Ritual Magic

joint conclusions regarding competency, I will seek Julia’s permission before proceeding.
    Mequi’s eyebrows lifted. “Mentally, Julia is twelve years old. You consider a child competent to make such a decision?”
    Your species employs a far greater degree of custodial care for its young than mine finds either necessary or desirable. Respect for this species difference does not require me to violate my ethical standards. Julia Yu has done nothing that would entitle me to subvert her autonomy. I will not proceed without her consent. You should also know that delay is inadvisable. The sooner I am able to proceed, the better the outcome will be.
    Edward Yu spoke. “In the interest of speed, then, we will now discuss which course to follow—that of Dr. Babbitt or that of Sun Mzao. We will go around the table. Mother, will you begin?”
    “I prefer to go last, Edward.”
    “Very well. Jim?”
    Mequi’s husband didn’t want to talk about the dragon’s proposed treatment versus the doctor’s. He declared himself incompetent to make that decision—if that was meant as a joke, it fell very flat—and offered a short lecture on the legal means of declaring someone incompetent in California.
    Mequi, next to him, said that of course Julia was not competent to make such decisions at this time, and that with all due respect to the black dragon, humans were obviously better able to determine what humans needed than he was. They should either follow Dr. Babbitt’s advice or bring in additional doctors.
    Lily’s phone vibrated while Mequi was speaking. Her lips thinned, but she took out her phone to see who it was. Rule couldn’t see the screen, but it must have been important because she interrupted. “I’m sorry. I have to take this.”
    “Good God, girl, can’t you turn that thing off?” Jim exclaimed. “We’re talking about your mother’s—”
    “Jim,” Grandmother said, “enough.”
    “I was just going to—”
    “You will do me the favor of shutting your mouth.”
    Wearily Edward said, “Lily is not chatting with her friends, Jim. The call must have something to do with the investigation. It may be urgent.”
    Rule was able to hear most of what the caller was saying to Lily in spite of the chatter at the table. Edward was right. It was about the investigation, and it was urgent.
    Lily put her phone up and pushed away from the table. “I have to go. Rule, will you speak for me?”
    He met her eyes. “What will I say?”
    “That we’re wasting time talking. There’s no real choice to be made. If Sam says Mother has to have this procedure or her mind will come unglued, then she does.” Then she added more intimately,
You heard what Officer Perez told me?
    Unlike everyone else at the table, Lily could use mindspeech. Not reliably, but sometimes. Rule nodded somberly. “You’ll be in touch with Ruben.”
    “Oh, yeah.” She looked around at her family, but her gaze ended on Dr. Babbitt. “Doctor, the Bureau may wish to use your services as a consultant. I need your number so I can contact you if needed.”
    “Of course, but why? I’m already on your mother’s case.” He lifted up so he could pull his wallet from his back pocket. He took out a business card and handed it to her.
    “Because it looks like Mother wasn’t the only victim.” She looked at Rule. “I’m headed for Scripps on Fifth.”
    “Take Scott and Mark.”
    She grimaced but left without arguing—or answering any of the questions her family hurled at her retreating back.

SIX

    “W ELL, I like that!”
    “That kind of cavalier attitude—”
    “I can’t imagine you’re going to let her behave that way, Edward.”
    “Of course he will not. Edward, I will go get Lily and tell her to come back here right now.” Mequi scraped her chair back.
    Rule had had enough. “Stop!”
    Faces turned toward him—incredulous, startled, and displeased faces.
    He looked at them one at a time . . . and he let his wolf rise just enough that they would see it in his eyes. They might not consciously recognize what they saw, but their hindbrains would. “I am tired of this. You are Lily’s family. You love her—and you chide her as if she were a child. You have no grasp of her responsibilities or her abilities, and no respect for her authority. If she could have told you more, she would have. You are making a terrible time more difficult for her and for Edward. Stop.”
    No one said a word. Mequi was rigid with affront; Feng