That was from the woman behind her, and Kalinda turned sideways so she could see them both.
“The men you’re waiting for. Or should I say the wolves? They won’t make it here in time. But you aren’t under attack, my child. We are here to help protect you. We’ve been searching for you for days but have been unable to find you. The wards around you have been rather strong, until today.”
“If I’m not in danger, why can’t we just wait until they get here?”
The white-haired man stepped forward. “Let me explain it to her, Amalia.”
Amalia nodded and stepped back.
“Because the Capo di tutti Capi and his Enforcer cannot make this choice for you, nor does their word have authority over us. It is the other way around, as you see.”
“Who are you?”
“I am Lennox. This is Amalia and Yon. We are the Trinity of the Mage Council.”
Kalinda knew about the Council. No magic-blood could live outside of Enchanted Zones where there were portal cities. The Federal Bureau of Magical Containment, or the FBMC, did sweeps to find those with magic in their blood, no matter how small. The FBMC worked as a liaison between the National Council and the FBI counterpart in the non-magic world. And the direct control within Enchanted Zones was a Mage Council who answered only to the National Council.
At the top of each Mage Council was the Trinity, a group of three who could be a tiebreaker for any vote and who also stood as the magical last word in disputes if necessary. Very few people ever saw them.
And they all stood in Kalinda’s Katering with a half-blitzed wolf and a Fae trying desperately to fend off an orgasm while attempting to stab one of the Trinity.
Great. “You want me to be your guest? Where?”
How much longer until they show up?
Amalia shrugged. “They are about ten minutes out, if you’d like to know.”
What the hell?
“I know. I hear that a lot.”
Kalinda’s eyes widened as she stared at Amalia.
Amalia tapped her temple with a long red fingernail. “I read these.”
Well, isn’t that—
Kalinda cut off her thought, afraid Amalia would still be snooping. “What does being your guest mean, and why would the Trinity have need of me?”
Lennox cocked his head to the side. “Well, to be on the Council, of course.”
How about no? Dammit!
Amalia chuckled. “You can’t stop your thoughts any more than you can stop the breeze. But we are getting ahead of ourselves. Lennox, darling, you always cut too quickly to the chase when diplomacy would be better. She hasn’t even heard our offer. Let’s move this conversation, shall we?”
Lennox inclined his head to Amalia. “Of course. Yon?”
Thunder boomed so loudly, Kalinda couldn’t make out what Silva tried to say, only reading her lips.
No! Run!
Well, duh, Silva. But I can’t run, now, can I?
Her head hurt. Correction, everything hurt. Was it possible that gums could disintegrate? Kalinda checked to find out, but her gums were still there, even if sore. She groaned and shook her head, trying to clear the cobwebs, but that only made it worse.
“Give yourself some time. The first phase is always the hardest.” Amalia’s voice was soothing.
That was the understatement of the year. Kalinda took the advice though, letting her body rest—on a sofa?—on the soft material under her. She sank into the cushion, taking big deep breaths and mentally taking stock of all her body parts. It felt weird to do so, but she wasn’t sure if she was coming or going. After a few minutes, she finally opened her eyes.
