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Oh hell. Then I remembered: Marta had belonged to the Consortium. Apparently, I was also expected to become a member. What the fuck were they going to do once they discovered I was half Cambyra Fae, and working for the vampires?
“And what about Mystical Eye Investigations? Do you run that, as well?” Ysandra gave me a long look.
I slowly shook my head. “Marta’s granddaughter does. We decided to join forces, so to speak.”
“Then she must become a member of the Consortium, as well. I will leave you both the necessary forms. You must fill them out and send them in with the appropriate fees, and then when we summon you, you must stand before the CCC to win final approval to obtain your licenses.”
“CCC?”
“Consortium Chamber of Commerce. We control all magical businesses of any note. Since Marta did not pay her quarterly tithe, the CCC sent me to find out why. Now I know.” She opened her briefcase and took out two packets of paper. “Here are the forms. You have one month to fill them out and mail them back to us. We will contact you after we’ve gone over them.”
She finished her tea and stood, her hand shading her eyes. “I wish to pay my respects to Marta’s daughter, but I’m pressed for time. Please convey my sympathy. Marta . . . she and I went way back. We roomed together at the Conservatory when we were in school.”
And right then, Ysandra ceased to be a terror and suddenly became a very humane, if magic-born, person to me. I looked in her eyes and saw the glimmer of tears, and realized that everything else—all the brisk business and nononsense part of her persona—had paled compared to losing an old friend.
I reached out and pressed her hand. “I’ll let her granddaughter know. We’re good friends, and I’ll make sure she passes on the message.”
“Marta’s daughter, Anadey, was always sour about the Consortium. I understand she might not want to hear from me, but my sympathies are there if she wants them.” As Ysandra started to gather her things, she paused. “Oh, and you’ll be starting the Society up again, of course.”
“Say what?” I stared at her. “Why would I do that? The Society disbanded with her death.”
“You inherited her business, and therefore you inherited her place as elder. Since the Thirteen Moons Society disbanded, it’s up to you to choose up to twelve other members and bring it back to life—with a new name, of course. That goes with being the witch chosen to watch over any particular village or town.”
“I’m confused. What do you mean, chosen?”
“Marta was chosen to lead the Society, and her business was not only to sell magical potions and charms, but to watch over New Forest. She knew that by choosing her successor, she would automatically pass on the position. Usually it would be a direct lineage, but since her daughter chose not to involve herself with the Consortium, apparently, you were her choice. I’m surprised she didn’t choose your aunt, but she must have had her reasons. Heather was always Marta’s right-hand woman.”
“My aunt . . .”
“Mother is so busy with her studies that she had to bow out of the Society for now.” Rhia spoke up, her voice steady and calm. “And the Society never recognized me, so I was not a viable candidate.”
Ysandra gazed at her, silent for a moment. “Yes, we never understood Marta’s position on that. You will be accepted if Cicely chooses to include you in her roster.”
And with that, she headed toward the door, briefcase in hand. “Get me those forms as soon as you can. I’ll be in charge of your applications, so mark them to my attention. It was nice meeting you, and you, too, Kaylin. You make a lovely couple. Since you’re married, you’ll have to provide me with a copy of your marriage certificate so it can be recorded. All partnerships by members of the Consortium are on record, whether they be poly or monogamous.”
Before we could respond, she swept out into the frigid air, down the steps, and her dark sedan glided up the street again.
I stood there, gaping at the door. “What the fuck do we do now?”
Kaylin laughed from behind me. “Get married, I suppose.”
As we gathered back around the kitchen table, I accepted a cup of tea from Kaylin, who had returned the still-full pot back into the kitchen.
Rhiannon brought the others up to speed while I gulped down the scalding drink, supplementing it with a piece of cold toast.
“We have to keep them from finding out about Myst, and yet we’re supposed to join their little club?” I shook my head.
“The Consortium is no ‘little club,’” Peyton said. “And now I have to join, too? Mother’s going to love that.”
“Your mother’s got more problems than you becoming a member of the Consortium,” I muttered, but I shook my head when she asked me to repeat what I’d said. “Nothing. But we need to fill out those forms. You don’t ignore the Consortium. Tonight, I’d better talk to Geoffrey and tell him what’s happened. The vampires are going to have to know.”
“Why would it be so bad to have the magic-born on our side? Why don’t the vampires want them to know about Myst?” Peyton asked.
I shrugged. “The Consortium is rife with greed and so swamped in politics that it’s likely they’d mire down any action in arguments and debates. But they’d also try to squeeze out the vampires’ help—the magic-born don’t tend to like the vampires as a whole. Everything would end embroiled in turmoil and arguments. And though the Consortium is big, don’t forget, there are one hell of a lot of vamps in the world, and they might take umbrage at being pushed out of what they consider their own private war.”
“Politics, then.”
“Politics between two very dangerous forces. I have no idea which side the yummanii would come down on—probably the Consortium, but either way, it could get very sticky.” I glanced over at Leo. “You’ve been awfully quiet.”
