Dangerous Dalliances (Maxwell Investigations) (20 page)

War
looked around and sniffed the air. “Not like before,” he said with a shake of
his head. “You can all go rest for now. The demons still running loose are
looking for places to hide now.” He looked at Dylan and gave her a small smile.
“You’re going to have fun chasing them down. Think of it as practice.” Before
Dylan could respond, he vanished.

Conquest
shook his head before turning to Athol and Siobhan. When he looked at his
Conduit, a small sigh escaped him. “I will go to Abaddon and install another
Unseelie
King,” he said lowly. His eyebrow arched when
Athol stepped forward.

Siobhan
grabbed on to her brother’s arm. “No,” she said quickly. “Don’t you dare,” she
hissed.

Athol
ignored her. He looked into Conquest’s eyes and straightened. “I can take his
place,” he declared.

Conquest’s
eyes narrowed for a moment. He noted the way Siobhan frantically whispered to
her brother and shook his head. “You will stay where you sister can have access
to you,” he decreed. “When Siobhan and Lily killed your father, they put
markers on their backs. With her royal blood, Siobhan will have every demon
stuck in Abaddon after her. She would never be able to see you again. So no; I
will not do that to her.”

Siobhan
looked at the Nephilim. “Thank you,” she said in a whisper.

Conquest
looked at his remaining brother and nodded. “Hopefully we will see you all
under better circumstances.”

Lily
looked at them and felt the oddest urge come over her. “I have a penthouse you
can use,” she said quickly. When both Famine and Barry looked at her oddly, she
blushed. “There’s a lot of room, and when they’re here we can be at my
apartment. Really it’s usually vacant.”

Barry
felt a slow smile cross his face. Once again Lily was providing for those
around her. “Yeah, just drop us a line and we’ll have everything ready for
you.”

Conquest
looked at Famine and laughed at his brother’s confused expression. “Thank you,
Lilavanti. We may just take you up on that offer.”

* *
* * *

Troy
looked up from his cell phone when the doorbell rang. Hours passed since he
last heard from Victor, Alex or Casper. The evening news ran story after story
about Demons running wild, or the fact that magic was real. Troy stood and
glanced at Leigh. “Keep an eye out,” he said lowly.

Leigh
nodded before crossing the room and going to where the twins were drawing. As
she sat between them, she smiled and lifted Aiden into her lap.

Troy
left the living room and frowned when a familiar scent came to his nose.
Without a word, he ran to the door and threw it open. “Madison,” he whispered
as he looked at his wife.

It
pained her to look at him. Tears filled Madison’s eyes as he stepped closer to
her. “Everything’s over,” she said softly. When he started to nod, she wiped
away the tears that started to run down her face. “I’m sorry.”

He
took her face in his hands and covered her mouth with his own. Troy pulled her
close and frowned as she started shaking. “There’s nothing to forgive,” he
breathed against her lips. When she started to sob, he moved to wrap her in his
arms. That was when he noticed the tall man dressed in all black. “Who are
you?” he asked stepping in front of Madison instead.

She
curled her hands into his shirt. “He’s a friend,” she said in a whisper.

Death
looked at the wolf and smiled. “Just making sure she made it home,” he said
before disappearing.

Troy
blinked once before turning to his wife and lifting her into his arms. He
pressed a kiss to her temple and carried her into the house. “I was so scared
for you,” he told her.

Madison
kept her arms wrapped around his neck and fell silent. Her mind and heart were
all being pulled in different directions. She wanted to be with her family, but
she knew she didn’t deserve them. As things stood, she didn’t even know if anyone
would accept her apology.

Troy
carried her into the living room and sat her on the sofa. He pulled away just enough
to look at the twins and grab his phone. “Kayin, Aiden, Mommy’s back,” he said
softly.

Kayin
jumped to his feet and ran to Madison’s side. Before she could say anything, he
climbed into her lap and kissed her cheek. “
It’s
okay,
Mommy,” he told her. He smiled when she gently ran her fingers through his
hair. Kayin lifted his head and looked at his twin. “Aiden?” he questioned with
a tilt of his head.

Aiden
frowned as he stood and ran out of the room without looking at Madison.

She
sighed and leaned her head on Troy’s shoulders. “It’ll take time,” she said
when she saw the hurt look on Kayin’s face. “I did a lot of bad things.” Kayin
looked at her and she pressed a kiss to his forehead. “Aiden can be mad at me
for a while.”

