CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Thursday, October 20th

LANCE: WE NEED TO MEET. Bring Blake.

ASAP.

 

They were only ten days away from their attack on the mayor. They'd not done any more reconnaissance, other than Slava's spying. Something must have changed for him to call an emergency meeting. A few days before, the mayor had downsized his guards. Lance thought he felt safe since they hadn't gone near him in over a month.

Kandice sent Blake a text:

 

Kandice: I'm coming to get you. Lance needs to meet!

Blake: I'll be ready in five.

 

Kandice locked up her apartment and smiled as she sped out of the complex. Her new car was still more toy than car to her.

* * *

"WE GOT ANOTHER LETTER," Lance said, when Kandice and Blake sat down.

Lance poured them each a drink, and Slava handed the letter over.

 

Dear Mr. Pukher,

 

It has been brought to our attention that the young seer named Kandice you've been in contact with has a brother, whom you've also been in contact with. We are disappointed to find out you didn't divulge this information when the Biancardi twins were at your home on the 5th.

Due to this new revelation, the Biancardi twins will return to Austin. They will keep a close eye on you and those in your company. We advise that you make yourself available upon their request. Failure to do so is ill advised.

 

Sincerely,

Cara Dinapoli

 

P.S. Kandice has passed the level one test and is cleared to know the information that entails.

 

Kandice read the postscript a second time before handing the letter to her brother.

"What does she mean by level one?" she asked.

"You are cleared to know about the council, and mission briefs," Slava said. "Mostly, what you already know. Anything more, I cannot say in front of Blake. It would put us all in danger."

"You said they only wanted to keep the existence of an Aether Walkers secret," Kandice said. "You told me they would let us walk away, we would just have to cut ties. Now they're threatening my brother!"

Her cheeks grew hot. Getting involved with Lance may have been a huge mistake. Letting her brother get this close was a mistake.

Her mistake.

"Technically," Lance said. "They're threatening Slava and I. We're not supposed to share information about what we do. Since we've never sworn loyalty, we're in a weird loophole where we've not violated any rules."

"You could see the Aether Walkers," Slava said. "And so can Blake. That means we can talk about them with you. However, the council is off limits. Or, it should be."

They continued to argue about Blake being let in on level one information. Once they filled her in, there was no doubt in her mind she would fill Blake in. Lance tried to convince her it would put him in danger to know any more than he already did.

Since Blake was untrained, and couldn't shift, he wouldn't be able to take the test. The council viewed outsiders being aware of them as a major threat. They wouldn't kill him, but they could get Blake and Kandice locked up if they thought they were a large enough threat.

Kandice gave in and agreed to keep Blake in the dark after it was clear Lance wouldn't. It didn't change their current mission to kill the mayor, but it was something she planned to revisit once they finished.

"So, what do we do about the Biancardi twins?" she asked.

"There's nothing to be done," Lance said. "We just have to wait, and if they contact us, we'll address it then. They may want to meet Blake, but I doubt it, since it would make The Council more vulnerable."

They discussed their plans, but it was so airtight they were just repeating themselves for the umpteenth time. Lance made dinner as planning had become boring.

When they finished eating, they did something they had never done before. Sat on the couch and watched a movie.

Kandice was at home, this was her family. But if that was so, Lance would be what to her? Maybe a hot cousin she wanted to fuck? Slava was the protective grandfather. They had both accepted Blake.

The ideal nuclear family was dead for most American families, but not during her childhood. Her parents had been perfect, and Blake had been an outgoing and fun brother. Now they were lost and only had each other. The prospect of finding a group to belong to was too much to pass up.

Over the past few weeks, Blake had grown out of his dark shell, and was sociable again. It had to be the mission. Having something important to do helped get him out of his rut and focused on something bigger than himself.

They all got too drunk to drive, so Kandice and Blake slept on the couch again. Lance was prepared with pillows and blankets that were far more comfortable than what they had the last time.