“Last,” Carling said, “but certainly not least, there is one Djinn on the team, Phaedra, who will stand guard over the underwater crossover passageway while you are on the island. All of your resumes are on file with the tribunal. Phaedra, only these seven people are legally permitted to travel to the island. Certainly no Nightkind, nor anybody that Julian might suggest sending with you, should be allowed access. Julian will most likely keep a yacht in the harbor to make sure that we actually fulfill the terms of the petition.
“You have three days to make the crossover and start the removal process. If for any reason you fail to do so within that time frame, my petition becomes null and void, and I lose all legal claim to my library. It is Sebastian’s job to see that this does not happen, and that you depart for the island well within that deadline.”
The Vampyre paused to look at each one of them before she continued. “You’re all excellent at your jobs, and that didn’t happen by accident. I have been collecting that library for thousands of years. There are many items that are old, fragile, dangerous and valuable. Before I was forced to leave, I destroyed some of the darkest items, but I did not have time to safely contain or destroy everything. Stay on top of your game, be careful and work as a team. It’s the responsibility of Sebastian and his team to safeguard both you and the contents of the library. Good journey and good luck.”
With those final words, Carling strode out of the room, and Sebastian Hale faced the group alone.
“Dendera and I have already been thoroughly briefed,” he said. His voice was as striking as the rest of him, strong and deep and rich. “I won’t add anything else right now. We have several hours on the plane where we can get acquainted with each other and run through details of the expedition, so for now, get your luggage and make your way downstairs. There’s transportation waiting to take us to the airport.”
Phaedra pushed away from the wall. She looked bored again. She said in a curt voice to Sebastian, “I will see you in San Francisco after your flight.”
Sebastian’s hard face turned to the Djinn. “No, you won’t. You will travel on the plane along with every other member of this crew.”
Phaedra’s expression turned edgy and unpredictable. “That’s ridiculous.”
“That’s the rule,” said Sebastian. “You travel with us and attend the meeting, or you’re off the team. In fact, you do everything I say, or you’re off the team.”
The Djinn’s expression turned deadly. “Don’t push me, Wyr.”
“Or you’ll do what?” asked Sebastian, his voice flat. He tilted his head.
He looked unimpressed. Unafraid.
Which meant he believed he could face down a Djinn and win the confrontation.
Olivia was reluctantly impressed.
She also knew that Phaedra had already given her word to her father that she would see this assignment through successfully to its conclusion, so she was not quite as taken in by the scene as everyone else in the room.
She walked around the end of the table, collected her luggage and said to Phaedra, “Quit making an ass of yourself if you possibly can.”
Then without waiting around for any more drama, she walked to the bank of elevators at the end of the hall.
One by one, other people joined her at the elevators. Olivia kept her head down and eyes to the floor. When the elevator doors opened, people filed in with their luggage. They rode down to the ground floor in silence.
Outside the main entrance, two black Cadillac Escalades idled at the curb. With a minimum of conversation, the group loaded into the vehicles. Olivia managed to score the front passenger seat of one Escalade. Thankfully neither Sebastian nor Phaedra joined the group in her SUV. During the trip to the airport, she listened to the others’ desultory conversation from the back seat, but she didn’t join in.