Enemies
DAMON
It’s a long trudge back to the edge of the ghost town, and I stop my family before they enter it. Gathering my thoughts takes a second, which I can tell frustrates Rebel, but I need the conversation we had to come to a conclusion prior to accessing this gateway.
“The goal is to survive this damned meeting, find out what the Stuhlls are using the Sickos for, and then get home. Once we’re no longer trapped in the atmosphere, we can decide how we’re going to proceed and what we will share with our new friends, yes?
” I turn my gaze on each of them, making sure my voice is firm so the Fae both understand that I’m serious.
“Keep your tempers and your mouths under control in there. We want to blend, not cause issues that make our presence noticeable—no matter what.”
My twin nods in agreement. “With this discovery, we should avoid Luca's and Lola’s eyes as much as possible. They can’t know we found out about this…
whatever it is… until we’re ready to reveal it.
That may require some maneuvering when we get home to keep the Gemini organization bindings from interfering if D or I need to attend things, but it’s imperative my parents have no idea we’re clued in. ”
“Saying it a hundred times won’t make it easier to do,” Rogue mutters. “I know repetition is what sinks things in, but after I know what to do, that becomes white noise. I’m not being abrasive, either; Rebel can confirm how my brain works with business shit.”
That’s helpful, so I tuck it away for later.
“Got it. Is everyone else clear?” I ask. They all nod, and my pulse slows as that acknowledgment settles my anxiety. “Fine. Let’s get out of here and finish what we started.”
Before something else unexpected finishes us…
As soon as we step out of the portal, I know we made it just in time.
It’s hidden behind some of the equipment now lining the edge of the stage and we have to carefully make our way out of the maze they created in front of this spot.
There are hundreds of various supernaturals milling around the ground floor area like the lawn of a huge concert, and it’s easy to recognize many of the faces and groups filling the space.
Every organization that has a death grip on Bay City, from mildly gray to pitch black, has their members present and accounted for.
This could be an extremely dangerous gathering if the rules didn’t specifically prevent intra-organization violence at these things with their entry spells.
Shooting Angelo a look, I walk over to grab Rogue’s hand, and wait until he takes the other before we wade into the mass of criminals, villains, and ne’er-do-wells waiting for our version of the Legion of Doom to grace the stage.
I assume it will be a big production—the leaders all love feeling important—and the crowd will go bonkers with cheers and jeers as they take their places at the ornate table where their placards are neatly displayed.
The podium in the middle will be shared; otherwise, it would create a power imbalance, so I guarantee every one of the asshole alphas, dons, and what have you will speak for at least a few minutes.
“This is insane,” Reb grunts. “All these fuckers in one place without a single fight are unimaginable to the people we work for. They believe they’re all out for themselves.”
Ang snorts, his grin mischievous. “We are, but as humans formed factions, so did every other species. You know that; it’s how the Society came together.
Obviously, the bad guys have to do the same or they’ll be crushed.
None of these beings like one another, but we know there’s strength in numbers. ”
“Plus, deals to be made,” I add. “Demons ply their trade to supes at gatherings like this, as do Fae, magicals, and others. The Sons broker deals about the ports. The Stuhlls find new drivers or suckers to bring into their debt… it’s how our world works without constant wars.”
Rogue makes a face, then grumbles, “It explains why we can’t find some targets, and how some lost ones stay invisible when their Guardians are called. They get snatched by your brethren or hunted down through cooperation.”
“That doesn’t happen all the time, though, right?” Archie says with a frown. “I mean, the lost ones are managed pretty closely.”
Both Rebel and Rogue shrug, but it’s the former who answers.
“We aren’t given numbers on that, but from what we’re told, it’s uncommon.
I suppose we could be misled as easily as you guys are by your leaders, though.
The local Councils can only relay to us what the regional and territory Society folks tell them and up the chain.
The highest level of authority could definitely make sure that their narratives are the only ones we know. ”
Great, now I’m considering the ‘good guys’ as enemies, too. Anyone who controls the info flow like that can’t be trusted for certain.
Archie echoes my thoughts before I can speak. “Shit. The good guys and the bad guys might be fucking with us. That sucks ass, dude. We can’t trust anyone now.”
Rebel arches a brow, his smirk knowing as he nods.
“Yeah, that’s where I’ve always lived, man.
The circumstances of my placement at the Kellys have always been sketchy, as has her twin’s disappearance.
That’s why I tell no one everything—I know there’s rot in the tree that goes all the way to the roots. ”
“I knew you held back,” Rogue murmurs as she squeezes my hand. I think Reb’s admission is affecting her and I squeeze back to give her the support she clearly needs. “I’m not mad, but I’m a little hurt, even if I know why you did it.”
His voice is barely intelligible as he replies, “I’m going to find him, sis. I promise on my life; I will find him for you.”