Leigh
stood and went over to the family. “I’ll keep an eye on him,” she said. When
both Troy and Madison nodded, she looked at Kayin and held out her hand. “Do
you want to help?” she offered. When she saw the skeptical look in his eyes,
she leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his hair. “Actually, you can help best
by getting Mommy some of those cookies she likes. I’m sure she’ll stay right
here while you get them.”

Kayin
turned to Madison and stared into her eyes for a long moment. He then moved
away from her. “I’ll be right back,” he said before running to the kitchen.

Leigh
gave Madison a small nod of respect. “We’ll talk in the morning,” she said
before going off to find Aiden.

Madison
moved away from Troy slightly. When she felt his frown, she folded her arms
over her chest. “It may have been a mistake coming back here,” she said in a
whisper.

“The
hell it was,” Troy growled. When she looked at him with wide eyes, he gently
tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “We love you. If you can’t heal with us,
where can you?” he asked softly.

She
looked into his eyes for a long moment. “I was told that my body went through
some changes. I’m not a mage any more. I’m a full-fledged Angel of Death now.”
Madison saw the slow frown coming to his face and stood. “I could lose it
again. The next time it could be worse, and there’s no coming back from worse.”

Troy
stood and wrapped her in his arms. “We’ll deal with it,” he said softly. Before
she started shaking her head, he kissed her hair. “Do you know why I went with
you?” he asked.

Her
arms tightened around him. “No,” she breathed against his skin.

“I
didn’t want you to think no one cared,” he confessed. When she looked up at
him, he shrugged. “I knew you would come back to me. When you did, I didn’t
want you to think I was angry with you, or that I didn’t trust you. I knew that
you would want to close yourself off and hide away. It would kill me if you
felt like you had to hide what you did from me too.”

Madison
hid her face in his shirt as a sob escaped her. He was right. If she had her
way, none of them would know anything that she did. But instead, he stood by
her side and helped her, until she betrayed him. “Are you and Kayin alright?”
she asked in a whisper.

“We’re
fine,” Troy said as he rubbed her back. “He healed me, then we kept him in bed
until a little before dinner.” When her bloodshot eyes looked at him, he gently
kissed her lips. “Everything is taken care of, Madi,” he told her. “You can let
go and rest. Everything else we’ll figure out in the morning.”

Tina’s
eyes scanned her backyard as people gathered in her home. While it was crowded,
she and James couldn’t hold this meeting at Dylan and Crispin’s estate. It was
bad enough she was sure Victor was going to make an appearance. This was
something that she would have to handle as the leader of the Council.

If she chose to remain on the Council.

A
sigh escaped her as she turned to the four men and two other women entering the
recreational room in her home. They were all mages, and they had all been kept
in the dark when the horrors of the past few days occurred. The random thought
that she may not have to quit crossed her mind. These six had the power to kick
her out.

One
of the men, a Metal Worker by the name of Brian looked at the way James stood
protectively next to his wife and frowned. “I think it is safe to assume you
know what’s been going on,” he said darkly. When Tina’s lips pressed together,
his breath hissed out between his teeth. “Damn it, Tina. We had a right to
know. We could have prepared...”

“Prepared
what?” one of the women, Mia asked. Her heavy Bostonian accent cut through
whatever he was about to say. “Even if we had advanced warning, there’s nothing
saying that our Keepers wouldn’t have been slaughtered.”

Brian
frowned as he looked at the others in the group. “We could have put protocols
in place.
Normals
have been exposed to our world, and
that could have been prevented.”

A
pair of dark eyes narrowed and another man moved to sit on the overstuffed
sofa. “Like what?” he asked simply. When Brian tried to piece together an
answer, Marcus shrugged.
“Exactly.”
He then looked at
the couple hosting this meeting. “I think I know why everything was played so
close to the vest. Do I
like
what happened?
Of course
not.
But if it were my family, I don’t think I could bring myself to
tell us either.”

The
other woman in the group idly toyed with the fringe on her suede coat. “Despite
what Brian is going on about. We have to figure out what we’re going to do in
terms of damage control.” Rachel turned her attention to the people in the
room. “Frankly, I was going to bring up the idea of coming out. In this day and
age, it’s getting too risky for us.” She looked at Tina and gave her a small
smile. “As far as I’m concerned, Pan was behind what happened. Ashton was a
willing accomplice. Siobhan and Madison are in the clear.”

Tina
nodded. “Thank you,” she said softly.

Marcus
leaned forward and rubbed his jaw. “I don’t find Madison guilty of anything
either. Eric explained everything to me last night over the phone. Is it true
that the Nephilim are returning?”

