Chapter 21

Without any organized efforts on our parts, the various factions involved in defending the city had come together, and a meeting convened outside of Ben's Fried Chicken. The temptation to go inside and stand in line for the free biscuits and chicken the warg owner promised the city's protectors almost convinced me to ditch the figurehead gig in favor of filling my belly with deliciously warm and greasy food.

"Can we talk?"

The dream of sneaking in and claiming a biscuit before I got recognized died a quick and butterless death.

Pivoting on my heel, I found myself face-to-face with Ares. "Hey. Yeah. Sure."

Midas touched my forearm. "Are you okay with this?"

"I'm good." I patted his hand. "Just give us a minute."

"I won't hurt her," Ares told him, her gaze on his feet. "I swear it."

With a polite nod, Midas retreated a short distance to give us privacy.

"So…" I began when she didn't speak. "How can I help you?"

And, yeah. That was my customer service voice, not a friendly voice. Ugh. This was hard.

"I wanted to apologize."

For kidnapping Boaz? Addie? My mother?

Okay, so I didn't mind the last one. Except for the part where I got her back.

"Tisdale explained some of it to us," I said haltingly. "She told us you weren't in control of yourself."

"That's what she told me too." Ares shifted her weight. "The thing is, I don't know if it's true."

Doubt, fear, and misery twisted her expression, filled her voice, and made my heart hurt.

Having hit rock bottom, I was familiar with the view from where she stood, and I couldn't turn away.

Even if her presence brought with it the remembered tidal wave of anxiety and fear for Boaz and Addie I couldn't quite shake whenever I thought of Liz, or her.

"I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt." I touched her arm. "You were a good friend to me."

"Until I wasn't." She retreated a step, shucking my hand. "I can't apologize enough for what I've done."

"I've been there." I rubbed a chill from my arms. "I climbed out of the hole I dug for myself. So can you." I reached deep for the words Linus had given me at my lowest. "I'll help you."

"I'm leaving," she blurted. "I can't stay here."

"You don't have to—"

"I've lost everything," she whispered. "I want to make amends, and I started tonight, but I can't stay."

"I'm sorry too." I tried to hug her, but she couldn't bear it. "You didn't deserve this."

"Or maybe I deserved worse." She wiped a hand across her cheek. "Tell Midas I said bye, okay?"

"Are you sure you don't want to talk to him?" I glanced his way. "He's right over…"

When I looked back, Ares was gone, the click-clack of her claws as she ran the only sound left.

I understood better than most that a fresh city, a fresh name, a fresh life was sometimes the only cure for what ailed you. I hoped she would come back one day, but I would rather she put herself first until she made peace with her actions.

Midas crossed the street, his nostrils flaring in the direction Ares had gone, but he said nothing.

"I forgave her." I searched his face. "I want you to know that."

"I'm struggling," he admitted. "What she did cut you deep, whether she meant it to or not."

"She regrets her part in it." I recognized genuine remorse when I saw it. "That's why I'm letting it go."

There wasn't a tangible switch from not friend back to friend, but I would work on flipping it in my head.

"Then I'll follow your example." He laughed at my doubtful squint. "I'll try to let it go."

"Lady Alpha," a rumbling voice called. "I have done your bidding and returned to you triumphant."

"We appreciate your help." I stuck out my hand. "We couldn't have done it without you."

After a brief hesitation, Richter shook with me. "We enjoyed ourselves."

Murder and mayhem, blood and betrayal, I bet he had the time of his life. Or century. Whatever.

"Can you get home?" I performed my duty as unwitting hostess. "Or do you need assistance crossing over?"

"I have a friend who can help." He hooked a thumb over his shoulder. "The cost is high, but the price is worth it. It was good to hunt mortals again. It has been too long."

"Yeaaah." I rubbed the base of my neck. "I know what you mean."

The worst part was, I did vibe with what he was saying. Ambrose and I hadn't hunted mortals, but we had made immortals our prey. At the end of the day, they weren't so different.

Silken laughter poured onto the street as Vasco strolled out of the shadows. "You little liar."

"I'm not little." I drew myself up to my full height. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm his ride home." Vasco smiled, his eyes twinkling. "I owe you a debt for the boon he will grant me."

Ride home? More like a round trip. I bet he was responsible for the pack's miraculous appearance too.

"I don't want it," I rushed out, having learned my lesson too late about bargaining with fae.

