might imagine. We thought she was safe when we placed her in Sea Winds. That turned out badly, as you well know. The Director has resigned, leaving the clinic under an interim Director."
"What will happen to Reah now?" Hild Marolla asked.
"I don't know," Norian sighed, looking away for a moment. "She has suffered trauma in this last assignment, and there are those who are attempting to help her overcome it. I do not know what the final outcome will be."
"Is she dangerous? To anyone?"
"If you are a danger to others, or to the Alliance, perhaps. You see that Ceerah Kade is still alive, although Reah could have come after her at any time. Reah, as ASD, could use any resource to locate anyone. Ceerah should be relieved that Reah has such high principles and a respect for life."
"So, all those things she said were true," Hild Marolla said.
"Yes. Every one of them," Norian agreed.
"She really isn't insane."
"No. Troubled over the trauma and illness from her last assignment, but certainly not insane. If she were here before you now, you would see that she isn't dangerous or, as the other network put it, crazy."
The image shifted back to the present, with Hild Marolla sitting behind his desk. "Shall we believe one with multiple identities who has sold drugs time and again, or one whose story is backed by the founding member of the Reth Alliance, firsthand eyewitnesses and the Director of the ASD? Shall we ask that a devoted husband step down from his position with the Campiaan Alliance, when his wife has helped to form that Alliance and keep it safe? Or shall we listen to a handful of bureaucrats who only seek to protect or further their political careers? I know what my decision is. What will yours be? Good night and sleep well," Hild Marolla said.
"I won't ever be able to walk anywhere again, without being recognized," I sighed. Everyone had likely seen my image. If not tonight, they'd see it tomorrow or the day after. And what would happen to Teeg? I shook my head and rose from my seat.
"Reah, do you need something?" Kevis was suddenly there, reaching out a hand.
"I feel dizzy," I said.
"Baby, don't pass out on me," Teeg was right there with Kevis. I wobbled; Teeg lifted me in his arms. "Let's go to the kitchen and get something to drink," he said softly. I fainted on the way.
Chapter 10
Vampires lean over their mates when they sleep. That act provides protection for those they love. It is instinctual to cover their mate as much as possible, because vampires are vulnerable during the day. Gavril had explained it to me once, long ago. Aurelius did it. Teeg also. I knew that one of my vampires was in the bed with me when I woke. His body was huddled over mine, careful not to place any weight on it.
"Awake?" Teeg's voice.
"Mmm," I mumbled. Queasiness made its presence known. Teeg had me out of the bed and in the adjoining bathroom in a blink. He must have sent mindspeech; at least half a dozen people appeared, including Kevis, Lok, Aurelius and Edward.
"Breathe slowly, Reah," Kevis had my head as low as it would go. My face was washed when I stopped heaving and I was hauled straight to the kitchen and given something to drink.
"Better?" Aurelius held me on his lap, brushing hair away from my face as I drank the juice I'd been given. A bowl of hot cereal was placed in front of me next, with fruit and brown sugar mixed in.
"Here we go," Auri held my hand steady when it shook trying to get the spoon to my mouth.
"I'll get my people started on ice cream and be right back," Edward said. There wasn't any way I could do it, feeling as badly as I did. Teeg got a communication on his comp-vid, so he stepped out of the kitchen to take the call. Lendill showed up and accepted a cup of coffee while he watched me eat. All of them were watching me eat.
Plates of food appeared for them shortly after, and Edward came back, sitting down and eating with the rest. Edward's four supervisors also came in for a meeting. Keedan grinned at me while he had breakfast. Edward and his supervisors talked about spraying the groves after the harvest.
"Insects are afraid of High Demons in Thifilatha or Thifilathi, that's how I kept Kifirin's groves naturally insect-free," I said after eating