But as we were all given the one-page menu with this morning’s fare, I realized the bartender had her hands on her hips. She was staring at the waitstaff, and frowning, I began to pay attention as well. Suddenly I realized the restaurant’s staff was being replaced by black-clad, trim thirtysomethings wearing running shoes. They weren’t Landon’s men. Or the I.S. Or the FIB.
Then I looked up at the shaved-headed server blathering on about farm to table and what was in season that went into the omelet, and I froze. This guy was from the Order.
Great. Weast’s threat swam up from the back of my thoughts, and I forced my jaw to unclench. He couldn’t arrest me for talking to the man, right? But the Order didn’t arrest anyone. They simply shoved you in the back of a white panel van and you were never seen again.
“Coffee?” Trent suggested, his pleasant voice jerking my attention back. “If Landon isn’t staying, perhaps we should start with something to drink. I’ll have a coffee.”
“Water,” Landon said. “Still if you have it. Zack, what would you like?”
“Nothing from you,” he muttered.
“Espresso?” I smirked at Landon’s security. They’d all slacked off, blind to the real threat.
“Right away,” the waiter who wasn’t a waiter said, head high as he made eye contact with the guy manning the elevator. People were being encouraged to move to the other side of the restaurant, and the manager was almost dragged into the kitchen, protesting. Trent sighed as he met my eyes, knowing it, too. We didn’t have time for pleasantries.
“Landon,” I said, and the man’s lip curled. “You’re being used. I don’t know why I care, but it bothers me that a hidden human security force thinks it’s okay to use us as bait to cage something worse.”
“You are amazing.” Landon leaned back in his chair, arms crossed confidently over his middle. “You really think that is what’s going on?”
“The Order doesn’t care one troll snot that you’re sending the baku to make me kill Trent,” I said, deciding not to bring up that we were both surrounded. “All they want is the baku. They want it, and they’re not averse to some major dewar collateral damage to get it.”
Smile fading, Landon sat up, his arms unfolding. “Prove it.”
“What?” Trent said dryly. “That the Order wants the baku? Or that you’re sending it to push Rachel into killing me?”
Zack snorted, then tried to hide it behind a sip of water.
Landon spared an ugly glare at him before turning to me. “I’m here to collect my student. Now,” he added loudly, and I put a hand on Zack’s arm to keep him from bolting.
“Tell him what you want,” I said to Zack. “We’ve got your back.” Please don’t screw us, Zack, I thought, my breath slipping from me in relief when Zack’s chin lifted.
“I’m not leaving with you.”
“Za-a-ack,” Landon threatened, his attention jerking to me when I casually unscrewed the saltshaker and spilled half of its contents on the white tablecloth.
“It’s eating your soul, Landon,” I said softly as I used my nail to push the salt into a pentagon. “Give me a drop of blood, and I’ll show you how deep the damage goes.”
“You think I’m going to give you a focusing object?” Landon stood, clearly angry. Or maybe it was fear. He knew elf magic was wonky and mine wasn’t. “Zack, get up.”
“No,” Zack said defiantly, and Landon went almost choleric, red-faced with anger as he reached over the table and tried to manhandle Zack up.
“Landon, let him go,” Trent said tightly as he reached out as well.
“Trent, stop!” I exclaimed, feeling Zack tap a line.
There was a burst of light, and Landon yelped, hand jerking as he fell back. My eyes shot to the Order, but they didn’t care, ringing us on the outside. Even the bartender was gone.
“You little whelp,” Landon said, waving his own people back. “How dare you!”
Spinning his ring on his finger, Landon began mumbling. I stiffened, then strengthened my hold on the ley line running through the nearby university. Like light itself, it spilled through me, carrying the whispers of everyone else who was using it. It was community, and I soaked it in, relishing it.
“He’s got this,” Trent whispered, pride in his voice as he looked at Zack, the kid now standing with new confidence, pulling his shoulders down and his head up.
“Fire in the hole!” Jenks shrilled from somewhere, and I yanked ley