CHAPTER 18
THE INVERNI GUARDIANS
wasted no time escorting Laura to a second suite down the hall.
Inside, the furniture had been replaced with conference tables and
chairs; more flat-screen TVs had been installed and several
telephones. Humans in business suits mingled among the Inverni,
security staffers from the Secret Service and Homeland Security.
Laura sensed a distinct pause in the room when she entered as
people took note of her arrival, some more discreetly than
others.
Aran and Brinen macCullen showed little reaction to
her presence, proceeding as if she had been expected. On the one
hand, she found royalty often acted as if what they wanted to
happen would happen. On the other hand, their attitude irritated
her a little. Terryn could have at least asked about her schedule
before throwing her into a meeting with them. He was as guilty of
assuming she would do as she was told as his brothers. Yet there
she was.
She saw that all the macCullen brothers resembled
one another enough to be mistaken for each other—the height, the
dark hair and green eyes, the regal manner—although Aran bore the
more stocky body shape familiar among the Inverni. With Terryn, the
royal bearing came off like aloofness. With Brinen and Aran, the
attitude exuded much more assumed privilege. She had seen it
before—the farther down the line of succession in a monarchial
line, the more the person tended to emphasize the blood connection
to the ruler.
Their resemblance wasn’t confusing for her, though.
Their body signatures differed. While family members tended to
resonate in a similar manner, the signatures themselves were like
fingerprints, distinct and obvious to anyone who had the level of
sensing ability to notice.
For all her private grousing, the brothers were
courteous and professional. Without argument, they listened to the
input of the other security agents who approached, while she
facilitated the discussion. Much of the planning was already in
place, so it didn’t take more than a few hours to review. With
Draigen staying at the Guildhouse instead of a nearby hotel, the
security plans were long-established procedures for the Guildhouse,
leaving the primary focus on travel throughout the city. The
macCullens were polite, receptive, and did not argue with her
recommendations.
“I think that covers everything,” Laura said.
Brinen macCullen frowned as he worked on his
laptop. Of the two brothers, he had asked more questions and acted
as devil’s advocate for the plans. “I’m still not sure I see the
need for a personal escort to the car. We’ll be operating in a fan
pattern with aerial protection.”
Laura glanced down at the positioning charts. The
escort—her—was unusual, but not unprecedented. “Given the active
threat status against the Lady Regent, it seems prudent to have
someone beside her.”
Aran didn’t visibly react to the statement as he
shuffled through some folders. “Draigen might think it makes her
look weak.”
“She might, but I disagree. Caution isn’t
weakness,” said Brinen.
Unconvinced, Aran rocked his head from side to
side. “I understand that. Still, she will object.”
Laura had noticed that the brothers had a habit of
contradicting each other, particularly when it came to their
sister. She pursed her lips as she considered how to speak
diplomatically. “Gentlemen, I understand that, as Lord Guardians,
you are under the direct command of the Lady Regent, but using the
protocols for InterSec staff assistance means that InterSec
determines the safety of a public figure over any objection of the
person being protected.”
Brinen and Aran exchanged cryptic expressions.
“Have you ever disagreed with our sister, Agent Tate?” Brinen
asked.
Laura gave them a small smile to show she knew what
they were going to say. “I have not had the pleasure.”
Aran pushed his laptop away. “I will ask Draigen
for her approval before we can agree to this.”
“I am not authorized to agree to that,” she
said.
He shrugged dismissively. “I can speak with Terryn,
if necessary.”
Terryn wasn’t likely to overrule her assessment;
but then, she wondered if he might, given that his family was
involved. “I was going to suggest that myself.”
Aran glanced around casually before leaning forward
and lowering his voice. “Speaking of Terryn, as his counselor, I
was wondering if you would provide some insight regarding the
leanansidhe?”
The last thing Laura expected was to talk about
Cress. Considering Cress’s fears and concerns, Aran’s careful
nonchalance with the question made her wary. “Insight?” she
asked.
Brinen looked sharply at Aran, annoyance on his
face. A long pause hinted that the two of them were conversing
through sendings, neither of them happy about the conversation.
Aran glared at his brother but directed his comments to Laura.
“Yes, insight. How would you characterize its influence on our
brother?”
As Cress had suspected, her existence was a problem
for the macCullens. That Aran didn’t use her name, which he had to
know, didn’t bode well for the idea she would be accepted by them.
Laura kept her tone neutral. “Terryn’s personal relationships are
not something I feel comfortable discussing without his
leave.”
Aran smiled. “He names you his counselor, does he
not? We are members of his court and also his counselors. It is
customary for us to speak openly among ourselves.”
Laura almost laughed at the level of false tones in
his voice. Whatever information the two shared between them, it was
clear it wasn’t everything, no matter how openly Aran wanted to
imply. “I am an advisor in his role as an InterSec director, Lord
Guardian, not his counselor as underKing to the Inverni.”
Aran made a dismissive gesture with his hand. “A
distinction without a difference. Surely their relationship would
be a concern for InterSec as well.”
“Not that I am aware.”
“Its influence must give you pause,” he said.
“Her name is Cress,” Laura said, putting a subtle
but clear emphasis on the pronoun. “And, no, her influence, as you
call it, does not concern me.”
Aran arched an eyebrow and glanced at his brother
again. “Perhaps I should mention that I am well versed on this
subject, Agent Tate. I’ve met many people over the years who can
attest to the rather insidious nature of these creatures. Do not
underestimate her. She exerts influence in ways you may not be
aware of.”
“I do not see the value in this conversation,” said
Brinen.
Aran pinched his lips. “The clan is at risk,
brother. The leanansidhe complicates
matters of court. I am concerned for our unity.”
Brinen smiled tightly. “Which our sister provides
unless Terryn decides otherwise. I do not see the need to raise
issues that do not need to be raised.”
Aran barely hid his disdain. “Need not be raised?
Have you any idea of the type of people interested in these
monsters? Not all of them have our best interest at heart as you
do, dear brother. I do not wish to see the macCullen clan targeted
because of it.”
“It will only produce tension at a critical time,
brother,” said Brinen.
“And yet, you are often the first to criticize the
underKing about the matter,” Aran said.
Brinen drew himself up stiffly. “I have never
criticized the underKing. I have merely expressed reservations
about his involvement with the leanansidhe.”
Laura shifted in discomfort at the turn in
conversation. Druids had a long history as advisors to rulers, but
fairy politics was an area she preferred to avoid. Too many old
grievances to track and too much double-dealing. The immortality of
faeries made for long-term strategies, and alliances shifted
without notice and sometimes without obvious reason. “Perhaps these
are issues best left to Terryn.”
As if Laura were no longer present, Aran sneered at
his brother. “The clan will not accept his leadership as long as he
continues to mate with that thing.”
Laura stood abruptly, attracting the attention of
others in the room. “ ‘ That thing’ is a friend of mine, sir.
Whatever prejudices we have all had against the leanansidhe do not apply to Cress. I will thank you
to remember that.”
Brinen and Aran were taken aback by her tone. She
clenched her jaw as she gathered her files. Lord Guardians
apparently were not accustomed to being snapped at. Laura didn’t
care. “I will review the remaining issues with Terryn, gentlemen.
Thank you for your time and attention.”
Before they could speak again, she walked out.
Despite her tone, she showed no further visible indication of her
anger. Cress had been with InterSec for decades. If an
international agency that dealt with high-level security issues saw
fit to keep her on staff, the Inverni had no cause to question her
competence. And yet they did, so focused on their own agendas and
problems, they couldn’t see beyond their limited experience. If
they were going to make Cress a problem, Laura was going to make
sure it was their problem, not Cress’s.