Vali obeyed. Talakai positioned himself behind Anna, hands on her shoulders.
“So—we’re just waiting for Riley to talk to Havoc?” Kiko asked.
“Yes,” Cara answered, setting a fresh pot of tea on the table and returning to the kitchen.
Vali shot a look toward the balcony. “Is she talking to Havoc?”
“Not at the moment, but she will be,” Cara said from the kitchen. She bustled around before returning with a plate of muffins. “The potstickers will be ready in fifteen, but help yourself to these first.”
My stomach was in knots. I couldn’t eat, not with Riley out there. But when Cara set the plate down in front of me, it growled loud enough that Kiko raised a brow.
“Is that you, or your inner monster?” she asked in a slightly snide tone.
“Both,” I conceded, snagging myself a muffin.
She is surprisingly devoted to Riley,Iskar stated.
The Satyr rolled her eyes at me, leaving me in no doubt that I’d angered her. We all jumped when there was a loud knock on the door.
“Figures he’d be fast about this,” Cara muttered as she went to open it.
Two people stood in the doorway. The headmaster and a tall, thin woman with the trademark long white hair of a Watcher.
Cara bowed her head, but I didn’t think our Watcher friend was particularly surprised. The rest of us gaped at the newcomer.
“Councilwoman,” Cara said.
I peered at the other Watcher. This, then, was an Elder from the Liberi council. I’d never met one before. She halted near the table, but her eyes were only on Cara.
“We wish to speak with you in private,” she said.
“Anything you have to say can be said in front of these people.” Cara straightened and stood her ground.
The other Watcher’s eyes flashed brilliant blue. “Very well. It has been brought to my attention that you have overstepped your authority. It is not the first time I have received complaints. In the past, other Elders have agreed with your decisions, and I have been forced to conform.” A muscle jumped in her jaw. “But they cannot defend you this time—you have acted in direct conflict with our plans, and that of the Cryptid council, to remove Isobel as a threat. As a result, I have been instructed to relieve you of your duties here at the academy.”
Ice traveled down my spine, but Cara didn’t seem at all phased by it. “If that is what you wish.”
“No!” exclaimed Anna. “Cara only did what needed to be done.”
Amadeus stiffened. “She disobeyed direct orders.”
“But she made the right call,” Kiko protested.
“I’m sorry. Who are you?” the Elder scowled at the Satyr.
Kiko didn’t even flinch. “A friend of the Jumper, and her teammate.”
The Elder looked away, her entire demeanor a dismissal, but she answered the Satyr. “It was not Cara’s decision to make.” She drew herself up to her full height and regarded Cara. “You will move back to your station in the human realm.”
“Isobel is very powerful,” I growled. “What is your plan for taking her out?”
The Elder stiffened. “She is Liberi. We will not be ‘taking her out’ because we intend to capture her and bring her back to Elandriel for an appropriate trial.”
As my mouth dropped open, Anna spoke up. “Capture would be far more difficult than the alternative,” she said incredulously. “I have seen Isobel’s power firsthand. And based on what she did to Marcus, it has only grown.”
“The power of the Perditor will ensure her capture,” the Elder stated.
Cara’s mouth pulled straight. “Pitting Nikolai against Isobel is a mistake.”
