Laurence finally sat down opposite them, heaving an exaggerated sigh. It was the most human Mason had yet seen him. “Your land has been restored, though it will take a few weeks for the grass to grow back in places. The wraiths have been collected. The dead are now being taken elsewhere for burial. The other body was that of Stanley Piernik, whose home is on the Canadian side of the bay. Xavier used him to test for a trap.”
Mason had guessed as much.
“And Jack Bastian has sent a message that Kaye Brand has survived her bout of mage plague and is recovering. The mage Council has been notified as well. Word has begun to spread that you were successful, though thus far, all the mage Houses remain closed. I imagine over the next days some will begin to venture out.”
Mason knew there had to be more. “The punch line, please.”
Laurence smiled patiently. “Our information suggests a growing consensus among magekind to replace Brand with Dolan, re-aligning with Dolan’s purist allies. This would be the end of cooperation between the Council and Order. It may be inevitable—few thought that Brand and Bastian’s peace would last. But if Brand is to be supplanted, we have high hopes that your partnership—human and mage—will continue and that peace is still possible.”
Mason felt Shadow rise in Cari. “It’s possible,” she said. “It’s what I want.”
Mason’s sluggish heart thumped. It was one thing for them to privately discuss continuing their “partnership.” But telling the Order as much meant that Cari had decided absolutely.
It wasn’t that easy—the Houses might not accept him, even as a Maker—but he’d steal any moment he could with her for as long as possible.
“I’m very glad to hear it.” Laurence dropped his gaze for a moment. “One last thing. Mason, I know that you are more than capable of handling yourself in a fight. And you have enough blood on your soul to do what you must efficiently. But I cannot quite understand how you could best Xavier. I don’t know if I could have beaten him, hand to hand, and I know I can beat you.”
At the moment, anyone could beat him. “I came up behind Xavier while he was concentrating on Cari.”
“A hundred of you could have come up behind him, and all perish.”
“He hesitated,” Cari said.
Laurence shifted his attention to her. “What do you mean?”
“He could have killed me, but he hesitated.”
“Xavier hesitated,” Laurence repeated, taken aback. “Why, when he’d waited so long already?”
Cari looked away. “I don’t know. He could’ve had me.”
Laurence’s eyebrows went up, his eyes going bright with feeling. “Perhaps he reconsidered his purpose.” He braced his weight with a hand to his knee as if his heart were too heavy to carry without help. “He was once my friend, you know. I hope he reconsidered. I hope he did very much. Because if he thought there was a chance, even if it was in the last moment, then I can believe it, too.”
The calls started coming shortly after the Order left. To the Houses, Cari was her father’s daughter in every way. She’d survived the plague, whereas other infected mages had died. She’d hunted down and identified the perpetrator, who was none other than an emissary of Order. And she’d exacted revenge for the honor of her House and the strength of magekind.
The calls all had a similar underlying message: Dolan could have it all. Meaning the Council, which had been her father’s ambition for her, too. The congratulations made her miss him. She would’ve liked to have seen the pride in his eyes. Would’ve liked to have had his advice on how to proceed. But she didn’t have him.
“He did not say anything outright,” Scarlet told Cari of Gunnar Martin, “but I think Martin House will back you if you decide to try for the High Seat.”
Cari’s hand shook as she put it to her forehead. She didn’t want to think or be careful. It felt tedious to her. She just wanted to feel. To be. To take. Which was Maeve’s residual influence. Where was the fae? But the old Cari had always done her homework, and would continue to do it. Family business was her duty, too.
“Did you make him any assurances?” she asked her stepmother. Would she have to do damage control for Scarlet’s meddling?
“I only said that you would take swift action.”
She shook her head. Definitely damage control. “Swift action to do what?”
“Why, to seize the future that your father always wanted for you.”
Okay. This needed to stop. “Scarlet, you are not to speak on my behalf or on the behalf of Dolan House.”
“This is the moment, Cari. You are too young to recognize it for what it is.”
“I recognize the moment just fine. I lived it. And I, and I alone, am planning Dolan’s next steps.” She just had to think through how she was going to make new allies, while appeasing her current ones. She was going to rock the boat, big time. “Scarlet, you will only embarrass yourself if you say or promise one thing, and I choose to do another.”
Silence. An old tactic to get Cari to back down, but she couldn’t afford to. “Put Zella on, please.”
Mason came into the kitchen from checking the property. He looked older, but his color was better. He kissed her on her head and got himself a glass of water.
Cari had asked for Zel, but got Stacia instead. “Oh-mighty-head-of-our—”
Which made Cari smile in spite of everything, remembering their conversation. “Stay out of my closet.”
“But I have to have the perfect clothes if I’m going to be entertaining potential husbands.” Stacia had sarcasm down pat—it was light and airy and full of bite.
Seemed like Scarlet had been very, very busy. She’d been running the whole Dolan show apparently. “Is she actually entertaining offers?”
“She’s got a list, Cari. And you promised that I wouldn’t have to get married.”
“You don’t. And you can tell Zel that she doesn’t have to either.”
“Mother will freak.” Voices rose behind the call. Scarlet’s was loudest. “Strike that. Mother’s already freaking.”
“I’ll take care of—”
Mason took the phone out of her hand. He looked at her expectantly, and when she nodded, so very grateful, he ended the call.
“You’re a busy girl.” He set the phone down next to her.
“Your phone’s been ringing, too.”
He frowned deeply. “Neither Webb nor my son has returned my calls. And they are the only ones I want to hear from.”
Cari had a call in to Webb as well. No message back.
She’d told Laurence that she intended to maintain a partnership with Mason, and Fletcher was the key to that.
“I imagine there are offers waiting for you,” she said, hoping he’d drop a hint. Some smart, strong House would claim him soon. And she’d have to counter, just as fast.
“I’m waiting to speak to Kaye.”
Brand. Her other competition.
“You haven’t heard from her? What about Jack Bastian?”
“Nothing from them yet.”
“And you’re loyal to her?” The thought made the room darken slightly.
His hand went gently around the nape of her neck, mouth settling on hers. Felt good, but that wasn’t the answer she wanted. She ignored the flutter in her belly.
“I need to find out what’s going on with Fletcher, and Kaye can make Webb answer.”
“You’ll have options now.” All those messages.
He skimmed his knuckles down her bare arm. “Princess, I always had options. I want you.”
Her face warmed. Her chest filled with pressure. “I come with trouble. It might not be wise to stay too close.” They hadn’t discussed the fae problem. Cari didn’t even want to mention Maeve’s name.