“Sure.” I pulled a dirty patch out of the loop and handed the rod over to her.
After work we’d gone to the range to get in some shooting practice. It was something we tried to do at least once a week if our schedules permitted. After the way the past few days had gone, I’d had to shoot for two hours before the tension inside me finally eased off.
Now we sat in the living room, hovering over the coffee table with parts of our guns spread out across it on an old towel. Kerbasi was glowering at the television—I’d put it on the Lifetime network for him. Normally he’d have been making nasty comments about the program, but every time he looked at us with our weapons in our hands he shut his mouth.
“My car is going to be ready in the morning,” Cori announced.
“That’s good.”
She didn’t look up. “It’s time I get back to my house. With you leaving tomorrow and the kids gone, there’s not much point in me staying here.”
If DHS suspected her of anything they most likely would have picked her up by now. She’d probably be okay, though I’d still worry until they left town.
“I don’t suppose you’d be up for kitty-sitting for me? Felisha usually takes care of her, but she lives in the middle of Fairbanks where Sable can’t get out much.” And it would give Cori a little extra protection just in case.
She looked over at the lynx, who was currently sitting near Kerbasi’s feet washing her paw. Every time the guardian moved, she growled at him.
“I could do that,” she agreed. “She can keep my crazy neighbor from bothering me.”
“Is it that lady who’s always telling you you’re going to burn in Hell for your sins?”
“That would be the one.” Cori’s face tightened. “I’ve told the damn woman a dozen times I’ve already got a timeshare there, but she won’t listen.”
“At least you’ve accepted your miserable fate,” Kerbasi said, not looking at us.
We ignored him and kept cleaning our guns. I finished cleaning my Sig and put it back together, doing a functions check before putting it away.
“Hey, Mel?” Cori glanced over at me.
“Yeah?”
“Be careful in New Orleans.” Concern reflected in her hazel eyes. “I’d offer to go and watch your back if I thought I could be any help, but from the sounds of it I’d be way out of my league.”
“You and me both, but I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”
My cell phone rang. I checked the screen and saw it was Kariann.
“What’s going on?” I answered.
“Get over here as soon as you can. Derrick called for a meeting to negotiate a truce.”
It was about time. I’d hated the idea of leaving town with tensions running high.
“Give me a few minutes and I’ll be there.”
“Oh, and make sure you wear something appropriate. I’m being forced to change, too.” I could hear the revulsion in her tone.
“Can’t wait to see how you look.” I hung up.
“It looks like peace talks are about to commence,” I told Cori, getting up to wash my hands at the kitchen sink.
“Good,” she replied. “I don’t mind a little drama, but this was getting to be a little too much.”
***
Darkness enshrouded us as we made our way through the woods to Nik’s house. I’d put on a blue pantsuit and Kerbasi had changed into a black button-up shirt and slacks—the nicest set of clothes he had. I’d tried to make him stay behind but he’d refused, claiming he didn’t want to miss the action. He was hoping for the negotiations to fall apart and a fight to break out.
“If you say anything to mess this up, I’m going to make your life far more miserable than you’ve ever thought possible,” I threatened him.
He grunted. “I’m rather certain they don’t need my help for their little negotiations to fail.”
That was reassuring.
“Don’t you ever get tired of assuming the worst of people?” I asked.
He walked with his hands clasped behind his back. “In my line of work, I rarely saw anyone who acted with pure intentions. They always sought what was best for themselves and if they couldn’t get what they wanted, they did their best to destroy anyone who got in their way. Earthborn races are corrupt and without hope as far as I’m concerned.”
If I ever thought my life was getting a little too happy, at least I knew where to go to bring myself back down.
“You aren’t much better, you know,” I pointed out.
“I do not hide my thoughts or motivations. Everyone knows what to expect from me.”
I snorted. “I’ll give you that much.”
We broke through the woods and moved across the lawn to Nik’s house. Derrick wasn’t there yet, but Lucas had just flashed inside. I wasn’t sure if his presence would be helpful or hurtful. He might be the man I loved, but I didn’t have a lot of faith in his tactfulness.
Aniya opened the door for us when we walked up the steps. Her expression was blank and her posture rigid. There wasn’t a trace of make-up on her olive skin and she’d pulled her black hair back in a tight braid. She’d been one of my best friends since high school, but we’d grown apart lately.
First she’d been turned into a vampire after coming to Alaska—it had been the only way to save her life. Then her mother had died in the magical explosion that hit the region a few months ago. She’d fallen apart in the beginning and I’d tried to be there for her, but in the last few weeks she’d shut off her emotions and become a shell of her former sweet self. Maybe it was my fault. I should have been spending more time with her.
“Hey, Aniya.”
She gave me a curt nod. “Melena.”
“Are you doing okay?”
“Of course.” She didn’t blink. “They are waiting for you in the meeting room.”
I started to ask what meeting room since I hadn’t known there was one, but my senses told me where everyone was located. Over in Nik’s wing of the house behind one of those doors that were always closed.
“Thanks.” As much as I wanted to reach out to my friend it wasn’t the time. Later, after things calmed down.
Kerbasi patted her on the shoulder. “There, there, little vampire. If all goes well your leaders will kill each other off and you’ll be set free.”
“Shut up,” I hissed at him.
He gave me an innocent look. “I was simply trying to comfort her. Isn’t that what you would wish for me to do?”
I gave Aniya an apologetic look and grabbed his wrist, dragging him down the hall. We passed the entrance to the kitchen on the left and found the second door on the right open. Nik, Kariann, Josslyn, and Lucas were inside. There was a long oval table made from cherry wood in the middle of the room, with matching chairs around it. One extra seat was off by itself in the far corner of the room.
