Page 24 of Suspicions on the Stage
I let out a relieved sigh, very grateful that Channing and my lawyer’s motley crew thought to protect us so thoroughly. “Damn. I should have thought to ask about that after the damn water bottle.”
Channing shakes her head. “Oh, no, Morgana. Trust me. Jackie’s crew is extremely diligent, and while they’re here, they are making themselves available for consulting to help get you set up securely. I insisted they do so.”
My brow arches as I imagine tiny, nervous Channing standing up to all those alpha men and demanding they do as she orders. It’s kind of amusing and inspiring simultaneously. “Well, you’ve outdone yourself. I should look into giving you a raise.”
“Hell, yes, you should.” The voice that interrupts signals the arrival of Iggy and my darling Slade. I turn to look at them, smiling broadly as Slade follows the grumpy professor onto the patio. “Even if she did just get promoted.”
Tilting my head, I study the mage as he finds a seat. Lucas comes over to wiggle his way between Li and me obnoxiously, thoughneither of us minds. Slade takes the spot on my other side, stretching out on the opposing ottoman in a reflection of Liam. My lips curve as I study them, only to frown when I realize the dickhead dragon isn’t here yet.
“That’s unnecessary,” my assistant says as she shakes her head. “First, because I got a raise when you promoted me. But second, because Jackie’s team is paying me more than I even want to consult for them during the case. It’s crazy, and he won’t listen when I say it’s too much.”
I just bet he won’t. That’s his way of trying to woo her because he’s a rich idiot.
“Let him overpay you,” Slade says softly as he looks at her with a small grin. “That dude has plenty of money and less sense, but his team probably weighed in on your salary. If they think you’re worth it, then you are.”
Such a simple way of saying that she shouldn’t undervalue herself without being critical. My siren is so kind for someone with such a crappy ass set of bio donors. I clear my throat, looking at my friend seriously. “I agree with him, Channing. You’re worth more than they’d let me pay you at a public college, and Thorne can definitely afford it. Get that bag, woman.”
“What bag?”
Kaspar stalks out onto the upgraded porch, his dark eyes scanning the area before he grunts, “This is much better. We can use it for our headquarters; I like it.”
“Why here and not inside?” Lucas asks as the dragon flops into the last armchair across from us. “I mean, it’s awesome, but what’s the difference?”
“Clean slate,” Kaspar and Iggy say at the same time. They glare at one another for a second, then Kaspar shrugs as if to allow Iggy to take the reins.
The professor scoots to the edge of his chair and leans in. “Since this place is touching the earth, and it’s been redone with fresh materials and stuff, it’s a clean slate. I’d probably ask the prince to do a nature check with the flora to cover our bases, but we can use the lack of previous enchantments and spellwork to weave a very strong, very difficult to penetrate barrier around this area that wouldn’t be possible for the house. Too much history on it—we’d have to sage and cleanse it for a very long time to get something not nearly as strong.”
I nod, following along with his reasoning. It sounds like something my mother would say, so I’ll believe him. “Okay. That means you and Liam can focus on that when we get home tomorrow evening. Getting this place super spelled up means we can store all the clues and docs out here in safe spots rather than in the house with us.”
Lucas grins a little. “Like a Scrooge McDuck money bin that isn’t in the same structure as us if bad people drop it. Means they won’t be sneaking up on our girl as much.”
Kaspar huffs, little electrical bursts dancing over his hands. “As much as I’d like to agree, cub, that’s not really true. They’re after the people more than our research at this point; I’d assume there are some official requests out for you and our snarky gargoyle. I doubt whoever is behind this—whether that means the local idiots or the scary shadow pulling the strings—realizes that we know as much as we do.”
“But it’s a good thing to use this as a bunker, still, right?” Channing asks as she tucks her feet under her. “It means we canbe less concerned about what and how we say things if you guys lock it down. It’s small, cleansed, and maintainable power-wise, yes?”
I smirk at her knowingly. “Picking up a lot at your side hustle, hmmm?”
She gives me a dirty look and I chuckle. “Iaman elemental, Morgana. I’m not totally dumb with magical stuff.”
“No, but you’ve never been quite so adept at discussing defensive strategy before.” Slade leans against my side as he grins at his friend. “Talk about an evolving asset, Chan Chan.”
The siren squeaks when she shoots a small bolt of ice at him and my assistant looks smug as she replies, “I’m getting better at offensive stuff, too. Keep that in mind, gentleman.”
I don’t know if I could be prouder if I tried.
you’re the inspiration
KASPAR
As pleased as I was about the idea of creating a ‘safe place’ behind Morgana’s house, the strategist in me still worried about the various methods in which a multi-species onslaught could attack the group Liam is now a part of. While the gargoyle might have experience watching her ass because of the press from the trial, the bear, the mage, and the siren have only worried about things coming from their specific species. Family or criminal squabbles aside, they’ve all lived in cushy bubbles because of their wealth or status that hasn’t engendered people to send professionals after them. Liam and I have endured that sort of thing for many, many years, and it’s not nearly as simple as the other type of danger.
He and I will need to supervise the fortification of the patio, and reinforce it with the powerful magic he carries in his veins.
Of course, if he suggests it rather than me, it will be better received, so I did not include my thoughts in the planning for today. I know that my refusal to hop directly onto the ‘new family’ train makes me a lone voice of dissent; however, I cannot be anyone other than who I am. Dragons are very slowto accept change as it has burned our kind in the past. We are more plentiful than many types of mythicals for that very reason. We have not allowed the kumbaya attitude of most shifters to assimilate us into the larger umbrella and thus, we could keep much of our abilities swathed in mystery. It’s prevented hunters and assassins alike from decimating our numbers like they have with gorgons or naga.
“Magnus Corona is an exception to that rule and look at what happened to him—no matter howdeservedhis ignominious end was at Morgana’s hands,” I mutter as I cross the campus slowly. “Putting himself on such a global stage with nasty habits and flaunting the rules at every turn was bound to cause someone to hunt him eventually. His own rotten judgment made it our new host.”
I know Morgana believes the facade I’ve put up about disliking and distrusting her. Selling the role has meant making certain that’s as clear as crystal as often as possible. I’ve been trained to do shit like that since I could walk, so it’s not a stretch for me. Being the personal guard of a royal often involves deception, especially when tasked with ferreting out those who would harm him. But I’m not fond of this charade, though I will not let anyone—even Li—know that. I’d prefer a softer touch, but I cannot, or I will fall into a trap of my own making.
