Lincoln laughed. ‘You’re delusional if you think that’s going to happen.’
I shook my head and spoke before he could. ‘Academy tactics are too obvious. They’ll be waiting for you and they’ll be ready. People will get hurt and Spence will be put in unnecessary danger. I won’t allow that. I’m sorry.’
‘For which part!’ he roared, causing me to flinch before he quickly pulled his mask back in place. It was the first real emotion I’d seen from him and I had to force myself not to take a step towards him. Lincoln took a deep breath and then asked, ‘How exactly do you think you’re going to lead anyone from here? Why should they follow you?’ He took a step towards me, showing the assembled Grigori he had no problem being in my space. ‘I’m not saying you have no right to help find Spence. He obviously sent Chloe to speak with you for a reason. If you agree to do as instructed and stay out of our way …’
Out of your way, you mean.
‘I’ll consider letting you come along.’
It was my turn to laugh. But I sobered quickly and took my own confident step into the centre of the room. I didn’t miss the small step back that he took.
‘Clearly you’ve misunderstood me at some fundamental level, so let me be crystal clear. Spence asked for me and I’ll be leading this rescue, Lincoln, whether you like it or not.’
‘If you’re challenging his leadership there is only one way to do it,’ Josephine said coolly from her place at the head of the table, drawing the attention of the entire room. ‘You must challenge in physical combat.’
I glared at her. She smiled in understanding. ‘There is a main-hall gathering scheduled this afternoon. If you wish to challenge you can do so there in front of the Academy and Assembly members. If you want our resources and power behind you and insist on taking point, this is the only way.’
This was not part of our deal, but I wasn’t surprised she was already throwing curve balls.
Lincoln leaned back against the edge of the table and smirked. Judging by the number of similar expressions, he wasn’t the only person in the room who didn’t rate my chances against him in a one-on-one. My jaw clenched to see how sure he was of his abilities against mine, but I’d seen that small step back he’d taken. He was at least slightly wary. And I was highly aware of my strengths and weaknesses. I knew that what I carried within me was far more painful than anything else I could be made to endure, but I’d learned to control that pain. I’d had to.
Plus, Lincoln hadn’t seen me in action since before Phoenix gave me his angelic essence. He was severely underrating me.
I felt the corners of my mouth lift, just as his dropped slightly.
‘Fine,’ I said mustering my willpower. ‘Let’s do it.’
Walking into the main hall was like stepping back in time. The memories of my Grigori testing and the mayhem that followed enveloped me momentarily before I shoved them aside.
Gray was beside me and already the hall was full on both the ground level and the overhanging balconies above. I’d never been in here prior to proceedings; I’d always been brought in as the entertainment.
Actually, today isn’t much different.
‘God, I’d forgotten how much fanfare this lot enjoyed,’ Gray mumbled.
‘You were once part of the Academy?’ I asked. Gray made a point of not divulging his age or his history.
He shrugged. ‘For a spell. Figured out very fast that it wasn’t for me.’
I wondered, not for the first time, what had become of his Grigori partner, but I knew better than to ask. It was bad Rogue etiquette.
‘When was the last time you were here?’ I hedged.
He glanced at me, knowing my game. ‘Well before you were born.’ And I knew he would say no more.
‘Did you manage to get a team together?’
Gray nodded. ‘Carter, Taxi and Milo will be here in a couple of days. I’ve got some locals on standby if we need, too.’
‘Is Carter going to be a problem?’ I asked, well aware of how he felt about – and reacted to – any form of authority.
Not to mention I’m not his favourite person at the moment.
‘He’ll be fine. He gave me his word.’
‘And you trust it?’ I pushed. ‘With your life?’
Gray set a level look on me. ‘Even with yours, princess.’
I grinned, knowing full well that to Gray, my life rated well below his own.
At that moment Lincoln brushed past, knocking Gray’s shoulder in the process. Gray watched as Lincoln continued without pause towards the front of the room.
‘Not much of a welcome, mate,’ Gray called out. I was surprised considering Lincoln and Gray had seemed to get along well when they’d first met in Santorini.
Lincoln halted and spun on his heel, looking Gray up and down once with hard eyes. ‘I’m not your mate. And I didn’t invite you here.’
Gray glanced to me and then his eyes narrowed in on Lincoln’s, drawing some kind of conclusion. All I managed to draw up was a bad feeling.