 
# Crossroads

### A Phoenix Novella

## Claire Farrell

### Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

About the Author

Books by Claire Farrell:

# Introduction

Crossroads (A Phoenix Novella)

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Phoenix is busy helping Ava come to terms with what happened to her when a death on the Senate puts him in the spotlight. If he doesn't find the culprit, then he'll be the one shouldering the blame. But he soon uncovers that things aren't as black and white as they first appear, and the time for making irrevocable choices has come sooner than he anticipated.
**Copyright © Claire Farrell**

Book cover provided by TheCoverCollection

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**Licence Notes**

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All Rights Reserved.

# One

Phoenix parked his car on a quiet road then walked toward the entrance of a quaint little cul-de-sac, mentally bracing himself. As he passed through the invisible barrier there, a wave of magic engulfed him. It had always been present, indistinguishable to most, but lately the sensation had grown along with its mistress's power.

He could see her already, her red hair alight in the full moon's glow. Ava Delaney sat cross-legged on the roof of her cottage at the end of the drive, her back to him, and her arms bare despite the evening's chill. She never seemed afraid anymore. Just sad.

He pitied her. Envied her, too.

It would have been easier to leave, to let it alone, but something he didn't recognise kept his feet moving until he reached her home. So late at night, he likely wouldn't disturb any other occupants, yet he felt like an intruder. Her inner circle didn't trust him. He knew that much.

It didn't take him long to climb onto the red roof to sit next to her.

She looked at him with a pained gaze. "How did you know I was up here?"

He brushed dirt off his palms against the knees of his jeans. "Saw you."

She glanced over her shoulder as though realising for the first time how exposed she was. "Oh."

She was always pale, but this counted as wan. Purple bags cupped her blue eyes, and her hair was loose and free to blow in her face. He brushed a lock of hair behind her ears, his breath catching in his throat at the grief in her downcast expression.

She had been the target of a mistake, and she was still paying the price. A lonely teenage girl had summoned a demon who tricked her into making a wish. The wish had caused Ava's humanity to be stolen from her, leaving only the most basic instincts behind. The side of Ava she so fiercely kept hidden had been exposed; she was still trying to adjust. And he felt partly responsible because the summoning spell had been hidden in a book he had given the girl. Ava was suffering for his mistakes as much as Ari's, and he had no idea if she blamed him.

He cleared his throat, suddenly unsure of himself. "How are you feeling? Any side-effects from the magic?"

"Fine." She shrugged. "I don't think so. How would I know?"

"The magic here is growing stronger," he said. "The barrier is—"

"That's because I'm different now." She waved a hand. "Changed."

"Not for the worse." Her growing power was something to be celebrated—the true currency of the world they inhabited. "This surge in strength only benefits those you wish to protect."

"Right." She hugged her knees to her chest. "And if I'm what they need protection from?"

"They won't. It's over. It was a twist of fate and trickery. And even though you lost your humanity, you didn't kill. You finally unleashed your darkest power, and it didn't destroy you. It merely made you greater."

"It made me a monster. I attacked people I love, innocent people, people who didn't deserve to feel afraid because of me." She ducked her head, pressing her forehead against her knees and muffling her voice. "I can't even look at myself in the mirror."

"This wasn't your fault."

"Do you think that matters? To anyone?"

"To the people who matter to you, yes." He brushed his hand through her hair. "Look at me."

She did, her cheeks wet with tears that she made a weak attempt to dry with her shoulder. "I _can't_ wake up next time with blood on my hands."

"Next time?"

"You have to promise me, _swear_ , that you'll kill me if it happens again. If I ever become... that thing again, you have to stop me before I hurt anyone."

He didn't hesitate. "No."

She flinched. "What?"

"I said no." He took her hand and held it in his. "I won't kill you."

"Somebody will." She swallowed hard. "Considering everything that's happened, you'd be... most efficient."

"Nobody will. I won't let them."

This time, it was her looking at him with pity. "I can't guarantee I won't lose myself to this again, and you all can't keep fighting the Senate to protect me either. You don't understand how I feel right now. I'm feeling emotions—desires—that I never have before. I'm close to falling on the wrong side. I feel it, _right there_ , that darkness inside me. It's rising to the surface, and I can't stop it. Whatever I did to hide it before... Ari's demon broke down the wall, and now I'm helpless."

"You're not helpless." He ran his thumb across her palm. She didn't see clearly yet. "It's a temptation. You've beaten temptations before."

"I tasted blood again. It's there." She shook him off and held her hand to her throat. "It might always be there." Her lower lip trembled. "I hurt Carl, and I said sorry, but I'm a hypocrite because all I can think about when I'm around him is the way his heart beats just a little faster than everyone else. And I swear he knows, but he won't do the smart thing and keep away from me. We're so bad for each other, but I just don't know how to make any of this better."

"It takes time. He's a good friend to you, and he'll understand if you talk to him about it."

"Haven't I put him through enough? I felt their fear, you know. They were all so afraid of me, and it was like that part of me fed on it. Except Carl. He wasn't scared at all, and somehow, that's worse." She dug a hand into her hair and pulled. "I should leave. I should kill myself, but I'm a coward. I don't want to die like _this_."

He gripped her shoulder hard. "Stop this. This isn't you."

"I don't know who I am anymore. I don't know!" Her breaths came out in gasps. "I'm holding on by my fingertips. Nothing makes sense anymore. I feel so... so violated. Dirty." She held out her arms and stared at herself in disgust. "This skin isn't even mine anymore. That demon took everything. I feel like I don't even belong here anymore. Everything that was safe is gone. Everything good, destroyed. I don't know what's left. I'm not _me_."

"You were forced to see a side of yourself that you find distasteful," he said. "It's understandable that it's taking you a while to come to terms with that."

"I had no control. I'm supposed to be strong, supposed to be able to take care of myself, but I had to watch my body being used, and I couldn't do a thing to stop it. And no matter how much you and Carl protest my innocence, I'm still being punished for it with every waking second. I swore I'd never allow anyone to make me feel so weak again, but when it came down to it, I couldn't do a thing to stop it." She shook her head, her mouth thin and grim. "I can't see home anymore. I feel... _everything_ now, Phoenix."

He shifted closer. "In what way?"

Her breathing calmed some. That was a start. "Before, I had vague feelings about lost souls and the like, but they're out there, so many of them, adrift and needing help. They're like strings tied to my skin, pulling a piece of me farther away every moment I don't help them." She looked at him, anguished. "How am I supposed to help them all?"

"One at a time. This is panic, Ava. You understand panic. You've overcome it before."

She released a shaky laugh. "That took years. I don't have years. I don't have time to screw everything up." She sucked in a shaky breath. "You know what's worse? I spent my whole childhood being told how bad I was, and a part of me, a tiny part of me, held on to the hope that my grandmother was wrong. That all of those people were wrong about me. That tiny drop of hope kept me going, and now it's all gone because of one teenage girl's throwaway remark. Everything I've built has been destroyed, and everyone I care about got to see it. They all watched me become the very thing I promised them I wasn't." She gazed up at the moon, her lower lip trembling. "I was wrong all along. I _am_ the monster."

"Somebody else's mistake doesn't unbalance the scales. You try to do good."

She didn't speak, didn't react at all. Why couldn't he find the words to help her?

"It's all over now." He wanted to touch her soul, to show her how he saw her. "We overcame it."

"What if it's not over? What if that side of me ultimately wins? I was made to fight a holy war. I thought that meant something, but what if I don't get to choose which side I'm on?" A visible shudder ran through her entire body. "We have to be sensible about this. We have to have... a system. I'm terrified I'll... Look, Phoenix, I'm serious. I'd rather die than feel so helpless again, so you need to promise me that you'll end my life if something like that happens again."

He lifted her onto his lap in one swift movement. She was too stunned to struggle.

He held her closer, willing her to see the truth. "You are not a monster, and you'll never be one. If you feel like you're losing control, then I'll hold your hand and stay with you until you figure it out. I'll make sure you see home again. But I won't kill you."

"Even my friends would." But her gaze had caught his, and he knew she was finally listening to him rather than the doubts in her head.

"Only the very foolish ones." He grinned. Her returning smile was automatic but warm. "The scared ones, perhaps. The ones who give up too easily, maybe, but when it came down to it, even those who were the first to claim they would kill you couldn't do it when they actually had the chance."

"I'm surrounded by idiots." But her shoulders had already relaxed.

"I see the same person when I look at you." He held her closer. "The thirst and the ferocity, the vulnerability and the ability to love... they're just pieces of a whole. Why focus on one part when all of them work together?"

She held his gaze, and he saw past the fear to the strength that was still there. She would survive, as she always did. "Why are you even helping me? I'm more trouble than I'm worth. I think I've made that clear to everyone."

_Because_.

"You need to sleep," he said instead, noting the exhaustion in her voice. "A good night's sleep would do you wonders."

"I haven't been able to sleep properly since..." She stared into the distance. "I keep dreaming of Gabe. He's trying to tell me something, but I can't hear him."

The last time she'd been so miserable had been after Gabe's death. Guilt had threatened to drown her then as it did now. It was time for a change in tack. "Do you know what it was like for me when my memories were gone?"

She sniffed, her troubled expression shifting to empathic in a split second. That was just like her. "It was difficult for you."

He hesitated. There was no closing some doors.

She cupped his cheek. "It's okay. You don't have to talk about it."

He wanted to, always seemed ready to blurt secrets in her presence. "I think that my mother had to dig deep to rid me of my memories of my wife and children. I think that they were so connected to everything I was, to the man I had become, that she had to purge too much from me." That was Ava's problem. She'd tied herself to an image she couldn't live up to and was grieving the loss.

"I'm so sorry."

Her concern warmed his heart. "I know you are. You feel so much too deeply. And I'm learning from you. Do you understand that?"

She froze into place. He had to be careful. Too much truth would feel like a cage, and she was the freest bird he knew.

He ran his fingers along her bare arm to keep him from foolishness. But nothing led him toward foolishness quite like the woman in his arms. "I don't know how many years it was. I was in a daze for quite some time. Nothing connected. The remaining memories no longer made sense. The gaps left me confused, ill-equipped to deal with the simplest of tasks. She went too far, and I could easily have suffered permanent brain damage."

"She risked that just to wipe some memories," Ava whispered in disbelief. "She wanted to own you, no matter the price."

"Exactly. I would never be whole again, but over time, my condition improved. That period is still fuzzy, but I began to work around the gaps, to see connections again." He distracted himself from falling thoroughly into that sad place by dropping a kiss on her temple. She laid a hand over his heart, and it took him a full moment to continue. "My mind started to gloss over the emptiness, so I could at least pretend to be whole."

"And that helped you cope?"

"Mostly. It was a new reality, and although I couldn't remember my old one, I had a sense that something wasn't quite right. Then my mother sent me to the werewolves, and I was to look after them. And it was then I was reborn. They were the link to keep me going. We were often drugged, all of us, but Icarus would know. He always knew when something was wrong, when I was losing track, and he somehow managed to keep me afloat on the worst days. I managed to convince myself that my life was normal, that of course my mother wanted the best for me. It was easier than dealing with the truth. In any case, I was just existing. Drifting. I wasn't a real person anymore. I had lost too much of myself already, didn't know what I should be fighting for."

"You seemed okay when we first met." She toyed with his braid. "You've always seemed in control."

If she only knew. He choked out a laugh. "One day, I was in a cloudy daze until visitors came, and I saw her, a spring bud walking amongst ancients as though she already knew her place was above them."

Her eyebrows furrowed together.

"I saw _you_ , felt your presence, and everything grew clearer."

She looked startled. Perhaps he had gone too far. His hand drifted to her hip, and she let him be, so he continued.

"I wanted to know who you were, what secrets you were keeping, and that woke me up all over again. Perhaps my empty shell recognised something of my old self in you, but either way, you started me on the path of discovery, gave me a purpose, even returned my children to me. Because of you, I started to... to live again, to understand, to recall the man I had been. So that's one reason why I would help you. Because you helped me before you even understood why I needed help. This is what you do for all of us, and in turn, we'll do that for you, too."

"That's..." Conflicted emotions clouded her gaze. "I just... I feel as though I let everyone down. They trusted me to protect them, and I couldn't even protect them from me. I'm so ashamed, Phoenix. Nobody looks at me the same way anymore. Except Carl, and that's dangerous. I promised to protect him, but I'm the risk, and he doesn't even care."

He cupped her cheek and made her look at him. "You have more power now, and it might be hard to wield, but you're strong enough to control it. Ari's demon unleashed a part of you that you've ignored for too long. You can't shut it away again, so you must learn to live with it. And while you do, I'll be by your side helping you focus when you need me."

He hurriedly silenced that unsettling part of him that was gleeful about her needing him.

"I think you're the only one who really gets it," she said, almost shyly.

Her skin burned under his touch. He grazed the corner of her mouth with his thumb. "That's who you were for me. I like all of the parts of you, even if you don't."

She kissed him, her lips burning with the wildness he had recognised in her the first time they had met. If she knew the lengths he had gone to, the fervency in which he pursued a connection to her, she would never touch him again. But few things in the world made him feel real, so it was worth the risks. He hadn't expected it to go so far, and yet...

"Come to my place," he said, pulling away. "It's empty. Lucia's with her cousin, and Lorcan is at some all-nighter again. Don't be alone tonight. Not here."

She gazed around the cul-de-sac, obviously reluctant.

"Until you get over this, make new memories." He kissed her fingertips. "But you _will_ get over this."

Her eyes were wide with trust and innocence, drawn in to a dream so easily when he held her close. The darkness in her gave her power, gifts, but it didn't change the core of her being. It would never completely change her. And that made her safe enough to be his anchor.

He drew her closer. "I promise," he whispered against her lips, and that seemed to be enough for her.

# Two

He watched her sleep, face-down and naked in his bed. She had come close to death by the hands of friends and enemies alike, but in sleep, she relaxed. He recalled Peter Brannigan's taunt clearly, but there had been no nightmares in his bed—for either of them.

He still remembered the taste of the power in her blood the time she had fed him to save his life. Fae magic was ancient, steady and unchanging, but hers was brand new, a fresh, wild kind of energy that had burned through him.

He liked having her in his bed more than he had foreseen. It was peaceful. He liked how she didn't hide her scars, so he didn't hide his either. Not being alone was good for him. He would enjoy it while it lasted.

She stirred slowly. She lifted her head, softly grumbling under her breath. She sat up, rubbed her eyes, then bent down to look under the bed.

He held his breath. What would she do when she saw it?

She lay back down, rolled over to face him, and saw that he was awake. "The magical box under your bed woke me up." She almost sounded indignant.

He couldn't resist a smile. "The Princess and the Pea."

She rubbed her eyes again. "Wait. What time is it?"

He reached out and twined a lock of her hair around his fingers. "Still early. You don't have to leave yet."

_Please stay._

"I don't think I'm going to fall back asleep." She sat up and gathered the sheet around her. "How can you sleep with that thing under there?"

"I'm used to it." He wondered what she felt from the box. He expected her to question him further, but she left him to use the bathroom. He threw on a pair of jeans then headed downstairs to put on some coffee. He wouldn't stop her if she investigated further—that wouldn't be fair—but she wouldn't be happy with him if she did. He braced himself for a storm.

She followed him downstairs, wearing one of his shirts and a smile. The relief he felt left him light-headed. She took two cups out of the press without hesitation.

"How domesticated we are tonight." After a couple of silent mental run-throughs, he actually managed to make the words sound breezy.

"Well-trained, more like," she teased.

He trapped her against the counter to nuzzle her neck, inhaling the vanilla and rose scents that always lingered on her skin and hair. "You seem calmer now."

She gently tugged a handful of his hair. "What, after my little meltdown, you mean?"

He smiled against her throat. He'd known for a long time that the little tainted nephal everyone feared was good for his soul. He kissed her chin. "That's exactly what I mean."

"Sometimes you just need to vent to someone who'll listen." She freed herself and held his gaze. "For yourself, not just to help them. Think about it sometime."

He froze. That went against everything he had been taught. He'd shared more with her than he was comfortable with already.

She caught his reticence. "What's up?"

"We would consider that a sign of weakness."

She sidled out of his arms to pour the coffee. "We?"

He slipped into a seat at the counter. "The fae. My mother. Showing weakness is not acceptable."

She shot him a knowing look. "Do you think _I'm_ weak?"

"Of course not."

"Then showing vulnerability in front of a friend can't do anything but help, right?"

"Logically, I see that, but I come from a world without trust." He accepted the cup she handed him. "In practice, old habits are hard to break."

When she took the seat next to him, his hand went to her lower back as though by a force of its own.

She leaned into his touch. "I know how hard it is to trust when the world has taught you not to, but sometimes you have to just let it happen."

"There are those I know I can trust, but I often wonder how many fae still think the same way as my mother did."

"From what I hear, plenty of them are celebrating the freedom."

He smiled. "Ah. Lorcan has been making friends with like-minded individuals, it's true. But he finds it easier to trust than I do. Well, he finds it easier to trust anyone but me, that is."

She leaned back in the chair and stretched her legs across his knees. "Things will keep getting better between you. When it comes down to it, he'll take your side, no matter what."

"I would hope so, but I can't expect that much." He squeezed her thigh, needing skin contact to strengthen the connection between his thoughts and his feelings. "He's so bitter sometimes. From what I understand, he used to accept his life, but my presence seems to force him to see all of the things he's missed out on. And Lucia..."

"You're worried about her, too," she stated matter of factly. "So am I. I know you don't approve of Val, but this thing with her and Lucia... neither of them is happy now."

"I know this. I worried that Val would only bring Lucia reminders of her past, but she seemed brighter around her. The light has dimmed since their relationship ended. Lucia spends most of her time with Lavinia lately, helping her with the baby and her magic. Does it count as a coven if there are only two and one can't use magic?"

She snorted with laughter. "We rejects do things our own way." She raised her cup. "I might have had to turn into a scary monster for a while, but you lot really pulled together in the end. I still can't believe you all came out of it unharmed."

"It was close," he said, enjoying her laugh. "I expected Carl to shank Patrick at any moment."

Her eyes glittered with amusement. "Holy shit, you made a proper joke."

"I told you. I'm learning from you."

"I'm a terrible influence. I should read some proper literature or something."

On a whim, he leaned over and kissed her forehead. "I quite like your influence as is, thank you very much."

She slipped her hand over his bare shoulder to hold him close. "Thank you, Phoenix."

"For?"

"Stuff." She kissed him, and the coffee was forgotten.

She was gone before he woke the second time. He was used to that. She didn't like to shove their... friendship into anyone's face. But had it ever been friendship? He couldn't find a word in existence that accurately described their relationship.

He lay on his bed and stared at the ceiling, one hand behind his head, the other hanging over the edge. The sheets smelled like her, but the room felt empty. He ignored the lure of the box under his bed. He didn't need it.

His week was full of meetings he didn't want to attend. He had too much paperwork to go through, too many secrets to unveil. But Senate and fae alike weren't interested in uprooting the past. They focused on the future. Thinking about the future for too long made him fearful.

He got up and put on the shirt she'd borrowed. For a little while longer, he'd feel less alone. Downstairs, with more coffee in hand, he began his daily perusal of a growing pile of evidence. Maybe none of it mattered, but he wanted all of the links to his mother—the woman who had wiped his memories—destroyed for good. He was still working on finding all of the pies her human ally had a finger in—obsessively, some might say. Declan Egan might be dead, but they'd all learned the hard way that his schemes were still ongoing. The man had prepared for well after his death, but why? What was the point of the chaos he had spread?

He glanced over his son's notes. Lorcan had figured out Egan's savant servant came encrypted. His memories had been tampered so that he could only recall certain facts while looking at a code. The man's brain was half-addled, but his memories of Egan's deeds were crystal clear. Phoenix couldn't help but wonder how many others were out there, like himself and the savant, Tomas, with tampered memories they couldn't access. The smallest glimmer of hope remained that a key to unlocking those lost memories still existed.

The sound of a car driving through the gates broke his concentration. He looked out the window, blinking at the glare of the headlights. An official Senate-issued vehicle pulled up outside his house. He buttoned his shirt then went outside. He didn't recognise the duo who left the vehicle, but they wore the distinct grey and black uniform of the branch of police enforcement known as Integration Agents.

"We need to escort you to an emergency meeting with the Senate," the human female said in a cold voice, her light brown eyes watchful and shrewd.

"Who was attacked?" Phoenix asked.

The shorter male, a supernatural whose origin Phoenix couldn't discern by sight, shot him a sharp look. "Who said anyone was attacked?"

"Then why would I need bodyguards?" Phoenix folded his arms across his chest. Something was off.

The pair glanced at each other. "We need you to get in the car," the woman said. "A member of the Senate has been assassinated. We need all of you together in a secure location."

He looked them both over. His location was already secure. But if they weren't what they seemed, he could easily take them both. And if they were... one of the Senate was dead. But was it a personal attack or just the start of a war? He had been waiting for something to happen. Constant vigilance was key. Nobody in power could ever relax.

"I'll go with you," Phoenix said. "Where are you taking me?"

"Under."

He raised a brow. "Are you serious?"

"Safest place," the male said in a clipped tone. "We don't have time to talk this out."

Phoenix reached for his coat, keys already in the pocket, then closed his door shut. He got into the car, but dread filled the pit of his stomach. Under wasn't safe for anyone.

# Three

Phoenix recognised every street they passed, comfortable in the knowledge the agents were telling the truth about where they were taking him. He enjoyed the view, even of the more run-down streets, partly because it meant they had history and memories. That was important.

The silence soon wore thin, however. "Have the other members of the Senate—"

"We don't know anything," the woman said in an abrupt manner.

That was that then. He contemplated using his phone but decided to wait things out. The atmosphere in the car wasn't aggressive, and he didn't feel threatened.

He kept his mind occupied wondering which of the Senate had been murdered. Elathan, a fae of a very different sort, was abroad but highly capable of taking care of himself. He doubted anybody had gotten past Vega's half-giant bodyguard. Of the others still in the country, he rated the vampire queen's chances of survival highest. The police commissioner was likely a target even before he earned a place on the Council. James and Willow were practically harmless—easy targets, but mostly inoffensive in general. Layla had enough of her own people around her, and Callista enough charms, to keep them both safe.

Clementine, the newest addition, was the one he knew least about. Perhaps the witches had gone after one of their own. He wouldn't regret her death. She'd attempted to pursue the teenage girl who had caused Ava's problems with an unsettling vehemence. A magic thief Ari might be, but she wasn't a monster by any stretch of the imagination. Clementine, on the other hand, was clearly a problem.

The car finally parked outside the entrance of the underground tunnels known as Under. A section of the old Council's tunnels had been transformed into a maze of a prison. The word "Under" was intended to instill fear in the hearts of those likely to end up inside. Some of the rumours about the place were even true. Phoenix had no taste for being there. Under was more of a fortress now, and he didn't like the idea of being trapped there for any length of time.

There were two entrances, both hidden from the public, and it was the most regularly used one located under a massive stretch of empty farmland that they had arrived at. The agents exchanged a look, neither of them making a move to leave the car.

"I doubt we were followed," Phoenix said. "No need for concern."

The woman's shoulders lifted then fell as though in a silent sigh. "Let's move."

Phoenix followed the pair out of the car and toward the concealed entrance. They both seemed jumpier than before. He glanced over his shoulder, but the view consisted mostly of fallow fields.

"This way," the male agent said. He stepped aside and gestured for Phoenix to go first.

Phoenix took one last glance over his shoulder before entering the tunnel. The scent of disinfectant immediately filled his nose, making him want to sneeze. He blinked until his sight adjusted to the harsh fluorescent lights, a headache already starting to thud behind his eyes.

The hallways were as white as they had been during his mother's time, when torture was the answer to everything. Sometimes he wondered if he were part of a system perpetuating the same old story. Under his mother's control, he'd been convinced of things that weren't true, that never even felt real, but he hadn't been strong enough to push back against the wrongness of it all. He'd been powerless until Ava gave voice to his reasons for fighting back. The Senate had been his chance to control his life, to change the wrongs in the world, but progress was often frustratingly slow.

"Is everyone else here?" he asked.

"As far as we know," the female agent said.

"Who died?"

"You'll see."

He bit back an impatient retort.

They continued down the white hallways until finally, he was led into a room. The walls were just as pristine, and one empty chair sat in front of a table. Layla, Callista, Mick, Willow, Daimhín, and the witch, Clementine were already sitting facing the empty seat.

He stared at that vacant chair for a few moments before meeting Callista's eyes. The situation was slowly becoming clearer. He saw no friendship in those depths.

"James? He's dead?"

Willow let out a shaky sob then covered her face with a handkerchief. The older woman often loudly professed to caring for the innocent and vulnerable, but this was pure emotion erupting out of her.

He was stunned by a sudden rush of sadness that completely engulfed him and made it hard to think straight.