"I could remove the sight." He swaggered forward. "From you and your mate."

"You heard her." Midas linked our fingers. "We don't want it."

"Are you sure?" Vasco smoothed his hand down Midas's chest. "I might not feel so generous next time."

"I'm not afraid." Midas tightened his grip on me. "I would always rather see ugly truths than pretty lies."

"Hmm." Vasco retreated a step. "There we must disagree."

"Back off." Bishop came up on my other side. "Go peddle your wares elsewhere."

"You smell of winter," Vasco purred. "Of blood and death and ice and sorrow."

"You smell like you took a bath in body spray."

"You are so beautiful like this," Vasco said, and I could tell he meant it. "I miss this light in your eyes."

Red swept across Bishop's cheekbones, which made Vasco chuckle with husky delight.

"Oh." Vasco lowered his gaze. "Did you bring me a present?"

The bottom dropped out of my stomach as Bishop lifted his arm.

Oh lord.

Here we go.

"I have a confession to make." I spun toward Midas. "I might have, um, slightly killed Ferro."

The truth was, he might not have died from the injury I dealt him, but Bishop could give me the credit. It had nothing to do with shifting the blame. It was to make the line of succession in the Faerie pack direct.

"Here." Bishop chucked the head to Midas. "Don't say I never got you anything."

On reflex, Midas caught the grisly trophy, and his eyes shot to mine. "You did this?"

Doing my best to appear innocent and adorable, I stared up at him. "Well…"

"Proof," Bishop said, loud enough for Richter and the others to hear. "Ferro attacked Hadley in the archive. She was forced to defend herself. I took his head so there would be no question of his having survived the challenge."

The Faerie pack gaped at Ferro's head, and even Richter appeared too stunned for words.

"I don't want your pack," I told them flat out, no sugarcoating. "I don't want your pack here either."

Richter blinked away his surprise and focused on me. "Suppose I want to challenge you."

"Then hurry up with it." Summoning Ambrose, I withdrew my swords. "I want to shower, eat, and nap."

"Natisha sleeps." Midas found his voice. "Ferro is dead." He lifted his arm. "Haven't you lost enough?"

Without waiting for an answer, Midas tossed the head to Richter, who caught it without flinching.

"Go home." I threw my weight behind the order. "Host your challenges there. Atlanta has bled enough."

"All right," Richter said slowly. "We will go, but if you ever enter Faerie again, I will avenge my friend."

"I have no plans on ever visiting Faerie again, so deal." I saluted him. "Safe travels."

Richter turned to go, and the rest of the pack followed him, leaving us alone with Vasco.

"Come with me." Vasco trailed his fingers across Bishop's jaw. "Choose to be mine, and I will be yours."

"No still means no." Bishop angled his face away from him. "I don't want this."

"One day, my darling." Vasco cupped his cheek, forcing his gaze back to him. "You will succumb."

"Maybe." A smile twitched the corner of his lips. "Maybe not."

Withdrawing, Vasco joined Richter, who lagged behind, and trailed his fingers down Richter's arm.

"Let us go," Vasco murmured, "before the city wakes."

From the corner of my eye, I noticed how Bishop's hands turned to fists at his sides at Vasco's flirting.

Richter noticed too, and his fae sense of mischief got the better of him. He fisted the silky hair at Vasco's nape and hauled him in for a scorching kiss that left me flushed and in need of a glass of ice water.

Bishop blurred into motion, Richter yelped, and Vasco chuckled knowingly, his fingers pressed to his lips.

"Um." I wasn't running on all cylinders, and fae move fast when they want. "What did I miss?"

"Bishop broke the hand Richter used to touch Vasco," Midas explained, "then he shattered his jaw."

"All that for a kiss?"

"For your kiss?" Midas's eyes sparked crimson. "I would do worse."

"You're so cute when you're murder-y." I leaned against him. "Clearly, Vasco thinks Bishop is too."

It was also clear as day Bishop was conflicted about how Vasco made him feel, but he felt something.

Something was a whole lot better than the nothing his other dates and one-night stands inspired in him.

The transactional nature of his relationship with Vasco concerned me, for Bishop's sake, but I had been blind. There was genuine emotion beneath their taunts, bargains, and insults.

"Next time," Bishop warned Richter, "ask permission."

"His?" Richter smirked, undaunted. "Or yours?"

