The Council (Darkness #5)(24)

“Oh, clever.” Ann bit into a piece of bread. She winked at me. “Hey She-ra.”

“You’re late. Where’s Tim?” I glanced back at the empty doorway.

“He’s coming. He wanted to stop and talk to Dominicous. Don’t stress, though. You can’t get challenges when you’re on official business, and this counts as official business.”

“Does everyone know you guys are official business, though?” Because if not I’d still get a fire-ball hurled at my head.

Ann shrugged. “But we’ve been cooped up for days, yo. Any excuse to beat some ass to protect our girl is a good one.”

“Lazy.” Charles drummed the desk. “Let’s get moving. I hate just sitting here like a chick.”

“What does being a chick have to do with sitting at the table?” Ann gave him crazy eyes. “Do guys only like to eat on rocks with their hands?”

Charles gave her a mocking grin. “Chicks have nothing to do with it. But it pisses you off. Score to me.”

Ann threw a wadded-up napkin at him as a grin threatened her glower. He laughed and ducked away.

“Okay, seriously you guys, you’re embarrassing me.” I threw a pleading glance at Jessie. “Is this not embarrassing?”

Jessie’s disinterested squint took everyone in. “You’re a human, he’s a child, and she’s a dog. This behavior fits my expectation level.”

Charles and Ann slowly straightened up and turned to Jessie at the same time. Ann’s mouth was open in outraged shock, where Charles’ was grinning madly.

“You do have a personality,” Charles exclaimed. “I don’t like it, but I’m glad to see you have one!”

“And this is my entourage,” I observed in dry tones.

“Ann!” The bark of command had everyone in the breakfast area glancing at the door. It was Tim standing in the center of the door’s arch. His sharp eyes beat down on Ann while his face remained stoic and expressionless. She got up immediately. More than one person, regardless of race, shifted in their seats. His gaze softened as it settled on me. “Sasha, it’s time.”

I filled my lungs with air. I stood with Jessie as I said, “She’s a mountain lion, not a dog. And she’s going to get you back for saying that. Just so you know.”

Judging by the lack of acknowledgement, he didn’t care. Or he didn’t think she could do much. Obviously he hadn’t spoken to Charles.

We filed out of the breakfast area into the hall where the rest of the shifters were waiting patiently. I threw John a high-five as I passed, making a grin peek through his stony façade. Being sports fans, most of these guys could not resist a little high-five action. I loved it.

“Sasha,” Tim said by way of greeting. “Has Ann filled you in on our role as we go to this meeting?”

“You can kick ass even if I am solely challenged because this is official business.”

“We haven’t been able to do much for you here, but we’re always at your back. If we have to rip you away from this place and hide you, we are prepared to do that. Hopefully this meeting will lighten your struggles.”

I bumped his shoulder as we walked. “Thanks.”

We walked in twos through the halls, people more or less stopping to stare at the oddity in their midst. For the first time, it wasn’t me. I may’ve been the first human with any real role, but the others were the first group of shifters to hang around.

“One of these things is not like the others…” I sang softly.

“It’s been a trip, here.” Tim’s eyes scanned the halls in front of us, hard and mean. His body moved gracefully but with an unmistakable power. “I feel like a circus performer.”

“Uh huh. Just waiting for the next bit.”

I got a glance.

“The part where you say Jonas was right…” I pushed.

He snorted. “He isn’t. Not yet. We’re odd, but we’re not picked-on or badgered.”

“Yet,” Charles’ voice drifted up to us. “No one is bothered until after their first meeting.”

“I doubt they want a bunch of animals running around.” That from Jessie.

“Bro, take it easy,” Charles mumbled. “You don’t have Jonas’ charm. You have to go easy with that stuff.”

Tim shook his head in annoyance. “Small-mindedness. Why you hang out with these guys at all, Sasha, befuddles me.”

“Oh, befuddles. Good word,” I hedged.

He looked at me out of the corner of his eye, but left it at that.

Turning the corner into a hallway, I saw the ends of a gruesome battle in front of us. Three huge guys lay on the ground, eyes closed, with blood dripping out of various places on their bodies. A fourth was pinned up against the wall, slouching. A tattooed arm, swirling in orange, used clawed fingers to rip a chunk of skin from the guy’s chest.

Tim put his hand in front of me to stop my progress.

Beyond them a body slammed up against the wall, bounced off, and fell to the floor in a boneless slide. His eyes remained open, staring at the ceiling unfixed.

Stefan straightened with wild eyes. Gashes marred his arms and across his chest. Blood splattered his face. Bruises peeked through rips in his clothing, violent purples and blues. He put a hand to the wall to brace himself, panting with fatigue.