The One’s eyebrows lifted lazily. “That won’t be a problem.” He turned his attention to Queen Ruckler. “I imagine a heavy dosage would help here, but it won’t help to the point it would save his life.” His lips pinched the barest bit. “You all need to understand, he more than likely won’t return alive.” Silver eyes looked to me, holding their gaze. “In the end, it is your choice since you hold my Primal Diamond.”
“My diamond,” I muttered quietly as I started pacing again. I waved a hand at the room. “And it’s not just my choice. This is a decision I believe everyone should make, not just me, considering it involves Philip Masterson and Jacob Angel.” I stopped behind my chair, staring at the table. I felt cold inside. “I’d like to call a vote among the Elders, Rulers, and Prodigies.” I swallowed heavily. “All in favor of the One’s plan, please raise your hand.”
And…I lifted my own hand, knowing I was signing the man’s death warrant.
Brann, London, Aria, Queen Ruckler, King Zeller, Elder Fergus, Elder Kincaid, Elder Merrick, and Elder Jacobs all raised their hands, everyone’s faces grave.
It was a yes.
I nodded, lowering my hand. “I’ll go to the Temple and watch the proceedings while the One asks him—to verify his actions are coherent.” Running a hand over my face, I stared across the table to the One. “Shall we? I’m sure they’ll need time to set up MSA agents around each of the business locations, and have others on stand-by if Philip Masterson or Jacob Angel is elsewhere.”
The One nodded. “It may take a while before he’s…”
“I know.” I placed my right hand on King Collins’s shoulder. “I’ll be gone a few days.”
King Collins patted my hand, glancing up at me, his eyes completely blank. “Make sure to take Isolde with you so she doesn’t go batshit crazy again.”
My lips lifted at his attempt at humor. “Sin would have fun with that.”
He blinked. “And make sure you tell Sin where you’re going so he doesn’t go batshit crazy.”
I did laugh at that. “As if I would leave without warning him.” My eyes opened wide. “I mean, I don’t want you dead.”
Cocky eyebrows rose, and he deadpanned, “Not today, anyway.” His head tilted, all seriousness returning. “Make sure to call me, or whatever it is you do from there, a couple of times a day to let me know you’re okay.”
I stared for a moment. “Old worrywart.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
I was utterly spent from the conversation that finally happened four days later with the middle-aged Guardian, who was plagued by madness from the feedback of the Shadows. Some spirits were much more sensitive to the evil living throughout the world, eventually breaking. The evil ate through their minds continually.
I sat on the beach at the Temple, staring out at the blue water, wearing a bikini. I was trying to relax while other spirits sunbathed around me. I lay back on my white towel, petting Isolde softly, and waved a glowing hand. A screen opened in front of me, blocking the sun from my eyes. I asked for King Collins.
I instantly heard many loud voices from the neon blue screen, which was odd since it was the middle of the night there. “King Collins?”
“Caro?” King Collins asked, his tone urgent.
I finished the call and peered hard at the screen, trying to figure out what I was seeing.
The Elders, Rulers, and Prodigies were pressed together in a large mass.
“What’s going on?”
His nostrils flared. He was still dressed in casual, trendy clothing. “We’re being fucking attacked again.” I instantly sat up, the screen moving with me. His eyes shot behind me, and everyone on the screen also stared at all they could see on my side, as they had been doing with every other call I’d made in the past four days. King Collins growled, “While you’re sunbathing, Prodigy, Roselle, Reese and the Guardians have been fighting for the past three hours. While we’re stuck in this damn protective circle.”
“I’ve been thinking about that,” Elder Farrar stated. “I may have a solution—”
“I’m on my way,” I muttered, cutting him off and jumping to my feet, knocking sand off my body. “I’ll be there in a second.” I waved a glowing hand, cutting off the image. I grabbed Isolde, opened my Core, and pulled us through the ether. I ended up standing in the Elemental foyer wearing only a hot pink bikini, with Isolde in my arms. The night was dark outside the windows. I instantly placed Isolde on the floor and started racing toward the Shifter section of the building where it had appeared they were.
It didn’t take me long to feel the chill in the air, pulling goosebumps along my flesh.
I opened my Core again, floating then flying through the cosmos. I took two platinum handled daggers, the twelve-inch blades wickedly curved and made of pure diamond, reminding me of Arabian weaponry. These were another two of my favorites since I still hadn’t retrieved my short swords from Elder Merrick. One day—hopefully—I wouldn’t find him so intimidating.
Charging through the hallways, I started to glow dimly, ethereal, as I pulled on my power.
Icy wind whipped in a frenzy around me now.
I followed the shouts, coming to a stop inside one of the Shifter gaming rooms.