Going Under (16 page)

Molly was all for new learning experiences and all, but this wasn’t quite what she
had in mind. Still, she was proud of herself for keeping a straight face through it.

Until.

She could see before the woman in the audience even spoke that it was going to be
bad. Her features were set, eyes narrowed, the hate coming from her like a blast of
heat. So it wasn’t really a surprise when she got her question out. “How do we know
you’re not controlling our minds right this very moment? There’s a reason witches
were burned.”

Molly tipped her head in a
bless your heart
way. “Believe me when I tell you that if I had the power to control your mind, I wouldn’t
use that power to have people break the windows at my place of work and assault me
at public events.”

That got a laugh and Molly realized that when she used her othersight, she could gauge
the energy in the room better. The magick rose, yes, but also humans had their own
sort of energy, far more faint, but when they were passionate, it was easier to spot.
She could use that.

Use it to grab this event and wrestle it back before it went off the rails. “And on
a historical note, we got drowned a lot more than we got burned. Though we were also
tortured and raped.” The room quieted. “There’s something that frequently gets missed
in these discussions and I want to make it clear here today. The Magister happened
to
us
. To the Others as we’re now known. We lost mothers and fathers, wives and husbands,
children, friends, cousins. None of us came out of this untouched. We’re trying very
hard to get through the fact that we lost so many so very suddenly. We’re mourning.
We were not hiding our magick from you to trick you. We were keeping our magick private
because past history has taught us to be careful or get dead.”

“Maybe you should be.” Alison Haterade from PURITY spoke from across the stage. “Not
dead of course, we’d never advocate such a thing. But this being culled your numbers
for a reason. Maybe it’s because you’re a threat.”

So much hate. The energy poured from her, dark and sticky and if Molly had been closer
she may have recoiled physically to avoid it.

The mayor pounded her gavel and called for order as the room went crazy. In the corner
of Molly’s eye she saw Gage tense and move closer.

“If I may.” Molly leaned close and made eye contact with as many people in the audience
as she could. “This sort of hateful speech isn’t helpful or useful. It is divisive
and seeks to destroy rather than unite. I tell you of the loss so many of us have
been hit with and this is no more than a cudgel to Ms. Moore. And it’s a prime example
of just why we’ve hesitated to come out all these years before. We are not a herd
to be
culled
. Which by the way means to kill, so spare me the dishonesty about how you don’t mean
exactly what you’re saying.”

Alison squawked but Molly kept speaking until she shut up.

“We’re happy to answer questions and deal with very real and honest fears humans may
have about us. We’re happy to talk about what exactly we are and what we do. But we
won’t be targets for talk of
culling.
I’d thought this basic fact was so easy to understand it didn’t need to be repeated.
But apparently it does.”

“You’re twisting my words!” Alison acted like a woman offended when she was a hateful
charlatan. Molly had nothing but disgust for her.

“They’re
your
words so I suggest you either use less loaded terms to be clear or own what you say.”

Molly was angry now. Angrier than that day when she’d been in the car with Gage. Culling?
How dare this bitch even utter that?

“We deserve to know when we have monsters living next door. This has been foretold.
Demons walking the face of the earth. You all bring the end.”

Molly mentally centered herself. You couldn’t argue with people’s religions. She had
no desire to. Alison would believe what she believed and it wasn’t any of Molly’s
affair unless and until it had
kill all Others
as its bottom line. Which it did in this case. So now she had to deal with the concept
and weave around the religious part. She sure as hell wasn’t going to admit there
were actual demons and push this lady even further into crazytown.

“As we’ve existed as long as humans have, I don’t think a very good case for us bringing
the end can be made. We want a peaceful resolution to all this upheaval. We don’t
need to be loved by all. We don’t need to convince you we have souls. Your beliefs
are your own.” Molly looked back out to the audience and pulled them in. She felt
it in her gut, knew her magick drew their attention. What she did with it was up to
her. She had a gift and for the first time since the Magister she
understood
she had a purpose. She was standing there for a reason. She could make a difference,
a real difference.

