Page 43 of Furever Bound (Hollow Oak Mates #7)

SERA

T he phone call to Elena three days later felt like stepping off a cliff into uncertain political territory, but Sera's growing confidence in her community's unified strength made the risk feel manageable rather than terrifying.

Through their mate bond, she felt Maddox's protective presence anchoring her consciousness while Council members gathered in his study to witness negotiations that could reshape supernatural community autonomy.

"Dr. Vasquez," she said when Elena answered with professional wariness that suggested federal authorities had been struggling to explain their tactical failure to higher officials. "I have a proposition that might interest you."

"Ms. Quinn." Elena's tone carried surprise mixed with calculating attention. "I wasn't expecting to hear from you voluntarily."

"Circumstances change," Sera replied with diplomatic calm. "Your plan seems to be encountering unexpected complications."

"Temporary setbacks that federal resources can overcome given adequate time and authorization," Elena countered with bureaucratic confidence that couldn't disguise underlying uncertainty.

"Or permanent conflicts that serve no one's interests," Sera suggested with gentle challenge to Elena's assumptions about federal authority.

"What if there was an alternative that gave you access to supernatural abilities for legitimate national security purposes without requiring community oversight that everyone involved finds objectionable? "

"I'm listening," Elena said with professional caution that suggested she was indeed struggling to justify continued federal pressure to authorities who measured success through concrete results rather than political intentions.

"Voluntary cooperation," Sera explained, her psychic connection to Hollow Oak's supernatural energy providing confidence that their community could deliver on whatever promises she made.

"Supernatural assistance with genuine federal investigations involving hostile entities that threaten civilian populations. "

"Supernatural assistance in exchange for what concessions?" Elena asked with academic precision that proved she understood negotiation dynamics despite her previous reliance on coercive authority.

"Autonomous sanctuary status for cooperating communities," Sera replied with diplomatic language that established boundaries while offering genuine value.

"Federal recognition of supernatural community self-governance in exchange for voluntary assistance with investigations that actually require supernatural expertise. "

"You're proposing a form of federal contracting relationship," Elena said with growing interest that suggested the political possibilities were becoming attractive to someone who needed concrete achievements to justify expensive failed operations.

"I'm proposing partnership between federal authorities and supernatural communities that serves everyone's legitimate interests," Sera corrected with careful attention to framing that emphasized mutual benefit rather than one-sided concessions.

Through the study's windows, she could see Grimjaw maintaining protective patrol while other residents went about their daily routines with the kind of peaceful normalcy that federal surveillance had been disrupting for weeks.

"Such partnerships would require extensive documentation of supernatural abilities and community organization," Elena pointed out with bureaucratic thoroughness that proved she was seriously considering alternatives to direct oversight.

"Documentation that communities provide voluntarily as part of cooperative agreements rather than information extracted through federal investigation," Sera replied with strategic thinking that protected privacy while acknowledging legitimate security concerns.

"And oversight of supernatural activities that could pose national security risks?"

"Self-governance that prevents activities harmful to civilian populations while maintaining community autonomy for beneficial supernatural practices," she negotiated with diplomatic precision that established accountability without sacrificing independence.

"You've thought this through extensively," Elena observed with professional respect that hadn't been present during their previous confrontations.

"We've had motivation to develop alternatives to permanent federal-supernatural conflict," Sera said with dry humor that made several Council members smile despite the gravity of their political negotiation.

"I would need to present such proposals to federal authorities who have already committed significant resources to supernatural community oversight," Elena said with practical concern for bureaucratic politics that could complicate even beneficial policy changes.

"Present proposals that demonstrate immediate value through concrete examples," Sera suggested, her strategic mind recognizing that federal bureaucracy responded better to proven results than theoretical frameworks.

"Grimjaw has expressed willingness to assist with federal investigations involving genuinely hostile supernatural entities. "

"Grimjaw would work with federal agents?" Elena's surprise proved she hadn't anticipated cooperation from the guardian whose intervention had forced federal retreat.

"Grimjaw protects civilian populations from supernatural threats regardless of bureaucratic boundaries," Sera explained with growing confidence in the guardian's principles.

"Cooperation with federal authorities serves that protection when investigations involve genuine rather than manufactured threats. "

"I would need guarantees about supernatural entity cooperation and community compliance with federal partnership agreements," Elena said in a way that suggested she was already drafting proposals for superior authority.

"You would have performance-based cooperation that demonstrates supernatural community value through results rather than promises," Sera replied with business acumen.

"And federal oversight to ensure supernatural activities remain within agreed parameters?"

"Voluntary reporting that provides transparency without sacrificing the community autonomy that enables supernatural cooperation in the first place," she negotiated with diplomatic skill that protected their essential freedoms while acknowledging legitimate federal concerns.

The silence that followed suggested Elena was processing possibilities that could transform her investigation failure into policy innovation that served federal interests while respecting supernatural community autonomy.

"I'll present your proposals to relevant federal authorities," Elena said finally with professional neutrality that couldn't disguise underlying relief at discovering face-saving alternatives to indefinite conflict.

"Assuming community representatives would be willing to participate in formal negotiations? "

"Community representatives would be very willing to negotiate partnership agreements that serve everyone's legitimate interests," Sera confirmed with satisfaction that resonated through her mate bond and made Maddox's protective pride flood their connection.

"Federal authorities will want concrete demonstrations of supernatural cooperation before committing to policy changes," Elena warned with bureaucratic realism.

"Federal authorities will get exactly that," Sera replied. "Partnership that proves supernatural communities represent assets rather than threats to national security."

As she ended the call that could reshape supernatural-federal relations throughout the country, Sera realized that protecting their sanctuary had evolved into actively improving conditions for supernatural communities who had been hiding from government attention for generations.