“What is the meaning of this effrontery?” Evangeline demanded as she pushed away from the three remaining Slayer elders. Two Slayers in training stepped in behind her, guarding her and the remaining Council members.
Michaela drew in a steadying breath and shot a look at her companions. Ryder and Diana stood to her right, both dressed in black leather and fully armed with an impressive assortment of weapons. Jesus was at her left, looking deliciously bad-ass in denim, leather, and his weapons harness with the lethal-looking Tec-9 slung across his chest. On his other side, Benjamin stood incognito with a hood covering his head and most of his scarred face hidden.
Michaela was surprised that Evangeline hadn't sensed him yet, but then again, the Slayer leader was in a fine fit of anger, clearly upset that Michaela had dared to bring the others to their appointed meeting.
Tipping her chin upward and meeting the head Slayer’s gaze, Michaela calmly said, “A short time ago you said I had a month to decide whether or not to join the Council. But I don't need a month to make that decision.”
Evangeline seemed taken aback by her unruffled demeanor. The Michaela of old might have had a bit more bluster, but she had matured in the last couple of weeks. Or maybe it was simply that she was no longer afraid.
Connall's death and accepting her new place in life had given her an inner strength and peace she had not possessed before. She intended to use that to protect herself, her lover, and her friends.
As Evangeline narrowed her eyes into slits, she seemed to sense that new confidence and power—and also finally Benjamin. She strode to stand before him, and in a voice that shook with barely controlled emotion, she commanded, “Show yourself.”
Benjamin raised his hands to his hood, and pushed it back to reveal his face.
Shocked gasps filled the room, and Evangeline actually stumbled backward, fear emanating from every line of her body.
“It's not possible,” she said, lifting her hand to her chest.
“Oh, it is, no thanks to you. You would have killed me that day, if it hadn't been for my friends here,” he said, gesturing to the little band of misfits.
Michaela had never felt so proud.
“I was only trying to spare you any more pain,” Evangeline replied, but her explanation rang hollow. The Council members behind her shuffled and shifted nervously.
“Spare me, Evangeline,” he shot back. “We all know how much you resented me and my support of Michaela. But today isn't about me.”
Michaela's gut tightened with both dread and anticipation, and she slipped her hand into Jesus's, drawing comfort and support from that simple touch.
With a proud tilt to her head, she addressed Evangeline and the Council once again. “You asked me to join you and give up my friends, or face your sanction. A death sanction like those visited on all the others who have dared to defy you. But what I've learned in the last week or so is that power comes not from fear, but from respect. So do love and friendship, which I have here with my friends.”
At that, Diana raised her hand and put it on Michaela's shoulder in a gesture of friendship and solidarity.
“You dare choose these humans and undead, and a Slayer vampire abomination, over the Council?” Evangeline asked in outrage.
“Actually, Benjamin and I intend to take our rightful seats on the Council. We intend to make it what it once was—a Council of justice, and not of blind vengeance and hatred,” Michaela replied. She gestured to the others beside her. “All of us will work together to make things right again between human and Slayer, and vampire and Slayer.”
Evangeline puffed up her chest to respond, but then thought better of it and stalked back to the other three elders. They huddled together, arguing in hushed whispers punctuated by short, irate gestures until the discussion ended and they formed a united front once again.
This time it was one of the younger elders, Richard, who stepped forward while Evangeline stood stock still, her features as hard as ebony, her expression ashen beneath the normally warm color of her flawless skin.
“I suppose you know why we asked you to join us, Michaela,” Richard said. “Why there were only four members after Benjamin and Aja were killed?”
Michaela nodded. “No other Slayers had sufficient power to join, and thanks to your recruitment policies, you have too few training candidates to replace those who have fallen.”
Richard confirmed her observation with a nod, and continued. “You defied our every perception of what you could accomplish. You showed honor even when it was not reciprocated. Most of all, you have proven your loyalty,” he said, and glanced at Benjamin, “when it was most needed. We need someone like you on the Council to guide us.”
“I don't come alone, Richard. Benjamin—”
“Is, and always shall be, part of our Council,” Richard interjected quickly.
“And I will not give up my friends,” she said, tightening her hand on Jesus's and glancing at Diana and Ryder, who both nodded.
Richard peered at all of them and said, “We have worked with the undead before, but...”
He came over to stand before Diana and narrowed his eyes as he gazed at her. A shudder passed over his body as recognition of her power filled him. “Another Slayer–dhampir,” he said, and as Diana and Ryder locked arms, he shook his head. “You've brought us a rather interesting mix, Michaela. It will take time for the Council to absorb all this.”
Michaela chuckled. “Take all the time you want, Richard. Just know that at the end of the day, we stand united. Are you all satisfied with this?” she asked, shooting a glance at her friends and her lover.
Jesus tightened his hand on hers, and said, “If you're good with it, so am I.”
Benjamin chimed in with, “I'm satisfied.”
***
Diana held back her affirmation, sensing the tension in Ryder's body and the continuing upset that had not left him since the night Connall beat him. Meeting his cold-eyed stare, she said, “Are we good with this, Ryder?”
He hesitated for a moment, leaned toward her and in a whisper asked, “We're in this together, right? No matter what?”
She didn't know where this uncertainty was coming from, after all they had shared and all the promises they had made to one another. But she knew she had to allay his fears with the one thing that would never fail her.
“I love you, Ryder. We're either in this together or we're not. Whatever you want to do, I go with you,” she said, loud enough for everyone to hear.
The first hint of a smile that she had not seen in days crept onto his face. “Together, darlin'. Always.”
Facing their friends and then the Council, Ryder said without hesitation, “We are all in this together.”
“Together,” Michaela and Jesus said in unison.
Evangeline drew a breath and was about to comment when Richard held up his hand to silence her.
“We will need time to adjust, Michaela. Benjamin...Diana and Ryder. All of us. This...union is not something that can be rushed,” Richard said, and the remaining Council members murmured their assent, except for Evangeline, who remained lethally silent.
“Call us when you’re ready,” Ryder said, and without waiting, whirled and left the room.
Michaela and Jesus watched him with surprise, then looked to Diana.
“Yeah. He definitely needs time,” she said, and hurried after her husband.
She caught up with him at the elevator, but he didn’t turn to face her as he waited for it to arrive. She laid a hand on his back, but she didn’t need to do that to feel the waves of tension radiating throughout his body. She had already sensed it through the connection between them.
“Ryder. Talk to me. Please.”
“About what, darlin’?” he said, but didn’t look at her or acknowledge her presence in any other way.
She knew he wasn’t angry with her, but with himself. That didn’t make his attitude any easier to accept.
The elevator arrived. He stormed onto it and finally faced her.
“You saved us, Ryder. I know you don’t think that, but—”
“It won’t happen again, Diana. I won’t ever let anyone get that close to hurting my family again,” he said, and finally relaxed a little. He wrapped an arm around her and drew her body against his.
“I know, Ryder. Just don’t keep me away, either.”