Arms folded across his chest, Vasco waited, his eyes fever bright. "That is a very good question."

"Don't you have a bargain to fulfill?" Bishop snapped at him. "Ricky here is ready to go home."

Vasco angled his chin toward Richter. "He adores me."

A laugh threatened to wedge itself in my craw, but I swallowed it down before Bishop caught me.

"Oh…" the gwyllgi chuckled, still amused despite his injury, "…I can tell."

Rooted to the spot where Vasco last stood, Bishop watched until the gloom concealed him.

"Safe travels," I called to their retreating backs. "Forget to write."

Expression tight, Bishop caught my eye then retreated to watch from the shadows.

"Hey," I called to him. "Any word on Milo?"

Reece and Anca never ventured into the field. Only Milo, Lisbeth, and I patrolled the streets.

As of my last check-in with HQ, Milo was the only OPA member unaccounted for after the battle.

"You just missed him."

"What?" I spun around, but there was no one near us. "Are you serious?"

"He was close, so he came to update me in person."

The anonymous nature of the OPA meant I wouldn't have recognized him, which sucked, but it was safer for him that way.

That didn't mean my brain wasn't flipping through every person I had spotted in our vicinity, attempting to match them to his personality. I couldn't help myself. It was like being told don't think about pink elephants. Once it was out there, all you could do was think about frakking pink elephants.

"Get your game face on." Midas escorted me back to the others. "You have more hands to shake and babies to kiss before this is over."

As much as I wanted to groan and moan about it, I owed these people a debt of gratitude. This city was, in some ways, more theirs than mine. They all had deeper roots here than I did, but I was doing my best to grow my own. Tonight marked a turning point where the factions paused in their petty rivalries and put their neighbors before old grudges or perceived slights.

I had no magical bond with Atlanta, yet, but I sensed pride, happiness, and contentment in the air.

An idea had been niggling at the back of my mind for some time, but I hadn't been able to frame it. There on the street, with dawn on the horizon, the idea crystalized into a pitch I decided to make on the spot so all this goodwill and adrenaline wouldn't go to waste.

"Speech," Remy shouted. "Speech."

The others picked up the chant, all smiles, everyone high on our success.

"In six months, goddess willing, I will become the Potentate of Atlanta."

Cheers and whistles pierced the air.

"All political offices are flawed, but I like to think the Office of the Potentate has done all it can to protect every citizen of Atlanta, regardless of species."

Feet stomped the pavement in agreement.

"But it's not enough."

The gathering traded glances with one another.

"We lose too many people in the cracks." I thought of the Mendelsohn pack, how the coven had infected Deric, their alpha. He slaughtered his pack at their command with the exception of a few children saved by their parents' forethought, not by any mercy he was capable of showing while under their control. "We can do better."

An uncertain silence fell.

"I propose an alliance. The Atlanta Alliance. Each faction can elect a representative to give them a voice. All voices will be equal. All issues brought before them will be resolved to the best of their collective abilities. All members will be required to pay dues that they will put toward their unified efforts."

Thoughtful murmurs began to circulate.

"And, to keep egos out of it, I believe we should elect representatives who are not potentates or alphas. We should give this power to our people. We need ambassadors who will champion their fellows and not abuse the power we entrust to them."

Eyebrows winged up at that, but a few nods peppered the crowd too.

"What we accomplished today was unprecedented. How much more can we do if we continue working together for the betterment of this city? Of our peoples?"

From the crush, Tisdale strode forward with her guards at her flank. "I agree."

"As do I." Ayla Clairmont joined her. "We stand with you."

"We would be at cross-purposes," Garou said, his Loups jittery around him. "I must decline your offer."

Running a criminal enterprise, I could see why he wouldn't want to pick up arms in a justice crusade.

"We're with you." Gray ruffled Aubrey's hair. "I have just the ambassador in mind too."

The teen flushed with pleasure and ducked his head as the pride seconded Gray's appointment.

"Garou," I called. "We'll keep a spot at the table open for you if you ever change your mind."

"Of course." He bestowed an indulgent smile on me. "I never doubted it."

A portion of the crowd split off as Garou led his people away from my do-gooder brigade.

"I'm not volunteering for ambassador duty," Bishop grumbled beside me. "I already have my hands full."

I jerked at his unexpected closeness, but he had reapplied his usual glamour and drew no attention.

