Jonah’s presence has been requested at an Elders Subcommittee meeting; videoconferencing, the chair insists, will not do this time no matter how much Jonah argues differently. He balks at leaving me alone, even though I remind him all has been quiet since I woke up two weeks prior and the building has a Guard stationed at the entrance. I’ve left the apartment plenty of times; he’s been at other meetings. What makes it different from all those times, he argues, is that Kellan has been sent on a quick mission and isn’t due back to Annar for another hour and a half and the Subcommittee meeting is slated for a full four hours.
“There’s a Guard downstairs, remember?”
He bites his lip, no doubt thinking of the best way to counter this.
He and Kellan certainly haven’t hovered over me during these weeks I’ve been monitored. I’ve had plenty of space. But they’ve always made sure one of them is around when we’re home, even if in a different apartment. This would be the first time neither is present.
“It’ll be fine.” I tug him closer to me, wrapping my hands around his waist. “Cora’s supposed to come over for dinner, remember? Maybe we can even get Lizzie and Meg to come, too. It’ll be a girls’ night in. You’d be bored silly.”
“I’d rather be bored,” he says quietly, seriously, “than risk something happening to you.”
“What’s going to happen to me? The building is guarded, Jonah. I’ve fortified the walls so nothing can break in without my permission. Kellan will be here in a little over an hour. Will is downstairs; so is Cameron.” I kiss the corner of his mouth. “I’m a Creator, remember? It’s not like I’m totally helpless.”
He’s immediately contrite. “I didn’t mean to suggest you were, it’s just—”
So many of our days lately have been good. Really good. I don’t want to lose sight of that. “They need you, honey. You have responsibilities.” I bite my lip. “Someday, my mea culpas will allow me back into the Council’s good graces and I’ll be in boring meetings and going on missions, too. Until then ...” I smooth the collar of his thin, royal blue t-shirt down. He looks so hot right now, wearing this shirt with jeans and worn, red tennis shoes. “They need your leadership. People are scared, Jonah. Don’t let them all down just because I’ll be here waiting for my girls’ night in to start.”
He sighs before kissing me softly. “Okay. You’re right.” He laughs a little. “I’m sorry if I sound so overbearing. I just worry about you.”
I cup his face. “And I appreciate it. By the way, of course I’m right. Aren’t I always?” An eyebrow quirks up; I laugh merrily. “Scratch that. But I am right about this.”
He kisses me again, nice and slow this time, just to make sure I sorely regret all my insistences that he leave.
Once he does, a call to Cora confirms she’d be over in a few hours. Follow-up calls are made to both Lizzie and Meg. I’m thrilled when both say they’d join us. I order a pizza to be delivered in a few hours, alongside three pints of ice cream; I make sure to alert the doorman downstairs that it’s on its way. I’m in the living room, searching for the perfect DVD for a girls’ night in when the back of my neck prickles, like I’m being watched.
I wander over to the window, fully expecting to find Kellan’s ex-girlfriend on her daily stroll-by of the building, and yep. There she is. Only, for once, she’s not staring up here. I catch her just as a flash of red hair and couture clothing rounds the corner and leaves.
I’m about to turn away when my stomach plummets through the atmosphere in an uncontrolled spiral. Sophie Greenfield is the least of my concerns right now, because somebody else is watching me like I’m the only show in town.
It’s Jens. I mean, Enlilkian. He’s standing on the roof of a much smaller building across from mine, watching me with a smile on his face.
Oh my sweet gods.
A hand lifts in my direction, as if he’s sending me a greeting, and then its movements change toward beckoning. I’m frozen where I am, unsure of what to do. Except ... no. I can’t be like that. I know exactly what I must do. This man—this thing—needs to be taken down. He cannot be allowed to continue to hurt people.
I glance at a nearby clock. Kellan is still a half hour out. My cell is across the room on an end table. I need to call Jonah, tell him Enlilkian’s here. Hell, even call Will to bring up his sword so I have back-up. But it’s like the asshole knows what I’m hoping to do, because all his fingers save one curl down into a fist so he can admonish me. Shit.
And then he points to my right, toward the far corner of a rooftop covered in potted trees and flowers. I have to squint to make out what he wants me to see between the flowering trees, but ...
There are four people standing there. And my heart sinks right out of my chest over every single face.
Earle Locust-tree.
Nivedita Corydalis.