"His body was found two hours ago," Layla said, her dark eyes as sympathetic as her voice. "You should sit down."

He struggled to gather his thoughts. "What about Elathan and Vega? Have they been informed? Are they safe?"

"They're on their way." Was it his imagination or did the succubi look embarrassed?

Callista's expression was cool, chilly even, and the witch looked far too self-satisfied to be a good sign.

He glanced at each face then realised he was on the wrong side of the table. He slowly took his seat. "I take it I haven't been summoned here for my own safety then."

"James was stabbed to death." Mick made the announcement in an emotionless voice, but his eyes told another story. His work with the police force meant he was no stranger to bad news, but he'd been friendly with James, too, so the news was personal. "The weapon has been identified as an old fae dagger belonging to your mother." He held out his hands. "Belonging to you."

Because he had inherited every damn thing she owned. "Identified by whom?"

"At this time, you don't need to know that," Mick said, a hint of apology in his eyes.

"You don't seriously believe it's my dagger," Phoenix said with a short, sharp breath, looking for an ally where there was none. Nobody was prepared to stand up for him. He was on his own.

"We've all seen you rage against James in the past," Mick said. "You've threatened him, Phoenix. Of course you're a suspect. But even if you weren't, we should all be here. The Senate hasn't been a working unit in a while, maybe ever. It's time we fixed things. I'm tried of the bickering."

"All right." Phoenix buried his irritation deep. Anger would get him nowhere. He needed information. "Who knows about this?"

"Very few people," Mick said. "One of Shay's teams were called to a disturbance at James's home. They found his body there."

"And you've already identified the murder weapon and the owner. Fantastic work," Phoenix said dryly.

"Did you kill him?" Willow blurted. "Did you murder poor James?"

"No," Phoenix said. "Not that it matters. I see I've already been tried and judged before I got here."

"It was your mother's weapon!" Willow shed fresh tears.

"You can't possibly know that," he said, unable to keep the coolness from his words.

"Clem's spell told us!" Willow bit her lip then shrank back into her seat.

But the witch wasn't cowed. She gazed back at Phoenix's questioning look with defiance. The harsh light made the dusting of freckles across her nose stand out against her light brown skin while tawny red curls created a halo effect around her face.

"Your spell," Phoenix said hesitantly. "And can we trust your magic?"

She released a spark of magic from her fingertips with a taunting smile. "My magic is strong. Fionnuala owned that dagger."

"But was she the last owner?" Phoenix asked. "Or did your spell just pick up a past owner?"

"Her son, you mean?" Clementine said sharply. "James's death won't go unpunished."

"Oh, please," Daimhín said impatiently. "The man was a fool. He's no great loss. There are plenty of humans better able to fill his seat. If we even need to fill the seat. We didn't replace Mac with another shifter when he died, and Mick is human enough to take over James's tasks—if he was ever trusted with any."

"Don't be foolish yourself," Callista snapped. "We have enough trouble without one Senate member being accused of killing another. Particularly one as powerful as Phoenix after all of the rumours surfacing lately. _He_ has the fae and the werewolves on his side. They will call this a coup."

" _They_? And who are they exactly?" Phoenix asked.

She tossed her perfectly styled blond hair over her shoulder in one practiced, dismissive movement. "You know what I mean."

"When does Elathan get here?" he demanded. "He at least has some sense."

"Sense? You've been unhinged lately." Callista pointed at him, losing her cool. "Acting ridiculous. Running around the capital with a werewolf, keeping secrets. Too many secrets! You should have told us what happened with Ava Delaney in the first place."

"I handled the situation." He folded his arms, made an attempt to appear calm. "Why would I have bothered dragging any of you into that?"

She slammed her hands on the table. "Because that's how this works! Your priorities have obviously veered into a direction I can't even begin to comprehend. Why should any of us believe in you now?"

"Calmer voices will make better progress," Mick said. "We need to discuss this rationally."

"It might be rational to remember that this wouldn't be the first time a murder has been used to frame somebody," Layla said.

"Of course _you're_ backing him," Callista muttered under her breath.

The witch stretched in her seat, the movement drawing eyes. She stared back at Phoenix. "This can't get out. We need to deal with this internally without the fae coming at us. We expect you to come up with a resolution, Phoenix."

He almost laughed. "Me? Well, I don't know. Maybe let's find the real killer."

"Who would kill him?" Layla said.

Too many faces looked at Phoenix.

"Do you have an alibi?" Mick asked. "Last night, anywhere from midnight onward. Were your children home? Can they vouch for you?"

Phoenix made an effort to relax. "No, they cannot."

Mick winced. Layla covered her face.

"I wasn't at home for a while," Phoenix said, feeling the hole beneath him grow larger with every word. "But if James's death was so horrific, then surely I would have left some evidence. Feel free to search my home if that's what it takes, but in the meantime, we need to look into _why_ he was killed. He was human, an easy target, but what was the purpose? To get me out of the way, or was he merely the beginning?"

Daimhín straightened. All eyes turned to the vampire queen. Phoenix had barely paid attention to her because she'd been pretty quiet throughout the meeting, but the old woman didn't look good. Her eyes were an unpleasantly muddy mix of red and blue, and while all ancient vampires had mottled, unhealthy looking skin, Daimhín actually looked as though her skin had peeled off in places.

"Do you know something?" Callista asked her, apparently unable to drop the accusatory tone.

"It's... Eloise, my seer, she's been warning me of danger for a while. Maybe it's related."

"What kind of danger?" Willow asked.

"My death," Daimhín said. "It's an odd coincidence, is it not?"

Phoenix found it hard to believe in coincidences. "One dead, one expecting death." He nodded at Layla. "And one barely escaping a situation that could have wiped out her entire species. And everybody thinks I'm the most likely suspect? Right."

Mick steepled his hands. "If there's any suspicion, we need to act. You understand this, Phoenix. If we moved against you later, when you had time to—"

"Time to do what? Hide the weapon I conveniently left at the crime scene? Please stop insulting my intelligence."

"For what it's worth, I don't believe you did this," Layla said. "We're letting panic get the better of us. And perhaps that's exactly what the killer wants."

Finally, somebody was making sense. He took a deep calming breath. "What happens now?"

"The crime scene is still being investigated," Mick said. "I'm going over there to personally make sure that—"

"I should join you," Phoenix said.

"No," Clementine said sharply. "You need to stay here."

"Am I your prisoner?" he asked, inwardly seething. If it wasn't for him, she wouldn't even be in a position of power. He certainly realised his mistake now.

"We just want to make sure nothing else goes wrong," Callista said soothingly, apparently pulling herself together. It was too late. Her charm wouldn't work on him again.

He let out an unpleasant laugh. "You mean you don't want me to prove you all wrong again."

"Just for a few hours," Layla said apologetically. "This is not what I want. For the record, I was outvoted."

"And I didn't get a say," Phoenix said with a laugh.

"It's too close to sunrise for me to leave," Daimhín said. "You're not the only one trapped down here."

"We don't expect you to wait in a cell," Mick clarified. "But you surely see why we need you where we can find you."

"Do you think I'll run?" Phoenix asked. "Or are you merely afraid I'll set my troops on you?"

They all looked uncomfortable. He realised that at least some of their accusations came from a place of self-preservation. With the fae and the werewolves on his side, he'd obviously grown potentially too powerful for some to bear. Had a Senate member set him up?

"Appearances mean everything," Clementine said when nobody else would speak. "If we're seen to let you go when there's evidence of a crime..."

"Please," Willow said, still sniffling. "Stop making it worse."

Layla draped a hand over Willow's shoulder to comfort her, making sure she sent Phoenix a pleading look, too.

"Fine," he said. "I'll cooperate as long as we meet again tonight and you don't drag my children into this."

"We'll keep them out of it," Callista said, but he no longer had confidence in her promises.

Most of the members of the Senate got up to leave, conveniently avoiding his gaze.

Before the siren could walk past him, Phoenix stood in her way. "You once told me you could be trusted. What changed?"

She didn't blink. "You did."

He let her pass.

Layla waited until the others left before speaking. "I'll show you to your temporary quarters. Try to rest. If you need anything, just ask the agents outside your room," she said. "They work for Shay, not the Senate specifically, so they're not taking sides. They're here to keep the peace. Don't make them work for it."

"Be careful," he warned. "You might not be safe out there."

"I'll be fine. Whoever's doing this missed their chance to get me with that lab-created disease."

"Do you think this is connected?"

"Maybe I'm paranoid, but I don't like the timing." She hesitated. "But Phoenix, if you have an alibi, now's the time to use it."

"I'm not bringing anyone else into this. Could you let my children know that I'm all right? Don't give them any details. I don't want them to worry."

"Of course. I'm so sorry about this. Callista is..."

"My problem now." He smiled. "She senses a power shift and will do anything to avoid being left behind."

"If only that were all." She shook her head. "They're spooked. Mick is reasonable enough to see sense, but the others? They see enemies in every corner. I know James made mistakes, but he didn't deserve to die."

"Would you believe me if I said I agreed? I've been angry with him, but lately, I've started to think there are more important things to worry about." He went into his room. "I won't forget this, Layla."

She looked away. "I doubt any of us will."

# Four

A flickering light worsened his burgeoning headache. He paced the room, unable to even think straight. Empty room. One chair. White walls. _Torture_. The closed door wasn't helping. The key had turned in the lock shortly after Layla walked away, confining him to a space that seemed to shrink by the minute. At least when he had been locked away with the werewolves, he'd had some company.

That wasn't quite right either. There had been many times, as a child, when he had been locked away in solitude by his mother, the servants forbidden from freeing him. His father's face came to him, the forgotten memory startling him. His father, the rescuer, who had told him to always do what was right, even if it meant certain punishment.

There was nobody to rescue him now. It had been foolish of him to go willingly, but kicking up a fuss would have been more suspicious. He wistfully twisted the ring around his little finger. It had belonged to his father once, back when the fae wished he would lead them as they did in days of old. Callista was right to be concerned. All it would take was the right words, and the Senate would have an army to battle overnight.

Dangerous thinking. That was his mother's way. Then again, if his father had been more ruthless, he might have survived being married to her. But Phoenix came from both of them, had inherited their strengths and weaknesses. Now was the time for self-preservation.

There was only one option open to him. Find the real killer. If he hadn't spent the night with Ava, he might have doubted himself. That way lay madness. He glanced around the room. Enclosures paved the way for insanity, too. It was time to retreat and think, the only way he knew how to cope with the stresses in his life.

He sat on an uncomfortable chair and dissected the information he had. James Buckley was dead. Human, businessman, and often a bit of a snob, James was the one member of the Senate known to be easily influenced by those more powerful. The man had made some ridiculous mistakes, but did any of them warrant his death? Phoenix thought not, though in the heat of the moment, he may have said otherwise.

If James was dead, a killer was on the loose, somebody who had access to fae weaponry with connections to Phoenix. Thanks to his mother, he had inherited a large number of heirlooms and weapons. He had been to the warehouse that housed these items once, barely gave it a second glance. It was that black spot on the horizon that he kept behind his back. He hadn't wanted to look through Fionnuala's past, had done his best to avoid that, so it was possible somebody had taken something from there without him noticing.

His mother had acquired a lot of valuable items over the years, and probably traded even more of them. Had the killer used that particular weapon to frame Phoenix, draw attention away from themselves, or had it merely been coincidence? The latter seemed unlikely.

None of that mattered when he was stuck in a locked room with no way to check the facts. So he was left with a different sort of mental checklist. Who to trust?

His life was now in the Senate's hands. Of those, Vega and Elathan were absent. He barely knew Vega apart from the fact she held a deep grudge against his mother. Elathan would likely back him; they had become good friends before he left. The Senate had been less entertaining once both Elathan and Shay left the table.

Of those presently in the country, he wasn't sure there was one he could actually trust. Daimhín was always in it for herself; she'd do whatever served her best. Layla claimed to be a friend, and he had learned she was far more than the lust demon the humans liked to call her. She was no true demon, and she still held the capacity to care. Callista had promised him her friendship, but her mood with him had been off for months. She'd definitely gone cold.

Mick could be trusted to be as fair as possible, but he was smart enough not to rock the boat too much to be of help unless the odds were already in Phoenix's favour. Willow was weak, more concerned with appearance than actual deeds. She talked a good game, played her part in many idealistic roles, but he couldn't be sure which side she'd be on when everything shook out. That left Clementine, the head-witch of a coven. She had her own agendas, and he couldn't trust her.

He had the fae and the werewolves on his side, but they wouldn't be of any use until he figured out what the Senate had planned for him. It was time to consider _how_ they could be used, and if they could be taken from him. He had allied with a paragon, but Rosa would ditch him in a second if she thought he had lost control of the werewolves. The alpha shifter could technically take over the pack, but he didn't know the man well enough to be sure if he would succeed—or even try to begin with.

Footsteps came running down the hall, interrupting his thoughts. A couple of voices argued quietly outside the door, and then, miraculously, the door was unlocked.

Quinn, an Integration Agent, swung open the door then leaned against the doorway as though to catch her breath. "Phew," she said. "I'd forgotten how much of a maze this place was."

"Indeed." He raised a brow. "Is this a social visit?"

"Oh, no. You're to come see the Senate again. Shay brought the cavalry. Quickly, before we miss all the fun."

Phoenix followed her out of the room. His guards walked behind them as Quinn led him to the Senate.

"The vampire queen is still asleep... or dead. I'm never sure what it is they actually do during the day. Elathan is on his way. Vega's already arrived." She glanced at him. "I don't know if it means anything, but me and my partner don't believe it."

"That I murdered James?"

She smiled, cocking her head in a birdlike manner. "That you'd be stupid enough to get caught so easily."

That made him smile. It was surprising how easily the gesture came nowadays.

They soon came to a different room than before. He went inside and wasn't entirely surprised to see Ava and her solicitor, Martin Breslin, standing next to Shay. The cavalry, indeed.

"What are you doing here?" he couldn't resist saying. "I thought to keep you out of this."

Ava put her hands on her hips. "Is he serious right now?"

Shay nudged her. "I think he's trying to be noble."

"Ridiculous, the pair of you," Phoenix said, unable to hide his smile.

He wasn't sorry to see them. Having somebody on his side while memories of the past nipped at his heels meant more to him than he could express. Freedom had slipped out of his fingers until friends showed up to help. Not allies as a result of favours or deals but people willing to help because they felt it was right. Shay was a pleasant surprise—the man had been distancing himself from Phoenix for quite some time.

Willow and Mick entered the room then silently took their seats.

"We're just waiting for the rest of the Senate to show up." Shay frowned at Mick from across the room. "Phoenix, can I speak to you privately for a minute?"

"I have some paperwork for you to look over while we wait," Breslin told Ava.

"Oh, joy," she said, letting him lead her to their seats.

Shay took Phoenix aside then lowered his voice. Strands of silver had started to lace through the dark hair at his temples, Phoenix noted, suddenly saddened by the thought he would watch a good man grow old and die while he lived long enough to make too many mistakes. "Any idea at all who's doing this?"

"None. So you believe me then."

"We've been through this before. I just want to skip the parts that get in the way. I heard they'd taken you in here and knew I couldn't do anything about it, so I went to Lorcan. He decided we should call Ava and ask her for Breslin's help. She told him she was your alibi, and here we are." Shay shot Ava a concerned glance. "The good thing about this is it has her out of her funk. She completely forgot to avoid my eyes."

"You gave her a job to do. She can handle that," Phoenix said. "Just not the way she sees herself after what happened."

"Makes it easier to talk to her this way." Shay pursed his lips. "You holding up all right?"

"I'll be fine. Were there any threats to James before this?"

"Nothing I knew about. I'll look into it. Either way, be careful. This would be the perfect opportunity to completely screw up the Senate. Another death already? This place is cursed. I'm glad I left."

"Doesn't mean you're safe."

He looked across the room as the doors opened. The rest of the Senate had arrived, including Vega. Sadly, no Elathan. Vega was tiny, making her half-giant bodyguard look all the larger. He stayed in the back of the room, thankfully. Vega had been given a role with the Senate as a sort of apology to those who were wrongfully exiled from the country in his mother's time. And judging by the glare the blonde was aiming his way, she connected his actions with his dead mother's. Fantastic.

A meek human, notably pale and anaemic looking, followed them into the room. With an apologetic smile, he held up a pen and paper. "I'm to take notes." Obvious vampire volunteer. One could spot one of Daimhín's a mile away—they always looked on the verge of passing out.

The human sat on the seat furthest from Ava, looking uncomfortable.

"We were told there's been an update," Callista said.

Shay waited until everyone seated themselves before he began. He gestured toward Phoenix. "He has an alibi for last night."

"He told us he didn't," Clementine said.

"No, he told us his children weren't his alibis," Layla said.

Callista looked at Ava and sighed. "Are we really supposed to believe _this_?"

"I haven't even said it yet," Shay said. "Look, this is ridiculous. Phoenix obviously didn't kill James with a weapon belonging to his own mother. You all have to stop jumping to conclusions on the slightest bit of unlikely evidence—or worse, ignoring the obvious because it's inconvenient. Phoenix has an alibi. There's no way he should be locked up. He's one of you."

"One of us is dead," Willow said shakily.

"He's his mother's son," Vega said. "I don't trust him."

"I've done nothing to you," Phoenix said.

"Your mother was a vile creature, and she birthed you, so you must have some of her spite in there. Besides, you're young as far as fae go, and if one thing was ever for certain, it's that young fae are unpredictable." She sneered. "You may play the wild young liberal for a bit, but you all turn out the same in the end."

"That's unfair." But it was an assumption he'd wondered the truth of more than once.

"He didn't kill James," Ava said firmly. Phoenix wished she could speak so strongly in her own defence. "He was at my house, and then we went over to his place together. I left a couple of hours before dawn. There's no way he managed to kill James without me noticing."

"How convenient," Callista said. "Any proof?"

Ava's upper lip curled back. "Did you want to watch, siren?"

Callista glared back.

"She could easily have been party to it," Clementine said. "She's already hiding a criminal."

Ava looked at Clementine, and Phoenix sensed the air shift around her. Interesting. "What criminal would that be?"

"The magic thief," Clementine said, managing to make a strangely animalistic hissing sound in the process. "She should be here where we can—"

"What? Torture her?" Ava asked. "Bind her? Even look at that child crooked, and I'll make sure the entire country knows the Senate's ideas about children."

"There's no need for threats and snide remarks," Callista said. "This is serious, Ava."

"What's serious is the fact we're even talking about this. What are you doing, Callista? You know he didn't do this. It's Phoenix, for fuck's sake. He could kill anyone in this room if he wanted to, but he doesn't because he's not a monster. _Jesus_!"

"You poor girl." Callista's expression softened. "Out of respect for your actions in the past, I'll give you this bit of advice. Distance yourself from him before he drags you down with him. Leave, don't look back. You're not involved in this, and after everything you've been through, we won't blame you for a moment of bad judgement."

"Even better, hand the magic thief over," Clementine snapped. "I won't believe the word of somebody who protects criminals from their punishments. Whether they be teenagers or fae princes."

Phoenix stood then. He felt the vibrations from Ava and wanted to be ready if she lost control. But she merely swallowed hard, her eyes as silver as he had ever seen them turn. He shivered in spite of himself.

"You might want to check yourself," Ava said slowly, gritting her teeth in _her_ effort to control herself. "Because you are _nothing_ in the grand scheme of things. You think you're something special because you get to sit in that chair? You're not. And this is the part where I warn you that if you go after people under my protection, you'll get burned."

"As if I care what—"

"Excuse me." Breslin abruptly rose to his feet, patting a massive folder under his arm. "I'll be happy to go through the paperwork, but the deals and agreements that the Senate and their predecessors made still stand. Some deals are eons long, no matter who stands in power. In this case, my client's protection has a certain standard of power. Before you persist in ignoring that protection, you might want to first check if you are willing to deal with the consequences."

Clementine spluttered, apparently unable to form an answer. The Senate could deal with threats, but when the legal system was used against them, they were far more careful. To avoid being like the old Council, they had shifted too far in the other direction. That was a mistake.

"Is this your answer then," Callista said to Ava. "Do you stand against the Senate?"

"Ari is under my protection. None of you have the authority to touch her."

The hairs on Phoenix's arms stood to attention.

Ava rose to her feet, her chin set determinedly. "If anyone, and I mean, _anyone_ goes after Ari, they'll have to deal with me and those I speak for. The same goes for Phoenix. Think carefully about the choices you make because you can't take them back."

The air filled with power. Shadows appeared at Ava's back, but when he blinked, they were gone. He made a mental note not to make an enemy of the Eleven.

"Are we really expected to listen to this?" Clementine said uncertainly, looking around for support.

"Yes," said a deep voice from the doorway.

Phoenix turned and grinned. Elathan had returned after all. The dark eyed fae who had been banished to Hell then kicked out again strode toward Phoenix and shook his hand. He patted Ava on the head affectionately then shivered at the look in her eye.

" _You've_ changed." He nodded at the Senate. "I thought it was beyond time I returned. You don't seem to be doing the best job without me. I'd listen to the little nephal, by the way. Tainted or not, she'll have you tangled up in paperwork for the rest of your lives, if you're lucky."

Callista quickly recovered from her obvious shock. "I didn't know you were coming back."

"That much is obvious. You've been busy while I was away." His gaze darkened for a moment before lightness returned to his voice. "Anyway, I'm here now, so there'll be no more locking up of innocent men. It's embarrassing."

"You don't know that he's innocent," Vega said, but she had relaxed, apparently trusting Elathan as a fellow victim of Phoenix's mother. How easily people forgot that Phoenix had been her victim, too.

"We don't know that he's guilty," Elathan corrected. "And you've been informed he's under protection for now. If that changes, so be it. Until then, we'd best discover who killed James before they take out somebody else." He smiled. "It won't be me, but if you are all confident enough to sit here trading insults all day..."

"My people need to start investigating properly," Shay said. "James deserved that much."

"Then we're done here for now," Layla said, sounding relieved.

Breslin held up his hand. "Just in case, I'd like to pass around some reminders of certain deals the Senate agreed to hold true. And others the Senate have no choice in."

Layla sat back, looking tired.

"I'll join you shortly," Elathan said to Phoenix under his breath. "Get out of here while you still have the chance. I'll find you at your house."

Shay gestured at Quinn to stay before ushering Phoenix and Ava out of the room. The Senate didn't do anything to stop him from leaving, but Phoenix felt a chill run down his spine in any case.

"Will Breslin be all right here?" Ava wondered aloud as they strode quickly down the hallway.

"Quinn's staying with him," Shay said. "He's safe."

"If they pull anything..."

"They won't dare," Phoenix said. "Elathan will make things right. He knows how to play them."

They made it outside unhindered. Shay directed them to his car. "Get in and wait," he said. "I'll go back and get Breslin and my people out of there."

They obeyed. Phoenix looked at Ava. "You shouldn't have come."

"Meh. I had nothing else to do today." She smiled. "Besides, I wouldn't have missed Clementine's face for anything."

"Did you mean all of that in there?" he said. "Were you speaking on behalf of the Eleven? Are Ari and I lost souls now?"

"Total bullshit," she said, perhaps a little too quickly. "The Eleven are going to kill me for using them, but they're already mad at me for managing to lose myself to a demon wish, so who cares? The point is that they'll back me up for anyone under my protection if they want to keep my power. I'll take advantage of that any way I can."

"Thank you," he said. " _For stuff_."

She smiled and squeezed his hand. "Fucknuts thinking you killed James anyway."

"You didn't wonder? For even a second? You did sleep."

"I know you were next to me," she said confidently. "And even if I had stayed home last night and didn't see you, I'd still be sure." Her eyes glinted with mischief. "Besides, we all know you wouldn't kill someone unless you could show-off at the same time."

He tried to smile, but something was niggling at him. "You heard Vega. All fae end up the same. That's not a lie. The young fae are more open-minded. All of the oldest fae are the problem. One day, I'll be one of the oldest fae. What then?"

"Fae live so long is all. These young open-minded fae are going to be the next fuddy-duddies, but they'll already be fairer than those that came before. You don't have to worry."

"How can I worry with you on my side. I felt your power when you spoke. If they have any sense, they'll listen to your warnings."

"Words won't always be enough." She shivered, her eyes blue again. "It was way too easy to draw the Eleven around me back there. It felt like they were with me. Not for the first time either. I wish I knew how it all worked."

"You seem to be figuring it out. Breslin is obviously a help."

"He's good, right? They hate when they see him coming. I love it." She tapped his hand. "Here they are now. That was quick."

"A good sign, I hope."

Breslin got into the front passenger seat, minus his folder. He turned to beam at Ava. "That went well."

Shay jumped into the driver's seat. "They looked like they wanted to throw themselves down the nearest well. You're in the clear for now, but the sooner we find the killer, the better."

Phoenix heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank you all for the support."

