Page 46 of Solar Shadows

“I’ve emailed the Winter Palace again,” Aaron chimed in.

“Fingers crossed today’s the day we can get some answers,” Alice said.

“The High Coven are trying, too,” he added.

Apparently, our overlords weren’t saying much on the problem at our gates right now. Only that they’d keep us safe.

Until they decided to fuck us over again.

April finished chewing on a banana. “I’m seriously considering going over to Faerie myself soon.”

“We might have to at this rate,” Aaron replied.

There were no planes in Faerie, but there were high-speed railways they’d introduced about a year ago, making travel times more palatable. Still, I didn’t fancy going on a trip to visit the Winter Queen right now.

“We’ll stay inside until this press attention blows over,” Erin said. “Stefan suggested we keep a low profile. These things always tend to simmer down after while.”

I sat forward, stunned by the sound ofhisname. “Excuse me?”

She went to repeat herself.

“I heard what you said,” I interjected. “Why are you talking to Stefan?”

“He communicated through our liaison,” she countered, nodding in Jake’s direction.

“Okay. And? Why is he involved?”

She steepled her fingers. “He’s the High Inquisitor. I have to speak with him, although he will only do it through Jake at the moment.”

I laughed nervously, a wave of confusion crashingdown on my head. “Wait. Am I missing something here?”

“No one is suggesting we hide indoors. On the contrary. No sacred witch should be confined to this house. We should all be out there on the front lines, investigating any leads, searching for answers.”

I shook my head, my forehead creasing at the sidewards lurch of the conversation. “That’s not what I’m talking about. Why are we having anything to do with Stefan? He shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near us.”

Silence followed, which only served to annoy me further.

“Isn’t there an alternative to that fuckhead?” I added. “He betrayed us. He tried to?—”

“We know,” Erin cut me off. “We know all too well, Isaac. But Stefan remains in his position, and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Cool down,I tried warning myself.

My mouth had other ideas. “I’ll ask it again. Why is Stefan involved? He should be locked up. This house doesn’t need his opinions or his help.” My hands balled into fists.

Erin took about ten seconds to answer, calmly. “I appreciate your concerns, but there’s nothing we can do. While he remains in position, we must cooperate with him, through Agent Jake. No matter what, Stefan is in charge.”

“He shouldn’t be,” I rebutted, voice tight with rage.

“The elders are good with him,” Ollie said. “He told me himself.”

The elders? The fucking elders? A bunch of pricks holding the levers of power, making decisions in their ivory towers? Yippee. Goody gumdrops. Just what I wanted to hear.

Had the elders been smoking crack?

I faced the object of my desires. “You’ve spoken to him?”

Ollie’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Yep.”