Preston nodded to Erik. “Go home for now. You found what we needed, but we need you in top shape to stop this. You can handle Nigel. If we can find out who else is involved, we’ll be able to send someone to stop them. Though of all the Deathcallers with enough power to cause real damage, I can only think of three, and two of you are on our side.”
“I know Nigel hates the Council, but I never imagined he’d go to these lengths,” Monique answered. She couldn’t believe she’d wasted so much time with him.
As much as she distrusted the Council for years, she never wished them harm as a whole. Never.
The more she thought about it, the more she realized most of her insecurities had everything to do with her mother. And her mother had been friends with a mage who had reportedly gone missing, and that she wasn’t even a mage, but something darker and more sinister.
She needed answers only her father would have. “I’ll take him home, or to his house, if that’s safe now.”
“Your house is better,” Robert answered.
Erik sighed. “Monique’s it is.”
In the car, she’d figure out what his problem was. She hoped.
He followed her out, rubbing at his temples.
At the car she stopped him. “What’s the matter, Erik?”
“You shouldn’t come tomorrow night. I want you safe.”
“What are you talking about? Maybe he’ll listen to me.”
He stopped and turned to her. “Bullshit, he will. Who left who? You left him?”
She nodded.
“He’s not going to listen.”
“You listen to me,” Monique stated.
“And not every man you leave will listen. The few times I’ve dealt with Nigel, he was an asshole. If you show up with me, he’s going to know who you’re with now. That will only put you in danger. He’s not me, he’s not even that douchebag Dustin. He has a vendetta against the Council, and nothing an ex-lover who left him says is going to change that.”
She looked away. “Are you angry because I was with another necromancer? Or because you think I might choose him?”
“Shit, I’m not mad about who you were with. I’m worried about your safety. You heard him with your own ears. He’s ready to kill innocent people, feed them to corpses, and tear apart everything that keeps Others safe from another witch hunt. You being there…I don’t want anything to happen to you, Monique. That’s all.”
“I don’t need protection. I can handle him. Besides, his clothes have my enchantments, and I have a few tricks up my sleeve.”
“Like what?”
“Like the fact I can alter the enchantments as long as I’m near him. I can stop him from casting a single spell. I could turn his spells against him. By tomorrow I’ll have a dozen more ideas.”
“Shit, why does he even buy clothes from you anymore?”
“He never stopped because I’m the best at what I do. Let me help.”
“Fuck, we’ll discuss this at home.”
“Get in the damned car.” She walked around to the driver’s side.
He snarled and climbed into the seat. She buckled in and threw the car into drive. “What’s the deal, Erik? Do you trust me or not?”
“I don’t know.” He sighed and looked away.
“What do I have to do?” she asked.
“Let me ask you something. Why are you so ready to step into the heat of trouble?”
She gripped his chin and forced his gaze to hers. “I don’t want anything to happen to you either. I know Nigel. Let me help. Please.”
“We’ll ask Robert what he thinks,” he offered.
She had a feeling Robert would hear her out and give her a chance. That was all she needed. And by then, she hoped her father could give her answers. If she could come up with information, they’d be more likely to let her help.
Silence stretched on as she drove. “What don’t you trust, Erik?”
“The whole damned situation.”
“We connected last night, Erik. I know you felt it too.”
“Why didn’t we when we were kids?”
“What are you talking about?” she demanded.
“Something Alistair said. That if we were meant for each other, we would have bonded forever ago. Whatever last night was—doesn’t matter. It’s no different than it ever was.”
“Bond? We aren’t werewolves, we aren’t fae.”
“No. We aren’t. Doesn’t matter. When we find the one we’re meant for, everything changes. And if it didn’t change then, it wouldn’t have happened last night.”
She frowned. “Maybe something stopped it from happening back then.”
“Like what?”
My mother. Damn it, I need answers.
“You love me, don’t you?” she asked.
“Wish to God I didn’t,” he muttered.
“I love you. I’ve always loved you. Tell me what the fuck I have to do to prove it.”
He turned back to her. “Part of me believes every word out of your mouth.”
“Listen to that piece of you.”
“I’m trying, Mon. I wish it were that easy.”
“Well, stop listening to Alistair. Remember, until he found Consuela’s brother, he was in love with you. Maybe it was jealousy speaking.”
“Maybe. I need to do some digging.”
“Ask Consuela. She may know.”
“Tomorrow.”
“Tonight, let me show you. Let me prove how much I need you.” If it took her the rest of her life, she’d never stop proving it.
* * * *
“What’s the plan?” Preston asked.
Robert stood and shook his head. “We need to talk to Mrs. Murdock. I hope she has some information.”
“Christian still spending all of his time with her?” Preston asked.
“Yeah, most of it. Question is will Mrs. Murdock help? She doesn’t like interfering.”
“She created the Council, right? I imagine she will this time.”
“Hope so. You coming?”
Preston nodded. “Yeah. Dacia is hanging with her mother tonight. Something about some fertility potion.”
“She’s trying to get pregnant?” Robert asked with a smirk.
“I told her we could bone until she gets pregnant, but she wants a baby now.”
“Do you?”
“I’m ready whenever it happens.”
“No wedding?”
Preston shrugged. “We’re mated. It’s more than a marriage. And I asked her what her thoughts on it were. She says she doesn’t care.”
“Do you?”
He shrugged. “I have what I want.”
“Would you if she did?”
“Yeah. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for Dacia.”
“I’ll have Liz ask her. See if she can get a solid answer.”
Preston grinned. “This is why I keep you around. I don’t think of these things.”