"What else were we going to do?" Ava said.

"Where are my children?" he asked.

"At your house," Shay said. "Ava thought it would be better to keep them far from the Senate—just in case."

"Good plan," Phoenix said.

"There's a little more to this that has me worried," Ava said. "Esther told me that the Senate reached out to Patrick, asked him how he was fixed to take over the werewolves."

He had been right to worry. "His response?"

"He told them to where to go."

There was that relief again. "Has the story hit the papers yet?"

"Not yet," Shay said. "It will soon, but hopefully your name won't be attached."

"What next?" Ava said.

"I clear my name," Phoenix said. "No offence to your people, Shay, but the Senate aren't known for their patience. I'm not going to sit around and wait to be arrested. The murder weapon bothers me, but if it really belonged to my mother, then I might be able to trace what happened to it."

"How?" Shay asked.

"My mother did keep records. There's a lot to go through, but if I do it, it'll keep your agents free for other parts of the investigation."

"That's fine with me," Shay said. "Just tell me how I can help."

"First, I'll need a picture of the weapon used to see if it matches up to anything that's been catalogued. There's a warehouse I'll need to search, but if I'm lucky, I'll find out if she sold it, and to whom."

"I'll do what I can," Shay said. "The witch set me back some. The rest of them were way too invested in the results of her spell. If we trace the weapon back, we could find James's killer."

Phoenix remembered a time when Shay had to be persuaded. Breaking the rules came easier after doing it a couple of times.

"You should make a statement to Áine O'Neill," Ava said. "She's great at putting a spin on things, and her articles are always high profile."

"We should be prepared," Breslin said. "The Senate may make it their business to do the same thing against you."

"We keep calling them the Senate as though I'm not a part of it anymore," Phoenix said.

The others fell silent. He supposed that was what was happening.

"Perhaps the death wasn't to frame me, but to give enough reason to oust me," he mused aloud. "Callista and Clementine seemed to have teamed up against me in any case."

Ava shot him a doubtful look. "Callista wouldn't have killed James."

"She may take advantage of the situation though. She's been distancing herself from me for a while. We seem to be opposed on many issues. As for the witch, I'm not sure what she's capable of."

"Yeah, well, Elathan's back," she said. "He'll make it fair again."

She didn't doubt, not even for a second. Phoenix doubted. If she hadn't been his alibi, he would have doubted his own innocence.

They soon arrived at Phoenix's home. The twins were waiting at the front door. Lucia hugged him, while Lorcan stood upright, looking nervous.

"Are you both all right?" Phoenix asked.

"I just..." Lorcan's jaw tensed. "The one night neither of is here, and something happens. If I had just stayed home last night, you'd have another alibi."

"Still only one alibi," Ava said, barely loud enough to be heard.

Lorcan made a face. "Oh, right. But they let you go. So they believe you're innocent?"

Phoenix hated to dampen his son's hope. "They believe they can't touch me without dealing with a mountain of red tape. I doubt any of them truly believe I'm guilty. They're playing damage control."

"So it's up to us to prove your innocence," Lorcan said.

Lucia squeezed Phoenix's hand. He looked around at his children and friends. At least he wasn't alone. That was enough.

# Five

Elathan arrived, letting himself in. He blustered into the kitchen then stole Ava's cup from right in front of her. "The party line is that you're in the clear because you've got an alibi. But in reality, you have a limited time to clear your name before the Senate take action." He took a sip before Ava retrieved her coffee with a wry smile. "That's the best I could do."

"What happened?" Lorcan asked.

"I think they'd happily let Phoenix be the scapegoat to avoid another media frenzy." Elathan sank into a chair. "Phoenix being the murderer would be easier for them to deal with than some unidentified killer running the streets. They don't want to look weak, and the appearance of them all fearing for their lives would destroy the last of their reputations."

"Are you here to help Phoenix?" Ava asked.

"Of course," Elathan said. "I didn't cut short a trip with a bevy of half-naked beauties to actually work with the Senate."

"Then I owe you my thanks," Phoenix said, pleased to find another loyal friend still by his side. "Sit. I'll pour you a coffee."

Elathan sat next to Ava. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder to hold her close. "Gabe would be proud of how his little protégé has grown up. And I've been hearing so many delicious rumours about you, my dear. You've become quite the talking point since I left, for completely different reasons than usual."

"Oh, hush." Her cheeks flushed with colour. "Phoenix, where do you want to start?"

He handed Elathan a coffee then sat on the other side of Ava. "As soon as we get a good look at the murder weapon, I can start searching the warehouse."

Elathan's expression turned grim. "That might not be enough."

"Then we have a lot of angles to look at, considering we've so little information."

"It's time to gather allies," Elathan said. "At least have people ready to help."

"I agree," Breslin said. "The more power you have standing by your side, the harder it will be for the Senate to hurt you."

"You could hire Peter and Val to do some of the grunt work," Ava said. "More hands on deck might make this all go faster."

Phoenix couldn't hide his surprise. "Would they?"

"A job's a job," Shay said. "The IAs can be trusted to work on this properly, without the Senate influencing them."

"The fae might be willing to help," Lorcan said. "Ember's introduced me to a lot of half-fae like us. That's an option if we end up needing more numbers."

"Finn's cousin?" Ava asked curiously. "The sniffer?"

"Sniffer?" Elathan looked heartily amused. "What's been going on since I left?"

"Only everything," she said solemnly. "Breslin, how long can you protect Phoenix?"

"Not long," he said. " Maybe a couple of days. The Senate can't afford to let this situation linger."

"What about Ari? The witch hasn't lost her focus on the kid, even with everything else going on."

"She'll have longer if you become her legal guardian."

Ava looked surprised. "What, really?"

"The girl is registered as seventeen. As a minor, she's been made a warden of the state. If you step in, we can push the issue of her protection more solidly as guardian-status. Only the witch cares about Ari. The others will let it go."

"Clementine is likely to go behind their backs," Phoenix said. "This has become personal for her."

"Is this the magic thief?" Elathan asked. "Does she look as much of a monster as the witch makes her sound?"

"She looks like a smart-arse kid," Ava said. "But a kid nonetheless. And she hates me, so I'm going to have to get her to cool down before I take this to her. And then make sure she's untouchable before we go public with this guardian thing."

"Where is she now?" Elathan asked.

"I'm hardly going to tell you," Ava scoffed. "She's safe, keeping a low profile for now."

Lucia nudged Lorcan. He cleared his throat loudly. "Can we get back to my father? Seeing as he's the one in the firing line today."

"It's no harm to consider Ari," Phoenix said. "If they get away with hurting her then who knows what they'll settle on next."

Ava glanced at Lucia. "No, he's right. Sorry, Lu."

Shay looked around at the group. "What's the plan then?"

"The crime scene seems like the best place to start," Phoenix said. "It might give up some clue as to why James was murdered. Identifying the weapon is also important so that I can search the warehouse with my mother's belongings to find out if I've been robbed or not—and who would know about the dagger in the first place. And if we can figure out exactly what happened to James and why, we'll know if the rest of the Senate is in danger or not."

"I can take care of the crime scene," Shay said. "I'll get you there, but it'll have to be brief."

"I can spy on the Senate," Elathan said. "See if any of them are involved."

"Maybe there are rumours floating around," Lorcan said. "Somebody might be talking. The bar is the best place for gossip."

Phoenix looked at Ava. Her expression clearly said, "I'm with you."

"No offence, Elathan," Phoenix said. "But I'll need to call in some favours if the Senate do move against me."

"That's the smart thing to do," Elathan said. "Make sure you know which fae are on your side should it come down to trouble. Prepare the werewolves. As you said, this could be an opportunity for a power play. Be ready to hit back hard. For now, Layla and I are more use to you on the Senate."

"The succubus is really on board?" Ava sounded surprised.

"I trust her," Phoenix said.

And he had allies. Away from the confinement of a dreadful white room, he could see that. Rosa wouldn't exactly be happy if he lost his place on the Senate, but she'd likely back him up just to keep her access to the werewolves. And as Lorcan said, the fae were a factor that couldn't be ignored.

"I should head out to keep an eye on things," Elathan said. "Make sure nobody loses their cool."

"I'm off, too." Shay stood. "I'll call you when you can come see the crime scene."

"My assistant could be useful once the weapon is identified," Breslin said. "Alex is good with lists and numbers. He would happily help with the catalogue system."

"Thanks," Phoenix said. "I'll keep that in mind once I get to see the murder weapon."

"I'll get back to the office then." Breslin gathered the notes he'd been taking. "I'm a call away. I'll do my best to keep the Senate off your back for as long as possible." He gave Ava a meaningful glance. "And I'll deal with that other issue, too."

Phoenix escorted the men to the door. Elathan hesitated long enough to reassure him one last time that he was on his side.

"I may not be the right kind of fae," he said. "But you're the closest thing I have to my people. I'll do what I can to keep you out of danger."

"This feels like the start of something, doesn't it?"

Elathan shrugged. "Nothing ever stays the same for long."

He left, and Phoenix went back inside. Lorcan and Ava were talking about the Senate while Lucia listened intently.

"They can't hide James's death for long," Ava said. "Be ready for the media hounds."

"Maybe Lavinia can come up with a spell to turn anyone with a camera into a frog," Lorcan said with a grin.

Lucia pushed him good-naturedly.

Phoenix took a seat next to Ava, suddenly exhausted.

"What do you need me to do?" she asked.

"I don't know," he admitted. "I'm not sure what we can do until we get access to the crime scene or the weapon."

"We'll sort this," Lorcan said. "Don't worry."

"I'm just happy you're on my side," Phoenix said. "I mean it. I'm grateful."

"We're family," Lorcan said gruffly.

Lucia pinched her brother's ear.

He rubbed his earlobes, his cheeks flushing with colour. "Idiot."

"I'll head home until we know more," Ava said. "Rest up you lot. Call me as soon as you need me."

"I'll walk you out," Phoenix said.

Lorcan got up to follow, but Lucia pushed him back into his seat, rolling her eyes when he protested.

"Oh," Lorcan said, suddenly sounding uncomfortable. "See you later then."

Phoenix walked Ava outside, then he held her arm so she wouldn't leave. He didn't have the words for how he was feeling. "You did a lot for me today."

"Returning the favour." She looked up at the sun with narrowed eyes. "I'm just sorry you had to deal with this. The Senate has zero loyalty."

"I should have been prepared," he said. "I went willingly with the IAs who came for me. I was suspicious, but I wanted to know what was going on. My ego got the better of me, perhaps."

"Curiosity, more like." She reached up to touch his cheek. "We won't let them turn you into their handy little scapegoat. I've already made my big statement before the Senate. That means I'm in it."

"My innocence is less of an issue now. It's important we find out who did this to James."

"What do you think happened to him?" she asked. "He wasn't a good fit for the Senate, but I'm sorry he's dead."

"I don't know, and I'm worried about what it could mean. A weakness in the Senate affects everyone. When the Council began to fail, the vampires came to take over. Anyone could be watching us run around like headless chickens, just waiting for their opportunity to pounce. Did you know that Daimhín's seer has been warning her of danger?"

Ava's eyes widened. "So that's why she's been acting so weird lately. I didn't know. Think it's connected?"

"It's possible. Yet another weak link. Whether I'm a part of the Senate or not, it's for the greater good if our leadership remains strong."

"They change their minds too much to be strong. Loyalty is strong. Respect is strong. There's not much of that on the Senate. That witch was a mistake, Phoenix."

"I know," he admitted. "But at the time, my concerns were on something I thought was greater."

"You can't make that kind of mistake now. They'll jump all over you for the slightest error in judgement." She hesitated, looking pained. "Just be careful. I don't want it to backfire on you." She looked around reluctantly. "I should go."

He slid his hands around her waist to pull her closer. He pressed her against the wall, entrenched in her scent, savouring the warmth of her skin. She ran her hands through his hair and kissed him as though sensing he needed the comfort. Back in that locked room, he'd felt alone. That had changed.

She finally pulled away then narrowed her eyes at his shirt. "Is that..."

"I was in a hurry," he said, laughing through his embarrassment.

She gently tugged one of the buttons. "A likely story."

"If you need help with Ari, I'll be there," he said, meaning it. "I'm responsible for that girl, too. If it wasn't for me, she'd never have found that spell."

Ava made a face. "If it wasn't for me, she wouldn't have been lonely enough to use it."

"I think that blame goes to every adult in her life." He squeezed Ava's hand. "We failed her once. Let's not do it again."

# Six

Phoenix sat in an armchair in his office and brooded. Waiting around wasn't productive, but he had no choice. Now that the initial shock was over, he realised he should have seen it coming sooner. The Senate had changed, along with power and allegiances. He wouldn't be overly surprised to discover that one of his colleagues was responsible for setting him up.

"Hey."

He looked up. Lorcan lingered at the doorway, looking fit to burst with whatever it was he wanted to say.

_Might as well get it over with_. "Come in if you like."

Lorcan stepped inside, looking nervous. "Listen, I just wanted to say... Lucia and I... we're on your side." He winced as though bracing himself. "Whether you killed James or not."

"I didn't kill him," Phoenix said wryly. "But I appreciate the support."

"I'm just saying that it's not about that." He moved into the chair next to Phoenix. "Look. I've been giving you a hard time a lot. I know that. I've been trying to find my place in the world. Working with Tomas and meeting Ember and other half-fae who are more like me than Lucia made everything better. Before that, I felt like an outsider, like there was no place for me. You and Lucia have everything figured out, but I had no idea what I wanted to do with this freedom we've been given."

If only he knew. "You can do _anything_ ," Phoenix said. "Anything you want."

"I'm starting to see the possibilities, and I want to back you up," Lorcan said earnestly. "I want people to understand that if they hurt one of us, they hurt all of us. I want to be like the families we see on the television. The ones who stick by each other whether it's right or wrong. You said it yourself. We're stronger together."

"This isn't your mess though." But he desperately wanted to be that kind of family unit, one that couldn't be divided. "I don't expect you to get your hands dirty when you don't have to. I want so badly to know how to be the father you need, Lorcan. I want to give you everything you desire. But right now, there's a target on my back, and I don't want anyone to ever mistake you for me."

"But that's what I'm saying. It's not just a target on your back. If we're going to be a family, then it has to be through the hard times and the good. Working with Tomas, reading about the families who didn't make it back together, it made me realise that we should make the best of what we have instead of pining for what could have been. You don't have to be my dad, but the three of us are stronger together."

Phoenix's nose prickled. "That's... I'd like that, Lorcan. I don't want to go through this alone."

Lucia crept into the room then knelt between them, looking pleased. Phoenix touched her chin briefly. She had been the link that kept them together, but for the first time, he knew Lorcan was on his side regardless.

"We should talk about what could happen next," Lorcan said. "I mean, what happens if the Senate turns on you? What should we do to prepare for that?"

Disappear would be the sensible choice, but his proud blood would never allow him to run.

"If they officially blackmark me?" Phoenix avoided Lorcan's questioning gaze. "Make sure the wolves are safe. Know who we can call for favours. This is the time to mark the difference between allies and enemies, I think. Something's been stirring for a while—a power shift. There's very little trust within the Senate, and less when it comes to public opinion. All of the strange things that have been happening have shot down almost every chance we have of a peaceful solution to differences of opinion. It's starting to feel very us versus them."

"Do you think it's all connected somehow?" Lorcan asked. "All of these things have chipped away at the Senate's authority. Think that was on purpose?"

"It couldn't all be connected." Although that was a worrying thought. "If the Senate's power had been cemented early on, nothing could have chipped at it."

Lorcan leaned back in his seat. "Maybe the wrong leaders were chosen."

"We're all there for the same reason. To keep those we care for safe. That makes for desperate decisions at times." Phoenix hesitated. "I want you both to prepare to leave in case things do go bad. If I get taken in, both of you need to leave before you join me."

Lucia pinched the back of his hand in protest.

"Think about it," he said. "You could help me only if you were safe yourselves. Go to Rosa if you must leave. Or Adela. Either way, you'll be safe."

"What about the sanctuary?" Lorcan asked. "Because we can't exactly take the werewolves on a private jet to Italy."

"Just make sure you both are safe," Phoenix said. "Take Lavinia and her baby with you. Tomas, too. He's important. As long as you two are safe, I'll be able to concentrate on the others.

"Tomas won't be able to help us unless we find all of the codes that unlock his memories," Lorcan said. "I'm getting frustrated with our progress."

"Me, too," Phoenix said. "But we have time."

He hoped.

After Shay called to invite him to the crime scene, Phoenix asked Ava to join him. He didn't want to go alone. He was tilting on the edge of destruction. The thought of his children running in fear in the dark of night had given him dark thoughts. He needed somebody around who could pull him back from the brink if necessary. Ava had done that for him once; she could do it again.

They met outside James's house. It was a nice home for most people, but for a businessman of James's calibre, Phoenix thought it rather shabby. James had been very much ruled by appearances, so why wasn't his home as showy as everything else in his life?

"Nice area," Ava said. "But I thought he lived on the other side of the city."

Actually, so had Phoenix. "Maybe he moved."

He examined her features, pleased to see the bags under her eyes were less pronounced. Keeping her mind occupied was obviously helping.

She noticed him staring and narrowed her eyes. "What?"

"Just looking."

She grinned. "Creeper."

On a whim, he bent to kiss her forehead.

Shay came outside to greet them. "Glad you're here. The body is gone, so you'll be able to look around the room. We've already taken everything we need, but try not to disturb anything, please."

"Is this really James's house?" Ava asked. "Where's his family?"

"It's his second home, as far as I'm aware. He kept it for work, so his wife tells us. I'm not sure she knew about it, to be honest."

"Odd," Phoenix remarked, noting a couple of dirty looks from neighbours who had gathered on the street.

"Not really." Shay glanced over his shoulder then lowered his voice. "What's odd is it looked like James put up a hell of a fight, but he was only stabbed once."

"How is that significant?" Ava asked.

"With such a scuffle, you'd think there was anger involved. One stab wound is generally a mistake in the heat of the moment. But the fight looks like it lasted a while, according to reports from the neighbours. It got noisy for about twenty minutes before somebody thought to call the police. And that was only because the dog kept barking." He gestured animatedly as he spoke. "If the crime is committed by somebody who knows the victim, there tends to be overkill. It seems odd to have a scuffle for twenty minutes only to leave the victim with a single stab wound."

"Was anything stolen then?" Phoenix asked. "It could be a burglary gone wrong."

"That would be our main focus if it was an ordinary citizen," Shay said. "But this is a member of the Senate who had a serious security system."

"CCTV?" Ava said.

"That's part of it. We're working on getting footage, but we've to go through the process of dealing with a resistant private company, so it may take a while."

"Why are they resistant?" Phoenix asked.

"Their locks are state of the art. They claim nobody could have broken into the house, that it had to be a member of the family. We'll see when we get that footage."

"Can we see the place he... died?" Ava asked.

"Follow me," Shay said. He led them into the cottage. It was compact but built for luxury.

Phoenix inspected the doors. Heavy duty, double locks. The windows were even bullet-proof. "What was he expecting to happen to him here?"

"Maybe he was paranoid," Shay said. "Maybe he had a reason to be, considering what happened to him."

Ava pointed at a dog basket in the corner. "You said there was a dog?"

"It was locked in the bathroom while everything was happening. Wouldn't calm down until James's daughter came to pick it up."

"Poor thing." She looked around the room. "Is his family home this secure?"

"I don't know," Shay said. "But there's no point in securing your weekend den and then not keeping your family safe."

"Look at that." Ava peered at the samurai sword above the fireplace. "It's beautiful. Looks old, too."

"It is," Phoenix said. "It's worth a fortune. I remember when it went on auction. I didn't know James had bought it."

"He has all of these weapons, valuable items, too." Ava shook her head. "So why didn't he use them to protect himself?"

"Maybe he did," Phoenix said. "Maybe he was killed by his own weapon."

"They're calling it a fae heirloom," Shay said.

Phoenix gestured toward the sword. "That's an heirloom, too. James was obviously a collector. It's surprising to find a fae heirloom in the hands of a human, but anything's possible."

He looked around the room one last time. There had definitely been a struggle. But there was no blood.

"Where did he die?"

"Upstairs. Nicked an artery. I'm told it was fast. The killer left the weapon behind, but closed the door after themselves. No fingerprints other than James's."

They went upstairs. James had died in the only bedroom. It was a large room with a comfortable looking four poster bed. Very little other furniture. It sparked a memory, but it was gone before Phoenix could grip it tight enough.

The little furniture that was in the room had toppled over, and the covers had been torn off the bed. A blood-stained sheet lay crumpled on the floor. Phoenix had a vivid flash of James desperately trying to scramble away from his killer before dying on the floor. He wished he had been more tolerant of the man. Nobody deserved to die terrified and alone.

Well, almost nobody.

He wandered around the room, looking at everything. There were no claw marks, and there hadn't been bite marks on the body or Shay would have mentioned it. That ruled out a number of supernatural beings. Not all of them. A fae would be likely to kill a man with a fae heirloom. Some fae would be as likely to kill a man for _owning_ a fae heirloom. The traditionalists thought everything fae should be kept within the family, so to speak.

He looked at Ava. She would be an obstacle in the minds of certain kinds of fae. His heartbeat quickened.

She turned and saw him looking. "What do you think?"

"I'm wondering why it took so long to stab James." He turned in a slow circle, taking in the room. "It's a small space. Nowhere to hide. They obviously grappled. James was in shape for his age, but he was a middle-aged human. How did he defend against a knife for so long?"

"He didn't," Shay said. "There were no defensive wounds at all."

"Interesting." On the walls, there were more paintings he didn't recognise, but the frames looked expensive. On second glance, the bed itself looked ancient, like something out of a book. He touched one of the posters with his fingertips then shivered. It even felt old. "Perhaps somebody attempted to steal something, James tried to stop them, and the knife was turned on him in desperation."

"They didn't call an ambulance for him," Shay said. "Sounds like guilt to me, not an accident."

"Maybe they panicked," Ava said. "Or they hadn't planned on killing him, but it worked out in their favour somehow. I don't know. There's just something... How did they even get in here unless James opened the door to them?"

"The doors were all locked," Shay said. "It's an automatic lock, so the attacker could have opened the door from the inside to escape. It would have locked after him. And yes, that points to somebody James knew."

"Is there any other way they could have gotten in?" Phoenix asked. "A window, perhaps?"

"It's possible," Shay said. "The upstairs windows were open slightly. But we'll find out more once we get that footage we need."

"How's his family?" Ava asked.

"Devastated. I'm the one who had to break the news to them. They want answers right now."

"Don't we all. Is the murder weapon here?"

"Yes. Don't take it out of the baggie." He left to fetch the knife while they waited in the bedroom.

Phoenix moved closer to Ava. "Any thoughts?"

"None that make sense. Poor James. The last few times I saw him, he seemed different. When we first met, I thought he was this brash, cocky arsehole, but it turns out he was just as scared as the rest of us."

Subdued by that thought, Phoenix sat in silence, wondering how his own end would come.

# Seven

The dagger was a work of art. No wonder James had kept it in his collection.

"It's beautiful," Phoenix said.

"Have you seen it before?" Ava asked.

He held the bag up to the light. Glimmers of light reflected against the blade. He was sure it was a water blade of some kind, but he didn't know any elemental fae who worked with water anymore. It was an old, dying talent. Thunder and fire were destructive enough to be popular. Water was more of a slow burn.

James had likely died slowly if he had been murdered by a fae hand. The average person wouldn't be able to focus the blade's true strength. He caught Ava's intent gaze. That didn't mean only a fae could. The handle appeared silver to eyes that didn't know better, but Phoenix had a feeling that the old gray metal was a dense mixture created by ancient fae to be indestructible. The method was long since lost. Shaped to fit a woman's hand, the handle was small and light. The blade looked freshly sharpened. There were no bloodstains.

"Where's the blood?" Ava asked as though she had read his mind. "Did you clean the weapon?"

"No." Shay scratched his jaw. "I don't know how, but the blood just disappeared from it."

"The blade fed on it," Phoenix said.

Shay shuddered. "I won't pretend to find that ordinary."

"You shouldn't. This is old and powerful. How did James get his hands on it? For something like this to pass out of a fae family is highly unusual. I wonder where it came from. It almost looks as old as Elathan's people. This is a wonderful find." He remembered where he was standing. "Sorry, I forgot why we were here."

"So it's valuable then," Shay said.

"I can hear it," Ava said, sounding troubled. "It's crying out." She rubbed her arms. "What the hell?"

"Can you really hear it?" Phoenix said, amazed by the rate of her progress. "What does it want?"

"How can a weapon want something?" Shay said.

Ava held out her hand as though in a trance. "It's lost." She flinched back, horrified. "What's wrong with me?"