I pointed at it. “Kerbasi, go sit over there. And so help me God if you get up from it during the meeting I’ll waste a whole clip of bullets on your head.”
My gun was tucked in my waistband for that very purpose.
He made a clucking sound. “However am I to understand humanity when you threaten violence so very often?”
“Just sit.”
He wandered over to the chair, patted at the black cushion fitted into the seat, and slowly lowered himself onto it. The expression on his face and the posture of his body would have made one think it was a throne and that he was a king. After one last warning to behave, I made my way to the others at the opposite end of the room.
Josslyn gave me a nervous look, but I didn’t acknowledge her.
“When is Derrick supposed to get here?” I asked.
“Soon,” Kariann answered, looking uncomfortable in a white blouse and black slacks. The cut of them didn’t work well with her larger frame. “He wants you present to verify everyone speaks the truth and they’re honest about any promises they make. You’ll sit there.”
She pointed at a chair positioned about midway down the table.
“That’s going to leave my back to the door.” I really hated having my back to the door, especially in tense situations.
“Talk to your man. He’s the one who requested the seat on the opposite side.” She glanced over at Lucas.
“And what is your role in all of this?” I asked him. He was wearing a dark gray suit with a black tie that made him look even better than usual. I had a strong urge to grab the tie and pull him close to me.
“I will be the mediator,” he answered
“Um…” I tried to think of a delicate way to ask if that was a good idea.
“Oh, that’s a magnificent plan.” Kerbasi chuckled from over in his seat. “These negotiations are sure to work out with him managing them.”
Lucas kept his attention on me. “Why is the guardian here?”
“Bribery and coercion didn’t work and I’m fresh out of grenades.” I shrugged.
Nik joined us. “You’ve never seen Lucas act as a mediator, but I assure you he’s quite adept at working out deals in our world. I remember one time he managed to get a group of orcs and trolls to work together after they’d been fighting for more than twenty years over a mining settlement. No one thought he could do it, but it’s been over a century and they’re still at peace.”
Lucas looked at the vampire in surprise. “You heard about that?”
“I might have been avoiding you then, but I still heard news about you.”
Nik had been angry at Lucas for a long time because he believed the nephilim had failed to protect his sister, resulting in her being killed during the supernatural war. It wasn’t Lucas’ fault, but as a grieving brother Nik had a hard time seeing that. They’d only begun talking again after I inadvertently brought them back together a couple of years ago.
“If you’re that good,” I addressed the nephilim. “Then why haven’t you tried mediating any of the Middle East peace talks?”
He gave me a wry look. “It’s not profitable. I have oil interests that rely on the region remaining unstable. The trolls and orcs continue to give me a percentage of the profits from their gold mine for my assistance.”
“Innocent people are dying over there!”
“They are humans, Melena. It’s not my duty to fix their problems.”
I took a step closer to him. “Sometime in the very near future we are going to have a long talk—about a lot of things.”
“I do hope you have a suitable location in mind.” He lifted his hand and traced my lips with his thumb.
He was not going to distract me. I took a step away from him and put a hand up when he tried to close the distance again. “No, I’m serious. We have a lot of things to talk about and you aren’t stalling me forever.”
“We shall see.”
Yvonne and Diane came in carrying trays loaded down with pitchers of ice water and glasses for us to use. They set them on the table, spacing them out for everyone to reach. Too bad they hadn’t brought anything stronger. I could have used a stiff drink right about then.
“Will you be needing anything else?” Yvonne asked Nik.
“That should be it. You have your instructions for when the alpha arrives. Allow him and his second to enter, but no one else.”
She nodded. “Of course.”
My senses flared with the presence of werewolves coming toward us. Speak of the devils.
“They’re here,” I announced. “And Derrick has brought about a dozen pack members with him.”
Nik gestured for Yvonne to leave before turning his gaze toward me. “We expected he’d want to present a small show of force. The extras will be welcome to remain outside.”
Chapter Twenty-three
By the time Derrick and Nadine arrived we’d all moved to stand behind our seats. Except Josslyn, who’d been asked to step out since she didn’t have a specific role in the negotiations. She’d cast one last pleading glance at me before going. I kept my face blank and didn’t give any indication of what I might do.
Derrick came through the door first, wearing a black suit that fit snugly on his bulky frame. Nadine followed, matching him with a slim-fitting jacket and pants. Both wore their hair pulled back. To my surprise they looked comfortable in their less-than-usual attire and their expressions were all business. I didn’t catch any sense of hostility or anger in their moods.
At least not until the alpha noticed Kerbasi.
“What is he doing here?” Derrick asked as he made his way past the guardian to his seat.
“Would you believe I ran out of RPGs?” I gave him an apologetic look. “Unless you’ve got a better idea, there’s no getting rid of him.”
“Just keep him quiet,” Derrick warned.
“Your concern should not be with me,” Kerbasi said, picking at a piece of imaginary lint on his shirt. “I’m merely an observer for this farce of a meeting.”
“Everyone take their seats,” Lucas ordered. “If the guardian causes any problems, I’ll handle it.”
Everyone settled in their chairs except Lucas. He stood straight and tall with no sign of emotion on his face. Though he usually carried himself in a similar way, this was different. It was more businesslike and foreign to me.
“I would set the ground rules first.” Lucas ran his gaze between us. “I will determine which party speaks first and when it is time to give the floor to the other. There will be no violence, emotional outbursts, or attempts to deceive. Stay in your seats and under no circumstance will you interrupt the party who has the floor. Any violation of these rules will result in a punishment of my choosing. Does everyone agree to these terms?”