Kate Daniels 05.5 - Magic Gifts

thought of something else to say to change my mind.
    It took me ten minutes to stop by the medical ward.
    Roderick's collar has faded to lemon yellow. The skin around it had turned bright red, inflamed. It hurt just to look at it. I crouched by him. "How are you doing?"
    "I'm okay, thank you."
    "Does it hurt to eat?"
    "A little," he said.
    "I'm going to see someone today to figure out how to take that thing off."
    He just looked at me with his big eyes. Deep down, he must've been scared. His sister died. His parents were gone. But he held it all inside and he wasn't about to let me in.
    Before I left, Doolittle drew me aside. His face was bleak. "You must hurry."
    "I'll do my best," I told him.
    When I walked into the morning light, ten Pack vehicles waited for me. The crews of the vehicles stood in front of them wearing identical grey. Jim stood to the side, surveying the troops. I approached him.
    "Satisfied, Consort?"
    "How long are you going to be pissed off?" I asked him. We both kept our voices low.
    He stared straight ahead.
    "Jim, we had a verbal disagreement. I was an ass, but you withheld information. The way you're acting, you'd think I got some guys to jump you and work you over until you woke up with bites on your legs and bruises all over your body."
    "It's different now, because we're both Pack. I've told you I was sorry about that. Are you going to keep dragging it out every time?"
    "It was a shitty thing to do."
    He locked his teeth, making his jaw muscles bulge.
    I sighed and started toward the cars. "Suit yourself."
    "I always do," he called out.
    I turned around and flipped him off.
    He glared at me.
    I kept walking.
    "Kate!" he called out.
    I turned.
    "Eduardo is your second. You need to talk to him. He wants you to practice something."
    I nodded.
    "Kate!"
    I turned around.
    Jim approached me. "Do you need me to watch your back for this Guild thing?"
    "I got it. Thanks," I said.
    "Any time."
    I went in search of Eduardo. Jim was an ornery bastard, but he did have my back. At least he wasn't mad anymore. I would probably have to make a peace offering all the same. The werejaguars were difficult creatures.
    I'd have to get Dali to help me pick a gift. That way there would be no misunderstandings.

    *** *** ***
     
    The Mercenary Guild made its HQ in a converted Sheraton Hotel on the edge of Buckhead. In another life the hotel, built as a hollow tower, had a solid glass front, complete with a rotating glass door. Now massive steel gates marked the entrance. As our procession rolled up to the hotel, I could see a few mercs mulling about and smoking. Most of the Guild personnel were probably inside already. Perfect.
    Next to me, Eduardo leaned forward in the Jeep's driver seat. A werebuffalo from Clan Heavy, he was over six feet tall and layered with thick muscle. His hair fell down his back in a black mane. His face with a square chin and deep set eyes said that he would rather die than back down. That impression was one hundred percent correct. I had a problem with a part of his plan and argued with him about it until I turned purple in the face, but he wouldn't budge, which was probably why Jim had assigned him to be my second for this venture.
    "Wait a moment until we line up, before you go in, Consort," he murmured.
    "Kate." We've been on first name basis for a while now.
    "Not today, Consort."
    The ten Jeeps turned in unison, parking next to each other in front of the building. The mercs at the entrance forgot to suck at their cigarettes and stared.
    The car doors opened. The shapeshifters stepped out, forming two lines with a military precision, their faces solemn. I glanced at Eduardo.
    "Not yet," he said.
    The shapeshifters marched into the Sheraton, looking like they would chew through anybody dumb enough to stand in their way.
    "I'm going to get out and go ahead. Derek will open your door. When you exit, keep walking, like you own the place," Eduardo said. "We've got your back."
    "Watch it, bison," Jezebel growled from the back seat. She was one of the two bouda bodyguards Aunt B, the alpha of the werehyenas, attached to me. "You talk to her like she's a child."
    I held up my hand. "It's okay. I got it."
    "No worries," Eduardo said. "You will do fine."
    There were few things I hated more than being the center of attention. Especially if the crowd was large.
    Eduardo stepped outside. The passenger door behind me opened and Jezebel and Derek got out. Jezebel was six feet tall, moved like a