"Nothing at all," Phoenix said. "You're just sensitive to the call, and this was made for a woman, not a man. This is certainly old then. Elathan might know more. If it belonged to my mother, I never saw it, but I'll go through the catalogue of her things to find out when she owned it, if ever. Is the reason I was blamed merely because the murder weapon was a fae heirloom that supposedly belonged to my mother?"

"No." Shay looked uncomfortable. "Before he died, James told Willow he was scared of you. She's persisting with the idea you hurt him. She came to me about it already, figured I could do some good old-fashioned police work. I know you have an alibi, but even the slightest hint you intimidated him won't look good on you."

"I haven't done anything to him," Phoenix said indignantly.

"You have been harsh on him for his mistakes," Ava said. "He's human. He was probably scared of you even before that."

He fought the urge to glare. Honesty wasn't a quality he should attempt to quash, but it nipped all the same. "Perhaps he made yet another mistake then," he said coolly.

"Sure thing, fae prince," she said dismissively. She shifted her body to partly turn her back on him, and he felt as chastened as a child. The fact that Shay was fighting a grin didn't help.

"Anyway," Shay said. "It would be for the best if you tried to find proof that you never had possession of the dagger in the first place." He held out his hand for the dagger.

"Let me take a few photos first." He made a show of taking photos from every angle. The longer Phoenix held the weapon in his hands, the less he wanted to give it back. He finally returned it reluctantly, taking a little too long to let go. "It's just... when this is over, may we have it back?"

" _Phoenix_."

He gave Ava a sheepish smile. "I would pay for it. It's merely that the fae would be grateful if this were restored to them. It's a beautiful piece. I'd like to find its origins." Although he wasn't quite sure why.

"I can't promise anything," Shay said. "Have you seen enough yet?"

"I believe so," Phoenix said, glancing at Ava who nodded her agreement.

"Good. I need to finish up here." He hesitated. "Just be careful. You don't want to get caught up in anything while the Senate are grumbling."

Ava said her goodbyes then left. Shay stopped Phoenix on his way out. "Careful, Phoenix."

"I am being careful."

"I meant with her. She already has a target on her back after what happened with that demon thing. She doesn't need you to drag her into any more trouble."

"I'm fairly certain she has her own mind. She's here of her own free will."

Shay heaved a sigh. "We both know what she's like. You just make sure her need to help doesn't get her into trouble this time."

He nodded to avoid a sharp reply.

Outside, Ava was waiting for him. Relief again, that she wasn't angry at him.

"Problem?" she asked.

"Nothing I can't handle. I'll need to print these pictures out for Lorcan and Lucia so we can try to find a match amongst my mother's remaining belongings. Hopefully, we won't find anything incriminating."

She shivered. "I'm just glad to be away from that thing."

"You really heard it?"

"Sort of. Maybe it was more that I felt it. I don't know. Freaked me out, either way. I've touched enough magical items to know there can be side-effects, but that was different." She shivered. "Want some help?"

"I'd love some," he said. "It's still a pretty large collection. My mother was a bit of a hoarder really. She fit most of the stereotypes about our species too well."

"And then there's you, breaking the mold when you aren't being haughty." She grinned. "I'll get Alex. Where's the warehouse? We'll meet you there."

He gave her the address of the building. It was located in a seemingly well-secured walled business park, close to the docks. He was just glad not to go there alone. He hadn't been able to step foot in the warehouse more than once. It brought back too many bad feelings.

Ava left. Phoenix returned home alone, feeling oddly off-balance. As much as he tried to push his mother to the back of his mind, something regularly came up to remind him of her.

Lucia and Lorcan were waiting at home for him.

"I have pictures," he told them, grateful for the cup of tea Lucia passed to him. "I'm going to the warehouse to see if they match anything. I'd appreciate it if you helped, but Ava has already offered herself and Alex, so don't feel badly if you don't want to go."

"Are you kidding?" Lorcan asked. "Even with five of us, it's going to take us all day."

Lucia smiled at her brother. It was one of the few times Phoenix had seen her smile lately. He would make the most of it.

"So, yeah, we're both helping," Lorcan said firmly. "Have you heard anything from the Senate?"

"No." Phoenix went into the office to start printing, taking his cup with him. The twins followed him, so he caught them up on his day. "We took a look at the murder scene. Shay found the circumstances odd. He also informed me that James had been telling people how scared of me he felt. So that's why I'm really in the firing line."

"Did you get a good look at the murder weapon yourself?" Lorcan asked.

"Yes. It's definitely old, fae, and powerful. So we'll still be under suspicion until the real murderer comes to light. Not a good day to be fae, all things considered."

"We'll be fine. I told you, Dad. You're popular with a lot of fae. There aren't as many traditionalists as they'd like to make you believe. Even those are just angry because you haven't made a big push for fae power. And there are a _lot_ of half-fae around. You know, for elitist, racist snobs, you all don't seem to have a problem shagging the nearest human."

Phoenix smirked in spite of himself. He had never met a fae quite like his son.

"I'm just saying, you're super popular with those half-fae. You gave them something they never had before. A name. If we included all of the half-fae, we'd be almost as big a population as the shifters. And you know what they say about shifters. Breed like rabbits."

Phoenix finally looked up to see both his children grinning at him. "Are you quite finished?"

Lorcan rubbed his hands together. "Just trying to see if we could get you to crack a smile."

Phoenix's lips twitched. He wasn't sure he'd ever get used to being teased. Or if he'd ever stop liking the feeling of familiarity it gave him.

"When this is all over, we should throw a party," Lorcan said, picking up the first printed page. "Have, like, a fae ball or something. Get everyone together."

"I'll let you organise it." Phoenix handed the next print to Lucia. "This dagger looks far more impressive in reality. It's old, elemental, and it's worth a lot of money. It's possible that James owned it, and somebody tried to steal it. This could all be a coincidence. Or somebody purposely used a fae dagger to directly incriminate us. Either way, it's best we have our affairs in order."

Lorcan switched to serious mode. "What if we discover we owned the dagger after all?"

Phoenix didn't know. "We'll deal with that when we come to it. Morally, we should tell the truth, but that might not be the smartest choice."

Lorcan cleared his throat. "What if somebody finds out we owned it, but it's not one of us three."

The implication was clear. "We'll just have to trust that the right thing is done."

That afternoon, Phoenix drove the twins to the warehouse. Seagulls flew low when they left the safety of the car, daring enough to swoop right over their heads.

Ava was already waiting outside with a tall, lanky young man called Alex. He had once been a vampire volunteer and now worked for Ava's solicitor instead.

He looked embarrassed at something Ava said as they approached. More teasing. It appeared that everyone he knew showed their fondness for others by being mean to them.

Ava, in turn, looked nervous at Lorcan's approach. He made a show of pulling her ponytail. She punched his arm, and that was that. The tension was over. Phoenix would never learn all of the rituals. He couldn't keep up.

"Are we all ready then?" It was Phoenix's turn to be nervous. The warehouse appeared to loom over him, taunting him with the secrets it kept hidden.

"Yup," Ava said. "Got those photos handy?"

Lorcan handed photos to her and Alex.

Phoenix waved at the security guard who approached them warily. He noticed Phoenix and smiled. "Going in then?"

"Yes," he said. "Have there been any break-ins recently?"

"Nope. We're all squared here. Worried something is missing?"

"Just double-checking. We might be here all day."

"I'll be around," the guard said. "If you need anything, just shout."

"Thank you." Phoenix pulled the key from his pocket and took a deep breath. He slowly opened the lock, dreading the moment when the door would open and he would smell his childhood.

He opened up the doors with wary hands. The smell that filled his nostrils was mostly one of must and stale air. Traces of his mother's scent were there, but it was manageable. He probably wouldn't throw up.

He moved to the lights to switch them on. The entire warehouse lit up. Gasps came from behind him as the others entered the building.

"Wow," Ava said. "When you said she was a hoarder, you really meant it."

Almost every inch of the building was filled with crates and shelves. Some items were displayed on cabinets, others were tightly bound and hidden in boxes. Furniture had been carefully covered with sheets and plastic. The building went up four stories, and all of the space was used. Along one wall stood a row of metal cabinets, full of information on every single item.

"Well," Phoenix said, completely overwhelmed. "We should probably get started then."

"We should have brought food," Ava said in a panicked tone.

"We'll order in," Phoenix said. "Or one of us can go out for coffees. It's not... that big a deal." She looked so downcast that he wondered if her thirst for blood was overwhelming her again.

"Right," Lorcan said. "We can move some furniture around, take out some files, and get looking."

"Most of it should be easy enough," Alex said, already digging into one of many filing cabinets stacked against a wall. He flicked through a thin manila folder. "This has pictures and stuff. It's not like we have to dig through every box in the place."

"There are a lot of files in a lot of cabinets," Ava said. "We're going to be here for years, lost in very expensive... junk."

Lorcan started uncovering furniture. "Look at this," he cooed. "Fancy chairs."

"Bagsy the chaise longue," Ava said, setting off into a run.

Phoenix shook his head, unable to hide his smile. He wrapped an arm around Lucia's shoulder and herded her toward the cabinets before she, too, got lost in the wonderland of junk.

If he turned his back on all of the items, maybe they would disappear.

"If you find a table, I'll carry the files over a bit at a time," Alex said. "We should have a system to be more efficient. Do you know how everything is categorised?"

"No idea," Phoenix said, startled by Alex's enthusiasm.

"No matter,"Alex said cheerily. "I'll figure it out. You know, maybe I can organise it a little better..."

Three hours later, all five of them sat around a long dining table on comfortable armchairs and sofas, a stack of files next to each of them. The table was full of files, too. It seemed like an endless task.

Phoenix blinked a couple of times as he stared at the file in his hands. The words regarded an ivory tusk that had been soaked in the blood of one hundred virgins for one hundred years. It had turned pink and was a highly valuable item used in certain, complicated spells. The file used terms like dangerous and valuable, and he was hiding it in a warehouse. The words blurred. He rubbed his eyes. No use.

Alex took the checked files and brought them back to the cabinets to sort through them properly. Phoenix followed to watch him work. Alex moved quickly, as though they hadn't just spent three tedious hours staring at pointless photos.

"You're good at this," Phoenix said, admiring the way the young man organised everything without a second thought. "How on earth did you end up with the vampires?"

"Ah." Alex blushed as he shoved some files back into a cabinet. "I was kind of a mess. I didn't have anything. I suppose they seemed like my only option at the time."

"Ava tells me how intelligent you are. Why didn't you continue your education?"

"I didn't really have one in the first place." He kept working, never losing his pace. "I didn't learn much in school. They said I was hyperactive. Mostly, I got into trouble. I was bored, like, all of the time. It just wasn't a good fit for me. I was wasting my time, and everybody else's time, and the teachers never stopped reminding me. So I left early, but we were poor, and I couldn't get a job, so I got into more trouble instead."

"And then the vampires came out into the open."

Alex let out a low chuckle. "They made it sound so cool and glamorous. I'd never be bored again. I'd have everything I could ever need. But it wasn't like that at all. It was sleazy and shit, but I thought it was what I deserved. I didn't see any future for me."

"And yet, here you are."

Alex finally stopped working to look at Ava. "It's weird. She looks at you like she wants to kick your head in, then she shows up and gives you a job that's, like, perfect for you." He shook his head and went back to work. "Crazy. After everything that happened, I get everything I didn't deserve. She's paying for me to go to college, and I'm so busy that I don't have time to get bored. I never thought any of this was possible." He closed a drawer. "I got lucky. Most people don't."

That gave Phoenix food for thought. There was something supremely satisfying about helping somebody hopeless change their life. Maybe he could do more, too.

He reluctantly returned to his chair, but the others were as restless as he felt. Alex was the only one with focus.

"Ooh," Lorcan said, digging into a box behind his sofa. "A miniature gold umbrella."

"That's sort of adorable in a totally over the top sort of way," Ava said, moving next to him to get a better look. She kneeled on the sofa to dig into the box. "A jade buddha! And look at that, a—" She screamed and jerked back. "Sorry, thought I saw a rat."

Lorcan choked on his own laughter as he reached into the box. "It's just a furry..." He picked it up, frowning. "Wait. Is this a butt plug?" He hurriedly dropped it back into the box. With a violent shudder, he said, "I really hope that wasn't used by dear old Granny."

Phoenix closed the file he'd been struggling to read. "Lorcan, maybe it's time for you to go on that coffee run."

Lorcan widened his eyes at Ava. "I think this is grown-up fae speak for you're grounded."

Ava subdued her giggle when she caught Phoenix's disapproving look. "I'm working. I'm working."

Phoenix shook his head and dug into his pocket for his wallet. "Get some food, too. We might as well take a break for a while."

Lorcan grabbed the wallet and keys. "Anyone want to join me?"

Lucia looked grateful as she dashed to her brother's side.

"Alex," Lorcan called out. "Take a break."

"Don't vanish for days," Phoenix said, looking for the next file.

The twins left with Alex. Phoenix envied them their escape. He tried to concentrate, but his gaze kept drifting toward Ava as she strolled through the stacks. He stared at the same photo for at least five minutes before giving up and following her.

She glanced over her shoulder, obviously hearing him approach. "Slacker," she said good-naturedly.

"If you can't beat them..."

"This place is crazy." She poked at a jar full of mucus that appeared to swim in a circle. "What was she doing with all of this stuff?"

"She was a woman who liked to own things. Including people."

Her eyebrows furrowed together. "She could have done so much good. What enjoyment did she possibly get out of a life full of hate and greed?"

He moved close enough to catch the scent of her shampoo. More vanilla. "I don't know that she did."

She turned to face him. "I'm so glad you're not like her."

"Maybe I am."

She grinned. "She would die twice if she knew you kept all of her stuff locked up in a warehouse. That you lived in a modest little house with your half-fae children. That you work extra hard to protect people." She poked his chest. "That you use werewolves to track down wild things that don't deserve to be saved."

"We're all lost," he said. "You told me that. And we all deserve to be saved." He closed the space between them, his heart racing like a child. Like a human, he thought with an inward laugh.

"You've gotten more relaxed," she said. "More comfortable with who you are. It's so good to see you with the twins and not act like you're terrified of saying the wrong thing."

"Am I so obvious?"

"Only sometimes." She looked at the nearest shelf and let out a dissatisfied sigh. "It's all such a waste. If it wasn't for her, you could have had this for their whole lives."

"It's not so bad," he said gently. "I've met people I wouldn't have otherwise. I get to see the wonderful adults they've grown into, despite the terrible start in life they had. They weren't raised to be good, but they are. I'm starting to get a lot of joy from that, the fact they're good in spite of everything, and not because they're trying to please anyone." He ran a strand of her hair through his fingertips. "Of course, the idea that it would destroy my mother is just the icing on the cake."

She grinned a little mischievously, moving closer to him. Her hand rested on his abdomen. "You know what else would drive her absolutely insane..."

The thought tickled him enough to hold her to him. But when he kissed her, filling himself with her scent, it wasn't his mother he was thinking of. And by the time the twins returned with food, coffee, and a sheepish apology from Lorcan, Phoenix no longer cared. The warehouse of memories wouldn't bother him again.

# Eight

Phoenix struggled to make his tie neat, still fidgeting at the material as he strode down the stairs. Lucia met him in the hallway and stopped him. She straightened the tie, shooting him a sympathetic look.

"I was never any good with knots," he said.

She held his gaze then patted his shoulder. He wasn't always certain of what he saw in her eyes, but her belief in him was clear now.

"I know." He rolled back his shoulders. "I'll be fine."

They had spent three days in the warehouse before coming to the collective conclusion that the dagger had never been there. If the weapon hadn't belonged to him in the first place then it couldn't have been stolen from him. Yet Clementine's spell pointed a finger at his mother. So where had it come from? Was there another secret stash of her belongings hidden somewhere?

He couldn't look into the matter any further because it was time for James's funeral. The Senate expected Phoenix to be there with them, to show a united front and let the world know they hadn't been weakened. He doubted they were fooling anyone.

The media had been going crazy speculating what actually happened to James. Phoenix wasn't any less fascinated. Nothing untoward had happened since James's death. No threats, no attacks, nothing at all. Nobody had made a move against him or anyone else. It was as though the world had frozen.

But the funeral had arrived anyway, and Phoenix couldn't avoid it.

Lorcan came running down the stairs, wearing a suit and lopsided tie that Lucia didn't bother fixing. "Are you ready?" Lorcan asked breathlessly. "I just saw the car pull up outside."

Dread crept over him. It was time. "You don't have to come."

"We should," Lorcan said. "Lucia agrees. He wasn't a _bad_ man. Besides, if we're not there, the media will jump all over it."

That was true enough. The newspapers in particular were drawn to the twins, trying to build a record of their lives. When Phoenix had been said to be engaged to a powerful English fae, the newspapers had gone crazy, cooing over a "royal" wedding. After that had ended in death, the media had simply transferred that enthusiasm to the twins. It didn't hurt that both of his children were photogenic enough to take pictures worth selling.

Being on the Senate had enabled Phoenix to protect them from the worst of it, and he had his suspicions that a certain paragon had kept the juiciest stories about Lorcan from appearing in the European media. Some stories had slipped through, but nothing too serious. A young royal fae had simply become a more interesting target than the spoiled children of rich celebrities for the moment.

Although, as it turned out, Phoenix had brought the most attention to the family from his actions and associations. The funeral was a huge marker of change, and all eyes would be watching.

"I'm nervous," he blurted, instantly wondering why he said the words aloud.

"I know," Lorcan said. "Me, too." He slipped on his jacket. "But this is part of your job now. Going to funerals."

"That's a brutal thought," Phoenix said, helping Lucia put on her coat. "It's going to get colder today. Wrap up warm."

Lorcan snorted. "You've been watching television again."

"There's nothing wrong with a little healthy concern for your children." He cleared his throat. "And, yes, actually. I have."

Lorcan grinned. "Learned anything new?"

Phoenix took his cue and ran with it. "Only that I should be glad to have missed your teenage years." He frowned. "Although in fae terms, you're technically still in that _immature_ stage of life."

Lorcan slapped him on the back. "Does that make these your golden years?"

The banter back and forth continued on the way to the state car waiting outside for them. Lucia beamed until she looked over at the converted garage. Recently empty, because Val and Leah had moved out.

Phoenix had been looking forward to that, thought the clean break would be healthier, but now there was only regret, mostly because of the regret in his daughter's face. She refused to let anyone know why she had made her choice to end her relationship with Val, and he doubted she ever would.

He took her hand and squeezed. Her sad smile broke his heart. He wanted her to be happy. "Maybe," he began, but she shook her head, setting her lips into an obstinate line.

Lorcan caught his eye and shrugged. They were both in the dark then.

They got into the car. The driver wasn't chatty, and silence fell over Phoenix's family, too. He grew tense on the journey, the anticipation of what was coming almost too much to bear.

As they neared the church, the streets grew full with observers. There was nothing like a good murder to draw some interest. Phoenix rubbed his temples. His cynical streak was driving even himself mad.

"Are we going to the wake?" Lorcan asked.

"I suppose we should."

He could see the massive church at the end of the street and wondered at the amount of cars parked on either side of the road.

"No room to park here," the driver said gruffly.

"Stay close then," Phoenix replied.

The driver stopped the car long enough for the family to get out before maneuvering through the mourners crossing the road to reach the church.

Phoenix took a deep breath. "This is it then."

He strode toward the crowd outside the church, the twins on either side of him as though protecting him.

He spotted Elathan and Shay speaking together. He approached them, hoping to hide amongst their number.

"You made it," Shay said. "Did you have any luck in the warehouse?"

"Technically. We went through everything. No sign of that dagger in the records."

"I can pass photos of it around," Lorcan said. "See if any fae know of it."

"Good idea," Shay said. "I'd like to know where it came from."

"It's old," Phoenix said. "Unusual."

"I'd like to take a look," Elathan said. "I am old myself, after all."

Shay looked him over. "All right. I can do that."

"Have you gotten footage of the break-in yet?" Phoenix asked.

"It should arrive on my desk today. I'll let you know if there's anything important."

Phoenix nodded. The others delved into small talk as though trying to avoid the situation. They were outside a church because one of their own was dead, and most of the other members of the Senate were valiantly ignoring his existence. He had noticed Callista walk away when he neared her. She was currently being trailed by Daimhín's anaemic assistant.

Layla approached him and took his hand.

"Sure you want to be seen with the pariah?" he asked.

She gazed at him for a moment. "Yes." She glanced over her shoulder. "Here's the family now," she said under her breath. "This must be awful for them."

A number of black limos pulled up behind a hearse containing James's coffin. The dead got off easy; it was the living who had to endure the consequences. Still, he regretted the way he'd spoken to James the last few times they'd met. He'd been harder on him than necessary. James had gone into his position on the Senate with an ego Phoenix had felt compelled to deflate. He felt pathetic about that now.

He looked away from the hearse as the family left the cars and the coffin was unloaded, but he couldn't avoid watching for long. Five young men and an older gentleman who looked very like James slowly carried his coffin into the church. The pallbearers were all human. The rest of the weeping family walked slowly behind them, accompanied by Willow who sobbed audibly as she clung to the widow's arm. Jame's wife was stoic and pale-faced, all in black. Even her face seemed drained of colour.

She focused straight ahead, ignoring Willow's dramatics. Then she looked up, directly at Phoenix, and her frozen expression contorted into one of anger and accusation.

"How dare you?" Her voice was surprisingly loud and husky.

It took Phoenix a moment to realise she was shouting at him.

"Get out of here." She shrugged off Willow and straightened her back. "You're despicable. Stalking my husband so! He was terrified of you, so scared that he lived alone just to keep the rest of us safe. How dare you come here today as though you respected him!"

Phoenix held up his hands. "I've never threatened your family. James was mistaken if—"

"He wasn't mistaken! I have proof." Her children tried to move her on, but she stood firm. She clenched her fists, her chin trembling with emotion. "I'll make sure the world knows exactly what you are!"

He stood there, unable to speak. The spell was broken as a camera flashed in his face. He blinked, completely unsettled.

"Maybe you should leave," Elathan murmured under his breath. "I'll walk you."

He made a path for Phoenix away from James's widow. She shouted insults after him, made accusations that everyone would listen to. Phoenix focused on keeping his face blank as he passed reporters. One got close enough to hold a microphone to his mouth. Ava's friend Carl broke through the crowds and got in her way, giving Phoenix a chance to avoid yet another confrontation. Elathan kept urging Phoenix on. Phoenix glanced over his shoulder. Lorcan was guiding a wan Lucia after him, protecting her from the pushing horde.

The crowds closed in on him, forcing him to a stop. A couple of fae pushed their way through, maneuvering the teeming crowd back to allow Phoenix enough of a gap to reach the waiting car.

"In the car," Elathan said. "Your fae friends will keep the crowd back, and the funeral will start soon anyway."

Phoenix looked back. Lorcan and Lucia had made it through. One of the fae bowed her head as they passed, publically acknowledging not only their existence but their status.

He met them half-way. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah, but let's get into that car," Lorcan said, glancing over his shoulder.

Phoenix waited until the twins got into the car before hopping in next to Elathan.

"That was tense," Elathan said breezily. "Phoenix, keep your head down. The press will jump all over this. Don't worry about that. When Old Widow Buckley calms down, we'll get her to make a statement, retracting her words."

"Didn't you hear her? She thinks I stalked James." The look in the woman's face had completely chastised him, partly because uncomfortable feelings of guilt had been creeping up on him all morning. "Why would she think those things? Why would he move out of his family home?"

"He was probably having an affair," Elathan said. "He used you as an excuse to get away. Humans do it all the time. They're primitive." He shot Lorcan a weak smile. "No offence."

"The place he died in was a miniature fortress," Phoenix said, unable to let it go. "He was afraid of _something_."

"That doesn't mean he was scared of you," Lorcan said.

"But she said—"

"Your son is right," Elathan said. "That's not proof. For now, keep a low profile. We'll figure this out." But even he looked concerned, despite the carelessness of the words he liked to hide behind.

James's widow had just publicly accused Phoenix of stalking the man. There wasn't a person alive who wouldn't suspect him of his murder now.

He was sitting in the darkness on a bench outside his home when he heard a scuffling sound from the wall. He reached into his pocket, bracing himself for a confrontation, when the moon came out from behind a cloud and highlighted a streak of red.

He exhaled. Ava.

She swung over the wall then landed quietly behind a bush. She saw him and waved, looking for all the world as though she had walked through the gate like a normal person.

"I didn't expect you," he said.

"Came by earlier. Wolves at your door. Still cameras outside the gate, even at this hour, so I decided to jump the wall and avoid the drama."

"I take it you saw what happened at the funeral."

She sat on the bench next to him. "I was there. Not close enough to hear what she said, but people sort of passed it along."

"Of course they did," he said wryly.

"How are you?"

"Obviously better than James and his family." He stared out into the darkness, at the sanctuary he had created. It couldn't protect him from himself.

