Allegiance of Honor (Psy-Changeling #15) - Nalini Singh Page 0,104

with local authorities while making it clear this is the last straw.”

“I like it.” Mercy nodded. “It’ll also calm anyone who might be worrying about our growing power in San Francisco.”

The reality, as demonstrated by the citizens who’d called DarkRiver rather than Enforcement when they saw the truck smash into Dorian’s vehicle, was that DarkRiver could rule San Francisco if it so wished. Lucas wasn’t interested in setting up a fiefdom, but he did want this city to be known as a leopard city, a place only the stupid would attempt to hurt.

Vaughn’s suggestion would achieve both those aims.

“Done,” he said. “I’ll mete out the punishment.”

Any one of his sentinels would’ve done it in a heartbeat, but these men and women had threatened Lucas’s cub. “Mercy, you set up the press conference. We’re going to make a statement tomorrow morning.”

No one would see an out-of-control leopard there. No, what they’d see would be a deadly predator in a suit. Smart and ruthless and no one you wanted to piss off—rather, a man you wanted to keep as a friend. Because he looked after his own.

Mercy made a note, her expression approving and her hand on the curve of her belly. There was no one on the planet as dangerous as a dominant predatory changeling woman whose cubs had been threatened.

Calmer now, he was about to move on to another matter when Nathan brought up Trinity. “Luc, what’s the response been to Ming LeBon’s proposal?”

Lucas smiled and, leaning back in his armchair, put his feet up onto the same ottoman as Mercy. “You should ask our communications expert. She helped me draft the official Trinity reply.”

Mercy bent her head and moved her hand in a flowery gesture, as if taking a dramatic bow. “While we laud former Councilor Ming LeBon’s initiative,” she recited in a deep voice, “Trinity is unique in its tri-racial structure and world-spanning network. Of course, those European signatories of Trinity who prefer to do business only with other local Psy groups are welcome to join what may well be a very useful entity in its own way.”

Dorian whooped and began to clap. “Tell me if I got the translation right: Hey, if you want to turn your back on changeling and human contacts, as well as on all contacts outside Europe, feel free to join this amusing little group formerly important Ming LeBon is trying to cobble together. The rest of us aren’t interested in those who aren’t fully supportive of Trinity.”

“Perfect.” Mercy winked.

Nathan was the only one who didn’t smile. “It’s a lot of power to have, Lucas,” his most senior sentinel said in a quiet tone that held a potent clarity. “Yes, Ming’s a monster, but it’s a slippery slope if the core members of Trinity start picking and choosing who gets to sign the accord and who doesn’t. That’ll lead eventually to a world divided in two.”

Lucas wished the sentinel wasn’t right, but even as he celebrated Ming’s slow downfall, he’d been struggling with the long-term ethics of the situation himself. “I don’t think we’ll ever get agreement on Ming.” The telepath had murdered too many, hurt too many, made too many enemies. Having him in Trinity would poison it.

Nathan nodded, his black hair threaded with a few rare threads of silver. “I know and I know Trinity is in the process of being built. But think about the foundation you lay.”

This was why Lucas was so damn glad Nathan had chosen to give Lucas his loyalty when Lucas became alpha. He’d lived longer, seen more, had a bone-deep maturity. He made Lucas think about his actions. “I’ve been considering proposing an adjunct status for cases like Ming’s.” Not for the ex-Councilor’s benefit, but for the reason Nathan had pointed out.

“It’d give the individual or group access to business contacts,” Lucas continued, “but they wouldn’t be considered a full signatory, would have no voting rights. Their adjunct status would be based on the fact that multiple other signatories have grave concerns about the sincerity of their application.” He breathed out, forced himself to continue, though his panther was growling and clawing at him.

This time, the human side had to take precedence. “If, after five years, they’ve upheld the values of Trinity and not caused any other signatory criminal harm, they would become a full member.”

Mercy was the one who broke the silence. “Will the others accept something like that?”

“I don’t know.” It’d be a hard battle, but Lucas would fight it. He had to