Chapter 35
Jacinda was nearing panic mode. Between the creeping feeling that Thanatos was close with no real direction, and Chatan’s decision to leave her behind to stop Josephine, she was at a breaking point.
He hadn’t said as much, but she felt it through and through. He wanted to protect her. And none of them had seen even a fraction of the shit she could do.
She stormed outside, pacing the garden.
Chatan stepped in front of her and took her shoulders. “What’s going through your head?”
“You want me to stay here while you go into that bitch’s den? You want to offer yourself as a sacrifice and hope like hell the Silver Council doesn’t fall for reality warping magic?” A frightened laugh bubbled up. “And you think I’d sit by and let it happen.”
“We haven’t heard the plan.”
“They’re not going to want me there. They won’t. You’ve all been protecting me. You don’t know what I’m capable of.”
“Jacinda, everything will be fine. Maybe you can talk them into going.”
“Oh, don’t even lie to me. I know you don’t want me there.”
“Just like you don’t want me to go at all.”
“Why can you when I can’t?”
“She wants to kill you.”
“And now she wants to kill you. And Mason wants to as well. Let’s see how many ways this is a bad fucking idea.”
He grinned. “Jace, we’ll figure it out.”
She stormed away. When she faced him again she shook her head. “Do you really expect me to be okay with a plan that doesn’t include me coming to get you?”
“No, I don’t. And I wouldn’t like it any better if our positions were reversed.”
“So, let’s reverse them, because I know how to deal with transcendent mages. I know how to deal with warlocks. And I’ve met Orlando. The fucker, he’s a piece of shit, and I’d love to prove he doesn’t know shit.”
“Whoa, how do you know her cousin?” he prompted.
She blew out a breath. “When I was in Maine, some small but rich town, he challenged me. His wife tried to help him beat me, breaking the rules of the duel, and they couldn’t pull it off. He can’t best me, and his wife couldn’t either. And if they took her magic, Josephine doesn’t stand a damned chance against me.”
“What about Mason?” Chatan challenged.
“If I can get out of a situation without resorting to magic, I do. Especially in a town full of humans who don’t understand magic. He had no magic. If I could have gotten away without burning the prick, I would have. I couldn’t. He was physically stronger. I did what I had to.”
“You’re gorgeous when you’re pissed.”
She threw her hands up. “Tell me you understand why I’d be pissed with this bullshit idea.”
“Oh, I get it. We’ll talk to the elders and figure it out.”
“Fine. We talk to the elders. And if you don’t say I should be there, and you fight against me showing up, I’ll walk away faster than you know what to do.” It was a promise she would keep.
“I won’t argue. I can’t fight your case, though, Jace. But I won’t stop you from telling them why you need to be there.”
“Good enough.” It would have to be, because walking away from Chatan might just kill her.
* * * *
Chatan didn’t like the fucking plan in the slightest. Let Mason do what he needed to bring him in. Then sit through whatever they attempted until the elders and Silver Council broke the door down.
He wasn’t worried about being hurt. There were plenty of healers on the reservation. It was Jacinda he worried about. She had her own plan, and she had shut down their connection until he couldn’t even feel the building rage. And he knew it was there because her white-knuckle grip was all that kept her seated.
George finished his plan.
Jacinda shot up. “That won’t work. Who do you have who can follow Chatan through any barrier, besides me?”
“How can we be sure you can do anything you claim?” Jenna countered.
“Try me. I think you’ll be surprised.” Jacinda shot a glare back at George. “I could have unleashed my magic when I thought Saint Morton was full of humans who were just stupid enough to try to have a witch hunt. Now that I know the truth, I wish I’d unleashed my power. We wouldn’t be sitting here, offering Chatan to a power hungry strigoi and her favorite pet.”
“She has a point,” Chatan answered. “I hate it. I want her safe, but I know she can do what she claims. Maybe it’s best if we let her come with you all?”
Loretta’s eyes nearly fell out of her head as she turned toward him. “Josephine will feel her power the second she steps off the reservation.”
“Do you sense it now?” Jacinda countered.
Mac shook his head. “I don’t. She’s blocking it somehow. That’s a very rare talent, and she’s not a dark mage.”
“Far from it. I don’t take magic from others. Yet, you want to send Chatan to a woman who does. I agree we need to stop her, and we need to be careful,” Jacinda offered. “However, we don’t need to send him in without protection. I can counter damn near anything she throws our way. Let me go.”
George blew out a breath. “And what if you fail?”
“What if you all fail to find him in time?” Jacinda asked. “Can you honestly risk that?”
Chatan rubbed at his face and pulled her into his lap, hugging her tight. “Don’t shut me out. I just stood up for you.”
She turned with a slight smile. “I’m not giving up on you. If I have to, I’ll walk off this reservation and let her come for me herself. She’s not going to like me when I’m angry.”
He kissed her quick. “Promise you’ll lead everyone to me.”
She nodded, and he held her tight.
“Then we agree.” George sighed.
* * * *
Mac caught Jacinda’s shoulder on their way out. “Can you hide us all from view when they take him?”
She nodded. “Yes. The magic will be a problem, unless there’s a vehicle we can all fit in. I can ward that, and we’ll be able to follow, and they won’t sense any of us until it’s too late. Just tell me the fools are still in a jail cell.”
“Josephine has many more goons than those five. She has been known to toss them aside when they fuck up too much. The only one she has kept since the beginning is Mason.”
“The one who hurt your daughter?”
He nodded. “She wanted a better life. She values things no one here does. I hope she finds what she’s looking for, but I don’t think that’s here.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t. She’ll grow up, one day.” Mac kissed her head. “Let’s prepare the van.”
She dipped her head and moved around the van, casting spells to keep it hidden from view, and everything in it, and to lock all magic within its walls to keep anyone from sensing them once they crossed the border to Saint Morton.
The magic was all she could do to keep her mind off the fact Chatan was putting himself in their hands. Orlando didn’t play nice. He was a monster.
But she could handle anything.
Once the spells were cast, Chatan walked over. “I don’t see it.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “You won’t. Only those of us riding in it. That way it goes truly unnoticed.”
“As long as it doesn’t rain and it’s light out so you don’t need headlights.”
“Wouldn’t matter. I just have to convince them to let me drive. I don’t need headlights, especially if following someone.”
“You really are full of surprises.”
She sighed. “She’s killed enough people. It needs to end.”
He took her hands. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. Whatever they do, they can heal.”
“Mason hurts you, and I’ll do ten times worse to him.”
Chatan kissed her, then stepped away. “I have to go. It’s my turn.”
She pulled him closer and whispered words to form a shield that coated his body like a second skin. He wouldn’t feel it, but nothing would penetrate it. Mason would have to knock him out, but she didn’t believe that should be an issue. In fact, the cuffs probably wouldn’t do a damned thing to him with the protection woven over him, but his magic wouldn’t get through either.
Chatan stepped back with a smile. “Be careful.”
She nodded, unable to give a real promise. She would do anything to keep him safe, anything at all.