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CHAPTER FOURTEEN
THE SHADOWED GIRL
Mercenary fairies had once been allies of Cadogan House—or close enough. They were fearsome and fearless warriors, and they’d been the first to guard the House’s gate while we slept. But fairies liked gold, and they’d been lured away by the Greenwich Presidium, our previous British masters, and had turned against us. So it wasn’t good news to learn they were camped out in the yard.
On the other hand, given the week we’d had so far, it was somehow not entirely surprising.
Brody hauled ass back to the House. He piped in the Ops Room through the vehicle’s audio system, so we could commiserate with Luc and Malik.
“What do they want?” Ethan asked, brow furrowed, arms crossed, one leg over the other. He’d switched from investigation to Master mode pretty quickly.
“We haven’t even opened the door yet,” Malik said. “We called as soon as the gate alerted us. They were allowed into the yard for the sake of supernatural comity.”
“Weapons?”
“None,” Luc said. “That’s reason number two they were allowed into the yard. They’ve said nothing. They’re standing in formation. She’s standing in front of them. Waiting, as they all are.”
“Suggestions?” Ethan asked.
“I think we hear them out,” Luc said. “They aren’t allies, but they’re also not being aggressive, at least right now. They came to us without weapons, and although she probably won’t deign to talk to anyone but you, they do seem very interested in a conversation.”
“Malik?” Ethan asked.
“Agreed.”
He glanced at me. “Sentinel?”
“Agreed. Odds are, she wants to talk about the same things the rest of us want to talk about.”
“The weather,” Malik said, without irony.
“The weather,” I said.
“I concur,” Ethan said. “Lock down the House. I want everyone on full alert, just in case. We’ll be there in—”
“Two minutes,” Brody supplied, meeting Ethan’s gaze in the rearview mirror.
“Two minutes,” Ethan said with a nod. “Let’s be on our toes.”
• • •
Tires squealed as Brody pulled the vehicle to a stop in front of the House.
“Ready?” Ethan asked Luc.
“Ready as we’ll ever be when a few dozen mercenary fairies come to the door.”
“Then, let’s go,” Ethan said, and the audio went quiet.
