Lupi 09 - Mortal Ties

“Ow. That hurts so good. Sometimes it’s hard to tell what the grown-up
     thing is, though. This is probably the safest it’s going to get for a while. Friar’s
     organization is a mess.”
    “We think so, anyway.”
    “And Jasper-the-thief wanted me there.”
    “Which could be a strong argument for staying here.”
    “That’s what Cullen said. Along with a lot of other shit.” Cynna lowered that leg
     and hugged the other one. “Why is my left butt cheek always stiffer than my right?
     Anyway, I couldn’t make up my mind, so I tossed a coin.”
    “I guess San Francisco lost.”
    “Yeah.” Cynna switched legs.
    “Well, if you’re here you can connect with the CSI squad. Now that the internal clan
     stuff’s been cleared up, Isen agreed that I could call them in. They’ll be here about
     ten.”
    “I can do that.” Cynna lowered her leg slowly. “I’m going to have to resign from the
     Bureau, you know.”
    Lily stopped moving. “Shit.”
    “I don’t have to do it right this minute. I’ve got another two months of unpaid leave.
     But I’m not going to be able to go back to active duty. I won’t be able to go where
     I’m needed. If I was still an apprentice I could, but now…” She shrugged.
    Lily couldn’t think of what to say. She’d nearly lost her position with the Bureau
     in October, and that had all but wrecked her. “Have you talked to Ruben yet?”
    “He said he’d find a place for me if I wanted, maybe inResearch. But research isn’t my thing. Or I can be a consultant. I’ll probably go
     with that. I don’t want to stay in the Bureau just so I can be on the payroll. I don’t
     need to, either. Nokolai would pay me a salary if I wanted, you know.”
    “I didn’t know that.”
    “Usually a Rhej gets housing and utilities from her clan, but being a Rhej isn’t a
     full-time job, so most of them work at regular jobs, too. Hannah did when she was
     younger, and I expected to. But with this war, that’s going to change. We’ve been
     talking about it.”
    “ ‘We’ being the Rhejes?”
    Cynna nodded. “They’re an incredible bunch of women. I thought it might be hard for
     them to accept me. They loved Hannah. She was the eldest, and they all…but they’ve
     been great. Anyway, there are two of us who don’t have apprentices—me and the Etorri
     Rhej—and she and I have talked several times. We agreed that we can’t risk the memories.
     She’s quitting her job, and I won’t be going back to the Bureau.”
    Lily was silent a moment. “Are you okay with this?”
    “You know, I am. I don’t like being denned up at Clanhome, and I’ll miss being an
     agent. But I’m not a cop all the way down the way you are. I’m not giving up something
     that’s fundamental to me. And then there’s Ryder. I knew things would change once
     she was born, but I didn’t know how much of the change would be in me. In what I want.”
     She shook her head as if she’d run out of words. “Anyway, the reason I told you today
     instead of some other time is that I wanted you to know where I’m coming from. I want
     you to promise me something.”
    “If I can.”
    Cynna’s grin flashed. “Smart answer. I don’t think this one will stretch you out of
     shape. If you decide you need me in San Francisco, call me. Cullen won’t. I’m pretty
     sure Rule won’t, either. Not that I can promise I’ll come if you do, but I want to
     know. I want it to be my choice, not the default setting everyone picks for me.”
    “Damn, you are turning into such a grown-up.”
    Cynna’s grin widened. “I am, aren’t I? So will you do it?”
    Lily nodded. “It’s a deal.”
    “Good. Thanks. I guess you need to get back.”
    “I really do. Check-in’s at ten, and I’ve got a ton to do before then.” Lily started
     off at a slow jog, but Cynna seemed to have her breath back, so she moved into an
     easy lope. After a bit she said, “Things keep changing, don’t they?”
    “All the fucking time,” Cynna agreed. She sounded annoyingly cheerful about it, though.

FOURTEEN

    R ULE was leaving the house when Lily returned. He told her he was heading over to Eric
     Snowden’s to get Toby, touched her face as if he, too, regretted the lack of a private
     moment, and left at a lope. By the time Lily showered, called Ruben, called the local
     FBI office to delegate some of her cases, and texted her parents that she’d be out
     of town for a while, he was back.
    So was Toby. So were