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She licked her lips, but everything was dry so it didn’t help. “How long was I out?”
“Less than two minutes. Give me another two minutes, and I’ll release the hold.”
“I’m in control. I won’t attack.”
I heard the truth in her words, so I released the hold.
“Thank you.” Her voice was low, but strong.
“For hurting you?”
“For trusting me.”
She’d frequently spent time with Marco in New York in the months before the coterie had left for Chattanooga. Kirsten flashed her up in the evening, and then returned the following morning to flash her back home. Not many people knew she wasn’t at Homewood — her top people, and Marco’s top people. Probably the slayer as well, though I was certain no one had told him.
I’d only been around her a handful of times, but it was enough I could honestly tell her, “I like you. I think you’re good for Marco. He needs someone who won’t take shit off him, someone to stand strong by his side, someone who understands the politics of his position, so she won’t put him or his people in danger over something small.”
“I like you, too. He trusts you, and he’s desperately needed someone strong who’ll have his back. I see you not backing down to him in private, when you know you’re right, but in public, you’re the dutiful Secundo, bolstering his power.”
She sat up, and I moved my hands to just under her heels, so my palms were aimed up, into her body.
“Breathe in for me?”
She did, and I shot the rest of her energy back into her, topping off what I’d let flow in slowly. Her eyes went big, but she took it all in and made it hers again.
“That’s a scary talent.”
“I’m sorry I had to do it.”
She stood, walked to a tree, and leaned against it. I could see her sharing energy with the tree, and I couldn’t help my smile. It was like she and this particular tree were friends.
“I thought the Queen lived in a castle.”
“She does, but she enjoys this little cottage. She’s brought me here a few times, so I’m comfortable with the energy.” Another deep breath, and she said, “I’ll give the okay for you to do this to my wolves when they have a problem with Marco’s vampires and are at fault. I’ll need to cut them off from my energy before you do it. I’d like to be present, at least the first couple of times.”
“I assume you and Marco will watch in some instances, and that you’ll make a show of leaving them to my mercy for other situations.”
“You have mercy?”
I met her gaze. “Only when ordered to, or when it’s politically expedient.”
“So, you and Ryan are kind of a matched set?”
“What do you mean?”
Kirsten arrived, and Cora smiled at her. “Let’s not go back just yet.”
“You’re okay?”
“Yes. It was suitably terrifying and painful, and not something I’d willingly do again. It’s a perfect consequence for misbehaving wolves.” Cora looked back to me. “Once, when Kirsten had some injuries Ryan needed to see, she took her shirt off. Not her bra, just the blouse. I sensed...”
She looked at Kirsten, who shook her head and told Cora, “Oh no. I’m not helping with this. You’re on your own.”
Cora chuckled. “I got the distinct impression he wanted to see more. He liked the idea of hurting her, or of her being hurt, and yet, it wasn’t sexual. He took care of her because he was obligated to, but his reaction at the time solidified what I’d already known on a visceral level about him — he likes hurting people. He enjoys it. He takes pleasure in it.” She looked to Kirsten again, and then back to me. “Ryan scares me. I know he’s supposed to because of the whole slayer-versus-wolf thing, but I’ve been around other slayers, and this is more. I know you can take care of yourself, but we have a bit of a girl-club, and I hope you’ll become friends with us.”
“Girl club?”
Kirsten answered this one. “A couple of dozen in all, but a half-dozen with enough power or political clout to affect pretty much any change we’d like to see happen, when we’re all in agreement.”
