“Easy, Sweetheart,” Connall murmurs. “We’ll figure this out.”
“There’s a lot tae figure out,” I admit. “Because I don’t know that we can hide what happened with Leighton from her. If she finds out yer a blue witch, Louanna, she’ll want to press yeh into service for Hearth Headquarters.”
Louanna scrunches her nose. “She can try, but I’m not beholden to her.”
Connall twirls the end of Lou’s braid. “There’s a reason most blue witches don’t live within the haven system. Dirk is right… Evenia will do everything in her power to get you to work for HQ.”
“Then maybe I will,” Louanna says cautiously. “Dirk and I can hunt baddies together.”
Connall visibly pales, mopping at his brow. “I’m going to need therapy if you two take on those roles and travel all the time.”
Lou shimmies against him and looks up, the back of her head resting on his broad chest. “I’m kidding, my love. I’ve had enough drama to last me a lifetime. All I want is time alone with you two.”
“We’ll get that,” I say more to myself than anyone.
Whatever I have to do, I’ll make sure we do.
A ringing sound echoes from the wall.
Connall’s communication disk.
We share a look as he rises and grabs it off the wall. Evenia’s name hovers above it, flashing insistently.
“You’ve got to be shitting me,” Lou gasps.
“Well, here goes nothing,” I mutter, directing the disk to answer my boss as I pray for her to be lenient for once in her fookin’ life. I set the disk down next to my mates as a life-sized Evenia hologram rises up from the piece of tech.
Haughty as ever, she looks from me to a neutral Connall and scowling Lou, then back again.
“I think you know why I’m calling, Mister Zefferus.”
“Och, a bit early for a check in, isn’t it?” I keep my voice steady. “I’ve not used up all my vacay days yet, boss.”
She sighs. “You used your security clearance to override the shifter king’s shutdown code for the Santa Alaya portal. Deny it, I dare you.”
I look at my mates. Connall’s expression is impressively neutral, but Lou’s chest rises and falls rapidly, blue flames flickering from her fingertips.
Easy, I mouth at her.
“I did,” I confirm. “To save a life. It was a judgment call.”
“I’ve always liked you, Dirk,” Evenia says with a beleaguered sigh. “But I consider this not only a fireable offense but a personal affront. I headhunted you. You’ve worked for me for a very long time, my best hunter. Even so, I can’t be lenient. Not even for you. Report to Belcastle Prison in two days’ time and do not eventhinkof running.”
“Prison?” Lou shouts, rising from Connall’s lap to glare at Evenia. Blue flames rise from her skin, her hair lifting as fire envelopes most of her body.
“Shit,” Connall murmurs, pulling Lou toward him as he attempts to cover her with his much larger frame.
“How fuckingdareyou!” Lou screeches, shoving away from Connall to point a finger right at Evenia’s face. “Leave him alone you heinous bi?—”
Evenia lets out a joyous laugh, crimson eyes locked onto Louanna’s flames. “A blue…finally. Well, well, well, Louanna Hector. Thisisinteresting.” Dark eyes flick to me. “It doesn’t change what Dirk did and I can’t let other monsters think abiding by our laws is optional.”
Lou’s expression falls, morphing into something desperate. “Leave him alone and I’ll consider helping you on occasion.”
“Lou!” Connall barks.
“Easy, my sweet,” I caution. There’s no fookin’ way I’m getting out of Evenia’s sentence.
Lou’s expression grows fierce again. “I’m serious, Evenia. Leave him alone.”
