Chapter 25
The smell of fresh coffee hit Lina the moment they walked into the kitchen where Nate was already waiting for them. It smelled rich, dark, and strong enough to wake the dead, which was exactly what she needed after the night they’d had and the morning they’d spent wrapped up in each other.
Nathan sat at the kitchen table, a mug in one hand and a tablet in the other, looking far too alert for someone who’d probably been up all night coordinating the cleanup.
He glanced up as they entered, and one eyebrow arched ever so slightly as he took in Lina’s still-damp hair and the way Liam’s hand rested protectively at the small of Lina’s back.
“Morning,” Nate said, his tone neutral but his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Glad you two could finally join me.”
Liam had the grace to look slightly sheepish. “We got cleaned up and rested, like you said.”
“Uh-huh.” Nate’s lips twitched. “Took you a while.”
Lina felt heat creep up her neck, but she met Nate’s gaze steadily. “It was a rough night. We needed the time.”
Something in Nate’s expression softened. “That you did,” he agreed, gesturing to the counter where a full pot of coffee waited alongside a stack of mugs. “Help yourselves. We’ve got a lot to cover.”
Liam poured coffee for both of them, adding cream to Lina’s just the way she liked it without having to ask. She accepted the mug gratefully and settled into the chair beside him, their shoulders brushing in a way that felt natural and necessary.
Nate set down his tablet and leaned back in his chair, studying them both with the assessing gaze of someone who’d spent decades in the field.
“First things first. You two did exceptional work last night. Mrs. E was a legitimate threat, not just to the coven but to this entire region, if not the world. The fact that you took her down without civilian casualties or collateral damage is nothing short of remarkable.”
“Thank you, sir,” Liam said formally, though his hand found Lina’s under the table and squeezed gently.
“Don’t sir me, nephew. I’m not in the service anymore.” Nate’s smile was brief. “But I am coordinating the aftermath of this mess, so let’s get to it. I need your full report on what went down at the tower site.”
For the next half hour, they walked Nate through the events of the previous night in detail.
Liam described the approach, the positioning, and the moment Mrs. E, along with her three colleagues, were attempting to do the summoning.
Lina filled in the parts about the young mage, Letisha, and her observations about the woman’s obvious fear and reluctance.
She also described her shot taking out one of the male mages and Liam’s lion taking on the other male mage.
She filled in how she’d been able to help by winging the second male mage before Mrs. E blasted her location for a second time.
Then she explained her flying leap at Mrs. E and how Liam had saved her by coming in from the side.
Liam took over at that point, explaining the choreography of how they’d taken Mrs. E down together. Lina still felt the satisfaction of her lynx at the righteous kill and its admiration of the big strong lion who was her mate.
Nate listened without interrupting, occasionally making notes on his tablet. When they finished, he was quiet for a long moment, his expression thoughtful.
“Mrs. Peabody checked in and reiterated her thanks. The entire coven is buzzing at the close call, apparently. A few of the elders have looked more closely at the grimoire page in preparation for destroying it, and they believe Mrs. E was attempting to summon what the old texts call a Hunger Demon. Though that’s not a really good translation, she tells me.
It’s a creature from one of the most deadly of the demon realms. Apparently, it’s the same place that leviathan came from that gave everyone in Grizzly Cove such trouble.
This Hunger Demon feeds on both magical energy and flesh.
If she’d succeeded in summoning it…” He shook his head.
“Let’s just say we got very lucky you two were there to stop her. ”
Lina’s stomach turned at the thought. “And Letisha was meant to be its first meal?”
“That’s Mrs. P’s assessment, and I’m inclined to agree.
” Nate’s jaw tightened. “The Portnoy family has a long, dark history with blood magic. Apparently, Letisha was a disappointment to a family that values cunning and a thirst for power above all else. They’ve been using her as little more than an indentured servant for years. ”
“That’s despicable,” Lina said, her cat growling low in her chest at the thought of such cruelty.
“It is,” Nate agreed. “But it also means she’s cooperating fully with us.
She’s been on the island since last night, and she’s already given us names, locations, and details about other Venifucus operations her family is involved in.
