“Agreed.”
While Niki pulled out his phone, I took the opportunity to transform into my fox form. Niki didn’t bat an eye. He simply shifted to give me a little more lap room. Soon his fingers found their way into my fur, gently raking against my skin and lulling me to sleep.
Twenty-Three
Nikodemus
The phone rang so many times I expected my call to go to voicemail. Keir’s harried voice finally answered before that could happen. “Warlock Holland?” He sounded a little breathless.
“Am I calling at a bad time?”
“Not at all.” Keir sounded a little better. “There’s just been—I’m sorry, our problems are our own. Now, what can I do for you?”
Once more I wondered if I should give Keir a head’s up regarding Helios’s possible interest. However, nothing had changed. Keir could do nothing to keep Helios out or to prepare for his arrival. Discussing the matter would only add another worry to shoulders already too heavily burdened.
Discussing Danzig’s possible intentions was not the same. This was an issue that could be met head-on. “I’m calling to discuss the letters you forwarded to me.”
“The letters from the Warlock Council?”
“Yes.” Hikaru shifted on my lap. His tails were wrapped around him, covering his face and eyes. His fur was silky soft and felt luxurious slipping through my fingers.
There was a quiet pause on the other end before Keir stated, “I’m not going to like what you have to say, am I?”
“No.” I saw no reason to sugarcoat my answer. Keir already suspected something was amiss. If he hadn’t, he never would have asked me to read through the letters. A concern I hadn’t considered previously suddenly dawned. “If you receive another letter, don’t open it. Contact me first.” I considered telling Keir that Hikaru should examine the letter prior to opening it but I wasn’t certain how much Keir knew regarding the kitsune’s abilities.
“Why? What’s happened?” This time, there was no hesitation.
“Let’s just say that the Warlock Council has not been sticking to its own standards and rules. Their current tactics are dangerous.”
Keir inhaled and exhaled so loud I could hear it on my end. “Is Hikaru still with you?”
“Yes.” Again, I saw no reason to mince words.
“I’m glad. Especially if you’re getting magically dangerous missives. If I get another letter, I’ll be sure to contact you. Assuming Hikaru’s willing, he can pop over and analyze the letter to see if there’s any magical concern.”
Apparently, my earlier concerns regarding secrecy were unnecessary. “Then you know what the kitsune is capable of?”
“I do, though I may be the only one left that does. Well, me and now you. Not that I blame Hikaru for keeping his secrets. In fact, given recent events, I’d even call it wise.” Keir softly chuckled. “Don’t you dare tell Hikaru that. He’ll puff up like a peacock if he heard I’d called himwise.”
My lips quirked into a smirk. “You have my word. I rather like my kitsune full of mayhem and mischief.” Hikaru was sleeping soundly and didn’t so much as twitch.
“That’s…I’m pleased to hear you say that, Warlock Holland.” A wealth of fondness filled the spaces between Keir’s words. “Now, down to the bitter business behind this call. Tell me, what’s the Warlock Council’s angle?”
I spent the next few minutes rehashing my concerns. When Hikaru and I’d spoken earlier, I’d forgotten about the fourth, and possibly the most disturbing letter. I remembered now. “The fourth letter actually concerns me the most.”
“Hmm, interesting that you say that. I felt the same. It was the letter that prompted me to contact you. The tone was?—”
“Bizarrely concerned.”
“Exactly. I hope you’ll forgive me when I say that I’ve never known warlocks to be overly empathetic toward other species and their concerns.”
I kept my loud scoff to myself so as not to disturb Hikaru. “They are hardly empathetic to their own, let alone others. You have not offended me in the least.”
“I’m glad we are on the same page, however, I am unsettled by what you’ve just implied. The truth is, the Magical Usage Council is a mess. That’s probably an exaggeration, but the sentiment is true enough. There are so few of us left and those that are still here are worn thin physically and emotionally. There are many in the magical community that haven’t heard about Tenzen’s betrayal. Of course, the major councils know, but when you get down to scattered individuals, I’d say the vast majority are still in the dark. Requests for aid are still arriving—cases that need attention. The Magical Usage Council was stretched thin before. Now we’re but a ghost of what we once were. We’re still trying to address the direst cases, but even those are taxing us to the brink of collapse. We need help. What we don’t need is the Warlock Council taking advantage of the situation to increase their reach.
“We all agree that Tenzen Huxley’s motives were at best, questionable. What he did get right was that the lesser organized and numerous species need their own representation and support. His reasons might have been shit, but the concept had merit. It still does, maybe even more than it used to. I’d feel the same if it were witches, shifters, or vampires vying to take over.”
“As you should.” For as long as I lived, I would never understand the need formore. The need to better yourself and your skills—yes. The need to lord and push your viewpoint and agenda on others—no. It was a concept I neither wished to fathom nor understand.
