Baldurrsson says quietly, “We cannot risk the Creator. Until we can absolutely guarantee her safety during such confrontations, we shall not sanction any such missions. Until then, we will simply have to play defense the best we can.” He turns to the Métis members sitting nearby. “What are the chances that we can convince your colonies to relocate to Annar? Our boundaries are secure.”
Erik is the one to answer. “Although there are those who are heartened by recent attempts by Annar to mend past wrongs, there are still many Métis who fear and distrust Magicals. I’d say . . .” He turns to his bleak-faced colleagues. “Maybe twenty, thirty percent could be easily persuaded. Others will need to be swayed, while pockets of Métis will never agree to such measures.”
Baldurrsson rubs his forehead; the long hairs of his eyebrows go askew. “Some are better than none. Nightstorm, we sanction the process of bringing Métis families into Annar as soon as possible.” His weary eyes flick my way. “Councilwoman Lilywhite, your immediate task is to expand the boundaries of Annar to create room for an influx of citizens, as well as new housing.”
“Is that what the Métis will be?” a representative of the Russian colony asks, his accent harsh. “Will they be considered equals or simply poor refugees who must line up for handouts from the mighty Magicals?”
Astrid is the one to answer. “The Council meets tonight to discuss just this matter. This Subcommittee has been tasked to decide whether or not diplomatic ties with your colonies are within the best interest of Annar.”
The Russian frowns. “And?”
“And,” Baldurrsson says, “it is our recommendation that anyone with Magical blood, no matter the percentage, be afforded full citizenship.”
“What about the discrimination we have been subjected to?” a representative from one of the Dwarven colonies asks. “What is to stop Magicals from devaluing our kind, as they have always done before?”
“For one thing, you need to stop thinking of this as an us verses them situation,” Jonah says. It isn’t the first time he’s voiced his opinion today, but he’s been selective about what he argues about. I love that he doesn’t go crazy like some of the other people, high on emotions with precious little logic. He’s been levelheaded the entire time. Focused. I could not be more proud of him. “That only exacerbates the problem. Why should any of the Métis want to come here when their own leaders propagate their differences? You have to remind them that they belong here, too. That, just because they can’t practice Magic, it doesn’t mean Magical blood doesn’t run in their veins.”
The Dwarven representative grunts, but in the end, it’s decided.
Annar will open its arms wide to its lost children.
“Think I should call him? See if he’s okay?”
Jonah looks up from the sauce he’s stirring on the stove. Watching him cook us dinner is incredibly sexy. “I know you mean well, but you heard what Will said. He needs to do this on his own.”
I lean against the smooth granite countertop next to the stove. At first, I’d been really hesitant to come over to Kellan and Jonah’s shared apartment, since I’d only ever been here before with just Kellan, but I couldn’t avoid it forever. So here I am, ogling Jonah as he cooks, choosing to focus all of my fretting on Will rather than Kellan for once.
Who am I kidding. Of course I’m concerned about Kellan, too. Jonah knows I’m worrying, too—so he’s tried his best to be transparent, as best he can and with Kellan’s permission, about assuring me that his brother is fine.
I miss him, though. I’m wildly, happily, fantastically in love with Jonah right now and I’m thrilled with how things are going with us and yet . . . Kellan’s absence cuts me like a knife.
I guess something never changes.
“At least I’m not the only one he didn’t allow to come,” I finally say to Jonah. Cameron didn’t go to Scotland, either; only, he didn’t seem to take it as personally as I did.
Jonah sets the wooden spoon down. “I probably shouldn’t tell you that Kellan did, though.”
I push myself up. “Why would he go?”
“I think he’s going to work in tandem with Cora on Becca’s recovery.”
I’d told Jonah the gist of Will and Becca’s history (with Will’s permission, of course) so he’d be up to speed on what I was asking Cora to do. “Huh.” I sneak a few pieces of uncooked pasta to munch on. It’s probably best I don’t spin this conversation back toward Kellan, because then I’ll probably cry and ruin the evening. So I decide to talk about yet another person that leaves me emotional. “My mom called me again today.”
He reaches over and tucks stray hairs behind my ear. I love how his fingers afterward continue to slide gently downward as they trace the curve of my neck. “When was this?”
“When I was out to lunch with Caleb.” I break a piece of spaghetti in half. “She wanted to know if we could have lunch soon. Or coffee, if lunch was too much for me.”