"She's grieving," Ava said. "And it's easier to be angry at someone than feel sorry for yourself."

He looked at her. "What if she had a point? What if I made that man scared, drove him from his family, and—"

"Then there's nothing you can do about it now." She leaned against his arm. That was sort of comforting. "James is gone. You can't take any of the things you said back, but you can try to find his killer and give his family some closure." Her fingers wrapped around his. "They're the ones in pain now, but you can help them with this one thing."

"I thought I was better than him," he said bitterly. "I thought to unburden him of his ego, but that says more about me than James. I treated him the way fae treat humans, as though we're always right, and they are the dirt underfoot that we don't even notice."

"You're not like that."

He looked at her. "With you. Because I see you as an equal. I didn't see James that way, didn't treat him that way. He was an annoyance, and I spoke to him as though I had no respect for him. But he was a human trying to work with ancients, probably acting brashly because he was afraid, and I did nothing to make his life easier."

"The fact you'd even think about it like this makes you different," she said gently. "You're aware, and maybe you'll learn a lesson from this, but you're not a haughty fae with a chip on his shoulder thinking the world owes him everything."

He could tell she believed that. He wrapped an arm around her and held her close, no longer caring if his affection scared her off. "I owe him," he said. "I owe his family the truth. I'm going to find out what happened to James. Not just to clear my name, but for those left behind."

"And I'll help you," she murmured.

_You already have._

Now it was his turn to make up for his mistakes with James _._

# Nine

Phoenix massaged his temples wearily. If he heard his name one more time...

"Phoenix," Callista snapped. "Are you even listening?"

He opened his eyes and looked at the faces of the Senate before him. Their expressions ran the spectrum from pity to accusation, and from Callista, barely concealed disgust. "Unfortunately, I am."

"Oh, I'm sorry, is this tedious for you? This is _your_ fault," she persisted. "What on earth did you do to James?"

James's family had answered too many reporters' questions over the last twenty-four hours. The media had already linked Phoenix to the murder in damningly oblique terms that gave the impression he was also personally responsible for silencing the press. More importantly, he was no closer to finding out who had actually murdered the man because he was stuck in a meeting with the rest of the Senate while they freaked out.

"I'll deal with his family."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Callista said snidely.

"Do you trust me?" he asked. "Do any of you actually believe I murdered James?"

He looked around the table. Willow looked away from his enquiring gaze.

"While I'm confident you aren't the killer," Elathan said, "this does look bad. We can only blame so much on grief. The sooner Shay solves this case, the better."

"I'm going to see him after this," Phoenix said. "He has footage he wants me to see. Something to do with the case. I'm still trying to track down the last owner of the dagger, but Shay now believes James owned the weapon. How or when he picked it up is a different story."

"He was scared for a reason," Willow said in a small voice. "He didn't give me the details, but he had reason to worry. What did you do to him, Phoenix?" Her words were a quiet plea, one he couldn't answer.

"I lost my temper with him, but you were all witnesses to that. I barely spoke to him outside of these walls. I didn't know James."

"So he was nothing to you," she said bitterly.

Anger rose and crashed over him like a wave. "He _was_ nothing to me," he said coldly. "Certainly not important enough for me to stalk or murder."

"You say it so easily," she whispered. "You really do believe you're better than the rest of us."

Words stuck in his throat. The genuine hurt in her eyes made him regret his attitude. "I didn't mean—"

She held up her hand. "No, I know exactly what you meant."

"This isn't getting us anywhere," Layla said. "We need to stick together."

He looked upon the faces of the Senate and knew that wouldn't happen. They wouldn't protect him, and it was up to him to clear his own name.

"Our first priority must be finding James's killer," Mick said. "The media can wait for their story until then."

"Phoenix has become... a liability," Callista said.

"And you've become a pain." He stood. "I've had enough of talk and traitors. I have things to do. You know, like find out who killed one of us."

"You sound more like her every day," Callista said bitterly.

He slammed his palms on the table, making most of them jump. "I am nothing like my mother."

"I meant Ava," she said with a sad smile. "You have good intentions most of the time, but you make a big mess when only a small one is necessary."

"Leave Ava out of this," he said, more hotly than he intended.

He left the room, unable to bear to breathe the same air as them for a moment longer. Elathan followed.

"Don't lecture me." Phoenix slowed so Elathan could catch up. "I'm in no mood for it."

"I was just going to say I found an excellent bottle of whiskey on my travels. I was willing to share it with you, but if you're going to get testy every time you see me..."

Phoenix leaned against the wall and sighed. "Sorry."

"You see why I travel so much though, right? They're insufferable."

"I can't leave now."

"Why not?" Elathan searched his coat pockets while he spoke. "Let these idiots make the mess this time. Callista is a little fool wanting to be a queen with no crown. Let her have the attention. It'll give you a peaceful life."

Phoenix shrugged. "She spent a long time trying to get me on her side, promising loyalty. Now look at her."

"She always wanted to be Queen Bee." Elathan found his wallet then retrieved a battered looking roll-up. He held it between his lips to light it. "You can't trust a siren. They tell you exactly what they want you to hear." He exhaled a puff of smoke. "Her sister now... that one was worth knowing, but Callista is as vain and self-centred as the rest."

Phoenix had once thought of Callista as loyal. What else had he been oblivious to? "What do _you_ think happened to James?"

"I've no idea." Elathan frowned. "I can't imagine him being interesting enough to get himself killed. He was abrasive, a bit rude, but he had toned down when he realised he wasn't the boss around here."

"That's the problem. No boss. Nobody in charge. We're all just shouting at blank walls, hoping somebody will listen."

"Never going to happen." Elathan tapped ash against the wall. "This is what I meant about keeping your enemies close though. When something goes wrong, you see who's on your side. Speaking of sides, I see you've gotten somewhere with our little dark angel."

Phoenix smiled. "Don't let her hear you call her that."

"At least she's finally realised you've been courting her." He let out a guffaw of laughter at Phoenix's horrified expression. "Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me."

"Did you get a chance to take a look at the murder weapon yet?" Phoenix asked, mostly to change the subject.

The humour in Elathan's expression died. "I did. Do you know what it is?"

"Some kind of elemental weapon. Water, I think. Made for a woman?"

Elathan handed Phoenix the roll-up. "More like _is_ a woman."

"I don't follow."

His friends lips had thinned, all humour in his expression long dead. "It's soulbound. Does that mean nothing to you?"

It didn't. "Not in this context. What are you getting at?"

"You've never wondered how your people came here and managed to take over?" Elathan stole back the roll-up and took a deep drag. "I thought that would be boast-worthy."

Phoenix racked his brain for details. "There was a long battle, until finally, my people took the advantage."

Elathan snorted. "Not quite that noble."

"What really happened?" Phoenix asked, sensing dangerous territory ahead.

Elathan's eyes grew distant, as though he were in some far off place. "Your people used to have a little trick that they liked to show off. Binding a soul to a material object to use that person's power in another form. It turned out to be a neater way to control the masses."

Phoenix's mouth dropped open for a second. "Are you saying there's an actual person inside that dagger?"

"Not a person, a soul. A part of a person, their power."

Phoenix felt sick. "Ava said..."

"Said what?"

"She felt as though the dagger was calling to her. She was disturbed by it."

"That's... very interesting. You know, I thought that would be my fate, once." A wry smile curved up the corner of his mouth. "But that was too easy for your people."

"I... I'm so sorry, Elathan."

Elathan shrugged. "You weren't there." He stubbed out the cigarette. "Get on with you. I'll try to calm things down in there. If not, I'll just dominate them with my demonic presence."

"Too late," Phoenix said, trying to keep things light. "Everybody knows you're not a demon."

"Hey, I spent a lot of time in Hell." Elathan's eyes were black and soulless, and something within them unsettled Phoenix. "Some of it sticks."

Ava was already in Shay's office, both of them intently gazing at Shay's computer screen.

Shay grew up in a special place, where his Irish father's family had deep roots. From them, he had inherited the natural protection that ancient gods had bestowed upon Kerry, while his looks mostly came from his Albanian mother. Phoenix had gathered that Shay's family remained incredibly confused as to why he was yet to settle down and marry. Humans could sometimes be odd that way.

He glanced at Ava in sudden alarm. She had been raised by humans.

She noticed him and automatically smiled in greeting before waving him over. "You should see this."

Phoenix moved to her side and waited for Shay to play the footage. The CCTV camera was surprisingly clear, but as the video sped by, there was very little movement.

"Wait for it," Shay said. "Watch that upstairs window."

Phoenix watched. Nothing appeared to happen. Then there was a flash of movement. A dark-clothed figure crept around the side of the house, adjusting his hood. He climbed an almost completely flat wall then contorted his body to pivot his way through an impossibly small open window. The whole thing was over in about twenty seconds.

"What the hell was that?" Phoenix muttered.

"Keep watching."

The video skipped along, then finally, the figure came out of the downstairs porch, closing the door behind him. His head was still covered with a hood, but he was visibly shaking, and gesturing as though speaking to somebody.

Phoenix squinted, waiting for a companion to appear, but none did. "Who is he talking to?"

"Can't see anybody else," Shay said.

"So this is our murderer then?"

"Looks like it."

"Looks like a hooded assassin," Ava said darkly. "This is all starting to feel familiar."

Phoenix kept his expression blank. "Can I get a copy of this?"

"Already made you a copy," Shay said.

"Is that it?" Ava looked from Phoenix to Shay and back again. "We're not going to discuss the bloody assassin?"

"We don't know who this person is," Shay said. "We can't go jumping to conclusions with no evidence."

"He's dressed exactly like Fionnuala's assassins!"

"Anybody can wear a hood, Ava."

She pointed at the screen. "You saw how he moved. That wasn't normal."

"But why would one of my mother's assassins kill James?" Phoenix's skin prickled. "She was dead long before James came into any power. It makes no sense."

"It makes no sense for anybody to kill James with a fae dagger, but it happened!"

Phoenix had to sit down. His mother was dead, and few of her assassins were left. Why would one of them suddenly decide to go after James?

"It doesn't seem right," he said at last. "Why is James a target?"

"Maybe he pissed off the wrong person," Ava said.

"I need to talk to his family."

Ava and Shay exchanged a worried look.

"I... don't know that they would talk to you," she said.

"Come with me then," he said impatiently. "But I have to find out what his widow was talking about. There has to be a reason for all of this, and I'm going to find it for my own peace of mind if anything."

"All right," Ava said. "I'll go with you, but then we have to follow up on the assassin link because I can't have them running around again."

"How would we find out more?"

She folded her arms across her chest. "There's Nate."

"Nate hasn't done anything wrong," Shay said. "We can't keep pestering him."

"He's a good source of information," Ava said. "He was one of those assassins for long enough to help us. Maybe he's heard that one of his old brothers is now a paid hit man or something." She glanced at the screen. "A pretty unstable one, but still."

"I can show him the video, see if he sees any similarities in the way the killer moves," Phoenix said. "Do I have your permission, Shay?"

"You don't need my permission," he grumbled before waving them on. "Go. Cause me trouble."

# Ten

He picked Ava up early the following morning to visit James's family. His wife and four children lived in the family home. The eldest child was in college, but the others were still in secondary school. A shame, but many were in far worse positions in life.

Phoenix was surprised to find himself nervous, but he still vividly recalled the woman's hate and disgust. She had looked at him the way his mother had so often looked at him, as though he were this shameful creature who could never amount to anything. He didn't want to face her alone. Now he was grateful for Ava's offer to join him.

"We shouldn't stay long," Ava said. "It seems inappropriate to even be doing this."

"I have to hear it from her lips," he said. "Why she spoke the way she did. It's played on my mind ever since."

"I'm not surprised. She was pretty vicious. Have the press left you alone?"

"For the most part, but the Buckley family have been talking to the reporters. If I can clear this up, it'll be one less thing to worry about."

"All right." She still sounded doubtful.

The scenery changed as he drove out of the city. James had been wealthy, but he hadn't moved to the typical areas men like him seemed to do. His neighbourhood was well-kept but less showy than the place he died.

He slowed the car to allow an old woman enough time to cross the road. She gave him one glance before ducking her head and almost falling in her hurry to cross. "Am I really that terrifying?" he asked meekly. "You said he would likely have been afraid of me, even before I lost my temper with him. Why?"

"You're sort of... intimidating," she said thoughtfully. "And I just meant that he's human with no power, no backup, nobody to protect him. You have your own power, your own rules. You have the fae and the werewolves, and you hang out with paragons and hellhounds and tainted nephilim. You've gone up against your own mother and the first vampire and who knows what else. On paper, you must seem ruthless. In real life, it's hard to tell what you're thinking, how you're reacting. You're very closed-off, and that freaks people out because it makes you seem unpredictable. It's natural to be more comfortable when you know what to expect."

That was more information than he had expected. "Have you been thinking about this a lot then?"

"Not a lot." She grinned. "Look, _I_ know that you're only ruthless when you have to be, when you're pushed to the limit. And you're closed-off to protect yourself because you don't trust anyone. Why would you? Going against your mother was one of the bravest things I've ever seen, but without context, it's not going to sound that way."

His face fell.

"And also, I think you might take me in a fight, so yes, that is intimidating."

"You're teasing me," he said. "I can't be so terrifying if it's this easy to tease me."

"Only a little." She patted his hand on the gearstick. "But this is brave, too."

"And hopefully only a little foolish," he replied. "You're making this easier though, so thank you."

"You're different now," she said carefully after a moment. "I have to do less mind-reading these days."

"You make everything easier." He'd meant to speak lightly, but the words carried too much weight. He cleared his throat. "Let's hope there are no cameras around to catch another berating."

She fell silent until they arrived outside James's old home. It was a pretty semi-detached home with a beautifully kept garden. The car in the driveway looked brand new.

For some reason, the place made Phoenix think of Alex. With a better upbringing, he could have bypassed the vampires. Then again, some mistakes were always on the cards. It was only a matter of time.

He took a deep breath before he walked up the garden path. The door opened before they even knocked.

"What the hell are you doing here?" James's widow had been a beautiful woman in her youth, and traces of that beauty still remained, but it had been mostly replaced with hate and grief.

"I'm sorry," Phoenix began.

"No, you don't get to say sorry. You don't get to give up your guilt. You stalked my husband then killed him, and now you have the audacity to come here and threaten—"

"Hold on, Mrs. Buckley," Ava said. "Nobody has threatened _anyone_. Phoenix didn't kill your husband. He was with me that night, all night, and he didn't leave. I'd be highly surprised if he stalked James. They didn't always get on, but that's not his style. Maybe if you just explain what happened, we can clear this up and get closer to the real killer."

The woman deflated when Ava spoke. "He had respect for you," she said slowly. "Not him."

Ava looked faintly surprised. Phoenix wasn't. Those who dismissed her outright often learned that was a mistake.

A dog ran to the door, sniffed Ava's hand, then sat by Mrs. Buckley's legs, leaning against them.

"Let him smell you, too." The woman eyed Phoenix, daring him though her hands trembled. "He was there. If you hurt James, he'll know."

Phoenix held out his fist to the dog who sniffed a couple of times before losing interest.

"Mam, he didn't hurt Dad. You have to let this go." James's youngest daughter came to the door. She had been prim and proper at the funeral, but now her face and ears were full of piercings. She had taken off the mask at home. She nodded at Phoenix. "Sailor was Dad's shadow. If you hurt Dad, Sailor wouldn't sit here quietly." She bent down to pet the dog. "Would you, boy?"

"He still made your father's life miserable," the mother said shakily. "He still..."

"Can we come in?" Phoenix asked. " _Please_. I don't know why James was afraid of me, and I... I'd like to know. "

"Tell him," the daughter urged. "We should be talking about Dad. It's weird that we're not."

Her mother was completely defeated by then.

"I'm Caitlin," the girl said. "Come on in."

Mrs. Buckley stepped aside. Caitlin welcomed them into the living room. It was a lovely, bright room, but Phoenix felt as though he didn't quite fit. The cabinets were full of trinkets and treasures, mementos of James's life and a family man Phoenix didn't recognise. Envy stirred within. No traces of _his_ past life remained.

"Mam, go make some tea," Caitlin said. "There are biscuits in the press next to the fridge."

Mrs. Buckley wrung her hands together before moving out of sight. Caitlin shook her head then gestured for them to sit.

Phoenix followed Ava's lead and sat on a spotless cream sofa.

Caitlin curled up in an armchair. "She's not coping."

"I'm so sorry for your loss," Ava said. "It must be terrible for all of you."

"I never realised before, but she really did love him. They weren't affectionate or anything, but she's struggling without him."

"It has to be hard for you, too."

Caitlin picked at her forest green nail polish. "Doesn't feel real." She looked up at Phoenix. "If she concentrates on hating you, it's easier for her to avoid thinking about Dad. But she should be allowed to think about him. The thing is... he _was_ afraid, but he never said it was _you_ he was afraid of. Mam put the pieces together because he'd mentioned you in the past."

"Why was he afraid?" Phoenix asked.

"He wasn't around a whole lot. Not since he started working on the Senate. We weren't close anyway. He hated my style, and I thought he was a bit of a wanker, so..." Her brief burst of laughter quickly faded. "He started getting panicky when the post arrived, always rushing to get it. One time, I got there first, and I saw a weird envelope, but he grabbed it out of my hands and locked himself in his room for ages."

"What was weird about it?" Ava asked.

"It looked like it was blood-stained." She made a face. "I know that sounds dramatic, but that's how it looked. So I think maybe somebody was sending him stuff to freak him out."

Mrs. Buckley returned with the tea. "He moved out because of it. Somebody scared him out of his home. If it wasn't you, it had to be somebody important." She looked exhausted all of a sudden.

"I didn't do this." Phoenix leaned forward, hoping he appeared earnest. "We worked together. I promise you I'm trying to find out what really happened that night."

"Tell them what you told me the other night," Caitlin said.

"I'd had a glass of wine," Mrs. Buckley protested. "And half a valium. I didn't know what I was talking about."

"She overheard some of his phone calls." Caitlin's eyes glistened with excitement. "She heard things."

"Like what?" Ava asked.

"It was nothing." The older woman clutched her cup tightly. "But maybe... I think it had something to do with that businessman who killed himself. James was very upset about it all. I heard him talking like... he was making a deal with somebody. He was talking about the end of the Senate, and his place in the government."

"The actual government," Phoenix said. "He wanted to go into politics."

"He said something about being the face of something. I wasn't sure..."

"She thought it was Humans First," Caitlin said. "And the way Dad talked sometimes... he made it sound like the Senate was temporary."

"At first, it was supposed to be," Phoenix said. "But are you sure it was Humans First he spoke to? James didn't seem like the type."

"I'm not sure of anything," Mrs. Buckley said. "All I know is that James was looking for a new job, a safer one, and it was as part of a new government. No more Senate."

"Do you have any of the post he was sent?" Ava asked hopefully.

"Just the one," Caitlin said. "I hid it from him." She got up to get it. She returned with a piece of paper that said one word. _Traitor_.

"That was odd on so many levels," Ava said in the car.

"Traitor," Phoenix said. "It gets stranger."

"Think it's true? That somebody's trying to take down the Senate?"

"It's possible. We're not as secure as we could be. But still, it would be madness to tear apart the structure of our governments so early on. We're not stable enough for that."

"So was James a traitor to the Senate?"

"I've no idea who sent him that," Phoenix said. "It could mean anything, but it seems unnecessarily petty. Anonymous threats? How pathetic. I'll need to warn Elathan and look into this further. Whatever about James, we need to make sure no more wars occur."

"Humans First again," Ava said with a sneer. "They've got their fingers in everything."

"Have they really grown so powerful?" Phoenix said. "I'm surprised that James would be involved with them."

"Maybe he was tired of supernaturals," Ava said. "Or maybe he knew who was sending him that stuff, and he thought aligning himself with Humans First would help him. Or none of the above. It's weird what you find out about people after they're dead. It's like they were completely different than you expected."

Not always. He felt ill. The morning had left him with a bad taste in his mouth. "If you don't mind, I'd rather leave our visit with Nate until tomorrow. I need time to think."

"That's all right. I'm going to see Kenneth later anyway, see if he knows why James or anyone else might have had that dagger."

"Thank you for looking into it," Phoenix said.

He dropped her home, thought about kissing her goodbye but left it alone. He shouldn't draw her further in when he was surrounded by so much trouble. He went home and thought everything over, but he could deduce nothing cohesive from the thoughts.

The twins returned home from visiting their cousin shortly afterward.

"Anything?" Lorcan asked hopefully.

"No answers," Phoenix said. "More questions though." He caught them up on what he'd learned, which was very little when it came down to it.

"Doesn't sound like James was as innocent as everybody thinks," Lorcan said.

Lucia frowned at him.

"No, but perhaps he was more naive than we thought," Phoenix said. "Is it fair to expect humans to understand our world when they've grown up with rules we've broken just by existing? And the Senate hasn't been working as well as I'd hoped. It started off with good intentions, but we've devolved."

"So change it." Lorcan gestured toward the pages on Phoenix's desk. "Get more people involved in trying to fix things from the inside out."

"I don't know if I can." He ran his hands over his face. "I'm going out tonight. Ava's going to talk to Kenneth about where the dagger may have come from. I think I need to hear what he has to say after all."

"What if somebody is working toward taking down the Senate?" Lorcan asked. "What will you do then?"

Phoenix hesitated. "I've no idea." Especially now he was beginning to believe that just might be the right thing to do.

Kenneth and Ava were already sitting at the bar in the hotel Kenneth often stayed in. After his younger brother's death, everything that had been stolen from him had returned to Kenneth, but he didn't appear to be able to enjoy it. Everything he owned had been touched by his brother's darkness. Kenneth wasn't anything like him, so he carried the guilt for both of them.

As Phoenix approached, he heard Ava coax Kenneth into eating.

"Just have a little dinner," she urged. "It'll help you make sense when I ask you questions."

Kenneth laughed. "It'll take more than a little dinner to soak up what I've been drinking." He sighed. "Fine. I'll eat. But only because you're annoying." He pointed at her. "And you're paying for it."

"It's a deal."

"May I join you?" Phoenix asked politely.

Ava flinched. "I didn't see you. I thought you weren't coming."

"I thought I'd like to catch up with Kenneth," he said. "Good evening, Kenneth."

Kenneth grunted, retreating again.

"Kenneth has news," Ava said. "He was just about to tell me everything he knows and then some. Weren't ya, buddy?"

Kenneth groaned. "She's a pest of the highest order. What have I done to deserve her?"

"What have you learned?" Phoenix asked, taking a seat next to Ava.

"James Buckley owned the fae heirloom that killed him." Kenneth sighed as Ava pushed a plate of food in front of him, but he picked up his fork anyway. "Ask me how I know."

"How do you know?" Ava rattled off.

"My darling brother gave it to him. And where did he get it from?"

"My mother," Phoenix said, withholding a groan.

"Yup," Kenneth said. "She sent it to him as a gift years ago, and when the Senate established itself, he sent it to James. Want to guess why?"

Ava glanced at Phoenix and shrugged.

"It's valuable," Phoenix said slowly.

"That's one way of putting it," Kenneth said. "I've been reading about fae heirlooms all day. Terrifying stuff. But that particular weapon is more than it looks."

"It's soulbound," Phoenix said dully.

"There's that," Kenneth said. "But this particular heirloom became so much more."

"What do you mean by soulbound?" Ava asked.

Phoenix hesitated. "At one point in history, my people transferred the power of their enemies into weapons."

"Simplified version, but all right," Kenneth said. "It was how they won their wars, I believe. A couple of sacrifices killed rebellion. When threats were no longer needed, the fae shifted their focus. They desired loyalty, used their heirlooms to make statements. My guess is that Fionnuala sent it to Declan to buy his loyalty—and to show hers."

"I don't get it," Ava said. "How does it show her loyalty? Because it's a gift?"

"Not exactly. The wielder of this little beauty can make a claim of protection with it. The fae have mostly lost the knowledge, but when Phoenix's ancestors arrived here, they brought with them the only metal known to be capable of soul-binding. But its capabilities went further. A fae would make an offer of an alliance, and the other party would pay in blood."

Phoenix exchanged a confused glance with Ava. "My mother wanted Declan to kill himself then? Is that it?"

"Nope. In the old wars, a sacrifice was sometimes made to save a particular family or tribe, but in this instance, he would only have to nip his skin. The blade drinks the blood, and the holder is covered by fae protection. As in, they are almost good enough to be fae. As in, they are a friend of the fae. As in, if a fae tried to hurt them, this dagger can give them a kind of contract guaranteeing they won't come to harm. It's complicated."

Ava shook her head. "Why would your brother give it to James? He's not even fae."

"If he used the dagger himself, he might as well have been. But it's still useful because there's a price," Kenneth said, stabbing a piece of steak with his fork. "The contract works both ways. One is guaranteed protection, and the other is guaranteed a loyal servant, but only if blood is used."

