“That is one of the wisest things I’ve ever heard,” Darby muttered. “Where did you hear that?”
“Mel, and I know she got it from Mr. Rothchild because I’ve heard him say it in training as well. It’s how their whole clan runs their teaching and they genuinely believe in it. They never chastise or mock each other for one being better or getting help. I worried I would make Mel look bad that I needed the next level from her, but it was a sign she was so good a teacher I moved up. It’s always positive with them.”
“That’s why they’re the best,” he praised, bobbing his head. “Of all the dragon knight clans, they are constantly ranked top, even by other dragon knight clans.”
Hudson and Lucca both nodded, even Juan looked like he wanted to agree, but also wanted to stay loyal to the dragon knight clan that protected his family. I didn’t blame him, and it wasn’t like I was asking him to vote in.
The drama and crazy from McGrath’s arrest spread wide and fast, the excitement and outrage going way past dinner. And just like I’d expected, the warlock councilmen hurried to meet at their estate. The fae dogs I’d assigned to watch it checked in with some hobgoblins, and they got word to Irma, who let me know about an hour after dinner was over.
Time to start fighting back instead of simply playing defense.
I changed what I was wearing to something a bit warmer and opened a temp portal in my closet, careful to use the right everything so it was cloaked on the other side. It worked out perfectly because all the councilmen arrived outside in the parking area, no one allowed to open a portal directly in the building for security reasons.
I flipped up into a large tree near the entrance and waited for the last to arrive before revealing myself, but keeping a barrier up to protect myself. “Why the late meeting, boys? Did something go wrong today you should be worried about?”
Their array of reactions, from surprise to outrage, and the guards’ anger I had gotten past their security, was fucking hilarious.
“Seize her!” Ainsworth bellowed. “Get her immediately!”
“Oh please,” I drawled, widening my barrier so the guards couldn’t even get near the tree. “Let’s not be children who can’t use their heads for more than hat racks. I wouldn’t come here to chat if you had any chance of getting your hands on me. You guys fail on that, time and time and time again.” I chuckled darkly. “It’s really so fucking fun to watch you idiots spin your wheels and waste so much effort on it.”
“You will get in line and do as your—” one of the others started.
“No, I won’t,” I cut in, waving off the outrage I’d spoken out of turn or whatever other bullshit. “And I think you have other problems at the moment, kids.” I smiled evilly at them when they all flinched or reacted in some way. “A spy of yours was into kiddie porn. Bad, bad boys. And the humans found out? Oh, the shame. That’s got to be a huge mess.”
“You did this!” Ainsworth roared.
I blinked at him and blew a raspberry. “For the love of… You just figured that out? Seriously? And you guys think you’re so much better than me and deserve to control me, take all I have? You really—whatever, idiots.” I honestly couldn’t get over they hadn’t figured that out sooner. “But I’d make sure your houses are squeaky clean. Like, super squeaky clean, or you’re going to join McGrath.”
“The humans have nothing on us,” one of the other councilmen snapped.
“A funny thing about humans is humans tend to decide that for themselves,” I purred. “And they take kiddie porn very seriously, like they should, and also crimes like murder, that you assholes ignore and brush aside for money and power.” I held up my hand to hold them off. “How many calls did you make to your spy? They’re going to trace his calls and phone.
“They’ve got it. They’ve got everything of his. Did you send him money? They’ve got your banks now too. Oh, did you send it from the supe banks? Oh dear. That is a mess that’s your fault. I hope you can clean that up with the other groups and councils. I mean, you have so few friends already. You’ve burned the vampires with the Blake Ward scandal.
“You’ve pissed off Alpha Berman by not telling him I was as good as I am and downplaying me. Who else have you upset? McGrath will flip on you when you don’t rescue him, and you can’t save him from the FBI. You don’t know enough about human law enforcement to get in there. You think it provincial and not worth your time. You’re so utterly important, doing so many other big things.
“You know, like trying to marry off witches against their will and control me and steal all I have. Yes, you’re so fucking great. You’re so amazing that I look forward to you scurrying about to try and avoid this huge mess you got yourselves into. Did you email him? They track that too. The porn was on his computers, so they have those. There will be all the trails to you, and he will save himself at any cost.”
“He will never betray his council,” another councilman argued.
I shook my head. “He already did. He was never planning on handing me over. He was going to sell you access to me for the right price. After he bent me to his will with potions and his crazy he believes all women are stupid enough to fall for, he was never going to give me over. McGrath was never loyal to you. You picked scum to do a disgusting thing for you, and
