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Her panic rose to chest level and her mind bent straight back to being in Crace’s forge. She felt trapped and weak all over again, as though she was one down in this setting and had nothing worthy to contribute.
However, as she met Marcus’s accusing gaze, as she saw the anger in his light brown eyes, that he believed she’d overstepped her bounds, she took a deep breath and lifted her chin.
Newer, stronger thoughts flowed through her mind, of the courage she had displayed over the past several days, of her mettle tested in horrific ways, of her absolute certainty that she was right in this situation. Nor was she a simple woman with selfish designs. She knew her man, she knew his abilities, and she understood the situation from an administrative point of view. If the macho warrior strain in this room wasn’t countered with rationality, the war would continue on just as it had, with determination, yes, but with Greaves gaining ground each and every day.
So she lifted a brow to him in response, rose to her feet, and met the scowls of all the warriors present. “I have something to say, and by God you’re all going to listen to me.” She turned to Marcus. “Especially you.”
Marcus crossed his arms over his chest and glared, but he gave her the courtesy of remaining silent.
Havily nodded to Endelle, and Her Supremeness returned the favor and resumed her seat.
Havily shifted to face the warriors once more. “First of all, if Warrior Marcus chooses to fight, that’s up to him. I am not nor will I ever be his keeper and I would never stand in the way of his rejoining the Warriors of the Blood if he believed he would best serve Second Earth by taking up his sword.
“But I want to remind you that war isn’t fought only with the sword, and Greaves has been undermining Madame Endelle’s administration in a host of ways. He’s steadily increased shipments of death vampires to Metro Phoenix to wear you men down, he’s seduced High Administrators around the globe into his camps because he has significant wealth at his disposal, and he knows how to work propaganda on behalf of his Coming Order like nobody’s business. And we all know the travesty that COPASS has become—and that if Greaves turns a majority of the committee members, Madame Endelle’s administration will sink.”
The truth of her words was visible in every expression of clenched jaw, exasperated sigh, or flexing of sword arm at the table.
She continued, “When I spoke with Madame Endelle two days ago about Warrior Marcus’s future, when I suggested that Warrior Marcus should do anything other than serve as a Warrior of the Blood, only my mental shields kept me from being consumed by the blast of her fury.”
Luken shifted in his seat and glanced at Endelle. Thorne grunted. Kerrick nodded.
“Fuck,” Jean-Pierre murmured.
Havily continued, “So you were not alone in your initial reactions to what essentially was my proposal to Madame Endelle.
“I’d also like to say that I resented the hell out of the breh-hedden when it hit me as it did four months ago. I despised the man sitting next to me for having deserted the Warriors of the Blood two hundred years ago. For that, I considered him less than a man because … because of my love for all of you and for the terrible sacrifices you have made, especially in your personal lives.” She put a hand to her chest and took a couple of deep breaths. “But sometimes the incomprehensible decisions we make in earlier parts of our lives come forward to show us the way to the future. Marcus built an empire on Second Earth during the last two centuries and knows more about waging an administrative and propaganda war, one that involves building loyalty and service among employees, than anyone sitting at this table.”
“Except for you, Hav,” Zacharius called out. “Look at what you’ve accomplished in the last four months. Look at the success of the Ambassadors Festival. You could serve as High Administrator. I’d give you my vote.”
Havily smiled. “Thank you, Zach, that means a lot to me. However—” She paused and met Endelle’s gaze. Once more Her Supremeness surprised her with an ancient, knowing look of sympathy and support.
Havily continued, “Actually, I’ll be taking up a new position soon, a very different kind of work.” Oh, God. The words she was about to speak had weight, heavy, burdensome, shoulder-sagging weight. She felt her future blast in her direction so powerfully that she staggered a little on her feet. Tears flashed to her eyes and for a moment she could only swallow hard, her gaze fixed to the table.
When at last she composed herself, she said, “I’ve agreed to become apprenticed to Madame Endelle in darkening work, to assist her nightly efforts as best I can in order to prevent Commander Greaves from overloading the Valley with death vampires.”
Once again, momentous silence captured the room.
“Darkening work,” Santiago whispered, penetrating the awful quiet. He flipped his dagger in his hand.
“Holy f**k,” Kerrick murmured.
Luken shook his head back and forth. “Havily, this is some crazy-ass shit.”
Havily suddenly felt uncomfortable. “I have a lot to learn, of course,” came out in a rush. “But I’ve told you this by way of answering Zach’s question. I have other duties now. As for Warrior Marcus, what I wanted to say is that we need someone to begin waging war as Greaves has been waging war, attacking his efforts where the High Administrators are concerned as well as the ongoing propaganda war. For all these reasons, I asked Madame Endelle to consider the possibility that Marcus would be of greater value and use to the war effort in an administrative position rather than in the field.”
She looked down at Marcus. “I believe with all my heart, knowing you as well as I do, that Second Earth needs you to serve in this capacity. But the decision must be yours and”—here she met the gaze of each of the warriors one by one—“the decision of the warriors as well.”
Lastly, she met Endelle’s gaze. There was approval in the Amazon’s eyes. Havily gave a curt nod then sat down.
Endelle rose to her feet. “I agree with everything Havily has just said. Most particularly, that the Warriors of the Blood must have a say. This should be a joint decision and Marcus, I say this to you most of all, whatever you decide will be perfectly acceptable to me as I know it will be to Havily.” Endelle glanced at her once more. “And as much as I’ve given you shit, I admire you, Morgan. You’ve got balls, that’s for sure. And I know that if Marcus decides he must fight, you won’t stop him.”
