Moira Rogers - Crossroads

Nick wasn’t ready for something like this. She’d been running from her responsibilities for too long. Even now, her first thought had been to call someone else, someone who knew what to do. Her days of having that luxury were limited. Sooner or later, she’d have to buck up and start taking care of her own shit.

“Tomorrow,” she whispered. She’d start tomorrow.

A pounding on the apartment door woke Nick, and her heart jumped into her throat. Michelle made a soft, distressed noise, and Nick raised a finger to cover her lips. “Shh. Stay here.”

She slipped out of the room, closing the door behind her, and reached the end of the hallway in time to see Alec open the door for a livid Jackson.

“Crap,” she muttered.

He barely glanced at Alec before pointing at her. “You are up the creek, missy. What the hell is going on?”

“Aw, shit,” Alec drawled, stepping aside. “Who tattled? Derek?”

Nick crossed her arms over her chest. “Derek wouldn’t have done that.”

“Kat,” Jackson told them shortly as he stomped in. “Derek pissed her off because he got some, or something, and she didn’t, except that Andrew says no one got any. Which is beside the point. What happened?”

She ran her hands through her hair. “Michelle’s pregnant, and the Conclave’s hunting her and Aaron.”

Jackson cursed. “My mama’s downstairs with Mackenzie.”

“Precisely why Derek didn’t call you last night when he called Alec.” Nick dropped to a chair by the sofa and made a face. “It’s under control, Jackson. As much control as we can muster right now, anyway.”

“Aaron.” Alec rose and gestured to the tall man who stood silently in the corner. “Why don’t you take Michelle downstairs? Mackenzie and Nancy will get you both something to eat, I’m sure, and she’ll be safe down there between you and Mac.”

Aaron headed for the bedroom, and Nick walked into the kitchen to retrieve a mug. “Want some coffee, Jackson?”

He arched an eyebrow. “No, thanks.”

“How long are you going to be mad at me?”

Jackson transferred his withering look to Alec. “I’m mad at you both.”

Alec seemed unconcerned. “You used magic to sneak out of my house and face a homicidal Seer for my own good. Your high ground’s not so high, Holt.”

Aaron led Michelle out of the bedroom, and Jackson’s frown disappeared. “Hi, Michelle.”

“Jackson.” Her sister actually smiled as she hurried across the room. She stopped suddenly a foot short of Jackson, looking like she wanted to hug him but wasn’t completely sure the gesture would be accepted.

He opened his arms with a wide grin. “Come here.” She flew into his embrace, and he glanced at Nick over her head. “There’s someone I want you to meet downstairs, Michelle. My mother.”

Michelle looked momentarily concerned, but Alec didn’t give her a chance to say anything. “Mama Holt’s dying for some more people to mother, Michelle. Sorry, sweetheart, but I’m throwing you under the train that is Nancy Holt. If I don’t, she’ll be up here trying to find me a wife.”

“Oh, God forbid.” Nick sipped the coffee and grimaced. It was terrible. “She’s sweet, Michelle. You can practice your conversational French with her.”

“Okay.” Michelle slipped her hand into Aaron’s, and he led her out the door, leaving Nick and Alec to face Jackson.

Alec dropped back into his chair. “I’m thinking we should bundle your mother off to the safe house with them, Jackson. Keep her out of trouble and give Michelle someone to look after her who isn’t a nervous daddy trained in deadly combat.”

Jackson looked down at his own injured leg. “Mackenzie and I could go too. Just in case.”

“Well, yeah. But if I’d told you to go, you would have dug your stubborn ass in and refused.”

Jackson glanced at Nick, who shrugged. “He’s got a point.” She ignored Jackson’s disgusted noise and gave him a serious look in return. “I need your help. I need you to make sure no one busts through all of Alec’s security. To keep my sister and her baby safe.”

He scratched the back of his head. “Which safe house is it, Alec?”

Somehow Nick wasn’t surprised Alec had more than one. “I was thinking the one out in the bayou,” he said, tilting his chair back. “It’s not the nicest, but it’s got the strongest wards. Now that Michelle’s gone, Conclave doesn’t work with anyone strong enough to break them.”

“I’ll see if I can’t bolster them too. If I’m going to have Mama out there…” Jackson took Nick’s cup and drained it. “Jesus Christ, that’s awful.”

Nick took the mug back and tossed it in the sink. “Aaron must have brewed it. He’s always made crappy coffee.”

Alec cut through the small talk with characteristic bluntness. “Jackson, what happens to pregnant spell casters? Their magic goes to hell, doesn’t it?”

“I thought I noticed something different about Michelle.” Jackson nodded. “‘Necessary neutralization’ is what they call it. Resources are diverted to the baby, even magical ones. Most women end up with little to no control, just—”

“Automatic defensive measures,” Nick finished. “Which won’t hurt her or the baby, but could be dangerous for bystanders.”

“Shit.” Alec scratched at his beard, his eyes focused on the floor. “Can we assume she’s not going to do anything to hurt friends and loved ones, or is it open season if she gets startled?”

Jackson dug through the fridge and pulled out a can of soda. “Honestly? It’s probably no big deal unless there’s real danger. Then who the hell knows? She could take out everyone, just trying to eliminate the real threat.”

“Well, fuck. Maybe we shouldn’t have your mama in the house with her.”

He popped open the can. “It’ll be fine if I’m there.”

Nick hopped up to sit on the counter. “When can we get them out there? Like you said last night, Alec, this is the first place they’ll look.”

“Shit, as soon as they get something to eat. Jackson and I can take care of that, though.” Alec pointed a finger at her. “ You have something else to do, young lady. Derek’s going to lose his everloving mind if you don’t talk to him.”

“I’m not putting it off, I swear.” Even through her nervousness, she was eager to see him again. “I just want to make sure Michelle and Aaron are safe before I run off to fix my love life.”

Jackson finished his soda. “It could use some fixing, Nicky.”

“It’s not just your love life,” Alec corrected sternly. “You’re way past that, kiddo. That guy’s dominant as hell and feels like you’re in danger. If you don’t want him getting himself and some of us killed, deal with it.”

For a horrible moment, she couldn’t breathe. The thought of Derek hurt or worse… “I’m going to handle it. Now.”

Jackson tapped his empty can against the counter, then tossed it in the recycling bin. “I’ll go round everybody up.”

Alec waited until the door closed behind Jackson and shot Nick a serious look. “Don’t try to protect him, Nick. He may not have your experience, but he’s smart and he’s tough, and I’ve taught him a lot in the past two years. He can help.”

Derek’s strength had been one of the first things that had drawn her to him, even before the attack that had cost him his human existence. “I wouldn’t have sent him away last night if I hadn’t needed to, Alec. But I couldn’t deal with it all. Maybe that makes me weak or something, but I couldn’t do it.” She shrugged. “One of the things I realized is that I need his help.”

Oddly, Alec smiled. “You’re growing up, kiddo. Sort of sucks, huh?”