"How do we know if James used it then?" Ava asked.

"We don't," Kenneth said. "I'm just telling you why he had it."

"Unless he was afraid of me," Phoenix said slowly. "Unless he was so intimidated, he felt he had no choice but to use it."

"Did he stab himself?" Ava asked, looking baffled. "Hit too deep by accident?"

"That, I can't answer," Kenneth said. "But my brother liked to make people think they were the ones making the decisions. I can see him manipulating someone into feeling they needed to enter a bonded contract for protection."

"But your brother is dead," Phoenix said. "How did this happen then?"

"Maybe it happened before his death," Kenneth said. "Or it started then, and after that, James became so paranoid that he managed to convince himself. More likely, the dagger was a coincidence. It just happened to be the weapon used."

"I don't know," Phoenix said. "We're missing so much here."

"Other plans carried on after Declan's death," Ava said. "It's not impossible that whoever was tormenting James kept going because they had been paid to and saw no reason to stop."

Phoenix couldn't think of a plausible explanation for any of the events to link them together.

# Eleven

The following morning, Phoenix drove Ava to visit Nate. After Kenneth's theories had filled his head all night, he needed more answers. There were too many connections to the fae—real or imaginary.

"You're quiet," Ava said in the car. "Still thinking about last night?"

"I'm trying to work out a way to make sense of it all. Does it make sense to you?"

"We're still missing some pieces. Doesn't mean we won't find them."

He recalled the hostility in Callista's eyes and knew he didn't have much time before she let him sink with the ship. "The idea of my mother giving such a piece to Declan Egan disturbs me. Was that their relationship? He, a willing slave to her protector?"

"Don't pity him," Ava said. "He shifted the positions as soon as he had the chance. It's creepy that he gave the dagger to James. I can just imagine him telling James the story of it, and then however long later, James feeling tempted to try it out. Did he, I wonder?"

"I've no idea. How does one determine if a sword has been fed?"

"We should find out more about these fae heirlooms. If there are any more hanging around, they could come back to bite us in the arse, too."

"Bite _me_ ," he corrected. "I'm the one being tarred because of them."

"You looked agitated when Kenneth brought up the soulbound thing." He sensed her questioning glance. "Was there more to it?"

"Elathan's people were eventually conquered using that very method." His fingers clenched around the steering wheel. "I'd only recently learned of them myself. I wonder did I know once. It seems absurd to think my mother was so proud of our murky origins, that she would have happily returned to those ways."

"I'm just glad your people forgot how to do it before we had to face Fionnuala," she said, but she looked worried as she stared out of the window. He didn't blame her. He came from terrible people, and now everyone expected him to speak for them.

At the garage, Nate wasn't particularly happy to see them.

"Again already," he said, coming outside to greet them.

Phoenix couldn't see the tattoos that marked Nate as one of the assassins his mother had trained, but although the man walked in a relaxed manner, there was something behind his eyes that said he was constantly alert.

"I needed to speak to you," Ava said.

"Obviously something's gone wrong in the world if you're here. You seem to do that even when it has nothing even remotely to do with me."

"This might be different," Ava said. "One of your brethren might be back to his old tricks."

Nate rubbed his hands with an already filthy cloth. "That has nothing to do with me. I haven't heard of anyone doing that."

"You've heard about James's death," Ava said. "There's footage of his killer."

Nate froze. "Who?" he whispered.

"Somebody with a hood," Phoenix said. "Somebody able to scale a wall and get inside a tiny, barely open window in the matter of seconds."

Nate bowed his head. He looked devastated. "I don't know why anybody would target him."

"But it's possible," Phoenix pressed. "It sounds like something your people would do."

" _My people_." Nate shook his head. "They're not all... It's true that some of them have had trouble adjusting, but there's no reason for anyone to target a member of the Senate."

"Unless they have a new boss," Ava said.

"Yes, it's possible somebody's found a new person to follow. I don't know! Everyone I know of who lives is accounted for. I've kept track. I've..." He shook his head. "You would never understand. You don't know what it's like to be... like this."

"I think I have an idea," Phoenix said.

Nate glared at him. "You're walking around like a normal person. You're not locked up somewhere because you're losing your mind."

"Who's losing their mind?" Ava asked.

"I... Francis. He's older than me, more..." He blew out a sigh, finally resigning himself to the interrogation. "Look, he's not able to cope with being alone. He needs to be told what to do. So I told him what to do."

"What did you tell him to do?" Ava said.

"To get help," Nate said. "He was hearing things, seeing things. He thought Mother was still talking to him. She was our lifeline. She was everything to us. If he thinks she's out there because of some voices in his head, then the world gets very dangerous for him. So I told him what to do, and he obeyed. Because that's what we do. We obey. You wouldn't get it."

"I might," Phoenix said. "She was my mother, too."

Nate looked at him as though realising that for the first time. "I knew that, but... the point is I take care of those I'm in touch with. Francis was suffering, so I helped him. If I thought somebody was going to assassinate a member of the Senate, I might have stopped him."

Ava raised an eyebrow. "Might have?"

Nate shrugged. "Who knows?"

"Can I meet him?" Phoenix asked.

Nate blinked a couple of times. "Why on earth would you want to meet him?"

"I'm curious, mostly. Maybe I can help him, find a better place for him. Maybe somebody else has kept in touch with him. Where is he?"

Ava shot him a quizzical look that he ignored. His mother's mistakes were his responsibility.

"He's in a hospital. When they met him, they took care of him at a discounted rate. I couldn't let him in a public hospital in case... I thought bad things might happen."

"He should be in a supernatural clinic," Phoenix said. "They'd be better equipped to help him."

"I did the best I could at the time." Nate gave Ava a pointed look. "And I don't trust _anyone_."

"I won't hurt him," Phoenix said. "But perhaps I could take something from him to make his life easier."

"Take something?" Nate looked confused. "Like what?"

"A memory or two. Something that might help the voices stop."

"Could you help him?" Ava said, sounding more intrigued than surprised—or condemning. "Fix him, just like that?"

"I could try. I could at least give him a bit of peace."

"Why would you do that?" Nate asked suspiciously. "Why would you help one of us? You killed your mother."

"I did," Phoenix said. "She deserved to die. This is just a sick man who was raised to be manipulated. He didn't ask for that life. None of us did."

"I'll talk to him," Nate said, albeit hesitantly. "At the hospital. I'll ask him if he's willing to speak to you. She... she spoke to us about you, you know."

It was Phoenix's turn to be startled. "She did?"

"Yeah," Nate said softly. "We had to measure up to her first son. We weren't good enough if we couldn't be like you."

Phoenix's spine tightened. He had no idea how to react to that. Ava brushed her hand against his, a small comfort in the sudden madness.

"That's disturbing," Phoenix managed to say. "Especially considering I was a massive disappointment to her on every possible level."

Nate shrugged. "You were the bar we were measured by. It wasn't always bad, you know. Sometimes, I miss being told what to do. Having to think for myself is frightening." He smiled as he looked around the room. "But in the way a roller coaster is frightening. I quite like the feeling most of the time, but not everyone is like me."

His own memories of a transition from existing in obedience to thinking for himself were blurry, but the memory of that fear remained. For the first time, the boys his mother had trained to become her personal assassins grew real in his mind, no longer enemies but people he had too much in common with.

He caught Ava glance at him too many times in the car. "I'm quite all right."

"Are you? Because I'm not. That was creepy. I don't know how to feel. On one level, I want to destroy everyone who worked for Fionnuala, but then I feel sorry for these people, too. And for her to compare them to you even as she took everything from you. _Jesus_. Was anybody on her level? Did she treat anybody like a person?"

"Probably not." He'd been her possession for so long that she would have preferred him dead than free.

"I didn't expect you to help him."

Those words were tinged with something he couldn't identify. "Oh?"

"It's... really good of you, actually."

He laughed. "I didn't lie when I said I was curious. Besides, if I do search his memories, who's to say I won't find something useful."

Her face fell. "Right."

He regretted her disappointment, but it was true. He would take any opportunity to delve into the past he didn't remember. There might be something he could use, something about his mother that could trap other like-minded individuals who had worked with her only to escape punishment. He was prepared to find new enemies in the consciousness of a madman.

"I'll have to check in with the Senate soon," he said to fill the space.

"What are you going to tell them?"

"What I've learned. Which isn't much. But they like to be kept informed."

"You always talk about them as though you aren't a part of it."

"Why do you sound so accusing?"

She looked away. "I don't mean to."

He wasn't sure. Not about the shift in atmosphere or what it meant. He couldn't find words to talk about it all, so he dropped her home and returned to his own house to figure out his next step.

He didn't have one.

# Twelve

Phoenix awoke from a nap that evening to a frantic call from Nate.

"Noah got me your number," Nate blurted in a panicked tone. "But Francis is gone. He's not there, and now I'm wondering if something happened. If he really did—"

"Calm down," Phoenix said. "Where are you now? I'll pick you up, and we'll go to the hospital and see what they can tell us about Francis. How long has he been gone? A couple of hours?"

"No, days. They finally admitted that, at least. They're too busy trying to cover it up because apparently this isn't the first time this kind of thing has happened."

Phoenix's stomach turned. Too familiar. "I'll come and get you soon."

Nate gave him his address then abruptly hung up.

Phoenix in turn called Ava. "Are you busy?"

"Um, I can talk. Why?"

"Because Nate just called. His brother, Francis, has been missing for days."

She hissed. "He could be the killer then."

"It's even more possible now."

"Hold on a sec." She covered the phone and had a brief muffled conversation with somebody. "Where will I meet you?" she asked him after a moment.

"I'll pick you up," he said. "Be ready."

She was. She was standing outside the cul-de-sac when he arrived. He pulled up and beckoned her to get in. She jumped into the passenger seat, and they took off.

"I'm sorry if I disturbed any plans," he said politely. There he went again. Acting cool.

"Carl came over with some DVDs," she said. "He thought it would be good for me to get back into our usual routine, but he won't even notice I'm gone."

He glanced at her curiously. "May I ask? You are very close to Carl. Very good friends. Why haven't you ever ended up together?"

She shot him a glare. "Why haven't you and Elathan?"

That startled him. "That's not—"

"Yeah, exactly. Carl's my best friend. He's the person I count on, the person I can talk to. We might not be blood-related, but I see my brother when I look at him. When it comes down to it, my best friend will still be there long after everyone else has been forgotten about. We don't need sex to have a good relationship or to care about each other." She held up an accusing finger. "And for that matter, men and women can actually talk to each other without wanting to rip each other's clothes off."

He regretted opening his mouth. "Thank you for the education."

"Yeah, well, ask a stupid question."

She looked mad. He hadn't meant to offend her. "For what it's worth, I'm glad you have a friend like that. Somebody you can depend on when all else fails. It makes me feel better."

She looked at him suspiciously. "Better about what, exactly?"

"All of the trouble you get into." He smiled. "The rest of us are merely envious."

She didn't trust him. He had done something wrong, made some mistake that most people would see coming. Panic surged through him, the feeling of being a lost child who could do nothing right, no matter how hard he tried.

"I'm sorry if I offended you," he said after a moment. "I sometimes miss the appropriateness of the things I say."

"I'm not offended," she said. "But I'm tired of the way people think being with Carl would solve all of our problems."

"I for one am glad you're not with Carl." He realised he had made another mistake when she started giggling. "Can we please pretend we never had this conversation?"

She held out her hand. "Deal."

He took it and squeezed. The atmosphere cleared, and he still wasn't sure why. But she was smiling again, so that was enough.

He soon found Nate's place. He lived in a grotty, half-forgotten part of town. Again, the guilt came. His mother had ruined lives, and he had left the victims to fend for themselves. He had been happy to think of them as the enemy, to abandon them to the real world after his mother's death. If Francis was the killer, did that make Phoenix guilty in a roundabout way?

Nate was waiting, pacing impatiently when they arrived. He got into the car without a word, his eyes frantic.

"It'll be okay," Ava said reassuringly.

"You don't understand," Nate said. "You didn't see what he was like. He's not in the real world anymore. He's living in his head or his memories or something. Maybe he's just insane. Maybe he always was. But I was supposed to make sure he got help. I was supposed to help him take care of himself."

Ava reached around to pat his knee. "I promise you we'll find him. But you won't be any help to us if you keep panicking. If he's as confused as you believe, he may still be on the grounds. We'll talk to the staff and see if they can help us figure it out."

"Suddenly you're nice to me?" Nate said angrily. "We were the dirt on your shoe before this."

"I've been hard on you," Ava said evenly. "When I see you, I remember assassins in hoods making everyone I love terrified, murdering people I care about. I've seen the aftermath of the violence, Nate. You're trying to lay low, but it doesn't take back what went on before. But," she cast a sad glance Phoenix's way, "now I know exactly how that feels."

"We can't take it back," Nate said. "No matter what we do, somebody remembers. The world would prefer if we weren't around. I thought I was helping Francis, but..."

"We'll track him down before he hurts himself," Phoenix said. Or anyone else, for that matter.

He should have shown Nate the footage earlier. And he should have been out there trying to clear his name before any more news outlets published articles blaming him for James's death. He pretended it didn't matter, but there was something about seeing strangers write untruths that made the world swell and fall around him. He cared, and he wished he didn't.

Nate directed them to the hospital, and some more pieces clicked into place.

Ava's face grew tense when they arrived. "This is it, isn't it? The same hospital that lost the other patients, the ones who attacked the school and the charity event."

"It is," Phoenix said resignedly.

"How is it still open?"

"Wait," Nate said. "They're _known_ for losing people?"

"Unfortunately, yes," Phoenix said. "But let's talk to the staff before we jump to conclusions." But internally, he fumed. He'd been assured the place was in the process of closing down its doors for good.

The building itself looked quite nice on the outside, not the typical image that a mental institution inspired. The grounds hadn't been maintained though, and the overly long grass was overgrown with weeds. As they approached the entrance, Phoenix caught the stench of rubbish bins that hadn't been recently emptied.

Inside, the reception area was empty, and the phone was off the hook. Paint peeled from the walls. A female patient wandered along the hallway, slapping her palm against the wall. She walked by them, striking her palm against Phoenix's chest as though he were part of the building.

"Where the hell is the staff?" Ava said, her words strained and terse. "I'm going to try to find somebody. You two look for Francis's room and see if there's any sign of him. It looks like they wouldn't even realise if somebody went missing."

She shepherded the woman back down the hall. Phoenix and Nate took the opposite hallway, walking along a corridor until Nate pointed to a window. "Staff room."

Phoenix peered through the window. A woman slept soundly on a sofa while two men drank tea and watched television.

"I shouldn't have left him here," Nate said, obviously rattled. "But it wasn't like this before."

" _I_ should have done more," Phoenix muttered. He'd taken too much for granted, forgotten what it was he was supposed to be doing. "Do you know where his room was? We might as well look for it now."

Nate led Phoenix to a row of rooms, most of them empty. Phoenix looked in on the patients who mostly sat staring at the window or lay curled up in balls on their beds. He remembered that look they shared, because he had worn it himself in the past. They were hopeless and depressed, and nobody was coming to save them.

"I'm going to shut this place down," he said fiercely. "I'm going to make this better."

"It's too late," Nate snapped. "If Francis does something stupid, we're all going to suffer for it. I'm barely allowed to live as is. The garage is failing because of me. I have to find him before he makes it all worse."

Phoenix had never imagined feeling sorry for his mother's brainwashed army, yet there he was, empathizing with another person's pain and wishing he could help. That had to be Ava's influence. He hardly learned it from his mother.

They came upon Francis's bedroom. It was pitiful. Phoenix wandered around the filthy room, covering his mouth to avoid breathing in the smell.

"I should have visited more often," Nate said miserably. "I just hated the reminders. I didn't want to be one of them anymore. I just wanted a life of my own."

Phoenix understood. He looked around, noting the scratches on the floor and walls. The man had been manic. He moved to the window. Traces of red on the outside of the window remained. Somebody had cleaned up. But what had been there?

He continued observing the room. There were no keepsakes or items telling him anything about the occupant. The sheet had been ripped off the mattress and stuffed under the bed, clearly stained with urine and who knew what else.

Ava's voice drifted from the hallway. "What are the hours like?"

"Oh, they're pretty good," a young male voice replied. "No boss telling us what to do or when to come in. It's a handy job."

She shoved him into the room. "And you don't care that you lose the occasional patient?"

The male's eyes widened when he caught sight of Phoenix and Nate.

"Where the hell is he?" Nate demanded.

"Who?" the orderly said.

"Francis! The man staying in this room!" Nate looked ready to swing at the man.

"I... I don't know. He didn't go missing on my shift." He looked away. "I don't think. He wanders off, but he always comes back. That's why they don't make a big deal about it. Like... he's a person, not a prisoner." He looked more confident, as though he had convinced himself of something. "And he always comes back."

"To live in this hovel?" Phoenix said. "Do any of the patents get care in this negligent hole? Don't expect to have an easy job in the future. You'll be lucky if you ever work again."

"Has Francis's behaviour changed lately?" Ava asked.

"Behaviour?" The staff member's gaze turned blank.

"Yes, behaviour. The way he acted," she said impatiently, looking ready to slap him across the head. "Was he acting differently than before? Did he change? You had to see him sometimes. So how did he behave?"

The young man scratched the back of his shaved head. "Like... a mental patient, right? I don't know. Maybe he got worse. I wasn't here when he arrived. But he was... yeah, actually, he used to be one of the quiet ones. He'd sit in here for hours listening to his radio. Then he went loopy. Wrong meds or something. He got a heavier dose, I think. But it didn't work. He used to bang his head against the window all the time. Kept writing words in his blood."

"On the outside?" Phoenix asked.

"What?"

"Were the words on the inside or outside of the window?"

"How should I know? People stopped checking on him because it was always a mess. There's only a few of us," he said defensively. "We can't take care of anything."

Phoenix grew more determined to end the place. "Where's the radio?"

"What?"

"Is that all you can say?" Nate said. "He asked where the radio is. You said Francis listened to the radio."

The man looked around with a dazed expression. "Oh, yeah. It's gone. Maybe he broke it."

While Ava questioned the staff member further, Phoenix took a closer look around the room. There was just a bed and a chair. Nothing else. Complete deprivation. The scratches on the floor made it look as though the man had been pulled from the window. But there were other scratches on the wall, bloody fingerprints, too. He followed until he realised they led to the air vent. He grabbed the chair and stood on it to reach the vent.

"You're not supposed to do that," the staff member said.

"Oh, shut up," Ava said. "You're not supposed to neglect people who need help, but that didn't stop you, did it?"

Phoenix pried open the vent. It was too easy, like it had been done frequently. Inside the vent were a pile of papers. He removed them then got down off the chair.

"What the hell?" the young man said.

"Just piss off," Nate said. "You didn't help him, you bastards, now get lost."

The man left quickly. Good thing, too, because Nate looked set to forget his peaceful ways.

Phoenix sorted through the pages. There were articles on the Senate with James's photo. He passed those to Ava. Next was a sketch of the dagger that had been used to kill James. And then came the notes. Printed, like James's letter had been. Words of encouragement, sometimes nothing at all but a name. Mother.

Phoenix dropped the pages as though they stung his hands. Mother. How was that possible?

Nate picked up the pages, looked through them. Colour leeched from his face. "No," he whispered.

Ava snatched the papers, quickly taking stock. "Oh, hell no." She looked at both men. " _No_ ," she said firmly. "This isn't real. It's not true."

Nate clenched his fingers into fists. "But it says—"

"I don't give a shit what it says," Ava said fiercely. "It's bullshit. Somebody was screwing with Francis. Somebody made him crazy. Or crazier. He thought she was communicating with him, but it was somebody else."

Phoenix looked at the paper again. _Mother_ filled him with dread and too many other emotions to think straight.

"Phoenix. _Phoenix_." Ava gripped his face and forced him to look at her. "She. Is. _Dead_. Gone. She can't touch any of you. Somebody used Francis. That's all this is."

His gaze drifted. _What if?_

"Phoenix, look at me."

The sharpness in her voice cut through the panic. He looked into her eyes, saw something there that had drawn him since the first day they met. She was real. A part of a world he wanted. His past had to die in order for him to live.

"Yes," he agreed hoarsely. "It's a cruel trick designed to manipulate. I saw her die, I know she's gone, but even still, this shook me. I can only imagine what it did to Francis, what it was meant to do."

She pressed her hand on his chest for a second. He took her hand instead, needing an anchor while the remnants of his fear faded. The hold his mother's ghost had on him started to break.

"Who?" Nate sat on the bed, hollow-eyed. "Who would do that?"

"I think I can put some of this together." Ava shot Phoenix a concerned glance. "Egan's goddaughter. Jennifer Boyle. Her boyfriend... what was his name? Austin? That little twerp worked here. I bet he fed Francis all of this nonsense, made him think Fionnuala was waiting for him. They were probably going to use him to do their dirty work. But they went on the run, and poor Francis was left to wonder why Mother had abandoned him." She looked around the room in disgust. "Poor man."

"You definitely saw her die," Nate said in an uncertain voice.

Ava squeezed Phoenix's hand. "We both did. And when I find those little shitbags, I'm going to make them pay."

Nate ran his shaky hands through his hair. "This is unbelievable." He looked at Phoenix. "I can see it in your face that you're as spooked as I am. Francis wouldn't be able to handle this. I should never have left him here."

Phoenix remembered himself, that he had to be strong, to lead. "We'll find him, and we'll shut this hellhole down before they can ruin anymore lives."

"Are you going to bring this to the Senate?" Ava asked.

"I may have to," Phoenix said. "In order to sort out this situation, it's probably best I do. Francis looks like the killer right now."

"It's not his fault," Nate protested.

"I know," Phoenix said. "He was manipulated. That much is obvious. He was sent information on James and the dagger, but who knew what he was listening to on his radio. We don't know the extent they went to." He recalled the daze of his past, how much he had accepted without question, how easy it was to allow another person to take control.

"He could have a list of people to take down," Ava said. "This could get public, quick."

"He might come back here," Nate said after a moment. "Or he might try to find me or one of the others. He doesn't do well on his own. He'll always look for a leader."

"We should at least take a look around the grounds," Ava said. "He might be here."

Nate nodded. "He liked to stay close to home. He always returned to safe territory once he... well."

The three of them headed out onto the grounds, trying their best to find signs of Nate.

Outside, under his window, Ava found a lot of downtrodden plants. "Looks like this way was used a lot," she said.

"I'm not surprised that he would leave and return," Nate said. "He was good at going about unobserved. It was probably like training for him, something to keep his mind occupied. It must have helped... for a while."

He looked distraught. The sooner they found his friend, the better.

There were plenty of places to hide on the grounds of the hospital. Signs remained that somebody had been sleeping out in the open. They eventually found a shed intended to hold the gardener's tools—although it looked as though the gardener had stopped working a lot time ago.

Nate slowed as they approached the shed. "I think he's here," he said. "Careful where you step. He could have set up traps."

Ava shot Phoenix a worried glance. He briefly touched her hand. Nate led the way, narrowly avoiding a covered hole in the earth. Francis had made the hospital grounds his own playground.

"Francis," he called out. "Are you in there?"

A weak sound came from the shed.

"He's here." Nate rushed toward the door then ducked at the last second. Something inside collapsed as he opened the door. He hesitated then darted in. Phoenix followed, his eyes taking a moment to adjust to the darkness. Ava lifted her shirt over her mouth. The smell was rancid. A thin, wide-eyed man with greying hair lay on the floor.

Nate knelt by him, checking him for injuries. "What happened?"

"I failed her," the man said croakily. "I failed Mother. She won't be happy, Nate. You can't be here. You have to leave before she comes to punish me, or she'll hurt you, too. _Run_."

Ava pressed her face against Phoenix's chest to hide her distress. He held her to him, hoping to stem the tide of his own overwhelming emotions.

"She's not coming," Nate said, emotion clear in his voice. "She's gone, Francis. Gone. You remember that, don't you?"

"That was a trick." Francis groaned, rolling over. "She talks to me, tells me things I must do. I was supposed to get her dagger back. I was supposed to steal it and bring it home, but I failed."

"Tell me what happened," Nate said. "Did you kill that man?"

"I didn't mean to," he said. "I wasn't supposed to." Distraught, he clawed at his face until Nate stopped him. "I only went for the dagger. I tried to explain, but he wouldn't listen to me. He kept shouting, and I got confused. And then he started asking if _he_ sent me, and I said, no, _she_ did, but he ran for the dagger. He kept trying to cut himself with it, and I didn't know what to do, so I tried to stop him, but he kept fighting. Why did he fight? And then we fell, and there was blood everywhere, and I panicked, and I ran, and I didn't have the dagger. You have to leave, Nate." He grabbed his friend's hand. "She'll come for me. You know she will. You don't want to get punished, too."