"I was thinking of Lisbeth, actually." I mulled it over. "She's the only other member of the OPA who has come out to the public. She's smart, thinks fast on her feet, and has the city's best interests at heart."

To put a cherry on top, she was human.

Lisbeth could be their voice. I saw no other way to appoint one to the board, and they deserved representation. Atlanta was their home too. The population at large might not be ready for paranormals to step out of the shadows, but I didn't want to rob them of their seat at the table.

"I was thinking of putting Ford's name forward." Midas grinned at his mother. "What do you think?"

"As Ford has personally benefited most from Hadley's efforts," she said, "I take no issue with that choice."

Plus, it gave Lisbeth a protector. Her charms might fool people into believing she was a witch, but she didn't have the power to back up her ruse. She would be much safer with her gwyllgi boyfriend around to knock heads together if anyone tried to take advantage.

"I'll handle this."

Heart leaping into my throat, I pivoted to find Remy at my elbow with a note app on her cell. "You will?"

"I'm basically the Assistant to the Apprentice Potentate already, so yeah. I would rather pitch in and establish a system that works now than spend the next six months unraveling the knots in your plan." She snorted. "If you even have one."

"You could have just said yes."

Remy claimed my spot and began organizing the group. She took over, just as she had my business, and got the ball rolling. Pretty sure if she wanted to take over the world, we couldn't stop her. Good thing she was content with running my life.

"Ready to go home?" Midas rested his warm palm between my shoulders. "Remy can take it from here."

"Home," I whimpered. "Yes, please."

With her ambassador already chosen, Tisdale joined us. "Would you mind if I walk back with you?"

"Not at all," I answered, when it became clear Midas was leaving the call up to me.

The three of us, plus her guards, began the short walk to the Faraday.

"I'm proud of you." She slid her arm through mine, and her scent enveloped me in the next best thing to a hug. Growing things and sprinkle cookies. I would always associate those smells with her. "You've accomplished so much."

"I can't take the credit," I said for the fifty billionth time. "I had help."

"You did indeed," she mused. "So, the Atlanta Alliance."

"Yes."

"It's a good idea."

"Thanks." I chewed on my bottom lip. "Ares left town."

"I regret her choice, but I understand it."

"Me too." I exhaled. "What about the ankle monitor?"

"I removed it." Her smile was soft, regretful. "Hard to start a new life chained to the past."

"Yeah." I had to agree with her there. "What does that mean for Liz?"

"Liz will be kept under guard at the infirmary until after she delivers, and then she will be tried for her crimes."

"Assuming Liz delivers a healthy baby boy, what will happen to her son?"

"The pack will raise him." She admired the pink-and-purple sunrise. "We'll have to keep him close."

A child born with an adult mind could get himself—and the pack—into all kinds of trouble.

Especially Archimedes, with his knowledge, and doubly so if he didn't learn from his past mistakes.

"How weird will that be?" I couldn't picture it. "Raising your own ancestor?"

"We will give him the love and care shown to our all our pups, and we will keep him safe."

One day Natisha would wake, and she would begin to hammer at the walls of her prison. I doubted she would emerge as a butterfly from a chrysalis. More likely, she would remain a pissed-off caterpillar ready to devour the world. Starting with Archimedes and working her way through the Atlanta pack.

But Tisdale had wanted more children, and it was easy to see her growing excitement over the idea of raising another son. Even if he was her great-great-great-great-grandfather.

And here I thought my family tree was twisted.

Somehow Hank had beat us home, and it made me smile to see his dirty, grumpy self at his post.

The building had sustained damage. Its front entrance was no more, the glass shattered and trampled. A few floors lacked windows. Burn marks scarred all flammable surfaces, and deep gouges from lethal claws marred the stone walls.

Acrid smoke tinged the air from an earlier fire, but it was faint. Puddles on the ground told me Station Thirteen had come and gone, and I was thankful to them for saving the first real home I had ever known.

"Morning," he said to our group, as if nothing had happened, then singled out Midas. "The enforcers are waiting on their post assignments."

"And the world keeps on spinning." I pushed into the lobby. "Life goes right back to normal."

"I won't be long," Midas promised me. "You can go on up, if you want."

"I'll wait." I smothered a yawn. "Those couches look mighty comfy."

They were mostly untouched, aside from a few char marks that didn't offend me in the least.

After kissing Tisdale and me on our cheeks, Midas strode down the hall to give his people their marching orders.

