Harley Merlin and the Cult of Eris (Harley Merlin, #6)

Isadora tapped the side of her jaw in thought. “Why hasn’t the National Council tried to strike a deal with Finch?”

I shrugged. “He’ll only work with me. He thinks the National Council members are puffed-up, smug bastards with snazzy magical tools that don’t serve any real purpose. He doesn’t want anything to do with them.”

Tobe chuckled. “I do not like to say so, but it would appear Finch has a point. They really are all flashing gizmos and no substance.”

“Gizmos?” I laughed at the word coming out of Tobe’s mouth.

“I have picked up some useful lingo in my thousand-plus years on this earth. ‘Gizmo’ has a rather pleasant mouthfeel.” He looked pleased with himself, though he likely shared the same fears as the rest of us. This was probably the biggest risk we’d taken so far, but that was just it… we had to take it.

“Mouthfeel and gizmos aside,” Wade cut in, “Katherine is likely forging ahead with her plan to complete the third ritual as we speak. So, if Finch is willing to work with Harley, and Harley only, then we might as well do this. Believe me, I’m as worried as the rest of you, but there isn’t another way.” I felt a wave of concern bristle off him, directed at me.

Dylan grinned. “The way I see it, if we have a shot at taking this bitch down, then we have to grab it by the horns and run.”

Louella shook her head. “I understand the need to get this done, but if Finch really was the reformed criminal that he claims to be, then surely he’d swallow his pride and work with the National Council on this to bring Katherine in. Instead, he’s pushing Harley into committing an actual crime by busting him out of the magical world’s most secure prison. Maybe I’m missing something, but it doesn’t make sense to me.”

From the mouths of babes…

I cast her a reassuring look. “I think this has turned into something deeply personal for Finch. It’s not just about his views on the National Council; it’s about Katherine and the things she’s done to him… and, I guess, to me. He was brainwashed before, but when Katherine killed Adley, everything changed. Finch loved Adley, and Katherine had her murdered, before trying to have him wiped out, too. Her own son.”

Raffe nodded. “That’s got to sting a bit.”

“Yep. Plus, she couldn’t even do it herself. She sent minions to do her dirty work, and he resents the fact that she couldn’t even face him,” I went on. “Although, she probably wouldn’t hesitate now, if she had the chance.”

Astrid pulled a grim face. “And she sent Kenneth Willow, of all people. The wannabe son.”

“Ah yes, the budding psychopath with mommy issues all his own.” Isadora gave a wry laugh. After all, she’d been locked up by Katherine; she’d seen Kenneth in action and been forced to watch as his violent streak was let loose on children.

“Basically, Finch is against the regular magical institutions because they haven’t done him any favors, and they mean nothing to him.” I fixed my gaze on every member of the Rag Team, willing them to come over to my way of thinking. “He doesn’t trust the National Council not to simply throw him back in prison once all of this is over and never let him out again, and he sure as heck doesn’t trust the California Mage Council to hold up their end of the bargain, either. If he were to make one with them, that is.”

“So, his endgame is to stay out of Purgatory?” Dylan replied.

“That seems to be the deal, yeah.” I hated the words as soon as they came out of my mouth, but they were the truth. “I’m the only one he trusts to keep my end of the deal.”

“And you would do that?” Krieger asked. “I’m not judging, but I wish to be clear on the details.”

“It’s not a bad deal if it means we can stop Katherine. The only person he wants to hurt is Katherine, and I’m all for that.” I couldn’t help wondering what Garrett would think of all this Finch business if he were here. Fortunately, he wasn’t, so that was one less thing to worry about. “And, hey, I’m not saying we don’t send Finch straight back to Purgatory. I’m just saying that once this is done, we make a case for him, try to get him his freedom.”

Wade nodded. “If this is the only way Finch will help, then we should accept it. We’re in dire straits right now, and All Hallows’ Eve is only a week away. Time is running out, and… well, if Katherine succeeds with the ritual, then we’re even more screwed than we are now.”

I knew he’d stopped himself from saying something else. I was pretty sure he’d wanted to say, “and we have to be prepared this time,” but he’d stopped to spare my feelings. I was grateful he hadn’t said it out loud, but it was something I wholeheartedly agreed with. I didn’t want to do a botched, half-assed job this time. This time, I wanted to get it right and put an end to her, once and for all.

“And, since it looks like we’re going down this route, we do have a plan for breaking into Purgatory, right?” Astrid asked.

“That’s where you come in.” I flashed a nervous smile at the Rag Team. “Santana, I was hoping I could borrow one of your Orisha duplicates, as a replacement for Finch. It has to be convincing, but I know you’ve got no problems with that. I just need it to work without you in Purgatory with it. Can that be done?”

Santana thought for a moment. “I’d need a sample of Finch’s hair or blood to make a good copy, but the distance thing shouldn’t be a problem. If I ask really nicely, the Orishas can sometimes take on a physical form that’s much more alive and alert than the duplicates I’ve used in the past. Let’s just hope they’re feeling generous.” She smiled at me, but I could see the trepidation lurking beneath the surface.

“You’ll have to make one for Harley, too,” Raffe interjected.

“I was getting to that,” she chided playfully. “I have terms of my own before I give you the two Orishas—one for Finch, one for you, to cover your ass while you’re out of the coven. I’ll have to make a better one for you, too, since the last duplicate didn’t work out so well. Something a bit more realistic.”

I frowned. “What terms?”

“I’m still not convinced that Finch is as reformed as he’s making out. Even if he is, people died because of him, and that can’t just be swept under the rug. So, if you want the Orishas, you have to promise me that you’ll take Finch straight back to Purgatory, where he can make an official case to be set free—you have to swear to me you won’t waver and just let him go. I know you’ve already said you’re aiming for a legal release, but I want you to promise. After we’re done with Katherine, of course. I’m not an idiot.” She grinned at the others, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

“You can definitely make these souped-up duplicates?” I wanted to be sure before I made any more deals, even if I agreed with her and she was my friend.

She nodded. “For sure. If I’m smart, which I am, the magical world won’t even know that Finch is out until it’s all over. He can make his case once he’s proven himself to be one of the good guys, from the comfort of his cell. And, if he screws us over, he’ll have a horde of pissed security personnel after him. He might be a Shapeshifter, but I doubt he can outrun the authorities forever, and we can just pretend we had nothing to do with it. Once my Orisha evaporates back into its spiritual form, it will be untraceable. This way, it’s a win-win for everyone, and Finch will have to make amends the proper way.”

“As long as he gets to make a case for himself, with our support, I don’t see why he’d argue. And we’ll have no reason not to help him if he does this for us without screwing us over,” I said, though doubts churned over in my stomach. Santana was right to be cautious—Finch had killed people with his gargoyle attack, and that couldn’t be easily pardoned. I didn’t know if he could use temporary insanity as a defense, but at least he’d have more chance of gaining permanent freedom if he played by the rules.

“So that’s a promise? No wavering?” Santana pressed.

“Cross my heart.”