Lupi 06 - Blood Magic

sorcerer was probably gone - but "probably" could sure as hell trip you up. "Good. Max, bear in mind that this guy could have confederates who lack magic but possess guns. We don't know much about him."
    "We know he's powerful," Rule said. "Max is pretty resistant to magic. It took a powerhouse of a spell to knock him out."
    Lily didn't smile, but she wanted to. He'd made sure Max heard that.
    The scene in Cullen's hospital room was much like the one last night. Cynna stood on one side of Cullen's bed. He was awake again, but pale. Jason was on the other side, doing something to the IV drip. Of course, this time Grandmother was there, too, in the room's only chair.
    Lily tossed her jacket on the spare bed, empty now, and went to Cynna. "Are you okay? Shouldn't you be sitting down?"
    "So I told her," Grandmother announced. "She is cheeky. She is also pregnant, so I overlook this."
    "I've been sitting," Cynna said. "Except when I was taking a forced nap on the floor. I'm tired of it. What is this with everyone wanting pregnant women to sit all the time?"
    "Extra weight, sore feet, aching back - "
    "I'm fine," Cynna said firmly. She glanced at Cullen, her worry clear.
    "I'm not fine," he said crossly, "but I'm not at death's door, either. Let's get started."
    "Those who are not pregnant and cheeky will sit on the floor," Grandmother informed them. "I do not wish to bend my neck."
    Lily was not about to plop down at Grandmother's feet like an acolyte. "Grandmother, I need to know why you came out of hiding now. What - "
    Rule put a hand on her shoulder. "Lily, I have a suggestion. This is your area of expertise, and others here are superior to me in knowledge, years, and wisdom. Yet it might be best if I take charge of our discussion. Several of you are affected by restrictions that don't include me. I don't have to mind my tongue - or have it silenced."
    The treaty. He was talking about the damned treaty geas.
    It is good that someone here has sense, said the familiar cool mental voice.
    Grandmother gave a regal nod. Lily's nod was reluctant. It wasn't that she objected to Rule taking charge. Well, not only that. She hated the reason for it.
    "Very well. Sam, can you... Yes, that will work. Thank you. Jason," he said, turning to the tall blond nurse, "I must ask you to leave the room for now. Sam will let you know if you're needed. He's able to monitor Cullen's condition."
    Jason didn't argue. Most lupi didn't when their Lu Nuncio told them to do something. As soon as the door closed behind him, Rule turned to Lily. "Earlier I told Cynna and Cullen about the Chimei and her pet sorcerer, so everyone remaining here already knows. Perhaps this will allow you to speak freely."
    "Let's find out." She looked at Grandmother, but mentally directed her comments to Sam as well. "At lunch I couldn't speak of the Chimei or the sorcerer when I talked to T.J. Then all of a sudden I could mention the sorcerer, but not the Chimei. Something changed. What?"
    The sorcerer acted on his own, without his name-mate's knowledge or consent.
    "Ah," Rule said. "Yes. That's what I suspected. Does this mean the treaty doesn't protect him?'
    Grandmother shook her head. "The treaty is seldom so simple. The sorcerer loses protection as far as his acts today are concerned. This means Sam and I are now able to speak of him, within limits. But the treaty heeds intention. When Lily spoke to Mr. James, she did not intend the sorcerer's death. If she had, it would have held her silent."
    "Wait," Lily said. "I'm confused. I don't get why the sorcerer is protected by the damned thing in the first place." She frowned at Rule. "You aren't. Why would the Chimei's lover be?"
    Grandmother's gaze flicked up, as if she were consulting heaven, but more likely it was Sam. Her lips thinned. She shook her head.
    "I think I can answer that," Cullen said.
    Lily's head swung. "You?"
    "I didn't put it together before." Cullen's voice was weaker than normal, but steady. "But when Sam said 'name-mate' the bell chimed."
    "What are you talking about?"
    Rule answered first. "Your grandmother traded for a spell of Cullen's. In return, she told him about the Chimei. I'm guessing," he said to Grandmother, "that your intentions were, ah, pure? You didn't intend for Cullen to go kill the Chimei or the sorcerer, so the treaty allowed you to talk about them?"
    She lifted a hand and tipped it this way and that. "Intent matters. Mr. Seabourne's intentions were pure - he wished for