Page 82 of Truthfinder’s Promise

“What?”

“I hoped Jace was on an intellectual tangent that had nothing to do with reality but earlier…Julian said Analisa was a god in her own way. Gods live forever.”

The table fell silent, digesting that. Siren broke the quiet. “I think it’s possible. When Elijah had me, after I escaped the compound and killed several of my captors, there was a point before the kill where I feel like I could have done something different. Could have taken something into me instead of just ending them. But I sensed that if I did, I wouldn’t be the same anymore. That my Aspect wouldn’t be the same. If Analisa was a Life Aspecter, I don’t think she is anymore. Not in the sense that I am, anyway.”

“We may be getting ahead of ourselves,” Rebekah said. “What this woman is or isn’t must be dealt with regardless. Our focus remains the same. Rescuing my granddaughter. To do that, we don’t need conjecture—we need to know what we’re walking into. Can’t you use some satellites or something to see what’s on this land?”

Valkyrie looked like she’d just swallowed something particularly foul tasting. “I’ve tried. The disorientation spell has been upgraded over the years. Satellite images don’t show it. The space isn’t a blank spot on the image, mind you, it’s as if it simply isn’t there. And there’s no point in flying a drone inside because it would immediately lose signal.”

“Can we take the spell down?” Dom asked.

“It’s not impossible,” Val conceded, “though it does possess a dauntingly large amount of power, which means we’ll have to spend a lot to get through it and exhaust some of our best resources right from the start. The real trouble is that the moment we start messing with it, whoever’s tied in as the spell’s anchor is going to know, and there’s no way to avoid that. They’ll see us coming—” Val looked at Meredith and Jensen “—and that will leave the two of you in a vulnerable place.”

“You’re still planning on sending them to the auction?” Serenity asked. “We know where to find Natalie and the others. Let’s go get them and get this over with.”

“Things are never that simple,” Rebekah told her in a chiding tone. “You asked me once why I disapproved of you and Jensen. This is a prime example. The future protector’s wife must be capable of strategic thinking. Of assessing threats against the enclave and making plans of action. That has never been one of your skills.”

Future protector? The whole second thing clicked for her. Jensen was Rebekah’s second. Not just second-in-command, but second-in-line for leadership. Great. She’d accidentally married the Shifter crown prince.

Serenity’s expression darkened. “I see. I don’t have a single thought in my head, but you think Princess Barbie’s a strategic thinker?”

And here we go.

Rebekah cocked her head at Meredith. “Well? Would you care to explain to Serenity why we aren’t barging in guns blazing?”

“No. That would be rude.”

“Your magnanimity is overwhelming,” Serenity said. “See? I know big words too.”

“But,” Meredith said to Rebekah, “I’ll explain it to you, since you seem to think we’re in class and you’d like me to be well-behaved and take the pop quiz.”

Rebekah’s eyes sparkled. Meredith hadn’t pissed her off, she’d amused her.

“In addition to giving Analisa advance notice that we are coming, taking down the disorientation spell will deplete a large number of our assets. We will be forced to go in blind, since delaying would allow Analisa time to ready any defenses she is capable of mustering.

“Given that the area has been right under our noses for so long, it is likely the defenses she can muster are impressive. We could be overpowered. If we aren’t, and she is faced with a frontal assault she cannot win, every Shifter in her possession becomes a hostage. She will use them against us or kill them. Either way, it ends badly.

“Finding a way to sneak through the disorientation spell undetected is a better option, giving us the advantage of surprise. However, since confrontation is the inevitable point of the exercise, the Shifters will still end up in the position of likely hostages. At which point having Jensen and I behind enemy lines gives us the chance to find and protect them.”

Meredith waited, wanting to see if Jensen’s grandmother had thought it through to the bonus question.

“And?” Rebekah prompted.

“And if we wait until the auction night, not only are Jensen and I inside to aid the Shifters, but the auction attendees will be there as well. While they likely do not encompass every Aspecter who would have an opposition to the Shifter and Aspect societies forming an alliance, they will be some of the most powerful who would do so. Their arrest and subsequently their very public trials will go a long way toward quelling dissent.”

“Very good. I’ll grade you at an even ‘A.’ I’d give you the plus, but your delivery lacked enthusiasm. The ability to give a rousing speech is also important in a leader.”

I’ll give you a rousing speech.

“Of course, so is the ability to surprise those closest to you.”

The Aspect half of the room was gaping at Meredith. Well, all of them except Siren. Siren had that I knew it expression on her face.

“Is it really that surprising?” she snapped at the others.

“You do remember yourself in Academy, right?” Valkyrie asked. “I was in Mr. Struthers’ Aspect History course with you junior year. It was an open-class oral final. Your answer to the question, ‘How could the Aspect civil war of 683 been prevented?’ was facials.”

Hel choked on her coffee.