Lupi 09 - Mortal Ties

humans. It’s possible
     they’re here.”
    “How?” Mike said. “I guess they could take a plane the same as anyone else, but they’d
     be spotted immediately.”
    Cullen rolled his eyes. “You’ve heard of illusion? Since elves are the only ones who
     can do that—”
    “Never mind. I get it.”
    “—they can look as human as they want. At least the elf can. We have no idea what
     the halfling’s capable of. And since illusion is a form of mind-magic—”
    “I get it,” Mike repeated loudly.
    “—you’ll wear that charm and hope it works.”
    Lily was looking at Rule with narrowed eyes. “And why am I just now hearing about
     this?”
    She was angry. But why? “Benedict called while Jasper was here. I didn’t feel free
     to speak about Arjenie’s Gift in front of him.”
    “No—why am I just now hearing that you asked Benedict to investigate the sidhe’s apparent
     indisposition?”
    He matched her frown with his own. “It’s been a busy day. I forgot to tell you.”
    “I think that mantle helped you forget. It defaults to secrecy even worse than—damn.”
     Her phone had chimed. “Later,” she muttered as she took it out. “We are going to talk
     about this, but later. Hello?”
    “Scott,” Rule said curtly, and gave a jerk of his head to tell him to get moving.
     Scott gestured to Joe, and the two headed out.
    Why was Lily so hung up on the idea that the Leidolf mantle was changing him? He’d
     told her many times it didn’t work that way, but she seemed to think she knew more
     about it than he did. “Cullen?” he said. “You’re comfortable with your role?”
    “More comfortable with that than with this damn vest. It weighs a ton.”
    “Bear up beneath your burden,” Rule said dryly. “Everyone, make sure your phones are
     on silent.” The vibration was as audible as a ringtone to lupi ears, but humans wouldn’t
     hear it unless they were very close.
    He checked his watch. Scott and Joe would leave through a hidden exit the hotel’s
     security chief had shown Scott. It was possible Friar knew about that, but unlikely
     enough that Rule would take that chance in order to have them in place ahead of time.
     The rest of them would leave openly as soon as Jasper called…which he should be doing
     in three and a half minutes.
    Rule wanted to pace. He had a bad feeling about tonight, and not just because of the
     mate bond’s behavior. Friar hadhad too much time to set things up, and they’d had too little time and too little
     information to plan effective counters. They’d simply have to outthink him on the
     ground…but Rule kept thinking of all the times the Great Bitch had targeted Lily.
     She wanted Lily badly. Rule was sure that hadn’t changed, even if sometimes
she
preferred to take Lily alive and others seemed willing to settle for her death. If
     only there was some way to leave his
nadia
out of…
    “…but the timing sucks,” Lily was saying. “Can you get to him and…No, you’re right,
     it’s not worth the risk. Damn. Well, stay with him and see if he does board. It’s
     always possible the booking is a red herring.”
    “That’s Tony?” Rule said, suddenly paying attention.
    “Yeah. He found Hugo.”

THIRTY-ONE

    “I’ M not easy about this,” Lily said as she shrugged into her jacket.
    Rule cocked one eyebrow at her. “Wanting to stay close to protect me?”
    “No—yes, I guess I am. But if that elf’s around and pulling mind-magic crap, I’m the
     only one guaranteed not to be affected.”
    “The charms will protect Cullen and me and possibly the others.”
    “Yes, but—”
    “You can change your mind. I’m not sure why you think Hugo is so important, not now
     that we’ve got Jasper’s input. But if you do—”
    “I don’t know why, either. It’s a hunch.” Clearly frustrated, she grabbed his face
     in her hands, pulled it to hers, and gave him a quick kiss. She kept her hands on
     his face to say fiercely, “There’s a
reason
Friar set this up at a middle school.”
    Yes. Friar didn’t care if children were harmed. They did. “It’s approaching midnight.
     There won’t be any children at the school.”
    “Don’t assume.” With that last instruction, she turned and left.
    Mike and Todd were already in the hall. They’d go with her, so Rule was reasonably
     satisfied with her protection. Jeffrey and Patrick would stay here—Patrick with the
     two Laban guarding Beth, Jeffrey to watch the suite. Jeffrey