Khent laughed, which seemed to surprise Duncan and Macy, as well as half of the MEC agents.
Grizz landed in front of them in silence, shocking most of MEC.
“You really have a nice touch with your gargoyle,” Khent said.
“Thanks.” Val smiled at him.
Then she noticed the flutter of black smoke at his back. He saw her looking and shrugged. “It’s necessary.”
Whatever he needed was his business.
“What in the five hells is that?” Duncan said, staring at Khent’s darkening wings.
Val ignored him. “We need to go deal with Vladimir.” At the bazaar—where the shifters had gone to meet up with rest of the crew.
Not good. Worried about Talon and their makeshift family, even if the shifters did still fear her, she wanted to get MEC outof the way so she could help the others. “Did you know about trouble at the bazaar?”
Khent shook his head. “With all that’s been happening with Morpheus, I admit I’ve been lax about reality.”
“Hey, we’re talking here. Us and you,” Macy said, pointing from her team to Val and Khent, her wary gaze circling to Grizz.
“Lovely gargoyle,” Duncan murmured, his British accent adding a sophistication to the handsome predator. “I fancy I could take him.”
“May I, Val?” Grizz asked in a low rumble.
Everyone on the MEC side seemed to freeze.
“Not yet, Grizz.”
“Is he dead or alive?” Cho asked. “I’m really confused.”
“Clearly he’s dead.” Duncan cocked his head. “I think.”
Macy waved her fiery hand around. “It doesn’t matter. Look, Ms. Darkmore. We can’t have necromancers running amok in the city. We all know what happens when your kind is off the leash.”
“Your fear and ignorance are not my problem.” Val crossed her arms over her chest. “I’ve been railroaded by you magir my entire life. My existence is perfectly valid.I’mnot the one causing problems in the city. That would be Spectre.”
“He’s a necromancer?” Macy frowned. “I thought he was a sorcerer.”
“No,” Cho, her demon buddy said, his power clear in his red eyes and ruddy skin. “That was Sebastian Castle, remember? He’s dead now.”
“Oh, is he?” Macy glared at Khent.
Val hated to admit it, but the striking witch felt powerful. She had height and curves Val had often longed for herself. She also had a hunky vampire mate who let her take the lead.
Glancing back at Khent, who saw her looking and crossed his own arms over his chest, mirroring Val, Val wondered howfar he’d let Val lead him. If he’d let her take charge. Though to be fair, he hadn’t ordered her to stop talking or leave. That was something.
“Sorcerer, necromancer. Who cares? We have things to do.” He shrugged one shoulder, and Mila took off.
Grizz remained, prepared to fight if he had to.
Val didn’t want him injured, having intended for him to fight Vladimir’s minions with her. This mess with MEC had come at a bad time. “Look, Bloode Witch, you?—”
“My name isMacy.I’m not here to give you a hard time. But we have protocols for a reason. We?—”
Val stopped her right there. “What you have is a necromancer who intends to take over the city. Not me. Spectre. He’s teaming up with a demon god from Irkalla.”
Duncan perked up. “Oh?”