Nate held on tight. "Don't worry, Francis. I'll protect you. I won't let anyone punish you."

Phoenix looked down at Ava, her eyes wide with pity and dismay. What a mess.

# Thirteen

"It's okay," Phoenix told Francis as he bundled him into his car. "Mother can't touch you anymore."

The man had gazed at him in awe, an oddly devoted sense of trust in his expression. Phoenix's chest tightened at the sight of it, at the burgeoning responsibilities shifting into existence.

Then Francis glanced over Phoenix's shoulder and spotted Ava. Distress flooded through him, a mix of fear and focus that unsettled Phoenix. She distressed him, but more likely made him remember old commands.

"Stop," Phoenix murmured. "She's not your enemy."

"But she's—"

"No." He gripped Francis by the shoulder and held his gaze. " _I'm_ in charge now. Do you understand?"

Francis went limp, the tension quickly replaced by deference. Then he fell asleep on the backseat as though he had just been given permission for the first time in months. The thought of being a replacement for his own mother made Phoenix's lungs burn with the effort to breathe.

"He's always needed that," Nate said, fidgeting behind Phoenix. "He's happier this way. Manageable."

Phoenix got into the driver's seat. Ava climbed into the passenger side after a moment's hesitation, her expression grim, but otherwise unreadable.

Nate sat next to Francis in the back, ignoring his seatbelt. He ran his hands through his hair in swift, anxious motions. "What do I do?"

Another one seeking guidance.

"You don't have to do anything." Phoenix tried to come across as reassuring, but even he didn't know what exactly would happen to Francis. "The doctors in the clinic will help him, but you can stay there, stay close. Don't worry. I'll fix everything."

"My job..."

The loss in Nate's eyes, the terror of the future, moved Phoenix. "I'm going to take care of you both." He glanced at Ava, hoping she understood. "If you lose your job, I'll find you another one."

"It was an accident." Nate sat back and heaved a sigh. "You heard him. He didn't mean for James to die. Nobody's going to believe him, are they?"

"I believe him," Ava said, surprising Phoenix. "He's a mess, but I believe it went wrong, that nobody wanted James to die. James panicked and tried to pull that contract into use."

"Because he thought I had sent somebody to kill him," Phoenix said slowly. "And he was being targeted by somebody. Declan Egan must have set all of this up, but without direction, Francis simply went off on his own. And James thought the worst." It didn't fit quite neatly enough, but it would have to satisfy the Senate—at least for now.

"Or Francis was still being manipulated," Ava said. "I told you I thought Jenny's boyfriend was back."

"You weren't yourself when you believe you saw him," Phoenix said. "It might not have been true."

"Well, this just convinces me I was right," she said stubbornly.

She had been a wild thing when she attacked a young man weeks ago. The fact she later believed he had been Jenny's boyfriend didn't mean that she could trust her memories of that time. It had helped her feelings of guilt to believe she'd attacked an enemy rather than an innocent.

Phoenix started the car. "After I leave you at the clinic, I'm going to go to the Senate and explain everything. We'll have this sorted quickly."

"And Francis won't be hurt," Nate said. "Because he's not in his right mind." The statements hid behind questions the man needed answered.

"He'll get the help he needs," Phoenix said. "There's little else we can do about the situation. It's unfortunate that James died, but there were greater things going on. James was nervous about his role in something sneaky, and that influenced his actions that night. I'm sorry it happened, but at least we know there isn't an assassin running around, intent on taking down the Senate."

Ava looked uncomfortable.

"What's wrong?" Phoenix asked under his breath as he drove.

"Are you sure the Senate will be so agreeable?" she said, equally quietly. "They don't have a history of being sensible about anything."

"Come with me as a witness," he said. "Between the two of us, we should manage to make it clear to them that Francis was a victim, too—despite his past."

"You're really going to protect him," she said in wonder. "If you'd told me a year ago that you were helping Fionnuala's assassins, I'd have punched you in the face."

Regret stiffened his back. "Are you angry with me? You must know I never planned on any of this happening."

"I'm a little conflicted about how I feel right now," she admitted. "When the assassins were just faceless enemies, it was easy to hate them. Now I look at that man after hearing his story, and all I feel is pity."

"Saying no wasn't an option," Nate said from the backseat. "We didn't know how to think for ourselves, didn't see a way to deviate from... _her_ plans. Anything we did... it was never personal. We were soldiers in a war we didn't choose. We didn't know anything of the outside world beyond what we were told."

"I get that," she said. "It might be hard for me to stomach, and I'm not sure how to explain this to everyone else, but I can see that protecting Francis is the right thing to do."

"I'll do more than protect him," Phoenix said. "After we speak with the Senate, I'll be organising staff from the clinic to go to the hospital and transfer the patients. Then I'm shutting that place down. Nobody deserves that kind of treatment, and I plan to find out who let it run on for so long."

"I didn't expect you to get so involved."

"My mother twisted these men into the creatures they became, and I should have found them all sooner. I'm responsible for her crimes now, Ava. I'm the one who must atone for her. She ruined so many things, and I must fix them." His blood, his pride, his honour—all fae concepts that were buried deep in his soul. He had judged his mother, making him the one who had to restore all she had destroyed, even if that meant helping those he once considered enemies.

Her eyebrows furrowed. "What if they don't deserve your help?"

His hands tightened on the wheel, sensing the end approaching with every action he took. "Who am I to say who deserves help?"

"They were our enemies for so long..." She shivered. "I suppose I'm the last person to say somebody doesn't deserve a second chance."

"Nate has shown they can change. The least I can do is give the others the opportunity. You heard what Nate said. She compared them to me. I am partly the reason they are who they are. I can't let that stand without at least trying to undo my mother's work. But I understand if you can't be a part of this."

"I'm in it now," she said hurriedly. "I'm all in, Phoenix."

He shot her a grateful glance. She was pale, but her determination shone through. She was on his side.

By the time they arrived at the clinic, Nate was calmer, Francis had slept almost the entire way, and Phoenix had convinced himself he was in complete control of the situation.

Francis balked at the sight of the hospital, but between them, they got him inside without making a scene. The staff were quick to act, and by the time Phoenix and Ava left, both of Fionnuala's ex-assassins appeared calm and well-looked after.

"I'll be back," Phoenix promised Nate. "Just stay put and make sure he gets well."

"Thank you," Nate said. "I couldn't cope with him before. It's good to have help."

They shook hands in farewell.

Phoenix led Ava outside the hospital room then gave her a swift hug before briskly walking outside to the car.

"It's despicable that he was allowed to live in that condition," Phoenix said on the way to his house. He had already called a meeting with the Senate, but it would begin after dark to enable Daimhín to attend.

"I know. Do you want to start organising the patient transfer now?"

"Are you sure you wouldn't rather get something to eat?"

"We can do both."

So they did. They stopped in at the nearest restaurant and ate while Phoenix used his phone to organise everything.

"That was simpler than I expected," Ava said when he was done.

"Money makes everything simpler," he said wryly. "The families of the patients won't have to worry about their family members again. If they ever did."

"Cheers to that." She pushed food around her plate. "How do you think the Senate will react to the news?"

"Hopefully, with relief," he said. "This cuts a lot of drama. A robbery gone wrong is much easier to deal with than a potential serial killer."

"I suppose so." She released a heavy sigh.

"This _is_ hard for you."

She shrugged. "Nate really cares about Francis. It's the first time I've really seen any true emotion from him."

"Their lives have all been irrevocably linked. They were together throughout it all, and now the actions of one affect the remainder. Nate is a desperate man. He truly wants a normal life—he's _worked_ for it—but it's slowly being taken back from him."

"I know," she said. "The garage is going under. I've been trying to figure out something else for Noah, but he loves what he does."

"Maybe I could put my mother's ill-gotten gains into good use there," he said. "An investment might help."

"Not if they never have another customer," she said. "Stupid Humans First ruining everything. Speaking of them, are you going to tell the Senate about James possibly working with them?"

"There's no point," he said. "We don't know any of it for sure."

"Are you doing okay?" She searched his face. "It's been an emotional sort of day."

"When I saw those notes..." He ran his hands across his face. "For a moment, I believed as Francis did. And I feared, Ava. I feared she was still alive, pulling all of the strings."

"We know she's not," Ava said. "We both watched her die. We saw the end of her. She's not coming back, Phoenix. She never will."

Hearing the words aloud helped, but the nagging feeling of dread and apprehension might never pass. His mother would always be his nightmare.

Night fell before he expected it. He had spent hours with Ava, but they had passed in the blink of an eye. Even she looked surprised.

"Are you sure you want me to go with you?" she asked hesitantly. "I got the feeling they don't approve of me being anywhere near them."

"You're going," he said. "They involved you by forcing us to prove things they should have believed from the get go. At least now we have a solution to everything that happened."

"It just seems so anti-climatic." She shrugged. "Not complaining. Just wondering how the Senate are going to dial down their enthusiasm after all of this."

"They'll just have to swallow it," he said. "We've more important things to worry about if the human government is trying to shut us down."

"Think it'll happen?"

"Not if I can help it," he said. "We need people who can understand the problems non-humans face, but we've grown too powerful. We're seen as the ultimate ruling body in Ireland, and I'm sure that must be hard to swallow. Shay should have stayed. People like James are of little use."

"Bit harsh, considering what happened to him."

"I'm not going to pretend he did great things with the Senate. He was planning on betraying us."

"Maybe he just wanted to feel as though he had allies," she said. "It's lonely out there with nobody to protect you."

He stopped walking and turned to her. "I can protect you. All of you. As long as I'm a part of the Senate, I can make sure of that."

"Don't make promises you can't keep," she said, holding his gaze. "And I can protect myself, thank you very much."

"Things can go wrong," he said. "It's better to have a backup at all times."

"Sometimes even backup plans fail."

"Why are you so pessimistic tonight?"

"I don't have as much faith in the Senate as you do." She wrapped her arms around herself. "I just can't see them caring very much about Francis."

"They can't afford not to care," Phoenix said.

There was so much he wanted to say, but he turned and kept walking toward the meeting place. Humans First protesters were already parked outside, waiting to waylay them. Perhaps he and Ava looked particularly vicious because the group remained subdued as they passed them.

She stopped short before they reached the guard at the door. He looked vaguely familiar.

"Hey," the man said warmly to Ava. "Feeling better?"

"I'm so sorry," she said hoarsely. "I don't know what else to say."

He brushed off the apology with a laugh. "Haven't you seen my brothers? I can take a lot." He shoved his hands into his pockets. "Besides, I've always known my little sister is the dangerous one of the bunch. Don't worry about any of that. We're all glad you're yourself again."

He held out his hand then, and she shook it enthusiastically.

He shrugged. "They're all waiting inside. You should hurry on before this crowd build up the nerve to start back up again."

Phoenix nodded at the man as he passed him to get inside.

"He was there," Ava said simply.

All at once, Phoenix recalled her fighting with IAs while they tried to trap her. He made a mental note to find out more about that particular agent.

The Senate were waiting impatiently for them. Callista's eyes roamed Ava's face before asking Phoenix what he had learned.

He explained everything Francis had told them, and everything they had discovered about his manipulation.

"So you see," he ended with, "the man did not go there with the intent of killing James, and he only went there at all because he was manipulated to do so. Somebody wanted that heirloom, and I believe I need to take it and hide it to ensure nothing like this happens again."

"And this man is now at the clinic," Callista said. "Under medical care?"

"He desperately needs it," Phoenix said.

"I don't see a problem in Phoenix taking the heirloom," Callista said. "Anybody disagree?"

"The fae should protect their own heirlooms," Layla said.

"And Francis?" Ava asked.

"We'll take care of him," Callista said. "Don't worry."

Pleased, Phoenix took his leave. Ava looked nervous, however.

"It was just a little too easy," she said as they headed outside. "What are you going to do with the dagger then?"

"I'll find a place for it," he said. "Perhaps in the sanctuary. I don't feel safe keeping it in the warehouse. In fact, I'm rethinking that entire setup. May I borrow Alex if it comes to it?"

"As long as you're paying him and don't take up all of his time. He has exams to study for."

He couldn't resist a smile at her motherly tone. "You've taken quite an interest in him."

She shrugged. They crossed the road away from Humans First. "I didn't mean to. It just sort of happened."

"So," he said when they reached the car. "Are you going home?"

"Yeah, it's getting late, so..."

"I probably should, too." But he didn't move.

She grinned, a dark grin that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. "You could always come back to mine for a coffee."

"I'd like that."

They went back to her place. He resisted the urge to hold her hand as they walked toward her house. She unlocked the door, and they went inside.

He reached out to run his hand through her hair and pull her to him.

She stretched on the tips of her toes to drop a brief kiss on his mouth. "I meant what I said about coffee," she said, turning her back on him to go to the kitchen.

He didn't care either way. It was nice to have company.

# Fourteen

Banging on the door woke him up. He blinked a couple of times, unable to remember where he was until Ava jumped up next to him. She pulled on some clothes then dashed downstairs. He headed down after her in time to hear Carl ask if she'd read the morning's newspaper.

He entered the living room. Carl stared at him for about three seconds before turning back to Ava. "Did you know about this?"

She took the paper, read a few lines, then handed it to Phoenix in disgust. "Quick workers."

He skimmed the article. Somebody had shared the story with the newspapers, only in this version, Francis was a killer who had been captured by the Senate. He hurriedly switched on his phone. Many missed calls from Nate.

He called him back.

"Where have you been?" Nate spluttered. "They took him in the middle of the night! You promised me. You said you'd make sure he was taken care of."

"I had no idea they were going to do this," Phoenix said. "They made me believe—"

"Oh, fuck you. They _took_ him, and he had no idea what was even going on. Do you even care? Of course you don't. You're all the same anyway," Nate said before hanging up.

Phoenix stared at his phone in shock. "They did this behind my back. I had no idea."

"Of course you didn't," Ava said. "But those scumbags completely took advantage of Francis."

She had been right after all. It had been too easy.

"I need to fix this." He took a seat before he fell over. He had been so sure. Yet again, he had been too quick to trust, too slow to act. The Senate had fooled him. Even Elathan. He picked up the phone to call Elathan. "Why didn't you warn me?" he demanded when the other man answered.

"Warn you about what?" A wary note in his voice doomed him.

"Francis! He's been arrested. It's all over the papers!"

"Oh, _that_. I didn't think you'd get worked up about it. I also didn't know about it until after the fact, but Callista made it clear it was either him or you. He got the blame so you didn't have to."

"Then I'll just have to take it back!"

"Don't do anything foolish," Elathan warned. "You're not a favourite right now. Don't push the issue until you've earned back some favours."

"And in the meantime, a man who has no idea what's happening to him is sent Under."

"He was a killer before he lost his mind," Elathan said. "You remember how it was, Phoenix."

"You didn't see him. You don't understand. My mother did this to him. That makes him my responsibility."

"Your people are dreadfully boring sometimes. You don't have to repent for all of her sins, you know."

Phoenix hung up, grasping for answers in a tornado of thoughts engulfing him. "I need to fix this," he repeated, as helpless as a dying man in denial.

Carl and Ava exchanged a look. "Why don't we get you in touch with Áine," Carl said. "She could write up a nice counter-story, force the Senate to address the situation."

"Yes." He paced the room, a path opening up in his thoughts. An answer. "We can do that. But also. We need to break him out."

Nate looked distrustful still. Phoenix couldn't blame him. It was a terrible plan. His was one face amongst others willing to help despite the hopelessness. His son, Ava, her best friend... all ready to walk at his side.

The Under was more secure than it had ever been, and if they were caught in the act, they wouldn't escape either. They would be traitors.

"What will the Senate do when they find out he's gone?" Lorcan asked.

"At the moment, I don't care," Phoenix said. "If we're caught, I'll do my best to protect you all, but I can't give any guarantees. Are you all sure you want to get involved?"

Nobody wanted to leave.

"Noah wanted to help," Nate said. "But he's so young that I said no."

"Good," Ava said. "He needs to keep out of trouble."

"Lavinia would help," Lorcan said. "She's good at stopping things."

"I can't risk her either," Phoenix said. "She's only just gotten free."

"The less of us there, the better," Carl said. "We could get in and out, with Phoenix on hand."

"What exactly will we be facing?" Ava asked.

Phoenix rubbed his temples. "I have access to the jails, but I don't know where he's being held."

"Will Elathan help?"

"I don't know that I trust him enough to ask," Phoenix said.

"I could ask," Ava said. "That way it won't fall back on you. He seems to appreciate mischief."

"Even if he helps, there's only so much he can do." Phoenix steepled his hands together. "We can take the less used entrance to avoid being seen too often then work our way down the levels without causing much fuss. Nobody will stop me until we reach the cells. After that, I'm not sure what will happen. We might have to fight our way out."

"But can you get Francis out of the cells?" Nate asked.

"The guards can." And he intended to make them.

"I'll need to be there," Nate said. "Francis will come easily with me there. He might get confused without me. He'd resist, cause a commotion."

That made sense. "You and I will go to the cells then."

"If we brought Lucia, she and I could be lookouts," Lorcan said slowly. "You know we have our ways to avoid being seen."

"It's too risky," Phoenix said. "If somebody attacks, you'll be too busy protecting Lucia to protect yourself."

"Lavinia likes protective magic." Lorcan made a face. "And to show off."

Phoenix remained unsure. "Would she even want to help us?"

"She's family now," Lorcan said. "At least let me give them both the option."

It killed him to agree. But Lorcan's face... And he could use them. "Talk to them," Phoenix said at last. "Let them know the risks. We'll be entering the tunnels at dawn. There's no point in giving ourselves extra foes in the form of vampires."

"I'll talk to Elathan before then," Ava said. "He might give me a clue. And he likes you more than the rest of the Senate."

"I once thought the same thing about Callista," Phoenix said. "I don't trust my judgement."

"Trust mine then," she said. "Elathan's used to me. He knows this is exactly something I'd do."

"Carl?" The human had been too quiet, watching Ava without offering an opinion of his own. "Are you sure you want to do this? It could jeopardise your job."

"I'll be the one keeping Ava out of trouble," he said with a contagious smile. He'd been a lot friendlier since Phoenix refused to let anyone hurt Ava when she was under the influence of Ari's demon. "Besides, if I don't do the right thing then she'll never forgive me."

"Just make sure you really believe this is the right thing," she said. "This man is a killer. He was once our enemy, even if we didn't know his face or name. And he did cause James's death. He might not have meant it, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. The rest of the world might not understand."

Carl waved a hand. "He was tormented for who knows how long, and now he's being used as a scapegoat. It's not fair, and it sets a precedence. If we let the Senate do this now, who knows what they'll come up with next time."

Ava shot him a grateful smile. "I agree. They're supposed to protect everyone, not hang the vulnerable out to dry because it's handy. If we do nothing and let this stand, it'll be easier for them to take advantage next time."

"I can't believe you're all really doing this," Nate said with a weak laugh. "I've been waiting for you to kill me for ages."

Ava looked uncomfortable. "Honestly, Nate, I've thought the same thing about you since we met."

He held her gaze, his eyes a depth of emotion. "I want a different future. That was never a lie."

She didn't break the connection between them, but something about her appeared to relax. Phoenix almost missed it, but he sensed it was the first time she had ever truly believed Nate.

She licked her lower lip, thoughtful as she said, "The line between the good guys and the bad guys has gotten blurred again. The Senate is more concerned with reputation than the truth, and it's driving me crazy. If we take Francis out of the equation, maybe they'll actually remember to do the right thing."

"You were right about one thing. People won't understand this," Phoenix said. "They'll see us as the criminals. That's not an easy thing to forget."

"Why is the Senate so intent on covering this up?" Carl asked. "Why are they forcing it into the shape of a murder? Surely that weakens them."

"Control is power, and if they can control how this situation is perceived, they still have the upper hand." Phoenix drummed his fingers on his kitchen counter. Carl's question had given him some food for thought. "Changes are on the way. This fabrication feeds somebody's agenda. I just don't know who exactly. James was working against us, and perhaps he was succeeding. I'm not sure what will happen next. Or what could happen if we're caught. Now is the time to back out."

He looked at each of the faces before him and knew—nobody was about to back out.

"What do we do with Francis when we get him out of there?" Lorcan asked.

"I called Rosa," Phoenix said, hoping his son didn't react badly. "She's agreed to get him out of the country and arrange treatment for him in a secure location. But we have a limited time scale, so if we're late, he's stuck here, and the Senate will take him right back, no matter what we do."

"Dawn then," Nate said. "I'll be there."

So would Phoenix. He had made his choice. There was no backing out.

# Fifteen

Dawn came too quickly. Sleep hadn't come at all. Too many people under Phoenix's care were taking a risk for him, perhaps for the wrong reasons. He worried that Ava only agreed to join them to stop a repeat of the Egan incident when Phoenix had lost control. Too much was at stake for him to be the ruin of them all.

Nate was desperate to help his old friend, and the same could be said for Carl with Ava. Lorcan wanted to prove himself. Lavinia was desperate for a chance to use her magic. Nobody really knew what Lucia was thinking. Did any of them truly believe Phoenix's plan was the right one? He hadn't completely convinced himself.

They met up near an abandoned entrance to the underground tunnels. The tunnels stretched across the city, but only a small section were in good enough condition to use regularly. At first, he'd considered the use of them a good choice, but there were too many ways a person could use the abandoned tunnels to their advantage.

He looked around at the people who had gathered to help him and decided he was glad for them. Reliable and useful in different ways.

Carl had a similar sense of rightness to Ava, and he was obviously there to keep an eye on her. His familiar jovial expression had been dampened by concern. He glanced at her too frequently to be entirely comfortable.

Lavinia was as calm as ever, considering the life she'd experienced before they had met. She was a soothing influence on his children, he had come to think, even if, as Lorcan ruefully declared, she enjoyed showing off her power.

Nate, on the other hand, was jumpy. His hands twitched, his nostrils flared, and Phoenix wondered if he could take the pressure. He'd made a good show of hiding his emotions in the past, but Francis had unlocked his true self, it seemed.

"I'm glad you're all here," Phoenix said. "You know the plan. If it goes wrong, I'll do my best to protect each of you."

They were to split up into two groups. Ava, Carl, and Nate with Phoenix while the twins and Lavinia kept watch. The idea of not being close enough to his family to act in their defense should they get into trouble made Phoenix's skin itch, but they had proved themselves capable in the past.

"Remember," Phoenix told his son. "Do not engage. Hide when you can, defend when you have to, but avoid a fight whenever possible."

"We'll be fine." Lorcan gestured toward Lavinia. "I trust her magic, and she's stronger with Lucia around. Between the three of us, we'll stop anyone from coming your way once we reach the cells."

Blood was strong—that couldn't be hidden—but anything could go wrong.

"They'll be fine," Ava murmured. "Let them stretch their wings."

He knew he couldn't lock them away for their own safety, not even in a prison made up of love and well-meant intentions, but his stomach turned at the thought of putting them into danger nonetheless.

The entrance looked like a trap door covered in moss. More importantly, it was locked, but the lock was brand new—and threaded with magic.

He stared at it for a few moments, digesting what that meant. "I can't open it."

"I can." Lavinia moved to his side. "May I?"

He looked back at the others. "If they changed the lock of this forgotten door, then perhaps they know. They could be waiting for us. For me."

Ava shrugged nonchalantly. "They better be ready then. We're not leaving without Francis."

Nate closed his eyes, relief melting the tension forcing lines in his face where there had been none. Phoenix couldn't undo that moment of reprieve.

"Open it, please," he said to Lavinia.

Excitement flared in her dull eyes. She waved a hand then pulled, as though she controlled an invisible force. The shimmer in the metal faded then died, and the lock made a gentle click. More of a persuasion than a break-in. The door opened slowly, revealing a set of stairs.

He looked down, still battling the conflict between his head and heart. "This is where we sometimes take in prisoners when we need to be discreet. The cells are far below ground, so even if we get to Francis, we'll have a long way to go taking him out of there. I don't know what level he's on, so that will slow us down."

"Elathan mentioned in an offhand sort of way that Francis was being held in the dungeon," Ava said. "I didn't even ask him. He just volunteered the information."

"The dungeon is the cell block for the worst criminals," Phoenix said. "And the ones that can't be held by ordinary cells. This will be harder than I expected. It's on the deepest level. If he's in the dungeon, he'll almost certainly be sedated. It's new, unfinished actually, so now is our best chance of escape with him."

"You've been digging down?" Carl asked, his tone sharp and wary. "Should we be worried?"

"For safety reasons only." But could he be sure of anything anymore? "We're not trying to expand outwards."

Ava and Carl exchanged a glance. They had a hidden language as much as his own children. The exclusion sometimes pinched.

He led the way before any more questions came. The stairwell and adjoining corridor were both decorated by spiderwebs, a sign that the way was still mostly unused. Heartened, he carried on, refusing to look back.

