The Council (Darkness #5)(45)

“How can you knit at a time like this?” Ann barked, staring at some cockeyed pink hat resting in Charles’ lap. Unfortunately, Ann had remembered the knitting supplies, but not the three men that were healing in the room next door. Charles got a mighty grin when he heard that little nugget.

“It relieves stress, which you know. If you didn’t want me to knit, why did you bring my knitting supplies, hmm? I will answer that for you—you did it because you were being thoughtful. And when a woman is thoughtful, it means she wants sex. You didn’t have to try so hard, though, I would’ve—”

“Enough.” Jonas stared at me. “What’s next?”

“We’re almost at the mansion.” I pinched the bridge of my nose, almost wishing I could tell Charles to keep prattling on about trying to get laid. It lightened the mood and made me stop focusing on the intense pounding of my heart. “I have to bring everyone to my cause.”

“They will be wrapped around your cause already. Getting Stefan back is all your causes.” Tim turned in the seat to look back at me. “You just have to make sure it is your cause. That they follow your command.”

“I know this, you guys. I know what I’m up against.” I stared at the trees flashing by.

The flight had only been an hour even though we’d had to wait for half the day to get on it. Thanks to those helpful pheromones, we pretty much just skated right through all the airport hubbub to get to the gate. A few humans weren’t dazed—pheromones didn’t work on anyone that couldn’t be hypnotized, apparently, or so Toa had said—but none of them were in an authoritative position, and instead just stared in slack-jawed shock at huge, human-looking predators stalking through a brightly-lit airport with strange and scary tattoos snaking around their arms.

“Jameson is who you need to convert first. He will call everyone to his lead. But you need to assign him the power, not let him take it for himself, or he’ll never be yours.”

I turned to Jonas with murder in my gaze. “I. Know.”

“Just drop it, bro. Let her stew in it for a while—hey,” Charles raised his hands in surrender, yarn dangling from one of his needles, “I’m just saying. Let her wrap her head around it and she’ll figure it out. Lecturing just makes her shut off.”

“Do you want to take over helping her, child? You think you can do a better job?”

“Would you guys please shut up?” I rubbed my temples as the limo stopped in front of a quiet mansion. Dusk was settling gracefully over the large structure, its perfectly manicured lawns and artfully decorated façade ringing home. The first home I could remember that was mine. A place I belonged. And I belonged there because Stefan belonged there. And now he was in danger and possibly dead—

The slap rang out in the car.

“Thanks Jonas, I needed that. But can you find a different way of toughening me up, because that’s starting to hurt.” I rubbed my face and took a deep breath. The mansion was quiet on the outside, but inside, everyone was hopefully primed and ready, just waiting for the location.

“I don’t know that I have the strength for this. He is Stefan’s right-hand man.” Panic squeezed my chest.

“Get your shit together, human, or I’ll beat you senseless.”

I rolled my eyes and climbed from the car. Extremely on-edge and worried Jonas was so much worse than any other kind of Jonas. The concern was touching, yes, because he was just as terrified as I was about Stefan, and me not pulling this off, but really guy? A bit overbearing.

I took another deep breath as everyone gathered around me. We didn’t have time to lose, it was true. We’d heard from Jessie, thank god. He’d called Jonas from a payphone. When he saw Stefan dragged from his room, Jessie sprinted after them immediately. He’d thought about overtaking them, but known he’d never overcome a large group of males, so he’d followed instead. Somewhere along the way his phone had died, but now he huddled outside of a rundown old sports center about ten miles outside of town next to a decrepit old payphone. While it was probably still in use for sports when Andris showed up, there was no way that was its purpose now.

“Tim, your people are in position?” I queried.

“There or on the way. All in animal form and staying to the sidelines.”

I turned to Charles. “And the witches, they’ve been notified? Warned of the dangers?”

“All headed to the site to check it out,” Charles answered. “Whoever chooses to stay will wait for you there.”

“They’ll all stay,” Ann remarked softly.

I nodded. They would. They were dear ladies, always ready to help a sister in need. I got a lump in my throat as I said, “I’m the last piece.”

“Yup,” Jonas confirmed.

“Okay. Bitch face on.”

Charles nodded at me.

One last exhale and I was walking. Striding across that spongy grass, I headed straight for the front door.

My front door.

To my house.

Where I was mage.

Jonas stepped up before me and opened the door, standing aside so I could go through. A crowd of leather-clad warriors stood in an organized line at the ready, all eyes turned to me as I walked through the door. One or two people bent their heads, acknowledging my status.

I couldn’t demand respect, I had to earn it. Starting now.