“Then once your assignments are completed, you must fill out the appropriate forms in triplicate.” From my confused expression, he ended with “Well, how did you think we keep records of all the things? We must have reports, and they must be filed in several places. Things are known to get lost over time.”
I moved forward, my wolf warning me to be wary. His signature was very faint and weird. “To tell you the truth, Jeb, I haven’t had time to give any real thought to the Coalition and how it might work. If pressed hard enough, I would’ve answered that all the job assignments and record keeping happens ‘by magic.’ ”
“Yes”—he nodded quickly—“by scrying magic, and that belongs to me.” He shuffled his feet and kicked away some leaves. He was agitated. I was certain I wasn’t measuring up to his vision of hierarchy in the supernatural world. I was young and clueless. It must suck to have to deal with such incompetence. “The Coalition is naturally made up of powerful supernaturals, but nothing would be complete without firsthand reports. They are essential.”
I crossed my arms. “Okay, Jeb. You’re going to have to come clean and tell me why you brought me here. I just found out a very, very short time ago that I have a position on the Coalition, and frankly, my main goal these days is staying alive, not worrying about the future job of the Enforcer. It’s been kind of a rocky road since I left the Underworld, to tell you the truth, and what would be helpful now are answers. You’re wasting my time by giving me anything less, so feel free to lay them on me.”
He nodded along, his hair still ramrod straight, no bounce at all. “This is very true!”
“What’s true?” I asked, settling my hands on my hips. “You’re wasting my time?”
“No, that you’re in a very precarious place. You’ve volleyed between life and death a number of times in the last month, like a Wimbledon master, and it’s been quite amazing to witness, if I must say so myself. Precarious, indeed!”
I dropped my arms and took a step forward. “Jeb, how do you know that?” I sized him up. He didn’t look like he should be an all-powerful supernatural who knew everything. He looked like he should be working a stage in Vegas.
He barely kept the indignant gasp out of his voice. “Because I am the High Ambassador, that’s why! It’s my job to know. Who did you think you are dealing with? I’m not some young supernatural trying to prove myself. I’m Jebediah Amel, first warlock of the great Amelentia Line. I take my position very seriously and I’ve come to talk to you about business.”
“Hmm,” I said. “I hear what you’re telling me, Jeb, and it sounds very impressive, but your signature is strange. You’re cloaking yourself, aren’t you?” I ran my power over him, pressing it firmly against his body, trying to figure out the warlock puzzle that was Jebediah Amel.
“Stop doing that,” he ordered, his hands fisting at his sides. He was just short of stamping his foot like a child. “Yes, of course I am cloaking myself! Do you honestly think a warlock of my stature can just walk freely around this realm? I’m a target—just as you are—and once the supernatural world figures out I am away from the protection of my home, it could be chaos!”
“I’m sorry to inform you, but none of that means anything to me,” I said, hands back on my hips. “It can’t be chaos if the most powerful supes on the planet don’t know who you are.” If Jeb was really a bigwig supe, there would be some record of him. My father would’ve mentioned him. I would bet my eyeteeth Rourke had never heard of him—and he was the oldest supe I knew.
He seemed a bit stunned by my words. “You… you really don’t know who I am?”
“I have no earthly idea who you are. I’ve never even heard a whisper of your name. But you will be happy to know that my wolf remembers you, which is why I’m not currently trying to put you in a headlock, even though your hairstyle would make it tough to do.” My humor was lost on him.
He looked dejected. “I see.”
“But I do know you’re strong… strangely so.” I took a few steps closer. “And I’m not sure even Tally could do what you did with the van. Your spell casting is amazing, and your ability to cloak yourself is impressive. Did you take the plane down too?”
“I had no part in the plane crash,” he huffed. “That is not how I do business.”
“No, carjacking is a much better way to achieve your goal.”
“I was left with no choice. You are always accompanied by many and I had to make contact with you before you arrived home, and that was the only way I could see to get you here safely.”
“ ‘Safely’ is going a bit too far. That was a crazy. If I’d gotten on a plane with my father, would you have been left with no choice but to take that particular plane down?” I asked curiously. Then I pointed out, “You just said you had to get to me before I got home.”