Morgan, I said silently, activating the unusual telepathic link between us. Calm down. Remember what this call is about.
He still looked furious, but rolled his shoulders in an apparent effort to calm himself.
“We’re not especially concerned about your preferences,” said the voice. “Your loan is in default.” There was a moment of silence. “We will afford you the opportunity to negotiate.”
Morgan pursed his lips, blew out a relieved breath. “That’s acceptable.”
“One hour. Michigan Avenue helipad. The copter will be waiting.”
“Helicopter?” Morgan said. “Why do we need a helicopter?”
“We select the location, Navarre.”
Morgan looked around the table, settled on me. “You want to deal, I want a guest. Merit, of Cadogan House.”
Ethan’s magic bloomed hot and bright beside me, and I covered a hand with his. His wasn’t the only irritation. My grandfather, Jeff, and Luc looked pissed on my behalf.
But their reactions, while appreciated, were irrelevant. We couldn’t let Morgan go alone, and I was as reasonable a choice as any. Certainly more reasonable than having another Master go with him, handing them both over to the Circle.
“One hour,” the voice said, and the line went dead.
Morgan put the phone down, then was brave enough to meet Ethan’s furious gaze.
“That you would dare to volunteer Merit without her, or my, consent absolutely astounds me.”
“I had to take someone. Who else at this table would you send?”
“So you’ll throw her to your wolves without even asking her permission?”
“Did you ask her permission to make her a vampire?”
Ethan’s body went rigid, and he moved to stand, but I squeezed the hand on his arm.
“Morgan,” I said, “quit being an asshole. Ethan, he’s right. I’m the best person to go. I’ve dealt with Jude Maguire, I’ve got skills, and I can talk to Morgan telepathically. That’s a big advantage.”
“He might have asked you.”
“He should have,” I agreed, leveling an unflattering gaze at Morgan. “But he didn’t, and it’s done.”
Ethan’s gaze didn’t waver. “How long will it take to get to the helipad?”
Jeff scanned the map he’d already pulled up on the screen. “Current estimate is twenty-three minutes.”
“We get there early, scope it out. That gives us twenty minutes to get this operation ready to go.” He glanced at Morgan. “And when it’s done, you and I have business.”
Morgan nodded, and the preparations began.
* * *
I let them deal with the logistics, ran upstairs to change clothes. This wouldn’t be a social call. I’d need as much protection as possible, so I pulled on leather pants, a red tank, my leather jacket, black boots. I wanted to tuck a dagger into my boot, but the CPD still had it. Not that it mattered; the Circle would undoubtedly search me and take it, and since it had been a gift from Ethan, I didn’t want to lose it.
The possibility that Balthasar would be there, would be involved, occurred to me, and turned my stomach. I was looking forward to a good down-and-dirty fight, but not one that took place in my mind. I considered, grabbed the bracelet from the nightstand, fastened it. Better to be safe than sorry where he was concerned.
I splashed water on my face, brushed my hair so I could tie it up. When I emerged from the bathroom, pulling my hair into a ponytail, Ethan stood in the doorway, hands in his pockets, still vibrating with irritation.
“He’s put you in a damn fine position.”
“It was an asshole move,” I agreed, snapping the elastic into place and ensuring that the ponytail was snug. “But he’s right—he didn’t have a better choice.”