Tina
hesitated. “Yes and no,” she said honestly. “I don’t know what they have
planned. But they have left the girls in charge of things while they’re gone.”
She paced across the room for a moment before stopping and turning to the group
in front of her. “I’m not worried about that. As cold as it may seem, my girls
can take care of themselves. I’m concerned with what we’re going to do now that
the world knows that magic is more than just a card game.”

The
silent man in the corner moved, drawing everyone’s attention. “Witch hunts will
start. While you would all like to think that times have changed and the world
can accept us, I need to point out that there are more people that will not.”
He looked at Tina and James. “Most now are desensitized to violence and would
think that simply burning someone alive wouldn’t be harsh enough. We are about
to face a whole new breed of evil.”

“I
know, Noah,” Tina said in a whisper. Her heart broke whenever she thought of
the quiet mage. “But we have to try and do what’s best.”

“What
do you suggest?” Mia asked.

James
cleared his throat. “I’ve pulled some strings. Later today, Tina and I have
another meeting with the heads of the CIA and FBI. We need to make this as
peaceful as possible.” When Noah snorted, he frowned and looked at him. “You
don’t think that will work?”

Noah
gave him a sarcastic look. “In every piece of fiction, there’s a grain of truth,”
he said as he straightened.

“Yes,
and?” Brian prompted.

“I
suggest you read X-Men comics. Mutants came out, were forced to register with
the government. Some were even kidnapped to other countries and forced to wear
collars. And that’s just what the government did.” Noah walked over to Tina and
placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. “I’ll stand by whatever you want,” he said
honestly. “But just keep in mind; there are some things that would be better
left hidden in shadow.”

“I
know,” Tina said softly. She didn’t stop him when he shook James’s hand and
left. She took a deep breath and looked at the remaining members of the
Council. “Now we just have to figure out what to tell them, and what not to.”

Marcus
leaned back. “Oracles and Sirens are off the table,” he said darkly. “I would
also include Necromancers, but with Madison being at the center of all of this,
I don’t see how that is a possibility.”

Tina
crossed the room and paused when she spotted Dylan coming into the room. “Baby,
you shouldn’t be here,” she said softly.

Dylan
rolled her eyes as she hugged her mother. “Let’s not start, okay?” she said in
the same tone. She then looked at the members of the Council. “Crispin’s been
making calls almost all night. We agree; the best move we can make is to go to
the government. Victor has also pulled some strings and I’m going to the
meeting with you.
As both Queen of the Vampires, and a
representative of the Nephilim.”

“Are
you sure that’s smart?” Brian asked. He ignored the way Dylan’s eyebrow arched
and went on. “They could see you being there as a threat.”

“They
could see any of you as a threat,” Dylan countered with a snort. “They could
see my mother walking around with her wedding ring and see a threat. My dad
could be holding a pen. You could have a key. What you have to realize is that
while everyone on every side is scared, someone has to be the braver person and
not use their gifts. That has to be us.” She then looked at Tina and smiled.
“And since I’m Queen of the Vampires, I doubt they want creatures of the night
knocking down their doors if something happens to me.”

James
frowned at his daughter before touching her cheek. “Don’t get too cocky,
Dylan,” he told her.

She
smiled and wrapped her arms around one of his. “I’m not, Dad. I’m just stating
facts.” When he shook his head at her, she kissed his cheek and moved away from
him. “Now, back to what you were just talking about.” Her eyes were serious as
she looked at the people in the room. “I agree with Marcus. Anything that has
to do with influencing the human mind is out. I’ve already talked with Eric and
he sent in his official letter of resignation to the DA’s office. Barry is
going to call his captain and pull out as well. There are a number of safe
houses around the city that various shifter clans will gladly open up to mages
in danger. Both Dennis and Crispin are working to set up trust funds. If a
family needs to escape the country, it can be done quickly and quietly.” Dylan
looked at Brian and gave him her sweetest smile. “You may not have a plan in
place, but we can throw things together really quick.”

Brian
tried not to be bitter. He didn’t like being shown up, but in this case, Dylan
did seem to have everything under control. “What are you going to do about your
sister?” he asked curiously. When both Dylan and Tina frowned at him, he raised
his hands in surrender. “We don’t know if the
Normals
will know who she is. What do you plan on doing if they order you to turn her
over?”

There
was something about his tone Dylan didn’t trust. When she tried to scan his
mind, her frown deepened when she came back with nothing. “I have no intention
on telling anyone about the ins and outs of what happened with the Gates.” She
frowned when Brian folded his arms over his chest and rolled his eyes. “What?”

“You’re
giving me nothing. And if your answers aren’t satisfying to me, how do you
think the heads of the government are going to feel? You’re playing things too
close to the chest and that could get us all ostracized and killed.”

