Richelle Mead - Gameboard of the Gods

He and his husband locked eyes for several tense seconds. “Okay,” said Leo at last. “We’ll take a car. Dom doesn’t like public transportation.”

All of Justin’s dislike for Dominic returned. “A car will take forever!”

“Just twenty-four hours,” said Leo. “We’ll sleep along the way.”

Justin tried to size Dominic up. “What do you have to offer in this zany adventure? Drinks for the road?”

“Dom’s a good person to have your back. Let Mae do the heavy lifting, and keep him around just in case.” Leo smiled, but there was a nervous edge to it. “Besides, I’d like the company.”

Once the fateful decision was made, the four of them huddled together to hash out plans. They spent the rest of the day analyzing what satellite and land records they could get ahold of on short notice, as well as planning the logistics of such a feat. When evening fell, they had as solid a plan as they were going to get. Unfortunately, it was going to take Leo nearly two days to get some necessary equipment—putting them in the grant the day before the full moon.

Cutting it close, said Horatio as Justin and Mae rode the train back to Vancouver.

Nothing to be done but wait and see how it unfolds, Justin told him.

You’re the one who’ll be waiting, said Magnus. She’s going to be doing all the work. She’s risking herself for you.

Justin glanced at Mae out of the corner of his eye. She sat next to him, reading on her ego, her hair hanging around her face in a golden wave.

“Mae…” She glanced up too quickly, making him think she hadn’t been reading. “Thank you for this. I know what a big risk you’re taking for me.”

Her face was carved of marble. “It’s for my country.” She looked back down again, and his stomach sank.

I guess I have to take what I can get, he thought.

You can help her, said Horatio.

How? I’m no prætorian. I’m not even a tank like Dominic.

You have the potential for power beyond physical strength, said Magnus. If you’d just open yourself to it.

I’m not interested in your mystical training. I’m not serving any god.

What harm is one spell? Horatio paused for impact. One that could keep her safe.

The only way she’d be safe is if she stayed at home. But Justin was intrigued, and he dared another covert look at her. What would I have to do?

He could feel the ravens’ excitement. Close your eyes, said Magnus. And concentrate on the symbol we’re about to show you….

“Honestly, who doesn’t take public transportation?” asked Justin for what had to be the fifth time during his and Mae’s journey two days later. “How does he get around?”

“He doesn’t,” she reminded him as they rode to their hotel. Two flights had just delivered them to Sioux Falls, the largest plebeian city outside of the Pan-Celt grant. “He stays at home and grows grapes.”

Justin shook his head. “It’s the sex, right? That has to be the only reason Leo would put up with that—though Dominic doesn’t really strike me as the creative type.”

Leo and Dominic had left by car last night and were due to rendezvous at the hotel in a few more hours. They couldn’t have pulled off this escapade before nightfall anyway, but Justin was still incredulous over what he saw as a waste of time. Mae was weary of hearing about it but had a feeling it had become a way for him to cope with the stress of their upcoming task. Complaining about Dominic saved Justin from agonizing about the possible fallout if they failed. Tomorrow was the full moon, and neither knew what would happen to him if another murder slipped by.

They scanned their egos at their hotel’s front desk, and moments later, an attendant returned with two room keys and a box. She split the keys and gave the box to Mae. “It arrived for you this afternoon.”

Mae thanked her and studied the package as she and Justin walked to the elevators. A printed label clearly identified her name and the hotel, and the postage tracking code said it had been shipped express. The return address was for a bulk shipping facility, with no sender’s name.

“What is this?” she asked Justin.

“How should I know? I didn’t send it.”

“Who else knows we’re here?”

“Callista,” he admitted. “Don’t look at me like that. She wants them taken out as much as we do, so I’ve kept in touch. Now open it.”

Inside, Mae found a knife. Or rather, a dagger. The handle was wrapped in three bands of yellow amber, and the guard was embellished with an inlay of multicolored stones. Carefully, she lifted the weapon out and found it had a good weight and solid craftsmanship.

“No silver here,” she said, running her finger over the sharp steel blade. This was a recently constructed item, no ancient artifact, despite the embellishment. “The Morrigan’s servants would have an easier time with one of these.”

“They seem to be doing okay,” he reminded her. “Any note or explanation?”

She checked the box. “Nope. Maybe Callista felt bad about keeping my other knife. I never got it back after I threw it into Raoul Menari.”

Although Mae didn’t want to accept any gift from Callista, she was struck by the weapon’s beauty and strength. It also fit easily in the sheath she’d had sewn into the inside of her boot, almost as well as her old one had. Mae decided to keep it, much to Justin’s amusement. As Tessa would say, you could never have too much protection.

“You want to get dinner once the luggage is settled?” They lingered out in the hall by their rooms, which were next door to each other. “Still a couple of hours before Leo and Dominic show up.”

Mae deliberated for a long time. “Okay.”

Later, she wished she’d refused. She couldn’t muster any of the easy banter they used to share, not after what had passed, and Justin’s constant attempts at conversation grated on her. All she kept thinking about was that Nordic hotel room. Once I’ve been with a woman, there’s no mystery. No novelty. There’s no reason to go back once I know what it’s like. And …. I know what it’s like with you.

It was a relief when Leo and Dominic showed up. After checking in, the two left for their room, promising they’d be right back down. Justin looked forlorn.

“Do you see how tired Leo is? No one can get any real sleep in a car.”

“Dominic looks okay.”

“Yeah, but we don’t need his technical genius sharp and alert.”

The foursome ended up taking Leo and Dominic’s rented car out to the grant and used Mae’s credentials to get them in. As a fellow patrician, she had short-term access for herself and up to four guests. Justin could’ve obviously gotten them in as well, but he was afraid identifying himself as a servitor would attract too much attention—not that an armed prætorian was exactly low-profile either.

Once they were finally inside the borders, they ended up at another bar and simply waited for the clock to tick down. Leo had some of the satellite images of the warehouse that he went over with Mae, pointing out the most likely surveillance areas. Although she had more respect for his skills now, the “most likely” part unnerved her a little.

The appointed departure time came just before the bar closed, when most people were winding down and going to bed. Mae and the others drove to the warehouse, which was situated outside of town, and parked in a spot that kept the building in sight but was too far away to show up on any cameras. The thick trees and lack of lights on the road also kept their car well concealed.