“We are here. We are citizens and we care about our communities, human and Other alike.
If you have questions or concerns, please bring them forward and we will do our best
to resolve those honestly. But do not ever make the mistake of believing this is a
referendum on our right to exist. That is not up for a vote. It is not up for a debate.
We don’t want to control your thoughts. We don’t want to infect you with lycanthropy
against your will. We want to live in a world where our houses aren’t set on fire
while our children sleep and where we aren’t run off the road and gunned down on the
way home from soccer practice. It seems incompatible with anyone’s stated wish to
protect children to support what happened to Jeremy and Missy Borache just three weeks
ago.”

She sat back and the stunned silence burst into applause from Other and human alike.
It wasn’t unanimous, but it was enough.

Chapter 17

“DON’T
forget dinner at my house tonight.” Meriel hugged Molly when they pulled up at the
hotel. “You did such an amazing job. Closing the way you did? Goddess, I think I nearly
cried.”

Lark snorted. “I totally cried.”

Gage watched her, proud. He wanted them all to go so he could tell her in private.

“We’ll see you guys in a few hours.” Gage got out, checked the area and then held
a hand out. She took it, allowing him to help her from the car.

Of course her phone started ringing and she answered, even as he ushered her through
the lobby and she smiled and waved at the desk staff, who adored her like everyone
else.

“Already? Well, that’s interesting.”

They got into the elevator and he pretended not to be annoyed that she was doing her
job. Because it was her job and all and it was silly to be annoyed over that.

“No, it was standing room only. But they did have a lot of police there so that’s
a plus.”

She laughed and Gage just bet it was Sato on the other line.

“PURITY continues to be an issue. Today she said we were bringing the end. I reminded
her we’d been around as long as humans have been and haven’t brought it yet. I’m sure
that’s just another plot on our part.”

She laughed again and blushed.

Gage pushed past her. To protect her of course. But also so she could see his butt.
He knew she looked. Goddess knew he looked at hers.

“Yes, we’ll be there. Thank you. Yes. Bye.”

He unlocked the door and did his usual walk-through but when he turned, he found her
staring at him, an amused smile on her face.

“What?”

She put her things down exactly where they went and he had the childish urge to muss
her papers and move her phone. But he didn’t give in.

“What’s bothering you?”

“What do you mean?”

She laughed as she put her shoes in the hall closet and hung her bag. “I mean you’re
prowling around, frowning. Not that your frown is hard to look at. Your brow gets
all furrowy and I imagine you’re growling in your head.”

She made him wary. Women could be wily about stuff. This one was very smart. “You
seem like the type who’d never say these things.”

“I know. It’s my secret weapon.” She sat on the couch and looked up to him again.
“So?”

She really was something else. “I think that’s a very accurate statement. You were
mighty and fantastic today.” He moved to sit next to her, putting his arm around her
shoulders and pulling her close. She snuggled in.

“Yeah? I
felt
mighty and fantastic. I have to tell you, I used my othersight and it seemed to click
with my magick in this whole new way. I could gauge the whole room. Not control it
necessarily, but when I could read it so well I could tailor my responses far better.
Also, the urge to punch Alison’s face grows and grows. Bringing about the end? Fuck
her. And fuck her hate. I am sick to death of it. She’s a vandal, that’s what she
is. She wants to tear this country apart to make some stupid point. She doesn’t care
who she hurts either. Disgusting.”

He was proud. But he didn’t know how to say it without coming off condescending so
he pondered just how to say it as he settled for kissing the top of her head. “You
did punch her in the face. Metaphorically I mean. She got up there and was all smug
and hateful and you never sunk to her level. You did us all proud.”

“I did threaten people though. I wondered if it was too far, but at the same time
they need to understand we’re not going to line up to let anyone hurt us. God, I think
about that family. About that little girl recovering to go back to a life without
her mother, father and brother. She’ll need more skin grafting for the burn injuries.
And what for?”

Her bottom lip wobbled just a little and it tore at him. He kissed her, holding her
tight.

“For nothing. But it’s not your fault. You’re working to make their deaths mean something.
That counts.”

“You’re being very nice to me. It scares me.”

He snorted. “I’m always nice to you.”

“When we’re naked.”

He was going to joke but then she said
naked
and his words sort of fell from his head as his blood all rushed south.

“I’m trying to comfort you and you go mentioning sex. You’re a pervert.”

