“Any child is worth fighting for,” Mia said.
“Here, here,” Angelo responded.
“Will the emissary from the Brotherhood of the Wing kindly abide by the rules,” Tonya Toh requested.
“Mia, it says here that we owe you a favor,” Ameen said. “Do you wish to collect on it now?”
“May I request that the Council of Women leave me, my friends, and my family alone. If you have a problem with me, summon me, and I will come. Do not steal my children, harm my husband, or play with the people in my life. You were given direction to manage the paranormal entities who interact with the living human population, yet you have interfered in my life. I am a living person. The fact that you have engineered my lineage does not make me less. Do me a favor and abide by my request.”
“And…”
“And?”
“Aren’t you going to add a threat?” Ameen asked.
“No. I’m simply collecting on a favor owed.”
“Fine. I would like for all the members here to spread the word. You mess with Mia Cooper Martin, her family, or her friends, you will be in violation of our rules and will be punished accordingly.”
Mia sat down.
“We will take a break. Next up, Orion Stavros,” Ameen said.
The governing council disappeared.
Roumain walked over and sat down beside Mia. “You did well. You didn’t threaten them publicly, but the council felt the weight of your words.”
“What happens now?”
“I’m going to leave. Orion will have their attention now. He asks that you stay as a witness. I’ll take Murphy and Burt back to the farm.”
“Thank you, I don’t know how I will ever repay you.”
“Mia, I didn’t just do this for you. I don’t want you beholden to me. That’s not what our relationship is.”
Mia angled her head and smiled. “You’ll have to tell me what exactly our relationship is, but I don’t think this is the place.”
Roumain stood up. “You’re my temptation to be resisted. But am I yours?” he asked before he walked away.
Tonya approached Mia. “Come, I will seat you. I thought, since you’re part birdman, you could sit with Angelo.”
Mia displayed her wings.
Tonya studied the archangel wings. To be given a set of these was an honor. It was a statement to all that Mia Cooper Martin was trusted by Heaven.
“Okay, maybe not. You never cease to amaze me, little sister,” Tonya said. “I’m sure Altair will welcome you.”
“I would hope so.” She pulled in her wings as they climbed the stairs.
Altair opened the door to his box and bowed.
Mia curtsied.
Tonya left them.
“So, how are you enjoying the show?” Altair asked, pulling out the backless padded bench and helping Mia manage her wings as she sat.
“Aside from being part of the sideshow, I’m intrigued by this place,” she admitted.
“I know you’re putting on a brave face. Speaking of face, what happened to the wound Victor gave you?”
“It’s still there. The mages camouflaged it so only I and the giver could see it.”
“I could remove it.”
“No, I want it to stay. It’s a reminder.”
“I’m sure you’re aware it’s an affront to Michael. A message sent by Victor to him. I take it, he was angry that his wings were taken from you.”
“That’s Victor’s problem. No one can see the scar but me, Victor, and Lazar. Why he can see it I haven’t figured out yet.”
“Ah, the houseboy is more than he appears.”
“Don’t be cruel.”
“Speaking of cruel, you snubbed Angelo’s invitation.”
“I wouldn’t sit with him if my ass grew out of the chair.”
“Mia! Keep your voice down. There are four of them and only one of me.”
“Then they are outnumbered.”
Altair coughed to cover his laughter.
Ted turned around when Burt entered the office. “You’re back already?”
“My part is done. Murphy’s back too.”
“Mia?”
“She’s there as Orion’s witness. She did well. I’m going to sit down and write down everything I can before I forget, or they make me forget. You’re welcome to look over my shoulder…”
“I’ll wait for Mia to tell me.”
Burt looked over at Ted. “Are we okay?” Burt asked.
“Yes. It’s hard waiting, that’s all.”
“You could have come. She could have used the moral support.”
“I didn’t trust that the moment I left, that we wouldn’t be overrun with Others.”
“Did you tell Mia that?”
“No. I didn’t want to add to her burden.”
“Can you imagine turning your grandmother in to the council?”
“My great-aunt Mildred in a pinch, but not my grandmother.”
The meeting resumed. Ameen stood up and nodded to Tonya.
“Council of Women, I invite Orion Stavros to the fire.”
Orion walked in and stood, waiting to be addressed.
“Welcome, Orion.”
“Thank you for making time for me.”
Ameen looked up and down the dais, and when the other women had settled, she said, “You may begin.”
“Yesterday, an Other extermination squad approached my wife, Audrey McCarthy Stavros. They held a contract to kill my infant son, Luke.”
There was an uproar in the assembly.
Orion waited until the voices died down before continuing. “Fortunately, good friends stepped up, and I can report that my son is safe. I won’t elaborate why he was targeted, except to say that his living appears to be an affront to the Cynosura. This is the second attempt this week targeting Luke. The first attempt has to do with a candle,” Orion said, referring to Judge Roumain’s story. “We are lucky that Mia had the presence of mind and the help of the others affected to right time, or otherwise, my son would not exist. The witch trees would have already overrun our communities, feasting upon our young. This is more than targeting a single individual. This was a calculated assault perpetrated for the Cynosura by the gargoyle wizard Quazar.”
“What proof