Rogue’s eyes widen, and she shakes her head. Her hand is gripping mine hard now and I sense the panic that fills my mate. “Reb, you can’t. You know we can’t. It’s forbidden.”
Arching a brow, I look between them, then to my twin, who shrugs.
My gaze moves to Javier and Archie, noting they both look confused as well.
Neither of them has ever mentioned that trying to find Reckoning was somehow not allowed.
There’s a story we’ve all been left out of, which doesn’t surprise me, but now is not the time to ask for it.
I clear my throat, breaking their intense stare, and wave my free hand at our surroundings.
“Not here. Later.”
Immediately, Rogue’s posture changes, going back to the stiff spined, badass we know and love.
Her chin lifts and the air around her fills with confidence as if she simply flipped a switch.
Her expression is now the ‘game face’ she wears while she’s on the boards, and the strength flooding our bond must be what she taps when she’s competing.
“You’re right, D. This is not the time or place for that discussion. ”
Her stepbrother takes the cue, adopting a brash sneer and looser stance as he surveys the crowded field. “Right. Time to work.”
It occurs to me that these are the roles they take when they’re training or on assignment—Rogue as the intimidating badass and Rebel projecting a lazy, playful attitude meant to disarm their prey.
Watching them for a moment, I realize how well it must work; I can see the people around us shifting their attention to her while ignoring him as they move.
Damned impressive, but I didn’t really expect otherwise with as hard as they train for their future roles.
“I didn’t expect this damn party to be so intense,” Javi says as we weave our way through the supes. “Maybe I underestimated it because I stay away from my folks’ shit, and I’m not bound to positions like everyone else. Well, except for Archie, though he’ll have a role, eventually.”
“Not until my dads step down or…” He frowns and I give him a sympathetic look. “Well, if one of them dies, the rest would abdicate, so I’d get the alpha spot. Mom’s always said that it was part of the agreement when she discovered her fateds were mixed cats rather than lions.”
“They’re fine. Don’t let that worry you,” I say as I see his expression darken. “It will not happen anytime soon.”
His handsome features are marred by worry, and I realize Archie is the only one of us who would give a shit if one of his parents died.
Ang and I would throw a party, Rogue and Reb let go of that illusion as teens, and Javi despises his folks.
But Archer Glaser comes from a loving family, with multiple parents who adore every inch of him just as he is.
He’ll be crushed if anything ever happens to one of them.
Luckily, shifters live a damned long time, but still.
We have to make sure he doesn’t have to suffer that for as long as possible.
“Speaking of Sariah,” Angelo says as we continue milling around. “Do you think there are reps from the Coalition here? There are a lot of shifters in this crowd, and I assume that, like the Fae, they’re protecting their interests by attending.”
“No way,” Archie says firmly. “The Coalition of Shifters doesn’t work with the gangs and shit. I can’t believe they’d send people here—if they even know about this at all.”
Rebel frowns, and I wait to see what he’s going to say.
He knows the same thing I do; any governing body that rejects finding out what their enemies are doing out of principle will eventually be infiltrated and taken over from within.
The Coalition has been the ‘lawful’ collective body of shifters in Bay City for decades; there’s zero chance they don’t have spies in every organization in town.
“Babe?” Rogue says before Reb can open his mouth. “I adore that you’re such a sweet, na?ve lion, but that’s fucking crazy.”
The blond hockey star gives her an offended look. “What do you mean?”
“Everyone in every ruling class has spies in every opposing group everywhere. Yeah, that’s vague, but even companies send moles to their competitors so they know what’s up.
Your assumption is that the Coalition is good, so they do nothing…
shall we say, morally gray? But that would be foolish and unrealistic, babe.
It would leave them vulnerable. They’re not stupid. ”
Archie stops in place, his eyes cutting to the rest of us before he looks at Rogue again. “Well, fuck, Wheels. I mean… I didn’t think about it like that. I’m not cut out for politics like that.”
This time, I take the lead, letting go of Rogue’s hand to walk over to the upset cat. I place my hand on his broad chest, my smile gentle. “That’s okay, Arch. We’re your family and some of us are very good at that stuff. We’ll help you when the time comes. Got it?”
Angelo grins wickedly. “Hell, yeah, we are. We can totally be your war council, man. Those shifters won’t know what the fuck hit them with us on your side.”
“That’s lovely, and I’m super touched by our kumbaya moment, but we need to focus again,” Rebel says as he jerks his head towards the stage. “I think they’re going to start.”
“How do you know?” I ask curiously.
His response is a Fae-fanged grin as he shrugs. “I can feel it in my bones. Can’t you?”
“No, and that’s what worries me—unpredictable shit that might fucking kill us.” I turn to Rogue, waiting to see if she’s sporting the same, and I sigh when she is. “But I suppose we know who’s coming first… the Fae fuckers.”
This shit is making my horns twitch, and I don’t like it one bit.