The wobble was gone and she climbed into his lap instead. “Is your virtue threatened?”

With this woman in his lap? Oh yes. He gave her a wolfish grin and she tipped her
head back, laughing.

He took that invitation, leaning close to kiss up the creamy column of her neck as
she hummed her pleasure.

Her blouse was soft as he flicked each button, opening the front to expose another
layer, this one a lacy tank-top thing. Beneath that she wore a bra.

“You’re like Christmas morning.” He slid the blouse from her arms and then pulled
the other thing up and over her head.

“You want to crawl down my chimney?”

“Honestly, no one would ever believe me if I told them how you were behind closed
doors.” And he’d have been lying if he’d denied how much that appealed to him. This
Molly was all his.

One more little movement and her bra was gone and those breasts were in his hands.

“Mmmm. I like where this is going.”

“So many layers to you. Not just your clothes, which is what I meant by Christmas
morning. As in I get to unwrap you.”

She freed her hair and then sat upright. “Can I confess something?”

“Hell yes.” He leaned in and licked over her collarbone and her fingers dug into his
arms.

“I have a thing. A thing I wasn’t aware of really until I met you.”

He licked over a nipple and she writhed with a little squeal. The heat of her against
his cock as she moved began to blot out everything else. Need for her swept through
him. He bit down and she arched into his mouth.

“You like that.”

“Why do you sound so surprised?” She made another sound then and her magick rose,
teasing his senses.

“Not surprised.” He did it again on the other nipple. “Delighted. So tell me about
this thing of yours.”

“I quite like it when I’m nearly naked and you still have clothes on. I’m sure that
makes me a filthy wanton.” She laughed again and he joined her this time, his hands
pushing her skirt up to her waist so he could get at her panties to pull them off.

“I’m always happy to oblige the filthy wanton living just beneath your skin.”

She had to lift up for that part and he missed her heat even for those few seconds.
Smart girl that she was though, she got his pants unzipped and freed his cock. “My.
What have we here?”

He shifted forward to get at his wallet where he’d stashed a condom exactly for moments
like this one. He never wanted to have to wait once they were alone and this far along.

“I had plans for that first.” She fisted him, pumping up and down a few times, sending
him very close to the edge.

“I like fucking you. I want to fuck you right now. Work with me.”

She rolled her eyes but grabbed the packet and rolled it on him quickly.

He slid his hand up her thigh, keeping her gaze. “Just want to be sure you’re ready.”
And she was. So gloriously hot and wet he sighed happily, tickling a finger against
her clit until she made another one of her sex sounds.

“Love your everyday voice, but the sex voice has it beat hands down.” He traced around
her, through her folds, teasing her gate until she took him by the root, got to her
knees, positioned herself and sank down on him.

“Want something done right, do it yourself.” She grinned at him and began to move.

He captured that mouth of hers for a long deep kiss as she slowly rode. “Should have
known you’d be a control freak in bed too. Not that I’m complaining or anything.”

That made her laugh and hug him. “We rarely make it to a bed. And you did say you
wanted to fuck me.”

“This is true. On both counts. Mmmm, you feel good.”

She did. So hot and snug. Her hair a tousle around her face and shoulders. That crisp
skirt tucked up around her waist the only clothing she wore. Damn.

He slid a hand between them, finding her clit again and slowly built her climax as
she rose and fell. The winter sun setting, casting shadows against the glory of her
skin and hair. His free hand wandered over a breast, palmed the arch of her neck,
and found the cool silk of her hair, tipping her head just so.

She moaned as he tugged slightly, making him chuckle. “You like a little hair pulling.”

“Mmm. From you? Yes.”

“Keeping that in mind. Now, let’s set this off.” He increased his speed and pressure
and her inner muscles rippled around him, squeezing until he nearly cried at how good
it was. And then she exploded on a whispered cry, dragging him along with her as he
slid his arms around her, holding her tight.

* * *

“I
do love this house. You two work well together. I can see you both in the design and
layout.” When she and Gage had arrived at Meriel and Dominic’s house, they’d given
Molly the grand tour.

It felt like a nice evening with friends and she decided—clearly still drunk with
sex chemicals from her time with Gage—to try to forget the world outside and just
enjoy herself.