Dylan
mentally counted to ten. The past day was stressful enough. She wouldn’t let
Brian get to her. Dylan opened her eyes and looked at him with a cold
expression. “I have every right to,” she said darkly. “Pan was a trusted
friend. He watched all of us grow up, and look at what he did. Ashton was his
right hand, and yet they were both men that you wanted to join in on Council
meetings.”

“So
now you’re using your stature as the Vampire Queen to get involved in Council
business,” Brian commented.

Dylan
looked him with a bland expression. “Stop being an ignorant ass,” she snapped.
“Right now there’s no such thing as
Council
business or
Vampire
business. The only thing anyone will be worried about is
Non-human
business. So, instead of sitting here and wondering how what I have to say will
have a negative effect on you, maybe you should think about how you need to
come off as gentle as a kitten.”

Brian
blinked at her. The last time he and Dylan spoke, she had been a teenager
barely in control of her powers. Now she stood in front of him stronger and
more capable than any of them. “Fine,” he said softly. He brushed his short
brown hair away from his face as he looked at the others around him. Marcus sat
watching the small show, while Rachel and Mia were quietly whispered to
themselves. “You do things as you see fit.” His eyes then turned from Dylan to
her parents. “But know that one wrong
move,
it will be
the end of us all.”

* *
* * *

After
everything that happened the day before, Siobhan needed time to herself. Dylan
had been more than welcoming when she and her husband opened their home to her
and Athol. But she needed some time to think about what she had done.

Just
as she wrapped her jacket around her body, a knock sounded on her door. She
couldn’t help but answer it. Hopefully, whoever it was would see her coat and
leave her be.

Dori
stood at the door wearing a coat of her own. When she laid eyes on the blonde,
she launched herself at her.

Siobhan
closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around the little girl. It took a moment
to realize Dori was shaking. “It’s alright, Sweet. I’m not hurt,” she said
softly.

“I
didn’t think I’d see you again,” Dori cried. She buried her face in the crook
of Siobhan’s neck and sobbed openly.

The
Fae Princess closed her eyes as she held the little girl. She was sure Dori was
finally releasing all of the grief and fear that swallowed her whole when her
mother was killed. She gently pulled back and looked at Dori’s face. Siobhan
smiled and wiped Dori’s cheeks. “My beautiful Sweet, we cannot have you walking
around with red eyes and a puffy nose,” she said before calling forth her
magic.

Dori
blinked as she felt magic sprinkle over her face. After a moment she giggled.
“That tickles,” she said in a whisper.

Siobhan
winked at her. “It’s a Royal house trick. We joke around and call it Fairy
Dust. Come and look.”

Wide
eyes continued to blink as she was lead over to a mirror. Once Dori looked into
the mirror she gasped. She looked like a model. “It’s
make
up?” she asked quietly. When she looked at Siobhan, the older woman laughed.

“No,”
Siobhan hugged her and looked at their reflection in the mirror. “It will
enhance your features for a little while. It hides the fact that you were
crying. And you can go about your day looking like the princess you deserve to
be.” Siobhan’s smile started to fade when Dori hung her head. “What’s wrong,
Dori?”

A
sad smile crossed her face. “My mom always said that I should never want to be
a princess.”

Siobhan
frowned before she kissed Dori on her forehead. “You can be a princess if you
want to. I’ll claim you as my daughter.”

“The
hell you will,” Jimmy said from the door.

Dori
was about to go to her father when she saw the dark look on his face. “Daddy?”
she questioned.

Jimmy
slowly inhaled. “Dori, I know you said she took care of you after everything
that happened with your mom. But you have to understand; I don’t want you
hanging around Miss. Siobhan. She probably has more than enough on her plate.”
The heartbroken look on her eyes made him pause.

Siobhan
looked at Jimmy for a long moment. She then turned to Dori. “Sweet Princess
Dori,” she said before brushing her fingers through the girl’s hair. “Your
father may be right. With everything that happened, you may not want to stay
around me so much. It could hurt his feelings.” When Dori bit her lip, Siobhan
smiled and leaned forward. “I did beat him up. He thinks I’m a threat.”

“But
you’re not,” Dori whined.

“At
least until someone takes my ice cream,” she joked. When Dori smiled, Siobhan
lifted her hand and kissed it. “If you need me, I’ll be around.” Siobhan
snapped her fingers and a business card appeared in her hand. As she handed it
to Dori, she turned her eyes to Jimmy. “I will never have too much on my plate
when it comes to you.”