It was a quiet time of morning, no transfers, so they didn't meet anyone for quite a while. Most of the guards they did pass acted as though they were used to visitors, much to Phoenix's relief. There was no reason for him to believe that the guards had been warned to watch out for him, but he had to admit a certain tension eased when they greeted him with as much respect as normal. Aside from the guards, they passed construction workers. The fact unfamiliar faces were already roaming around underground made their journey that much easier.

They continued in a downward spiral, past the corridors used for meetings and training, until they reached the highest level of the first cell block. Heavy iron doors guarded the way, but the prisoners on the first floor were the least of anyone's concerned, so no guards patrolled there.

All the same, Phoenix stopped at the doors. "This is where it begins to get complicated. We'll need to bypass guards on the way down, but we're taking the quietest route. The real trouble begins when we have Francis in hand, but be ready, and don't jump the gun."

When nobody replied, he used his key card to open up the way. Shouting came from the cells, but he ignored those and strode across the room to the nearest staircase.

A couple of stairwells down, the walls were no longer white. They walked down the stone steps as a group and were only stopped once by a single bored-looking guard.

"I need to question a prisoner," Phoenix said coldly. He'd learned that certain tones, certain expressions, made people less willing to question him. Not people like Ava, upon which it often had the opposite effect, but for most people, the act worked.

"You moving somebody?" the guard asked.

"No. His cell will do."

"Good. Been told to avoid movement today because the diggers are in," the guard said. "Head on down. There's a couple of guards down there if you need help. Only one staircase is in use today though because there was a collapse, so be careful."

Phoenix brushed past him, relieved. Although, it would be a different story when they tried to leave.

They finally came to the steel doors that marked the entrance of the dungeons. It was a dreary little hellhole, Phoenix had to admit. He didn't like it, hadn't spent much time there, but other members of the Senate treated the facility as a source of pride.

"It's not finished." He turned to his children and their cousin. "This where you wait for us. If anybody comes to help the guards, try to stop them, but protect yourselves first."

"I won't let them reach you," Lavinia said solemnly. "It's all a bit exciting, isn't it?"

Phoenix shot Lorcan a pleading look.

"We won't take any chances," his son promised.

He briefly hugged his daughter then turned his back on his children and hoped they'd learned enough to keep themselves safe. He hoped they understood the trouble he was bringing to their home, the risks they were all taking so he could atone for his mother's sins.

"We should move on," Ava said gently.

He nodded then continued on, through a trio of doors locked by various magic his key guard still worked on. Perhaps he was being paranoid about the new lock.

Ava shivered as the final door opened slowly. "Feels like Hell."

She immediately tensed. Two guards waited, their weapons pointing right at Phoenix. One, freckled and obviously fae, dropped his weapon instantly, his head bowing so that Phoenix could see a patch where his hair was thinning.

"Sorry," the second guard stuttered, lowering his weapon. The pupils of his eyes were a hazy yellow shade that made him look cat-like, but his double eyelids gave him a reptilian edge. "We didn't know anyone was coming this morning."

"I need to speak to the newest prisoner," Phoenix said. "Open his cell, please."

The guards exchanged glances. "I don't think..." Yellow Eyes began.

The fae nudged him. "I'll open it then. Is it the Lady's Assassin?"

"Yes," Phoenix said coolly. _The Lady_. He'd forgotten his mother enjoyed that title.

The fae guard nodded then led the way. A small number of tiny cells lined each wall. The inmates were mostly unconscious, all of them laying on a single blanket on the floor. None could stretch out properly. Some of the prisoners deserved to be there. Others were there by a twist of fate only.

Carl reached for Ava's hand. Her expression had pinched at the sight of the cells.

"Here at the end," the guard said.

"Francis!" Nate dashed toward the cell.

Yellow Eyes held him back. "Careful," he said. "He's dangerous."

Nate shrugged him off. "You don't know him."

"He's not dangerous," Phoenix said. "He's sick. He needs to be in a hospital."

"What is this?" the fae guard asked. "You're not questioning him, are you?"

"I'm taking him to be treated," Phoenix said. "I'm ordering you to stand aside."

"Is that an order from the Senate?" the fae asked.

"No." And then he did something he thought he'd never sink to—he held up his hand.

The freckled faced fae gazed at Phoenix's hand, at the ring on his finger. It was an heirloom, a statement, a means to get his own way. He wasn't even sure it would work. But the guard gazed at it for a long time.

Silence reigned, tension, unabated. Phoenix had never planned to force his will using the fae's own traditions and beliefs, but perhaps it was time he accepted just who he had been born. He wanted to help people, but he hadn't used all of the resources available to him. That had to change.

The fae lifted his eyes, a stark grey shade, to Phoenix's and nodded as though making a decision. "All right," he said softly.

"Are you crazy?" his counterpart blurted. "We'll get sacked for this. We have orders."

"And I follow a higher authority." The fae knelt. "At your service, Lord."

Phoenix quickly grew uncomfortable. "Just open the cell. No more kneeling or... anything."

Ava smothered a giggle. Carl looked away in one swift movement.

"Darragh, I... I can't let you do that," Yellow Eyes said shakily.

Nate gripped him by the throat. "Try to stop him."

Realising he was vastly outnumbered, the guard appeared to diminish in front of them. He dropped his weapon, his gaze still silently pleading with his colleague. "You're going to lose your job. Don't be stupid. You don't want this."

"You have no heritage," the fae guard, Darragh, apparently, said. "You'll never understand what it's like." He nodded at Phoenix. "You're part of the Senate, and you're the face of the fae, our last hope. If you say he needs to leave, then I'll stand aside and let him go."

Phoenix squeezed his shoulder. "I owe you."

The fae blushed. "Not at all." He pulled a stick from his belt. It lit up with magic as he waved it in front of the cell. The barrier vanished.

Nate rushed in. Francis looked dazed, dribble slick and wet on his chin.

"What happened to him?" Nate asked.

"Gas, I think," Darragh said. "I'm pretty sure they sedated him with the heavy stuff before they brought him in."

"Once we get him out of here, he'll start to recover," Phoenix said. "By the time he leaves, he'll be conscious. Now we must hurry." He looked at Darragh. "Can you keep your friend out of the way for an hour?"

"No problem."

"Come to me when this is done. I'll make sure you have a job if the Senate blames you."

He shrugged. "You know why I'm doing this."

Phoenix knew. Using the ring had consequences.

"We should move," Carl said, helping Nate carry Francis toward the door.

"I'll run ahead," Ava said, darting off before Phoenix could stop her.

He took one last look at the cells, nodded at Darragh, then left the prison behind.

Carl and Nate supported Francis between them because he refused to be carried for longer than a couple of feet. He mumbled incoherent fragments of sentences, his feet drifting across the ground as he worked his legs, trying to run, incapable of it.

"I'm getting you out of here," Nate said, his breathing harsh from the effort of keeping Francis upright.

Francis looked around, his mouth open, drool slicking his lips. He caught Phoenix's eye, looked momentarily confused, then asked, "Am I yours now?"

"Yes," Phoenix said, "and I need you to keep quiet until we're safe. Understand?"

Francis pressed his lips together.

At the next stairwell, sounds of a struggle filtered down. "Wait here," Phoenix warned, brushing past the trio to run up the stairs.

He made it to the top in time to knock down a guard about to whack Ava in the back of the head as a second guard struggled to keep space between them.

"Enough," Phoenix said, and everyone froze.

"Sorry," she said. "I couldn't talk my way out of it." She nodded at both guards, one unconscious on the floor, the other fearfully pressing her back against the wall. "What do we do with these?"

"I apologise," he said, reaching for the unconscious guard. He picked up a set of magical cuffs. "I'll send somebody to help you once we're gone."

"Why?" the female guard asked. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because it isn't fair," he said as he restrained her. "And it will never be if we don't act." He patted her shoulder. "We'll be gone soon."

She watched in silence as the others came up the stairs at Ava's call. But she looked at him with hate in her eyes. That couldn't be helped. Plenty would hate him for the things he had chosen to do, but he was the one who had to live with himself.

They moved into the next corridor, and Phoenix was able to lock the heavy doors with the guards keys. The group moved on quickly, Francis growing distressed at the sight of the prone guards.

At the next stairwell, they met up with the twins and Lavinia and headed to the exit.

"Any excitement?" Lorcan asked.

"Only a little," Phoenix said, relieved to know they were nearly free.

Ava and Phoenix took the lead then, leaving the twins and Lavinia to the rear. Nate and Carl were both panting from the exertion of trying to keep Francis calm.

They kept going, on and on, up and up, until they made it to the uppermost level, almost within sight of the door.

And a guard came out of a room, looked at them for two seconds, his eyes falling on Francis's form, and called out in alarm.

The guards that came out of the room weren't guards at all, Phoenix realised too late, but the mercenaries the Senate had hired to train a small battalion.

And they were less hesitant, better trained, and far more ruthless than any guard working for the Senate.

They went for Ava first, marking her as the biggest threat. Six or seven figures piled into the hall, blocking the way.

Ava sidestepped to avoid a punch, then snapped that aggressor's arm, managing to appear more startled then even he did. The sound of the crack jolted everyone else to life.

Phoenix drove his fingers into the throat of the next soldier to go for Ava, felt his son brush past him to fight next to him.

"Get them out," he shouted at Lorcan, who ignored him.

He didn't wait, kept fighting, relishing the sensation of his instinctive movements, feeling like a god when he avoided a strike and returned a better one of his own. Lorcan finally listened to him, seeing that he and Ava were better with more room in the small corridor. He worked with her as the others found a way past.

"Dad!" Lorcan cried from the doorway.

"Go!" Phoenix said, determined to answer for himself and the others, too. "Ava, go with them."

She shoved a soldier away from her as more came running along the corridor. "Yeah, right." She ducked under a knuckleduster clad fist.

Phoenix grabbed that particular soldier and pinned him to his chest, his arm around his neck. Using him as a shield, he backed up with Ava, but there were too many soldiers in the hallway.

"Go," he said again. "I can hold them off for long enough for you to get away."

"You can hold them off for longer with me here," she said determinedly. "At least let's give the others a head start."

She grinned up at him; something warm gripped his heart and squeezed.

He shoved the trapped soldier toward the group. "Then let's make it a long one."

The soldiers regrouped, switching into an obviously well-practiced position of attack. Phoenix whipped a kylie from his pocket and flung it at the advancing group, but it hit something invisible then fell to the ground, making a clattering sound.

The soldiers yelled in confusion, unable to move forward either. Phoenix glanced over his shoulder. Lavinia and Lucia stood side by side, their faces a mask of concentration. The witch had trapped the soldiers in a wall of magic.

"We won't have long," she said. "Hurry." Then both women turned and dashed outside.

Phoenix hesitated.

"Let's go!" Ava gripped his hand.

Together, they ran, escaping into fresh air. The shift in light blinded him momentarily.

"This way," Ava urged, leading him to his car.

"Where are—"

"Carl's car," she said. "Already driving away."

He recovered, jumped into his car where Nate and Francis were waiting and drove away with Ava in tow, speeding his way after Carl to the field the plane was due to land.

"Rosa will be waiting." He hoped.

Francis moaned in the backseat.

"It's all right," Nate said. "You're safe now."

"Nate," he said. "Run. Run before they lock you away, too."

"Nobody's locking you away," Nate said firmly. "We're leaving, Francis. We'll get you to a hospital who'll help you, and then we'll stay together when you're better."

Francis fell back unconscious.

"What did they do to him?" Ava whispered.

"Enough to ensure he didn't talk to anyone," Phoenix replied.

They kept driving, but either Lavinia's magic held out for longer than expected or they weren't followed at all. They made it to the field, just outside of the city, before dark completely fell.

Rosa was waiting. "You owe me," she said lightly.

"I think you'll find we're even."

"How pedantic of you." She looked Francis over. "Will he even make the journey?"

"You'll make sure of it," Phoenix said.

She looked Nate up and down. "There's a nurse on the plane. I'll take him from here."

"I'm going with him," Nate said fiercely.

She shrugged. "Less work for me."

Before they left, Nate took Phoenix's hand. "I owe you for this. If you ever need it, you have my loyalty. All of us, we're yours if you need us."

"Tell your brothers to come to me," Phoenix said solemnly. "I want to make up for my mother's crimes."

They were soon gone, leaving Phoenix standing alone with Ava, his hand in hers. Now he would have to deal with _all_ of the consequences.

# Sixteen

The summons to meet with the Senate wasn't unexpected. When he arrived, late at night, Phoenix was greeted with glares mostly, and a twinkle in the eye from Elathan. He approved of chaos, even when it was used against him.

"You stole our prisoner," Callista said, her eyes flashing. "How dare you?"

He didn't reply. There was no point. Everybody knew he did it. Whether they could prove it or not was another thing, but he found he no longer cared. Meeting Francis had given him clarity.

"We've come to a decision." Callista's voice shook, a hint of reluctance in her words. "We held a vote. The majority rules. You no longer have a seat on this Senate. You are no longer in control. You have no power here. And if you try one more move against us, we'll use everything we have against you."

"Really," Phoenix murmured. "How interesting."

"If you would just return the murderer," Willow said. "Everything could work out."

"Don't be foolish," Daimhín said. "We can't take something like this back now it's done."

"You won't be using that man as a scapegoat," Phoenix said, then he turned his back on them and walked away, a strange mixture of relief and apprehension twisting in his gut.

He drove straight to Shay for the heirloom used in James's death, but it was gone.

"I've no idea what happened," Shay said apologetically. "I was told to give it to you, had it locked away, and it just... disappeared."

"I was too late," Phoenix said wryly. "The Senate removed me from my position, probably thought to take the dagger, too, as a petty last word."

"Are you serious?" Shay paled. "Is there something I should prepare for?"

"Plenty. Good luck, Shay." He left his old friend behind, bracing himself for the storm coming his way.

The next couple of weeks were difficult. The Senate went on a campaign to slate Phoenix, and the media were oh, so keen to help them. Only a couple of voices spoke in his favour, and the country divided against itself yet again.

And then the second summons he'd been expecting finally arrived. This time, it was to a meeting in Finn's bar, a meeting with a large grouping of fae. The twins accompanied him, but when he saw how many old-blooded elites had gathered in the bar, he wondered if he had been wrong about the outcome.

Still, Finn welcomed him warmly.

"What is this?" Phoenix asked, ready to send his children away before anything kicked off. He spotted Darragh in the crowd and relaxed slightly.

"They're here for you," Finn told him, his arm around his cousin Ember's shoulder. "Members of all the great houses, all the old names, are here to speak for their families. They, no, _we_ have something to bring to you. Take a seat up there, please." He sounded anxious. "At least listen to them."

Phoenix nodded then passed through the crowd, watching for reactions as his children followed him. To his surprise, Ember wasn't the only half-fae waiting for him. Hope bloomed in his chest. The fact the oldest families were standing in the same room as half-fae was a sign of a different future.

He took a seat on the stage and waited for what would happen next. His children stood behind his chair, silently waiting, too.

Two elderly fae, grey, wizened, and rapidly approaching the ends of their life-cycles, approached him then knelt at his feet. Finn hurriedly sent two more seats up to the stage so they could sit. When they did, they moved slowly, deliberately, years of experience making their limbs protest. Phoenix had been expecting the meeting for a while, and yet still, he felt bewildered by the expectant faces. His life hadn't appeared to lead to such a moment in time.

The male elder raised his voice and spoke first. "We are Viridian and Yseult, the last born from those who walked in the old lands. But these are new lands, and we come to you and speak for the many," he said. "We've watched and waited, and now it's time."

"Time for what?" Phoenix asked, though he had always known what the fae wanted from him, always sensed their hopes creeping up behind him, waiting to chain him to them.

"Time for us to go back to what was, and what will be," Yseult said, her voice surprisingly rich. "We don't accept the Senate's authority, those who dishonoured the one who speaks for us. We have our own kingdom, our own laws. All we need is a king."

He fought to control his visceral reaction. It was worse than he thought. "Excuse me?"

"We're here to ask you to lead us properly," Viridian said. "As it was in the golden age, as it could be once again. It's time for us to take our proper places in this world."

"My mother thought the same," he said bitterly. "Look where that got us."

"She was not the one, and her ideals were not ours," Yseult said, a natural sneer transforming her face. "Royal blood ran through your father's veins, not hers. If you lead, we'll follow, and anything the Senate order will be disregarded. Their attacks on you corrode our power, lessen us. To protect you, we give all that we are, all that we have. To protect ourselves, we give _you_ the power, and _you_ use it to keep us safe."

"You understand what you're asking," Phoenix said. "We'll be in direct opposition to the Senate, but not only that, we'll be modernised. We can never go back. My children are my priorities. They'll never be shunned again, nor any like them. I have allies who are not fae. I have loyalties that I refuse to break. I am _not_ my mother."

"But that's why we will follow you." Yseult smiled. The haughty fae disappeared, replaced by a congenial, motherly figure that made him feel he'd passed some kind of test. "Loyalty was once worth more than gold or a thousand blades."

"We're willing to accept your rules," Viridian added. "We've watched you, waited for you to be ready. Your mother raised you to rule, then did her best to control you, but still you managed to defy her. Your actions now treat the Senate with the contempt we both believe they deserve. Your allies are _strong_. We want to be great again, even if it means reexamining what it means to be pure of blood. We're ready for change, ready for your father's son to lead the way."

"It's been many centuries since we had a true king," Yseult said. "We're offering you the crown because we think you can lead us to a new age of progress and power. This is your time. This is _our_ time."

Phoenix leaned forward in his seat, casting his gaze across the crowd. They were silent, expectant, and he needed them to understand. "The Senate won't let this go. Are you sure you're all ready for that? For war?"

Cheers erupted from the crowd. They looked forward to war if it meant proving themselves. He sat back, shocked by the reaction. He hadn't expected the fae to _ever_ unite again, never mind in his lifetime. He glanced back at his children. They looked proud and pleased. _Ready_.

Phoenix had only put up with the Senate to protect those he cared for, to stop the Senate from pushing laws aimed to punish those different than the norm. But the Senate had turned its back on him.

Now he had another opportunity. He had enough allies that they might even avoid war. And if the media fell upon his new status as king, they would forget Francis. Except he would remind them. He would claim Francis as his responsibility, all of his mother's assassins as his, all of the half-fae and forgotten children, all of the exiles. He would be the force the Senate had to reckon with, the one who made them see more than their reputations and livelihoods as important. He could make things right—or he could grow mad with power as his mother had.

He gazed down at the ring on his finger, the ring that had changed everything. Two paths opened up in front of him. He knew exactly which one to choose.

# Seventeen

The newspapers ate up the news. The Senate wore sour faces but refused to respond. They couldn't afford to go against him, so they did their best to ignore him in the hopes he might disappear.

He didn't.

He took to the media and claimed responsibility for Francis, stating that he couldn't stand by and allow the Senate to use him as a scapegoat. He raised the status of half-fae to equal pure-bloods, openly welcoming them to join him. He let the fae organize an actual coronation that would be open to the media. And the world wondered what the soon-to-be fae king would do next.

He spotted Ava outside the latest press conference and waved at her to join him. She shook her head, ever so slightly, then walked away. He excused himself from the group he was speaking with to follow her.

"Ava!"

She flinched, stopped walking, didn't turn around.

He reached her. "Ava?"

"I didn't want to disturb you," she said, refusing to meet his eye.

"We need to talk," he said, taking her arm and guiding her to his car to speak in private. She looked sad, but he couldn't work out why.

In the car, silence loomed, and panic began to bite at him. "Are you well? We haven't spoken in... too long."

"I'm okay. You seem well."

He searched her face, confused. "We got what we wanted," he said. "Francis is being treated, and the world knows the truth. No more hiding. I don't need the Senate anymore. I can protect my own without their help."

"You're going to be a leader, a king," she said. "You're going to have a lot of new responsibilities."

"Little will change," he said. "It's a name. I'll have meetings and make decisions, but it won't be very different from the Senate except I won't have to change minds. They'll take my word as gospel. I don't understand. Why aren't you pleased?"

"I'm happy for you. I swear I am. I just... I'll miss you." She smiled. "You were always on a different level to me, and now you've been pulled even farther away."

His heart raced. "I'm no better than you."

"I'm not royalty," she teased. "It's okay, Phoenix. I understand. I just got used to you being a part of our adventures."

"I accepted their request because I wanted to protect everything I have, not drive any of it away."

"Okay." Her face was expressionless.

"Do you remember the story behind the dagger?" he asked. "How it protects but not without a price? That's the bloodthirsty version of such a contract. I looked into it further, and I found a way to give that protection without anyone having to pay the price." He slipped the ring off his little finger and took her hand. "If you wear this, you'll be a friend of the fae, no matter what. Just like the dagger, but you'll never owe anything back."

She squirmed, looking uncomfortable. "I can't wear that thing. It's not..."

He pushed the ring that had changed everything onto her forefinger. It was too big, but that didn't matter. "You're doing me a favour really," he babbled. "I need all of the allies I can get, and if you wear this then it's a statement to the world that you're a friend to the fae, too."

"It's too old and valuable," she said in a panicked tone. "I'll lose it!"

"Ava, for the first time, I'm in control of my own destiny. Let me get rid of one more worry. When I'm not around, you'll still be safe from the fae. We take our deals seriously, and our heirlooms even more so. Let me do this one thing for you, after everything you've done for me."

"I didn't do anything," she whispered.

"You trusted me," he said.

The air thickened around them. She was terrified, he realised. Real fear she couldn't hide.

"I'm asking you for an alliance," he said, clearing his throat. "One that keeps both our interests safe, one that you can end at any time. Does that make it... easier for you?"

She stared at the ring on her finger. "Everything's changing."

"I know," he said. "But if the Senate can't touch me, you know they'll go after people I care about instead. Except now, I can stand for something, protect people like Francis and Ari from the Senate. If we work together, we can have every advantage over the Senate. Between the fae, the werewolves, the Eleven, and all of those who trust us, we'll have the power to stop the Senate if they push too much on people like us."

"You're expecting trouble," she said. "That's why you're doing this."

"I do. I didn't want to be a leader," he said. "But I wanted to change things. One of the perks is providing protection to my friends. We are still friends, aren't we?"

She closed her eyes and nodded, breathing heavily. He didn't want to let her go, didn't want what he had gained to force him to lose that which he had earned. She had given up. It was written all over her face. She had stepped aside. But he could hold on.

He brushed his nose against hers. Her eyes flew open, and she made to speak, but he kissed her instead. The future was still a far-off distant thing, but the present was something he could afford to savour.

# About the Author

For more information, check out Claire Farrell's blog or email the author. Sign up to be notified of new releases or like the Facebook page for more regular updates. Click here for an updated series reading order.

Contact Me:

    @doingitwritenow

    clairefarrellauthor

www.clairefarrellauthor.com

claire_farrell@live.ie

# Books by Claire Farrell:

**C haos Series:**

One Night with the Fae (Companion Prequel)

Soul (Chaos #1)

Fade (Chaos #2)

Queen (Chaos #3)

Usurper (Chaos #4)

Blight (Chaos #5)

Kings (Chaos #5.5)

Sacrifice (Chaos #6)

Chaos Volume 1 (Books 1-3)

Chaos Volume 2 (Books 4-6)

* * *

**A va Delaney Series (Completed):**

Thirst (Ava Delaney #1)

Taunt (Ava Delaney #2)

Tempt (Ava Delaney #3)

Taken (Ava Delaney #4)

Taste (Ava Delaney #5)

Traitor (Ava Delaney #6)

Awakening (Ava Delaney Volume I – Books 1-3)

Uprising (Ava Delaney Volume II – Books 4-6)

* * *

**L ost Souls Series:**

Tainted (Ava Delaney: Lost Souls #1)

Tethers (Ava Delaney: Lost Souls #2)

Tithes (Ava Delaney: Lost Souls #3)

Ava Delaney: Lost Souls - Volume 1

* * *

**V BI Series:**

Demon Dog (VBI #1)

Bad Blood (VBI #2)

Secret Self (VBI #3)

* * *

**C ursed Series (Completed):**

Verity (Cursed #1)

Clarity (Cursed #2)

Adversity (Cursed #2.5)

Purity (Cursed #3)

Cursed Omnibus (Entire Cursed Series)

* * *

**S take You Series (Completed):**

Stake You (Stake You #1)

Make You (Stake You #2)

Break You (Stake You #3)

* * *

**S hort Story Collections:**

Sixty Seconds

A Little Girl in my Room

* * *

**O ther:**

Death is a Gift (A standalone banshee novel)

Zombie Moon Rising (A Peter Brannigan Novella)

Ghost Moon Rising (A Peter Brannigan Novella)

Crucible (A Phoenix Novella)

Bind (An Esther Novella)

Relativity (A Lorcan & Lucia Novella)

Crossroads (A Phoenix Novella)
