"Wel done, vampire Kdon"
"It was a legitimate question," I said. "We stil have a crisis - and since we can't travel at night, an entire day wil go by before we're talking to the siren about it."
"First step is move the nymphs inland," Jeff said over the shoulder of his embracing nymph. "Farther from the water and whatever is going on out there. Maybe that wil help them retain some strength in the meantime."
Cue the crying.
"I know, honey," he said, patting her back with brotherly affection. "But we need to let the lake heal, don't we?"
She bobbed her head while sniffing, but maintained her vice-like grip on Jeff.
"I'l coordinate the move," Catcher said. "Maybe the fairies wil host some of them overnight."
"The Breckenridges have a huge house in Napervil e, but putting shifters and nymphs together probably isn't a good idea." As if on cue, I watched the nymph's hand sneak down Jeff's butt and get in a good squeeze. He yelped and politely pushed her away, but she smiled unapologetical y. I wasn't sure if she didn't know Jeff had a girlfriend - or just didn't care.
"That would be a 'no' on the Brecks," Catcher grumbled.
"What do we do about the humans?" Jonah said, watching as more lines of people moved toward the lake to get a look. "They are going to freak out."
I couldn't blame them. As paranormal events went, this one was very disconcerting, and it hit something close to our hearts. Chicago curled around the lake, and the river ran through the heart of the city. They were bound together, and humans would inevitably see this as a paranormal violation of that connection. I didn't look forward to the outcry.
"I'l work up some talking points for Mayor Kowalczyk,"
my grandfather said, "although God knows how we'l explain it."
"Focus on the part about how this isn't the apocalypse," I suggested, but a frisson of fear stil tightened my chest.
"And try to make sure they don't automatical y blame it on vampires. We have enough to deal with right now."
He patted my back. "We'l work the problem, do a little research. You kids get home. I know you're short-staffed at the House. I'l give you a cal when we've got the transportation lined up."
I nodded, although I hated bailing on a project. Sitting around and anticipating things to come wasn't exactly a favorite pastime. To keep busy, I made a mental note to check out the House's world-class library; if there was information to be found about our reclusive siren, the library would have it.
I made my good-byes to Jeff (stil entangled in nymph), but pul ed Catcher aside for an update. "How goes the studying?"
Catcher rol ed his eyes. "I'm told her stress level has only been historical y exceeded by the 'Meisner-Moxner Presentation,' whatever that was."
I grimaced. Meisner-Moxner was a household products company for which Mal ory, a former ad exec, spent two straight weeks preparing a kick-ass branding campaign, only to be told three days before the presentation that her boss "just wasn't feeling it."
The next seventy-two hours involved a caffeine-induced and sleep-deprived haze of massive proportions. Mal chained herself to her desk, surviving on d Kurvext seventiet soda, energy drinks, and a creative euphoria she later described as "epic." When al was said and done, the agency bagged the deal and she slept for two straight days.
The Meisner-Moxner campaign went down in advertising history as one of the most successful household product rol outs of the century. Unfortunately, Junior Moxner spent the company's newfound money on cal girls and cocaine, and Meisner-Moxner Home Brands, Inc., went bankrupt soon after that. Mal ory slept for another two straight days after learning about that.
So if her exam prep was even close to Meisner-Moxner, I felt for Mal ory . . . and Catcher.
"God bless you, man. But at least Simon has to take the brunt of the stress. Since he's seeing her during the testing part, I mean."
Catcher's expression went flat. "I'm sure he's seeing plenty of her."
The squint in his eyes had al the hal marks of a jealous boyfriend. But how was that possible? This was Catcher.
Six-pack-abs-and-ridiculous-body-and-bril iant-wielder-of-magic Catcher. He who took gruff from no one. Maybe I misread him. Maybe he just didn't like Simon. I'd had a sense of that before, but curiosity kil ed the cat, not the vampire, so I pushed ahead.
"Bad blood between you and Simon?" I wondered.
"I don't trust him."
When he didn't elaborate, I almost asked if he meant he didn't trust Simon with Mal ory, but thought better of it.
Catcher was a man's man, and suggesting he was jealous would not go over wel .
Instead, I gave him a supportive pat on the back. "When this is al over, I'l buy drinks for you and your newly minted official sorceress."
Catcher grumbled something I didn't catch, but I assumed it was related to his hatred for the Order. He'd been excommunicated, and it couldn't have been easy for him to watch Mal ory struggle so hard to gain membership.
What Chicago giveth, Chicago taketh away.
We made our good-byes to Catcher, and Jonah and I headed back toward our cars.
"I know you're bummed you won't be able to visit the siren tomorrow," I offered.
"Clinical y depressed," he agreed. "Do you think her skirt wil be shorter than the nymphs', or maybe a bit longer?"
I rol ed my eyes, but couldn't keep from smiling. He was funny. But I wasn't going to contribute to what I'm sure was already a healthy ego.
"Since we're effectively done for the night, you wanna grab a bite?"
He probably meant the question in a purely platonic way, but it stil triggered fluttery panic in my chest. On the other hand, dinner would give me opportunity to quiz Jonah about his relationship with my grandfather. Having learned my father had tried to bribe Ethan to make me a vampire, I was understandably suspicious about vampires' relationships with members of my family.
"Wil you tel me how you know my grandfather?"
"Possibly. How do you feel about spicy?"
"Nuclear-explosion spicy or supermarket-salsa spicy?"
"Whichever you prefer. The world is your oyster."
"I should probably say no. You total y sold me out."
"How so?"
"You told them I got hit with a stiletto." Getting sliced up by a Jimmy Choo knockoff hadn't exactly been my finest moment as Cadogan Sentinel. I saw no need to spread the news around.
He faked shock. "Merit, would you have me lie to your grandfather?"
"That depends on how long you've known him."