain Marci wouldkill himif he ruined her chance to talk to a mage as obviously famous as Sir Myron Rollins.
“Okay,” he said at last. “I have to talk to her first, but if she agrees, we’ll set up a time for you to meet.”
“Fantastic,” General Jackson said, producing a card from her pocket. “Here’s my personal information. Any time day or night, we’re here.”
Her eagerness only made Julius more certain there was something fishy going on, but before he could think of a way to probe further, the general turned to Katya. “And what about your clan?” she asked. “Will you help us against Algonquin?”
“That depends,” Katya said coldly, looking her up and down. “Areyouleading the task force?”
The general nodded. “I am.”
This made Katya scowl, but in the end, she shook her head. “Immortality is too long to hold grudges,” she said with a resigned sigh. “If you were good enough to take down my friend, you must be good for something. I only hope it’s enough to stand up to Algonquin.” She looked at Julius. “My clan has allied with his. I will speak to my clan head, but I have a feeling the White Witch will follow the Heartstriker’s lead. If their Council decides to throw in with you against Algonquin, we will most likely do the same.” Her smile turned bloodthirsty. “We have a score to settle with the Lady of the Lakes.”
“We all do,” the general said with unexpected bitterness. When Katya raised her eyebrows, she explained. “I was born in Detroit.”
That sounded like as good a reason as any to hate Algonquin. “Well,” Julius said. “Unless you’ve got anything else, I think we’re done here.”
“I’m finished,” Katya said, smiling at him. “Thank you for letting me piggyback on your negotiations, Julius.”
“Thank you for coming,” he said, completely earnest. Even when her anger had made things tense, having Katya in here with him had made the whole situation much less scary.
“We’ll be on our way, then,” the general said, standing up. “Please be sure to tell your mage that we highly anticipate her call.”
“I will,” Julius said, wishing he didn’t have to.
The general smiled one more time and walked out. Sir Myron followed right on her heels, sliding his gloves back onto his hands as he went and muting the strange magic of his rings. Not that that made Julius feel better about it.
“I don’t trust him,” he whispered to Katya as they watched the two humans walk down the hall.
“Then I’d say your instincts are improving, Julius the Nice Dragon,” Katya replied. “I don’t trust him, either.” She wrinkled her nose. “He reeks of magic.”
That was a perfectly normal thing for a mage to smell like, but Julius understood what she meant. Myron’s magic had smelled…odd. Not bad, exactly, but definitely stronger than Marci’s. He was adding that to his already massive list of things to ask her about when she woke up when Katya clapped him on the shoulder.
“Be careful,” she whispered, dropping her voice to a level only he could hear. “They are not wrong about Algonquin, but humans only look out for themselves. Don’t trust them too far, especially not with your treasured mage.”
Julius didn’t see how dragons were any different, but he took her point. “I’ll be careful,” he promised. “But Marci’s not mine to order around.”
“Then just don’t tell her,” Katya advised, checking her phone. “I have to go. Svena is awake and grumpy. Pregnancy doesn’t agree with her. Unfortunately, I have to go make her grumpier still. We were hoping the news from the DFZ would be better, but it seems we should be expecting Algonquin to act sooner rather than later.” She gave Julius a serious look. “You might want to get your clan in order before that happens.”
“I’m trying,” Julius said with a frustrated sigh. “I’d have the vote today if I could, but I’m not going to push it until I’m sure we can do it right. We might only get one shot at this first Council. I mean to make it count.”
“That’s what Ian keeps saying,” Katya said, rolling her eyes. “And speak of the devil.”
The moment she finished, Julius smelled it, too, and he looked up to see Ian walking purposefully down the hall toward them.
“That’s my cue to go,” Katya said with a grimace. “Having to deal with that smooth-talking snake while he’s visiting Svena is bad enough. I’m not doing it in my free time as well.” She turned around, giving him a final grin. “Good luck, my friend.”
“Thank you,” Julius said, taking a deep breath before turning to see what his brother wanted. “Can I help you?”
Before Ian could answer, Justin cut in. Literally.
