Sin & Surrender (Demigod of San Francisco #6)(17)

“She’s a level five,” Daisy interrupted. “You heard her: the elitists out there look down on her. They would look down on Kieran, too, if it got around that she’d snubbed him. At least now he has come out on top, creating an alliance without even discussing details or making concessions. That is a good look. That makes him look better than when he first got here.”

“He knew the risk he was taking,” I said.

“So did I. I’m a Chester”—she jerked her head at Mordecai—“and he’s a wolf without a pack. We’re a couple of teens Kieran allows to hang around in order to please his Soul Stealer. If Dara had turned away from me, we would’ve spread the rumor that you punished me severely. Since she didn’t, Kieran gets a win without having to beg her to reconsider. Why do you think Zorn let me intercept her? If it had been Magnus, he would’ve stabbed me in the back to stop me. Why do you think Amber got in your way to give me more time? She saw what was happening.”

For a moment I was struck mute. She sounded like an adult who’d been sitting in on strategy meetings. Her understanding of the situation was incredible.

But she was still my kid. A kid without magic and without the power to heal quickly.

“You just put a target on your back, Daisy. You need to realize that. You helped Kieran, yes, but to do it, you put yourself in incredible danger.”

Daisy laughed without humor, acting far beyond her years. “I put myself in incredible danger just by showing up…and by being your ward. Wait a minute, let’s go back further, shall we? Let’s not forget I put myself in danger by trying to sell fake drugs for a little money before we met Kieran. By stealing medicine for Mordecai. By running away from a foster dad who beat me. By not running away from all those other homes. My life is danger, Lexi. For as long as I can remember, I’ve lived in constant danger. At least now I’m useful. At least now I have a group of people at my back that will help me through it. Kieran succeeding is the best thing for this family, and so I will do whatever it takes—I’ll face whatever it takes—to help make that happen.”

“Until he goes crazy and we have to kill him in his sleep and then take off,” Mordecai said.

“Yes, obviously.” Daisy rolled her eyes.

I stared at the two of them and couldn’t decide if I wanted to hug them or slap them. I settled for wiping away a tear and threatening them. “Do not do that again. Children are supposed to be seen and not heard. From now on, you stay silent, do you get me? If Kieran gets rejected, let him handle it politically.”

Neither of them nodded.

“Do you understand?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Mordecai mumbled.

“Fine,” Daisy said.

“Alexis.” Kieran was waiting to go back onto the promenade with the crew lined up behind him.

I took my place, trying to shrug off the anxiety coiling tightly within me as we started walking again. The beautiful surroundings should’ve helped me relax, but the calculating eyes of those we passed negated the effect.

“Pass him. Do not engage,” Amber said, walking closely behind Kieran.

A man with a strange peacock robe passed us, his gaze rooted to Kieran. The look was not returned. The man’s team followed him in a mostly straight line. The first couple looked beyond Kieran to his people, but the next few only had eyes for me. A glowing ball materialized in the palm of one, and another’s eyes turned bright green, a warning of some kind. I had no idea what those magics might be.

“Do all Demigod’s significant others get threatened?” I mumbled, anxious shivers racking my body. It was clear many of these magical people were bored with their positions. They were trained to battle, but instead of getting to use their talents, they were relegated to offices and lavish homes while their Demigods engaged in shady dealings and behind-the-scenes maneuvering. They were ready to stretch their magical wings, and they were clearly looking for the right opponents with which to do it. Like us.

It likely wouldn’t happen tonight, but we would be fighting. I’d have to take my magic for a spin, and I would likely be standing in front of Mordecai and Daisy, protecting them, when it happened.

“Make eye contact, but do not stop,” Amber said.

Kieran’s head jerked down to me. “Who is threatening you?”

“Keep your focus,” Amber hissed.

Kieran glanced at the passing woman, but his gaze returned to me too quickly. He was going to leave her hanging.

Trying to compensate, not thinking, I threw her a grin and a thumbs-up. The woman, regal and elegant, with a dress of purple satin and a perfect hourglass body, frowned in confusion before her face smoothed over, ageless.

Grimacing, because what the hell was I thinking, I ripped my thumb out of the air. I tried to affect an expression of boredom, but the facial gymnastics probably made me look crazy. My social reflexes had not been made around important people.

“Alexis, this is not a sports stadium,” Amber said, pained.

“Sorry,” I said, too loudly. The woman slowed, staring at me a little longer before finally going past. “God, I suck.”

“You shouldn’t be threatened here, no,” Kieran said, slowing as he studied my face. “I haven’t felt your concern. What sort of threats were they?”

“They weren’t threats,” Zorn said, “so much as previews of what’s to come.”