“I’d like to stay and get a flow of the house and see if there are any spells I should place here,” Mason hedged. I realized he wasn’t so much asking my permission, but he didn’t know if he was welcome there, nor who the house really belonged to.
Which I didn’t either anymore, but I was glad when my best friend and the others I valued immediately jumped on the chance. They were on lunch Germany time—which I’d forgotten since I was on a case US time—and had to get back to their jobs besides Kyria, so she promised she had it.
Perfect.
I arrived at home base to find major renovations going on. I simply rubbed my hands over my face and went to find Kyle to get caught up.
He was standing there with Elijah, Chun—the ancient who was going to right the ship with all of the properties… And Gavin, head of the vampire council of all people. I simply pointed between them which amused all of them.
“We like your idea,” Gavin explained. “And if some of the other councils would stop acting like they can put the lid backon you guys, they would as well.” He nodded towards the crew fixing things. “These are some of mine who needed to be punished after they were part of the security breach that leaked up to us and didn’t tell us.”
“Oh shit,” I hissed, rubbing my neck. “Okay, yeah, so spanked hard for sure.”
“And at length,” Gavin chuckled darkly. “Especially because a few avoided death sentences and others prison. They’re getting working sentences that will offer some goodwill for us and hopefully help their people.” He held up a finger to me. “But before any more of the current plan, one issue to address.”
“He tried to pay Sloan,” Elijah explained. He nodded when I simply raised an eyebrow. “Her handwriting is less than stellar when tired. I saw where she wrote the account and I thought the two numbers were what he did. Luckily, the account didn’t match the name and it was rejected and Gavin missed that in the piles of his other crap. I saw the wire sent and rejection later.”
“Fair,” I sighed. “And Sloan was putting in so many hours or with that other asshat doing what he did to her—who knows? Glad it was sorted out and handled.”
“I pay my debts. Most vampires do even with all our other faults.”
I hoped so and was glad there was that much honor among them at least.
They filled me in on the details and I thanked Elijah and Chun for handling the “renovations” without the lecture. I swallowed a snort when their desires were that I not call them out on agreeing with Kyle and his teams.
Shockingly, Gavin addressed it. “I am not into video games, but I have had many a hobbies over the years. I—even if digital, the time a man puts into his enjoyments is to be respected. If a petty man wasted hours—monthsof my life over something soinsignificant as a cheating woman, I would drain him. No matter the woman, you do not punish others.”
Chun snorted. “I used to make saddles before the process was simpler as it is now. The time and effort put into—it was art more than a livelihood. I took great pride in my work and some drunk noble ruined my whole showroom setting a fire and not caring. Waving it off and not even reporting it because it mattered not tohim.”
“So you made him into a pretzel, yeah?” I checked.
His lips twitched. “That I did.” He shared a look with Elijah. “You’re right that she’s not like annoying young ones. Many of the ones around you aren’t like that. You’ve taught them well.”
Elijah snorted. “You’velearned patience and how to appreciate those who know what you don’t. You now see how others have adapted better than you have and have grown past being such an insufferable know-it-all.”
“Both things can be true,” Chun accepted, amusing all of us.
Gavin cleared his throat. “Our council is going to throw in with yours.”
I didn’t respond right away. “I like details. Walk me through what that means to you.”
He gave me an approving look. “We’re publicly accepting your existence and making it clear far and wide we value you over others. We’ve started talking personally to each coven and laying it out that this is real. We’re having meetings that any of ours who risk this fragile alliance we feel is needed for our survival do so at their own peril.”
“That’s a big shift,” I hedged.
“Your team made an impression,” Elijah muttered not hiding his amusement well.
Okay then. I listened to the rest and basically the vampires realized they weren’t doing as well as they thought, and the fact we were the German government right under their noses gavethem a huge serving of humble pie. We were the future and they didn’t get much from the shifters besides headaches.
Plus, we’d already been way more honorable in our dealings, and now that it was clear angels were on our side… They didn’t have a death wish. They were sure they were picking the right side of history and that was how their people would survive.
But also not to leave them holding any bags of shit because they weren’t coming to us with their hats in their hands.
I snorted. “Don’t fuck us and we won’t fuck you. That’s basically the motto tattooed on demons for—” I frowned when my phone beeped through my silent setting. That was for emergencies. I pulled it out and blinked as I read what was going on. “Excuse me, I need to handle something.”
“What’s wrong?” Elijah demanded. “You’re not worried, but the shock—”
“Yeah, I’m not one to shock,” I accepted. “It’s about Italy.” I met his gaze. “There’s a situation with our development in Italy and I’m being asked to save their asses.”
