The Council (Darkness #5)(30)

How did he do it?

Both of their gazes fell on me before turning to Cato. “Yes, sir.”

“You have made an agreement on the Council’s behalf with the Mata, is this correct?”

Dominicous stepped forward. He offered a slight bow. “Yes, sir.”

“On whose authority?” Cato pushed.

“Mine.” Mage June’s impassive face met Cato’s eyes. “I’ve heard rumors of our kind wanting to step out of the shadows. To do this, they need more power. They need more likeminded followers. I wanted to prevent the growing organization of the shifters from joining that cause. I wanted them, instead, joined with us, whether for support, or so we could watch them.”

John and Ann both shifted behind Tim.

“I see. This need to claim our mantle as equals is in constant flux.” Cato glanced around at the Council members. “I have seen, and thwarted, the attempts to step into the light often in my life. Once I was a part of the desire to show myself to humans. To prove I was better. And physically, I was, of course. As soon as I was strapped to a stake, and the fires lit, I changed my outlook.”

His gaze went back to his Mage. “And who supported your decision? Who allowed you to carry out this decree?”

“They push through a lot of decisions from your office!” a man yelled from the back.

Mage June raised her chin slightly. “You are often lost to contemplation. I felt action needed to be taken, and I took it.”

“And you approved this, Rudy?” Cato asked.

“He’s not even on the Council!” someone off to the side muttered. “Why does he get a say in anything?”

“I thought having them at hand was a good idea,” Rudy reflected.

“But you detest them. Hmm.” Cato glanced around the table. “And the rest of the Council? Does no one make uniform decisions anymore? Is that not the purpose of this committee? Of having more than one in charge?”

“They make plenty of decisions on their own,” Mage June commented in low tones.

“You basically disappear for years, not doing your job, not policing your assistant, and you want us to apologize for trying to keep things together?” The salt-and-pepper Councilwoman at the front glared at Cato. “Why don’t you ask what the youth in charge of the menial tasks has been doing with his time? For instance, why was he chatting with the prisoner earlier this evening? What are these secret meetings he has with only a few select members of the Council?”

“I am doing my job,” Rudy fired back. “I am trying to secure our—”

“Enough.” Cato held up a hand. “I have been absent in all but body. I see that now. Possibly soon it is time to step away and let the world rumble by. But, for now, we have other issues to deal with. Mata, welcome. We will talk in greater detail after the Council has a chance to meet and discuss. Sasha, a black. Stefan, a promising young leader. Welcome. I give you my backing and support. You have been through enough, and you are still alive. That warrants a reprieve. I also give you access to our archives, and to Mage June, who has a great knowledge of human magic. I, also, have a plethora of knowledge that may be helpful. We must nurture our connections with humans—I agree on that point. We must keep our eyes open for those that can use their magic. Truly remarkable things can happen with a link between the two opposing sides of magic.”

Cato’s eyes closed slowly. And opened a short time later; the rest of the room silent, waiting. Rudy’s face closed down into barely-contained rage. He probably had a million little “projects” in progress that would now be open to scrutiny. I had a feeling a great many of those projects weren’t in the best interest of anyone but him. Shame.

“Yes, we need to set things to rights, but that will take time. For now, we must convene.” Cato stood slowly. Those at the table stood with him. Everyone already standing kind of shuffled farther away, giving him room.

“But what about the growing faction of our kind trying to push into the human world?” an older Council member asked, nearly as old as Cato. “We have one of the leaders below level. Who knows who he’s tied to?”

Cato paused, gaze settling on the man. “Yes, yes. I had forgotten. We must extract that information. Organize it.”

The man nodded, crossing his arms over his chest. Rudy gave him a heated glance before he started off after his boss, muttering the whole time. Mage June rose quickly, hurrying after them—it appeared the minions warred with each other for their master’s ear. Which meant Mage June had the opposite view Rudy did.

Thank God.

Tim turned to me in barely-contained bewilderment. “Shall we?”

“Sasha,” Toa said, stepping closer with a harried expression. “Dominicous and I still have work to do. We are trying to open eyes; find out who is loyal to our way of thinking, versus… other factions. Cato as a backer doesn’t make you safe. Not yet. Not until he wakes up from his self-induced, walking coma. Stay vigilant. Keep support around you.”

I nodded as Dominicous stalked off after Kallias. Toa nodded with me, drifting toward Mage Marius a moment later.

Stefan’s hand came around my back, guiding me in front of him as the shifters came behind. In the hall the people Stefan had fought were gone. My conquests, however, had been left. A circle of people surrounded each box, laughing and cheering at the guys within.