Page 45 of Old Secrets

I read between the lines: she felt the United States would be the likeliest candidate for failure. Unfortunately for my national pride, I agreed with her.

Before I could say anything, Jake sighed. “We do what we can, but Americans are stubborn and curious. We’ll one day be found out. But will much change? That’s the question.”

“I have my doubts,” Aiko admitted. “But it is something we need to consider as we head to China. China is another weak link for many reasons. While they have many cultural beliefs, those abroad are far less likely to buy into the idea that it is their cultural beliefs manifesting as overactive imaginations compared to us.”

My eyes widened at the implication we might ultimately reveal the existence of the supernatural to the world. “You don’t think that might happen, do you?”

“That we might witness the unveiling of all we are to a population ill-prepared for our kind?” Aiko shrugged. “It is entirely possible. We battle an opponent who understands the value of foxes and knows, at least some, of their power. They have numbers. They have influence. It is a possibility we cannot afford to ignore. And that leads us to this talk. Should we be revealed to the public, what will you do?”

I had no idea, and I stared at Jake, hoping he might be able to offer some insight. Something about my expression amused him, as he chuckled, reached out, and flicked my nose with his finger. “Don’t look so stricken, Karma. It’s something the Inquisition has worried about for a long time. If we are uncovered, we will continue to do as always. We hide, and should someone be caught in the act, we will hope they are a good spokesperson for the rest of us so that we can continue to hide. Staying in the shadows protects those who cannot defend themselves from our strength or power. The Inquisition is not just about maintaining our secrecy, but it’s about protecting those who can’t protect themselves. That should not change. The job will be just a little harder moving forward.”

“That’s quite the understatement,” I muttered.

“The only real difficulty will be hiding when one of us has harmed a Normal.” Jake grinned, leaned over, and kissed the top of my head. “If anything, now that you’re fully disclosed on the Inquisition, once we’re back in the United States, you can take on the harder cases. We’ll both be challenged, as hunting rogues is tougher than Normals.”

I could use a solid challenge. Once again, Mellisa’s work dog analogy came back to haunt me. “I’m a work dog who hasn’t been working enough,” I informed my husband.

“You’ll be up to your neck in work in no time. Judging from what Aiko is trying to say through not saying it, we’re going to have our hands full the instant we get to China.”

The woman smiled. “I thought you would see things clearly, Jake-sama. China does want this resolved—and quickly. But they have different motivations from us for resolving this, and as always, it deals with power.”

Jake grabbed me by the waist and hauled me up. As always, I latched on to him so he wouldn’t drop me. “If they want to try to gain some power by allying themselves with Karma’s parents, I am fine with this. China is a lot of things, but the United States has claims to Karma, second to me.”

Ah. I understood. To soothe Jake’s jealous wolf, I tightened my hold on him with my legs and made use of his shoulder as a pillow. “You can’t cause an international incident with China, Jake.”

“If they hurt you, I’m causing an incident.”

“You would have to beat her parents to the chase,” Aiko reminded my mate. “And they hit harder than any of us do. What I truly worry about is what they will do now that they have been set free and they know their sole living child is safe.”

“Burn the world down does come to mind,” Jake admitted.

“We will work hard to make certain that does not happen,” Aiko assured us. “And now that we have concluded that unpleasant business, let us meet with the others so we might discuss everything we have learned—excepting that, of course.”

Of course. I filed that away as something to think about later, once I could steal some time alone with Jake. “One last question, if you don’t mind.”

“What is it, Karma-sama?”

“Should we be careful about what we say and do in China?”

“There are eyes everywhere in China. I would walk in silence and act only when you are confident of what you must do. For now, China needs you. But that may change. You will be safe enough as long as you play the game. And like Greenwich, China desires power. You would be wise to remember that.”

THIRTEEN

Moving forward, things would be better.

I appreciated the conference room with its regular chairs and solid wood desk, although the crowd of thirty people crammed into the space less than thrilled me. Jake sat beside me, and he defeated my father for the spot using a low growl promising violence.

Jake’s display pleased my parents, although my mother’s raised brow won her the other chair beside me, forcing my father to sit across from me to be somewhat close. The drama amused me, and I kept a firm hold on Jake’s hand so nobody would unseat him as the victor.

Mellisa claimed one of the seats next to my father, and she spoke to him in a soft, soothing tone. Of all the people in the world, I suspected my parents needed therapy more than anyone else.

So many years, the loss of all children but one, and their trials would have broken anyone else. In a way, I’d inherited their resilience—and I held a better understanding of how so much had gone wrong in my life.

Moving forward, things would be better.

If we played every card right, there would be a future with all of us in it. My life could never make up for the loss of their other children, but I represented more than mere hope to them.

I refused to disappoint them.