"Hadley," a girlish voice called. "Hey, Hadley. Ms. Potentate, ma'am."

"Lillian?" I glanced around the otherwise empty lobby and spotted her running this way. "What's up?"

"I helped." She skidded to a stop inches from me. "While you were away, I helped."

The bright hope in her eyes was too easy to recognize. As tired as I was, as much as I wanted to sit, I couldn't turn my back on someone so desperate to make a difference. The fact she looked up to me was, well, ill-advised, but she thrummed with an eagerness to report to me I couldn't ignore.

"That's great." I stifled a yawn. "I appreciate—"

"I babysat," she burst out, unable to hold it in any longer. "I took care of the little ones to free up their parents to join the enforcers. I turned into a plant and danced, and they laughed and laughed. It was great." She reached in her pocket, producing scraps of paper she fanned in front of my face. "Four parents gave me their numbers and asked if I would sit with their children while they're at work." She yanked them back, clutching them to her chest. "Four."

A tiny balloon of dread rose from the region of my stomach and threatened to float off with my head.

"Remy told the parents you would vouch for me."

Yup.

Buh-bye, head.

Enjoy your balloon ride.

"Thank you so much." Lillian threw herself against me in a hug. "I really appreciate it."

Grinding my palms into my eyes, I worried I might pop them like grapes before I found relief. "I didn't—"

"I love kids. All kids. I used to be a kid. It was a long time ago, but I sort of remember? I can teach the pups how to garden and grow stuff. Just because they live in the city doesn't mean they can't—"

"How about this?" Tisdale intervened, earning my eternal love. "We'll let Hadley rest, and when she feels better, the three of us can discuss implementing a childcare system for enforcers who live and work at the Faraday."

"That would be great," Lillian gushed. "I have so many ideas."

"Write them all down in a notebook," Tisdale advised. "We'll discuss them later."

Footsteps pattered away, a decided skip to them, and only then did I peek through my fingers.

"It's clear." A laugh hid within the words. "You can stop hiding now."

"I wasn't hiding." I lowered my hands. "I was giving myself an extensive palm reading."

"Mmm-hmm."

"If you're serious about hiring Lillian, I'll have Reece forward his background report on her."

"Oh good. I was hoping you'd say that." She smoothed my hair before I could get offended. "You love so deeply, I knew you would look out for your friend. Remy wants to be a force for good in the world, but fae aren't always the best arbitrators of what is right and wrong."

With Tisdale in charge, if Lillian proved unreliable or unfit, she would step in, and I would be off the hook for firing Remy's new friend.

Hmm.

Convenient.

I suspected I had become the victim of Tisdale's mothering yet again, but I was too grateful to care.

"At this rate," I realized, staring after Lillian, "we'll have to free up a spot at the table for the fae."

The Society would love that. But the fae were here, and the Earthen Conclave had gaps in coverage too.

"From what I can tell, Remy has already pulled up a chair." Tisdale chuckled. "At the head of the table."

A low groan vibrated my chest, and I wanted to hide behind Tisdale's legs, let her be the shield that protected me from the outside world. Not forever. Just for a little while. The childish impulse rose from out of nowhere, and it felt…nice…to trust a parent figure to do all the good things that old movies promised.

"Hadley," she began in a maternal tone. "We need to discuss your current living situation."

Expecting her to pitch life at the den, I demurred to avoid conflict. "Can it wait until tomorrow?"

As much as I loved visiting the den, and as fond as I was of a particular cabin there, I worked best here in the heart of the city. I hoped she would understand and accept that without any hurt feelings. I didn't dare risk engaging her with my head so mushy. I was too afraid I might say the wrong thing and ruin our relationship.

I wasn't sure I would ever call her Mom, as she had offered, but she was the closest thing I ever had to a real maternal figure. I didn't want to lose her. Certainly not over a triviality like where I lived. I was sure we could find some middle ground, as soon as my eyes quit sticking closed between blinks.

"Of course." She smoothed a stubborn curl off my forehead. "How about you sit right here?"

The couch appeared like magic in front of me. Or, no, had I walked over to it? It was all a blur.

"There you go." She guided me down onto an undamaged cushion. "I'll order in breakfast."

"Mmmkay." I tipped my head back against the pillows. "I'll wait here."

Bending down, she kissed my forehead. "You do that, sweetheart."