Rise of the Gryphon (Belador #4)(34)

The goddess very likely had a plan of her own, but gods and goddesses were a sneaky bunch. Why make a decision if someone else could carry the responsibility for anything that went wrong?

But Evalle had dealt with Macha several times already and came prepared. “I can’t walk into VIPER and tell them how I got this Volonte without causing a lot of problems, like them asking me why I had to go meet with Imogenia.” Insinuating she’d been there for Macha was much safer than pointing it out specifically. “I was thinking you could send me to VIPER with a message that this armband is a gift from you that VIPER can use as buy-in to the beast championship for an undercover op. No one would question how this came into your possession.”

Use some of that goddess mojo.

When Macha didn’t comment, Evalle continued. “Everyone expects the Medb to trade Noirre majik for the final five Alterants. We could bust the Medb and take custody of all the Alterants. I think they’ll come with us voluntarily once the Medb on site are neutralized and if the Alterants are offered amnesty for surrendering without a fight.”

Macha lifted her finger to her neck, tapping a lengthy gold fingernail—very likely solid gold—against her cheek. “Is the land owned by someone with immunity?”

“We don’t know yet, but it’s possible.”

“More than possible,” she snapped. “Highly probable, since no one would dare hold illegal beast fights in VIPER’s jurisdiction. If the landowner has immunity, VIPER has no say over that.”

“What if Noirre majik is being traded?”

“Do you have proof?”

Evalle bit down to keep from shouting that she’d just explained all that. “No, but with Imogenia and other witches—”

Macha dismissed it with a flick of her shiny nails. “There’s nothing illegal about offering a chance to negotiate a trade.”

“But we know dark witch sponsors won’t trade for anything less than a Noirre spell and the Medb are hosting this event for the Alterants. The trade seems obvious.”

“VIPER will not move on an assumption of illegal activity if the property has immunity. To do so would set a precedent that would undermine the coalition agreement that prevents misuse of power.” Macha’s hair spun with the energy she stirred up. All at once, the blond strands settled back into a happy pile of flowing curls. “But now that we know where all the Alterants are going to be, you need a plan for bringing them in.”

Me? “You just said VIPER can’t do anything.”

“True, but this isn’t really a VIPER issue. You’re the one who has to deliver Alterants to me in two days. Which reminds me, will Tristan be there?”

She would ask about him. “I heard he would be.”

“I’ve waited long enough for Alterants. If the Medb want five, then so do I. Bring me Tristan and three more.”

Was the goddess paying attention to anything Evalle said? “You expect me to get four Alterants, and myself, out of that place without anyone noticing and no help from VIPER?”

“I expect you to fulfill your part of our agreement. Have you changed your mind?”

“No, but I could use some help on this.”

In a rare show of drawing a line on her smooth face, Macha scowled. “Must I do everything?”

The rage bubbling up through Evalle’s chest would explode if she took that bait. She had a simple choice. Open mouth and die or stay quiet.

But her temper pushed at her control. Sweat drizzled down her back. She was heating up, just like the last time the armband pushed at her to do what she wanted.

Macha didn’t seem to notice the internal war Evalle fought. She asked, “Tristan teleports, right?”

“Yes.” Evalle squeezed that out between tight jaws.

“You’ve constantly asserted that he is imprisoned by the Medb, that he can control his beast, and that he has the origins of Alterants. You have the buy-in for this event. Get inside, find him and convince Tristan that it’s in his best interest to come with you. He can use his teleporting to get out. If he doesn’t come out with you, I will mark him as a declared rogue and have the Tribunal order VIPER to hunt him down.”

How had this gone from Plan A to rid herself of the armband and gain VIPER’s help to rescue Tristan and other Alterants to Plan B, where any hope for Tristan’s freedom was destroyed if this didn’t go well?

Oh, and Evalle would enter a beast championship illegally without VIPER knowing.

Stellar negotiation skills, Kincaid.

In her supreme goddess voice, Macha ordered, “Get to those Alterants, but I do not want Beladors involved in this.”

“None? Tzader should be informed.”

“Absolutely not. Tzader and our warriors have enough to do with reinforcing the wards around Treoir now that the Medb know the location. I can’t afford for him or any of the others to be involved in these beast battles. If something happened to him in particular, I would be most displeased.” She paused, pinning Evalle with the sharp point of her gaze. “You don’t want to face my displeasure. I’m not as merciful as the Tribunal.”

Evalle would never use merciful in the same sentence with Tribunal, three entities who perfomed the duty of judge and jury over agents in conflict with VIPER.

Been there. Done that. Got the scars.