Mike’s been sitting in on the questioning, and he says she’s genuinely relieved to be away from them. ”
Liam’s brow furrowed. “Is she seeking asylum?”
“She hasn’t formally asked yet, but I expect she will.
Mrs. Peabody wants to offer her sanctuary with the coven if she proves trustworthy.
A couple of the coven elders are going out to the island this afternoon to do their own questioning.
They’ll be able to tell if she’s lying or hiding anything.
” Nate took a long drink of his coffee. “For now, she’s comfortable and safe, which is more than she’s had in a long time, apparently. ”
Lina felt a pang of sympathy for the young woman. To be born into a family that saw you as nothing more than a tool or a sacrifice... She couldn’t imagine how horrible that must feel. “What about the other prisoners?”
“We’ve got six in custody, including Letisha.
The two mages you took down are dead, of course, but we have someone looking into their backgrounds.
We’ve also taken the mages’ cars away from the Tesla site for further study.
The foot soldiers we picked up in the neighborhood are low-level muscle.
Hired help, mostly. They don’t know much beyond their immediate orders, but we’re getting what we can from them.
” Nate swiped at his tablet, pulling up what looked like a prisoner roster.
“Gunnar’s running point on the interrogations with help from a few others from the team.
The island’s secure, and we’ve got round-the-clock surveillance. ”
“You said you cleared it with Morrow?” Liam asked, referring to the commanding officer in charge of all Spec Ops soldiers who were acquainted with magic in one way or another.
“I did. He’s looping in Sam Kinkaid and the Lords as we speak. This is bigger than just our group. It’s Clan business and potentially the Lords’ business too.” Nate’s expression grew grim. “Which brings me to the reminder neither of you are going to like.”
Lina’s hand tightened on her mug. “What is it?”
“This isn’t over,” Nate said bluntly. “Mrs. E was a major player, and taking her out is a significant victory. But we always knew she was working either with or for someone else, and that player is still out there.”
Liam’s jaw clenched. “Abdul Kettering.”
“Among others,” Nate confirmed. “We’ve known for a while that Kettering’s been supplying Venifucus mages with weapons, intel, and resources.
What we didn’t know until recently was just how deep his involvement goes.
He’s not just a supplier. He’s a true believer.
He wants the Venifucus to succeed in whatever they’re planning, and he’s got the money and connections to make it happen. ”
Lina had heard the name before but hadn’t been directly involved in tracking the arms dealer. “What’s his endgame?”
“That’s what we’re trying to figure out.
” Nate set down his tablet and met their gazes squarely.
“What we do know is that he’s been targeting shifter Clans specifically.
He’s been particularly interested in the Kinkaid Clan.
Sam’s already been dealing with Kettering’s operations against the Clan from targeted assassinations to strike teams. That’s how we ended up with a band of hammerhead shark shifters working on the rigs in the gulf.
” Nathan shook his head in near-disbelief.
Liam’s lion rumbled audibly in his chest. “Is Sam still planning to go after Kettering?”
“He’s taking point on the project,” Nate confirmed.
“He wants to deal with Kettering personally, and frankly, after what that bastard’s done to our Clan, I don’t blame him.
” Nate’s expression was fierce with barely contained fury.
“But that’s going to be a longer operation.
It could take quite a while because Kettering’s a careful, well-protected recluse.
Total eccentric billionaire type, though he enjoys flaunting his wealth.
Which means Sam is really the only person we know well-placed enough to get near him.
We’ll get Kettering, but it’s going to take more time and resources.
And Sam is going to have to hobnob with people he doesn’t really like to get himself invited to the right places.
At some point, his path will intersect with Kettering’s, and then he’ll have his chance. ”
“And in the meantime?” Lina asked.
“In the meantime, we stay vigilant. The Venifucus took a major hit last night, but they’re like cockroaches.
You kill one nest, and three more pop up somewhere else.
” Nate’s tone was matter-of-fact, but Lina could hear the underlying frustration.
“We’ll monitor known associates of the men you stopped last night.
That’s a starting point. We’ll track their connections and movements, and shut down anything we find amiss, when we can.
But we have to be smart about it. We can’t afford to expose ourselves or start an all-out war with an unknown quantity. We have a lot of reconnaissance to do.”