Flawless Evans, Gabrielle (ebook smartphone .txt) 📖

“Same thing,” Torren answered with an unconcerned wave of his hand. “My point is that it seems suspicious that he was so vehement in his claim to Lynk, yet he hasn’t pursued him further.” When no one said anything else, Kieran squeezed Lynk’s leg and stood. “We think it was a ploy to hold Lynk inside Snake River so they could question him about certain types of magic.” He kept his response vague, unsure of how many in attendance knew about the Book of the Banished, or that Thane Braddock was being held in the coven.

Torren knew all of this, of course, but perhaps other members of The Council would have some further insight. If Zasha was truly mated to Thane as they had theorized, it was going to cause more problems than it solved, but at least it would help Kieran to rest easier. Just thinking about how the asshole had bitten Lynk made him want to run all the way to Snake River and rip the vampire’s heart out with his bare hands. Probably not the best move for interspecies relations, but it would make him feel a hell of a lot better about the entire ordeal.

“Thank you for your discretion, Kieran, but I think everyone here knows about the Book of the Banished.” Elder Layke Winters shifted in his chair and pushed his long, silver-blond hair behind his shoulder.

“I’m not sure that I agree, however. Before you arrived, did Leader Tuesday have any indication that you would be bringing Lynk Braddock with you?”

88 Gabrielle

Evans

Kieran looked across the aisle to Demos and Varik for answers.

Since he’d kind of just tagged along instead of being invited, he had no idea what arrangements had been made.

“No,” Varik answered with a frown. “I spoke with Zasha personally and informed him that Demos and I would be visiting with guests. I never said who those guests were.”

“There you have it.” Elder Camdin Maywater nodded slowly as he rubbed at his chin. It was his first Council meeting since being named representative to the fae. Kieran had never actually met him before, but he would have imagined a faerie to be small and petite like his friend, Kendall.

Camdin was easily the largest man in the room, and the place was crawling with big, brawny Enforcers. His voice was soft and musical, though, not the deep baritone Kieran had expected. The man was a complete mystery to him, and judging by the looks of confusion on most everyone else’s faces, he wasn’t alone.

“There would not have been sufficient time for Leader Tuesday to devise such an elaborate plan. I think Mr. Gershwin does believe Lynk to be his mate, so the question is why.” Camdin cocked his head to the side and considered Lynk for a long time before he spoke again.

“Whatever Leader Tuesday is planning—if anything—I don’t believe Zasha Gershwin is in on it.”

“So, what do we do?” Stavion wanted to know.

Torren looked down the row at his fellow elders and sighed. “We double the number of Enforcers patrolling the grounds. Raven will get in touch with whoever this Gideon person is, and Varik, I’m going to ask you to try and contact Zasha again.”

“Someone should speak directly with Leader Tuesday.” Kieran groaned and settled back into his seat. He respected Stavion as a leader and a person, but he just didn’t get why the man always felt the need to talk. Sometimes it was easier to get results by blowing shit up or kicking it to the ground. This seemed like one of those situations.

Flawless 89

“Are you volunteering?” Jory asked with an arched eyebrow. He obviously didn’t like the idea, but it was clear that he wouldn’t argue or diminish Stavion’s authority in front of the rest of The Council. He really was the perfect mate for the uptight vampire leader.

“I was thinking of someone unfamiliar to him and unassuming.

Someone who won’t intimidate or pose a threat to him.”

“I’ll do it.”

Kieran chuckled under his breath when Galen rose to his feet. No way in hell was Bannon going to let him do something so foolish.

“No, ya bloody well won’t!” Bannon shouted right on cue as he grabbed Galen around the waist and wrestled him back into his seat.

“Wait,” Jory called and held up both hands. “He might be on to something.” He rolled his eyes when Bannon growled at him. “I don’t mean we’re going to send him to Snake River by himself. What about the dreamwalking, though? Can you create a dreamscape where Leader Tuesday will feel relaxed enough that Galen can probe his thoughts? Maybe pull in Zasha, Gideon, and this other Enforcer, Axton, as well.”

“That’s actually a good idea,” Torren agreed. “He won’t be expecting it.”

“Could we pull Thane into this dream, too?” Lynk stood and rested his hands on the bench in front of him. “If that’s possible, I think I should go as well. I have the strongest connection to him.”

“Well, if he’s going, so am I.” It was a good idea, and Kieran could admit that. He wouldn’t stop Lynk from trying to help his brother, but he wanted to be there to watch over his mate in case things went wrong.

“It’s the best way for Varik and Raven to contact their friends,” Stavion added. “It would be much safer than a phone call.” All eyes turned to Bannon and Galen. “Can you do it?” Torren asked.

90 Gabrielle

Evans

Bannon dipped his head. “It’ll be a complicated dream world, but I can do it. I’ll be needin’ a day or two so I can work out the logistics.”

The relief at finally having a workable plan was obvious in the faces of those in the room. Kieran was just happy that they wouldn’t have to physically confront their enemies without having more information about them first.

“Thank you.”

Kieran arched an eyebrow in question when Lynk settled down beside him on the bench. “Why are