“We need the human researchers.” Dage shook his head. “We haven’t been studying biology the last century like the Kurjans. We need the researchers just for sheer numbers.”
Conn didn’t like humans anywhere near their genetics. As the king’s soldier on the front line, the whole idea made him twitchy. “Emma wants to share our research with human geneticists.”
“Emma will keep silent whether she likes it or not.” Dage used his king voice.
Conn bit back a grin. As far as he’d noticed, the queen didn’t give one hoot about Dage’s orders or king voice. “If you say so. My mate is as big a concern as yours right now, if not more so.”
“Yes. If the Nine withdraws from the Realm, her first order will be to remove your head. Probably.” Dage flashed his teeth in an anticipatory smile. “At least my woman only wants to take action to possibly reveal our entire race. Yours might need to kill you.” A deep chuckle rumbled from his chest.
“Very funny.” Conn rubbed his five o’clock shadow. He needed to shave before kissing Moira again. The woman had delicate skin. “What’s the plan?”
“Well. The plan with Emma is that I’m monitoring all research and communications with humans. If there’s a hint she’s about to let our existence go public, I’ll shut her down. Virus or not.”
Conn did not want to be in the vicinity when that day arrived. “The idea of ending her research will probably result in a bounty on your head.”
“True.” Dage lifted a shoulder. “Speaking of which, what’s your plan with Moira?” The fact the leader of their world deferred to Conn regarding his mate showed trust as a king and loyalty as a brother.
Conn gave a short nod of acknowledgment. “Should the Nine withdraw from the Realm and essentially declare war on us, I have two options. One is to use her, give her false information to misdirect our enemies.”
“And the second option. You know, the one you’ll actually use?”
Conn appreciated the faith. But if it came down to survival of his people, he’d do what he had to do. “Put her somewhere safe, away from our enemies. Including the Nine.”
Dage shook his head. “God, I hope that day never comes.”
“As do I.”
Chapter 16
Moira waved her hand, sending the blue teddy bear dancing around Janie’s head. “Then the Irish princess jumped out of the sea with the emeralds, and King Mullet danced across the sand in pure joy.”
Janie giggled, reaching up and grabbing her toy by the feet. “Mr. Mullet would be a good king.” She wrapped both arms around the bear. “I love your Irish fairy tales, Aunt Mowra.”
The massive vampire leaning against the wall nodded. Max the bodyguard had been very patient during the last two stories. He cleared his throat. “Very good. Okay, that was the last story. I promised your mama I’d take you to her, Janie.”
“Okay, Max.” Janie rushed forward and hugged Moira. “See ya later.”
Moira returned the hug. “You bet.” She watched Max lead Janie away before giving a big sigh and wandering away from the toy room. She’d expected Emma to show up, though her friend probably had been delayed in the lab. During the last few months, Moira had stopped worrying about the time difference when she called—Emma was always at work.
Rounding a corner, Moira found a computer center. Excellent. She hustled over to a console near the window, booting up an HP. No password was required, and the system had videoconferencing capabilities—and very strong security. No one would know where she was calling from. Her fingers punched in the right numbers, and she flipped on the camera.
“Moira.” Brenna’s pretty face came into range, her dark hair pulled back in a ponytail. Just like she’d worn years before, when Moira had taught her to climb a tree. One of the Coven Nine’s large conference rooms loomed behind her. “Have wild vampire sex yet?”
Heat flushed Moira’s face until her cheeks pounded. “No. God.”
Bren’s eyes crinkled. The laugher filling them failed to mask the dark circles slashing underneath. “Um. Okay. We’ll talk in person. Soon.”
“What are you doing at the Coven Nine offices?” Moira leaned closer to the camera. “More important, what’s wrong, Bren?”
“I’m here pitching a plan to clean up the East Bay, and nothing’s wrong.” Brenna bit into her bottom lip, a sure sign she was lying.
“What?” Moira searched her memory. Oh. “You haven’t heard about your application for the Quantum Academy.” She waved her hand in the air. “Don’t even worry about that. You’ll be accepted.”
“I wasn’t.” Brenna’s jaw tightened, just like their father’s when giving bad news. “But it’s no big deal. Really.”
Fire licked down the back of Moira’s neck. “What do you mean you weren’t accepted?” She’d taught Brenna magic since the girl had taken her first steps. “You’re excellent at quantum physics.” A mistake had been made.
Brenna eyed the corner of her computer, her gaze dropping. “The form letter just thanked me for the application, said the school is competitive ... blah, blah, blah.” She rubbed her nose. “Seriously. Not a big deal.”
The breath in Moira’s lungs heated. “Those bastards! Don’t you worry about a thing. The second I get back—”
“No.” Brenna’s gaze pierced the camera. “You will not fix this. They don’t want me, Moira.” Determination settled hard across her delicate features. “Sometimes we all forget. But ...”
She was the eighth sister. An unheard-of anomaly ... one many people regarded with fear.
“How absolutely stupid. We’ll start our own university.” Not a bad idea, actually. Moira would send her resignation along with a big “Bugger off ” the second she got off the line. If they thought they could treat her baby sister like this, they were nuts.
Brenna laughed. “Right. When you’re not enforcing our laws or having crazy vampire-monkey sex ... sure you’ll find time to start a college.”
“Vampire-monkey sex?” Moira snorted.
“Yep. That’s how I imagine it.” Brenna wiggled her eyebrows, reaching for a stack of papers to wave in front of the camera. “The plans for treating the homeless in the south. I’ll e-mail the time line to you ... the Coven Nine already has my first draft.”
“Thanks.” Her sister always planned ahead. “Um, how are things going with the Nine?”
Delight lifted the corners of Brenna’s eyes. “You mean since you reported Trevan being in New York with Simone?”
“Yes. How did that go over?”
“Like a fart in church.” Bren leaned closer to the screen. “The guy’s a weakling. I mean, yuck.” She straightened, glancing to the side. “Did you know Simone got hot and heavy with a demon? Centuries ago?”
Interesting. “I’m not sure, but I think he showed up at her house.” While there was an uneasy alliance between demons and witches, they certainly steered clear of each other socially. “At least the demon who arrived seemed to know her.”
“Bizarre.” Bren’s eyes sparkled with the thrill of gossip. “I heard Mom tell Aunt Viv at least Simone wasn’t with a demon any more. That must’ve been from before you were born, right?”
Moira shrugged. “This is the first I’ve heard about it.” Simone sure liked to walk on the dark side. “What happened with Simone and the demon? I mean, was it Nick Veis?”
“I don’t know. Aunt Viv said something about Simone committing emotional suicide when it comes to males.” Bren stiffened, jerking her head to the side. “So, ah, that’s the status on the homeless.”
Female voices echoed behind her, and their mother peered down to the camera. “Are you calling the Nine or just your mother?” The smile lifted her lips, but the dark circles under her eyes rivaled Brenna’s.