Biting Bad (Chicagoland Vampires 8)

"Confidentially," Jonah said, "it appears Darius has become rather agoraphobic since his fight with Michael Donovan."

"Agoraphobic?"

"The encounter freaked him out," Jonah said. "He's not used to being weak, to feeling weak. Donovan got the jump on him, which completely screwed up his sense of self. The others, especially Monmonth, feel that weakness."

"To be fair, he was wielding a gun that shot aspen stakes," I said.

"Certainly," Jonah allowed. "But Darius is centuries old, and he's fought enemies before. And usually doesn't need a pink vampire to rescue him."

"Pink" in vampire terminology didn't refer to my gender, but my age. I'd been a vampire for less than a year, and it stung Darius that his rescuer had been less strong and skilled than he imagined himself to be.

"And the other members of the GP are exploiting it?" Lindsey asked.

Jonah nodded. "They are vampires in the most traditional sense. Old-school monsters. The type Van Helsing hunted. The type villagers killed. They do not let subordination stand in their way."

"Which is why they attacked Cadogan House," Luc said, "even if they stood to gain financially when we left."

We'd been required to pay the GP back for financial gains we'd made during our tenure in the GP, but because their attack breached our contract, we got to keep the money.

"So what do we do?" I asked.

"In the long term, ironically, we do what we can to secure Darius's position. If he remains head of the GP, this conversation is moot."

"How can we make him stronger?" Jonah asked.

"That will require some strategizing," Ethan said.

"And in the short term?" I asked.

"We keep an eye out. I don't think Monmonth has the allies for another full-on attack. The fairies got what they wanted, and our peace remains in place. I can't think he'd strike out against the combined Houses with only half the members of the GP at his side. But as to what he might actually do? I don't know."

"We're putting a guard on the widow's walk," Luc said. "They have a bird's-eye view of the yard. Jonah and I also have created a new schedule for the Cadogan and Grey House guards. You'll find an app ready to download, and you'll get a reminder fifteen minutes before your shift. It's cold as a witch's tit out there, so grab gloves, earmuffs, hot chocolate, whatever you need to stay warm. But get out there, and be alert. Oh, and one spot of good news - Saul offered to donate pizzas to feed the extra-large House tonight. A little thank-you since Merit got him some protection during the Wicker Park riot."

"Of all the nights we have dinner with my parents," I murmured.

Ethan squeezed my hand supportively. "You'll manage, Sentinel."

"If it makes you feel better, Sentinel, we've put you on the patrol roster for later, so you can freeze with the rest of them."

I smiled a little. "It does, actually."

"Saul's gonna deliver the pies directly into the basement," Luc said. "That way the guards only have to approve one truck, instead of keeping an eye on vampires and humans running back and forth into the House."

"Good thought," Jonah said.

"I have them occasionally," Luc said, with honest modesty. "Not often, but occasionally."

"If we're done here," Ethan said, "we do need to get going." He rose, and I did the same.

Jonah stood up as well. "Ethan, Merit, could I talk to you for a moment outside?"

Ethan nodded his agreement but looked suspicious of the request.

We walked out of the Ops Room and toward the basement door, then stopped for the chat.

"Considering the threat by the humans and the GP, Grey House believes it's time to consider an alternative method of protecting the Houses," Jonah said.

Ethan put his hands in his pockets. That was another signature move, a gesture that looked casual but usually signified he was paying very close, very careful attention. "Which is?"

"There are people in this town who are stronger than we are. I think we should consider adding them to the mix."

"You mean the sorcerers?" I asked, referring to Catcher, Mallory, and Paige, a sorceress we'd brought back with us from Nebraska.

"I do."

"No," Ethan said. "We've talked about this. Mallory violated this House."

"You're right," I agreed. "She damaged property and hurt people. But she's also skilled. She's more powerful than Monmonth or McKetrick or anyone else that we know of."

"They aren't supposed to be practicing sorcerers," Ethan pointed out. "Catcher got kicked out of the Order, and Mallory's on house arrest. I don't believe Paige is official, either."

"Catcher's already used magic this week, and Mallory can't be magicless forever. If she's going to use magic again, maybe it's not a bad idea that we harness it for our purposes."

Ethan stood quietly for a moment, staring at the floor, brows knitted as he considered.

Jonah glanced at me, and I shrugged. There was no doubt - Mallory was a risk.

But maybe, if she had the support of her friends and a network of supernaturals, she could figure out a way to do it right this time.

I frowned. Had I really come around to thinking Mallory was the solution? Was I ready for her to use magic again? No. I wasn't ready for it. But it was inevitable. And the only way to keep that inevitability from coming back to haunt us was to control it in the first place.

"I'll consider it," he said.

We both looked over at him.

"You're sure?" I said.

"Definitely not. But, loathe as I am to admit it, Jonah's right. They are stronger than we are, and we are vulnerable now in a new and different kind of way. It would behoove us to consider all possibilities. I've been called a control freak," he said, looking pointedly at me. "Maybe it's time to hand over a bit of that control to our witchy friends."

"Let us know how we can help," Jonah said.

"Rest assured," Ethan said, "We will. I want this House secure, and I want it secure now."

-

After ensuring the House was in good hands and that Luc, Malik, Scott, and Jonah had Ethan's number, my number, my parents' number, and my grandfather's number handy, and after grabbing a bottle of red wine from the kitchen, we proceeded to the parking area, scabbards and shoes in hand.

Ethan opted to drive to Oak Park, which was fine by me. He also opted to take his new, shiny Ferrari. It probably would have been even more fun in the summer than on ice- and snow-packed streets, but we made do. Because, again, it was a Ferrari.