Dominic looked toward Meriel, his face changing when she turned back and smiled. They
shared a moment and through each of them, he saw another side to this couple.

He shifted, handing Molly a glass of wine. “Thank you. She had an apartment. I had
an apartment. But this is our place. It feels like our refuge at the end of all these
crazy days.”

Molly sipped. “This is really good.”

“Thanks. It’s from a winery one of our witches runs in Eastern Washington. Tough day
today, I hear. I was there, in the audience I mean. If I could have thrown flowers
on the dais after your closing comments I would have.”

It was Molly’s turn to say thank you. “I had no idea you were there. Appreciate the
support.” She thought he’d also be a good face for the clan in certain media events
and he’d reluctantly agreed. But he’d done a great job. People feared him for good
reason. But they respected him too and that balance was a perfect compliment to Meriel’s
more cool and efficient outward persona.

Dominic Bright was intense. A powerful witch, but a powerful man as well. His personal
energy simply took over whatever space he was in. He wasn’t just handsome, he was
riveting. And like his wife, he’d been very kind to her since she’d arrived.

“I like to be incognito sometimes. Sit with people who may not know me so I can see
what people do and say.” He shrugged.

“He’s very sneaky.” There was admiration in Meriel’s voice. This couple was leading
the clan during some really difficult times and doing it well. That took a lot of
energy, brainpower and strength of will and conviction.

The doorbell rang and Meriel waved them to sit. Gage took the lead, giving her a lecture
about letting him handle the door answering. The two bickered good-naturedly down
the stairs to the front entry.

“Hard for you. Coming here and leaving your life behind. I know people have said so
before, but . . . well, I understand very well just what it is to have grown up outside
all this. To be an outsider in the world of clan witches.”

She shrugged. “People have been quite welcoming. Gage has shown me a lot of stuff.
How to use my magick more effectively. In fact he showed me how to use my othersight
and it’s been pretty awesome. I wish . . . in many ways I wish I’d grown up within
a clan. Sometimes it feels like I’m a stranger to my own history.” It was overwhelming
sometimes, just how much she didn’t know about witches and her own potential.

“That sounds ungrateful and it’s not that I grew up sad or had a bad life before.
I had a good life before I came here. I had . . . have family and friends. It’s not
like I didn’t know I was a witch. I know how to use my magick.” But this Molly was
so much more. The woman—the witch—she was now was a universe away from who she’d been
six weeks ago. It was hard to put into words how many feelings and fears all of that
evoked.

“I get that. And I agree. I didn’t even know I was a council witch before I met Meriel
and then suddenly I’m her bond-mate and that means I’m this powerful witch and so
I guess I’d been using such a small portion of my power and all that wasted potential
kept me up sometimes. Made me wonder what I’d been missing. Sometimes I resented my
dad who’d kept me away from all this stuff. To protect me of course, but still.” He
lowered his voice as the sounds of Lark and Simon’s voices got closer. “I just wanted
you to know you can always talk to me. We have a lot in common and I know this world
can be overwhelming sometimes. Meriel and I want you to feel welcome here. We’re your
family in a way. It’s got to be lonely sometimes. I know you work a lot so that cuts
into the time you need to establish a life here in other ways. I’m probably messing
this up, but I just wanted you to know you weren’t alone.”

“Feeling that way less and less each day. I appreciate it. The reaching out I mean.”

He nodded. “Meriel tells me your family is moving out here. You must be excited to
have them close again.”

“Yes. My mom, grandparents and my other mom . . . foster mom, whatever you want to
call it—they’re coming out to look for places to live and work. Chicago has been difficult
for them. Since the Magister I mean. I’ll be glad to have them here.”

“Rosa, that’s your other mom right?”

She nodded.

“She’s welcome in Clan Owen. As is her son. Your mom and grandparents as well. We’ll
have to be sure to introduce them to the human members of the clan too.”

Molly sometimes forgot the size of the clan and that there were mixed families so
there were human members too.

“My nana will love that. She’s the most social person I’ve ever met. You can’t go
anywhere with her and not have her end up in a conversation with the bagger, a random
person in the parking lot, the server, whoever. She’s impossible not to respond to.”