Demons (Darkness #4)(2)

Another few tears slipped down my cheeks. I nodded, not really knowing what to say.

Dominicous’ eyes twinkled. “Good. That’s settled then. Plus, you’re human. I’ll get grandchildren.”

“Which will turn your hair white from stress, I’m sure,” Toa added in a dry voice.

I rolled my eyes at Toa; he was just pissed he couldn’t unravel half the weird magical spells I accidently created.

“Wonderful. Let’s continue,” Dominicous said, more chipper than I’d ever seen him. “We plan to take a trip back to the council. We have Trek, the white mage from the Eastern Territory, who needs to be brought in. We plan to use him as proof an uprising is occurring. The lead council member has taken a mental hiatus—we need to pull him back into leadership. As a new mage of high magical status, you are also required to give your due. We will need to bring you into the fold. How is your leg?”

I looked down at my scrawny shin, newly out of the cast. “It’s okay. A bit weak.”

“Yes, that is to be expected. And how is your relationship with the Mata? Strong as ever, I hope?”

The Mata were Shape Changers. I’d fought beside them in the last battle in which we captured Trek, the caped idiot. I’d been given Pack Friend status on a kinship level, which meant I was someone they would fight beside if it ever came up. It was kind of a big deal.

“It’s good, except…well, Stefan isn’t thrilled when I go to see them,” I admitted.

That was an understatement! Stefan nearly foamed at the mouth every time I so much as mentioned Tim, the alpha. God forbid I try to go visit without both Charles and Jonas at my back. His behavior was ridiculously overprotective, for no discernible reason. Whenever I tried to talk about it, his mouth got as thin as his patience.

Toa blinked. Which meant he knew something!

I jumped on it immediately. “What am I missing? What’s Stefan’s problem with them?”

Toa glanced at Dominicous, whose gaze bored into mine. “He has history with the Mata. It is not for me to discuss.”

I felt my eyebrows dip. Stefan generally told me everything, both about his feelings—which he usually hated admitting—or anything relevant to the clan. As mage, and hopefully co-leader one day, I needed all relevant information to make informed decisions.

Or so Jonas constantly told me. I barely had hold of my magic, and now I was supposed to learn how to lead. Needless to say, the pressure was mounting, one mountain at a time.

“Interesting,” I muttered, biting my lip.

“You see? She has an unhealthy amount of curiosity and nosiness,” Toa reflected.

“I don’t point out your flaws of stubbornness and sulkiness, do I?” I shot back.

Toa sniffed. “Yes, you do…”

Dominicous laughed. “Okay, Sasha, go create havoc. We’ll meet again in a week or so to discuss our visit to the council. We have some time, yet. A few representatives from the Mata will be accompanying us, so hopefully you can smooth the working relationship between Stefan and their alpha in the meantime.”

Fat chance. They each wanted to bash the other’s head in. Tim tried for patience, and usually then tried not to pick up something heavy and swing it in Stefan’s direction. Stefan tried not to growl and bluster and bodily pick Tim up and throw the bear shifter out of the mansion. Pretty much the best they could each do was stare, flex, and wish I didn’t have any interaction with the other.

It wasn’t a recipe for a lovely afternoon picnic.

I was nearly skipping out the door when I met the frosty stare of one of my bodyguards.

“What are you so happy about, human?” Jonas asked, pushing forward from the wall.

Jonas didn’t like me personally, and he didn’t like that I was human, but because his brain had made the connection that I was not only necessary to the well-being of his clan, but also important, he’d assigned himself the role of my protector. He would, and had, laid down his life to keep me alive.

I think he hated himself more than me.

And yes, normal people would reciprocate that hate—the guy had left me for dead the first time we’d come in contact with each other. Plus, he was a vicious, grumpy a-hole. But for all that, he did save me from capture, and Stefan had implicit trust in him. Plus, I was terrible at holding a grudge, and the guy was hilarious if you took him with a grain of salt.

To that end, I flashed him a huge smile and said, “Dominicous is adopting me!”

Jonas snorted. “Only a fool would tie himself to you.”

“You just called yourself a fool.”

“That’s different.”

“You called Stefan a fool, too.”

Jonas’ eyebrows dipped low over his eyes, his customary irritated look. “We have a possible territory breach at the West Third. Also, your furry friends are here. They say two of theirs went missing around that area, so they want to come along. The Boss says no, but it’s your expedition because he’s tied up, so it’s your call.”

“Obviously I’m going to say they can come.”

Jonas yanked the door open leading into the front greeting room and impatiently gestured me through. He was a gentleman at heart—another trait he hated about himself.

“They’re not riding with me. I don’t want to have to flea bomb my car,” he said when we were within hearing range.