Page 57 of Fallen Court

Cate smiled gratefully.

“Speaking of, the covens want a meeting,” Roark said. “They aren’t happy.”

“When are they happy?” I asked.

“Ciara made this happen. But that doesn’t mean that they aren’t going to fight you on it.”

“I suppose I should remind them they’re here under my protection.”

No rest for the wicked. Dealing with the city’s various factions was one of my least favorite parts of the job, but it was unavoidable.

“Tensions are high,” he warned us. “We can’t tap as much magic as normal from the Otherworld to help shore up the spell from our end.”

But Fiona interjected, “It’s not just because of the spell. Someone put down a rougarou last week off Esplanade.”

“A what?” Cate asked across the room.

Ciara leaned to whisper. “Kinda like a werewolf.”

“A rougarou?” I repeated. “I didn’t know we had any in the city. Have the werewolves dealt with it?” If a werewolf had bitten someone, they needed to hold the guilty party accountable.

“You know how insular the packs are,” Roark said. “They’ll deal with whoever did it privately.” And publicly, none of them would claim the creature, since rougarous weren’t born werewolves like they were. They were cursed. “But it’s been decades since one was caught in the city. Second Parish is in an uproar over it, thinking the bona fides spell drew it out. They fought hardest against the spell.”

“And I would’ve thought the vampires would be the biggest pain in my ass,” I grumbled.

“Don’t worry. They’ll still be a pain in your ass. Baptiste wants to discuss the clover problem.” He grinned and clapped a hand on my shoulder. “So, the sooner we get this meeting over with, the better.”

Vampires weren’t known for their patience. We needed to keep the witches happy or risk the bona fides spell, and my sister’s success proved she should be the one at the head of the table. “Ciara is still in charge.”

I was on borrowed time, and she needed to be prepared in case things went south.

“No way.” Ciara abandoned the couch and stalked toward me. She twisted off the signet ring and thrust it in my direction. “I never asked for this. You are still the Prince of the Nether Court.”

Over her shoulder, Cate bit back a smile.

“Not this again.” Roark sighed, throwing up his hands.

I didn’t take the ring from my sister. “It sounds like you handled everything well.”

“Of course I did. But I need a margarita, a massage, and a nap. Not necessarily in that order.” She stamped her foot. “Make Fiona take it.”

“I’m leaving,” Fiona reminded her with mock sweetness.

“Okay. Shaw, then,” Ciara implored.

“Not an option.” He was just a kid.

“Where is Shaw?” Cate asked, looking around the room like she’d just realized he was missing.

Shit. My sister and I shared a look.

“You didn’t tell her,” she accused.

“Tell me what?” Cate asked slowly.

I took a deep breath. This was going to hurt. “At the hospital.”

Cate jumped to her feet. “Hospital? What’s wrong?”