Jean-Baptiste turned to face the male. “The borders aren’t holding.”
“We must act, Baptiste.”
“I’ll go tonight. But I will have your word, what we’ve said here tonight is never mentioned again.”
Raphael nodded. “Done.”
“I’ll report back if there’s a problem. Otherwise, I’ll see you in the a.m.” Jean-Baptiste started to walk away, but Raphael called him back.
“One more thing.”
Turning, Jean-Baptiste hissed at the Suit. “Trying to keep my cat caged here, and it’s not your biggest fan right now.”
“You’re not going alone.”
“Come again?”
“I’m sending a Suit with you.”
Baptiste shook his head. “No. I do this alone or not at all.”
“I need to have backup there, a top negotiator, in case your voodoun becomes a problem.”
“We agreed to keep this between us,” Baptiste growled. “No one else can know.”
“She doesn’t know.” Raphael moved toward him. “She thinks she’s on assignment, bringing back someone to help Ashe.”
“My voodoun could tell her—reveal our connection.”
The Suit reached the window. He glanced inside, ran his hand down the glass, then fisted it and cursed. “That’s your problem. Mine is in there fighting for her life and the life of our cub.” He turned to glare at Jean-Baptiste. “The cub who might very well be the savior of us all.”
Jean-Baptiste growled. “Who’s the Suit?”
“The newest member of the Diplomatic Faction, Genevieve Burel.”
“No,” Baptiste stated flatly.
“You don’t even know her.”
“I’ve heard about her, and with my cat so unstable and ready to pounce on anyone who even slightly irritates me, taking her to New Orleans would be a batshit move.”
“She’s brilliant!”
“She’s a pain in the ass! A prickly, buttoned-up, nose-in-the-air pain in the ass,” Baptiste returned hotly.
“Good. Then she’ll make sure the journey is a success.”
He growled. “Either that or my cat will take her down before we even leave the Wildlands.”
Genevieve Burel placed the perfectly folded shirt inside her shabby overnight bag and gently slid the zipper closed. Her critical gaze moved over her room, taking inventory: the neatly made bed with the quilt her mother had made for her when she was a cub; the ancient chair that couldn’t hide its desperate need to be re-stuffed; the scuffed wood floors she’d spent hours trying to sand; and the dusty pictures and photographs that hung on the faded walls.
She exhaled heavily. She’d just cleaned an hour ago.
She slung her bag over her shoulder, then headed into the hall and down the stairs, careful not to grip the loose banister too firmly. On the small table that met her descent, the vase of Louisiana Iris she’d picked that morning were struggling to remain upright and full of color. The shockingly purple flower grew inside the magical borders of the Wildlands all year long, and was her grandparents’ favorite. In fact, it was their mating day flower. Genevieve tried to pick some every day, but the bloom was becoming harder to find.
Scooping up the vase, she entered her Grands’ bedroom with a bright smile. The room had once been the parlor, but Genevieve had converted the large space into a bedroom after her mother and father left the Wildlands six months ago. It was easier for her grandparents to get around, and despite how the ancient and errant magic was slowly depreciating the house and its furnishings, Genevieve had done her best to make the room clean and comfortable.
“Finished with your dinner?” she asked the pair, placing the vase down beside their bed. “I hope it was all right. You know I’m not so great with the stews.”
“It’s was perfect, Bé,” her nearly bald Paw-Paw said, giving her hand a squeeze.
“Yes, indeed,” her pink-cheeked Maw-Maw agreed, grinning. “Your culinary skills are far more advanced than you think they are.”
Genevieve laughed, her cheeks warming. Her grandparents were the sweetest, dearest creatures in the world, and she didn’t know what she’d do without them.
“You leaving now?” Paw-Paw asked.
Genevieve nodded at the pair who were cuddled up in bed together, as they were most days now, the covers pulled to their waists as they sipped their tea. “Shouldn’t be more than a night, if that.”
“We’ll be fine,” Maw-Maw assured her with a broad grin. “Lena’s coming. You know we adore that girl. Even if she is a Hunter,” she added with a wink. “So take all the time you need.”
Paw-Paw nodded. “That’s right. Our Bé’s an important Diplomat now.”
“Not that important,” Genevieve said. “And never too important to take care of my favorite Grands.”
“We’re your only Grands, Bé,” Paw-Paw said with a chuckle.
Genevieve met his soft chuckle with one of her own, but inside, her heart did that squeezee thing that made her feel like tears could appear at any moment if she wasn’t careful. Her Grands didn’t understand what was happening around them, just that Genevieve’s parents had decided to forge a life outside of the Wildlands. They saw the house crumbling of course, felt their bodies crumbling, too, but didn’t think—or refused to think—it could be more than just age and wear.
Genevieve knew better.
Where the magic inside their home, infusing their ancient blood, had once been impossibly strong, now it waned. The crackle of energy no longer permeated the air, and every item inside, every being, lacked luster. Genevieve’s parents might have chosen to run instead of “dealing with the shame of one of the ancient families being rejected by their magic,” as they’d put it. But Genevieve was determined to stay and fight, care for her Grands, and figure out why the weakening magic along their borders was moving inward. And why, according to the elders, hers was the only dwelling affected.
She bent down and gave each one a kiss on the cheek. They smelled like chamomile tea and soap and gentle memories.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said. “And no telling Lena to spike your sweet tea. I’ve already warned her about that trick.”
While Paw-Paw snorted and grumbled, Maw-Maw cupped Genevieve’s face before she could get away. “Will you laugh at this old Pantera female if she says to have a good time? Maybe a little fun on your journey?”
“No laughing here,” Genevieve assured her before straightening up.
“I mean it, Bé.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
As Genevieve walked out of the room, Maw-Maw called after her, “If anyone needs to cut loose and have a good time, it’s you!”
Placing her bag on her shoulder again, Genevieve headed for the front door. She loved her Grands more than anything in the world, and she knew they had her best interests at heart, but they didn’t understand how vitally important it was that she remain focused, controlled, and completely and utterly unflinching in her goals and assignments. Especially now. Unbeknownst to Raphael and the Suits, she was destined for the elders’ inner circle. Working alongside the three ancient females. It was a coveted position, a great honor, and it was in her blood. Many of the females in her line had worked under the elders. Even her mother had been selected as a candidate before her fear of shame had run her off.
Genevieve wouldn’t be that weak.
She headed out the door and into the warm bayou evening. Breaking loose and having a good time? Her Maw-Maw’s words echoed in her ears. Unfortunately, those two suggestions weren’t even on her radar.
“Miss Burel?”
In one second flat, Genevieve’s thoughts died and her entire body went up in flames.
Standing on her rickety porch, with the chipped white paint and the sweet double swing, was the owner of that deep, demanding baritone. Genevieve stared at him like a mole who had just seen the sun for the first time. Hot, blinding and impossible to turn away from. She was sure she had never met him before. She would have remembered if she had. Her gaze moved over him. Yes. This male in dark blue jeans and a worn, black leather jacket wasn’t someone you walked past without either staring, double-taking or running into a tree. He was so tall his head grazed the roof of the porch, and so broad across the chest, the white T-shirt he wore strained against all that muscle. But it wasn’t just his size and fierce manner that had her skin vibrating with awareness, or the thick, dark hair, or the light dusting of stubble around his mouth—or, god, even those incredible liquid amber eyes that equally mocked and studied her. No. It was the brightly colored tattooed skull interwoven with tribal markings that covered his collarbone and ran up the length of his neck.