murmured Ashe, Heather held Dan's hand, kissed him quickly, and began speaking a mile a minute in broken Scottish brogue.
"I'm 'alf Scot, Druid, my mother is of Stonehenge. Me Da' is from Gambia, West Africa, and is one of the last keepers of the Wasu Stone Circles. I work with stone energy, and Gabrielle was to give me citizenship here in exchange." Heather dropped Dan's hand as her eyes filled and her gaze went to Jasmine. "She's able to draw pictures to life... learned in the Philippines, and escaped horrors to be safe with Ms. Gabrielle."
Heather looked up at Marlene and then Marjorie. "We have to bond with your daughter--she's got the wiccan gift, too." Her wide-eyed gaze went to Bobby. "He's almost full wizard and needs the Stonehenge magic. But there's so much trouble . . ."
Marjorie was down the steps before anyone could stop her. "My sister, what's happened? My son's a wizard, my daughter... I can't even say it--talk to me!"
"Lilith came," Heather said quickly, the tears now spilling down her cheeks. "Gabby told us that one day she would come, and she felt it in her bones. She wanted us all safe, and began sending all her girls away for safety, one by one, and we were the only ones who could be shielded with a prayer." Heather looked away. "We hadn't taken the oath, or a man, and--"
"That's bullshit, if ever I heard it, and you'd better come up with a story stronger than that," Berkfield said, crossing his arms. "This old cop ain't stupid. Both these chicks have been working in a brothel, and ain't none of them kids--what are you, hon, twenty- three, twenty-four, and this one--"
"It's true, Dad," Bobby said, meeting his father's glare. "And do not ask me how I know." He held Jasmine's hand tightly and immediately flung two wicker chairs off the porch from where he stood, yards away. "Convinced now?" He turned back to Jasmine and hugged her, ignoring the stunned team. "She brought that out of me, and she stays."
Krissy covered her mouth. "Oh, my God, Bobby... you can do that now, too?" She laughed and looked at J.L. "I thought I was the only one in the family!"
J.L. looked down at his shoes. "I thought we'd be letting your folks know about it under different circumstances, Kris... timing, in front of the team." He looked at her quickly and then at Berkfield's revolver. "When your dad didn't have a gun . . ."
"Can we get back on point?" Carlos said, giving Berkfield a glare to stand down. "What's the deal with Lilith?" His gaze roved the emotionally spent team and he cut Dan a look to get his hands out of the redhead's hair.
"She's gonna install a new Chairman and start rebuilding Level Six. That's what Gabrielle told me to get to you in exchange for sanctuary. She's worried about Master Yonnie and his wife, Tara. That's all she knows, but Lilith is temporarily running the Vampire Council, and she said anyone who has that in them could be tempted into a throne."
"Tara isn't his wife," Rider said, and then hocked and spat over the porch rail.
"Now you believe 'em?" Dan said, holding Carlos's line of vision. "Isn't that enough to give them sanctuary?"
"Yeah," Carlos said. "Open the lines. I need to go talk to my boy."
So much of what Heather, had said made sense that Carlos slowly descended the steps and placed his hands on Heather's skull to sense for fraud. None was there. He had to shake his head to keep his focus burrowing into her mind as the sexual charge flitting between her and Dan practically arced in his palms.
Carlos drew his hands back. The newbie was a keeper--it was either that or put a bullet in Dan's skull. The woman also wasn't lying about never having a man. But he'd take bets that Dan might try to rectify that tonight. Carlos nodded with a resigned sigh; Gabrielle's topspin, plus Christine's spiritual intervention had definitely led her to them, as the old tracer from her days as Raven was unmistakable. Just looking into Jasmine's eyes and feeling the vibe wafting off Bobby, he didn't even need a security check. Both women had clearance.
"Y'all go into the house and get these newbies weapons. I need a word with Yonnie and Tara." Carlos let his breath out hard. Just what he wanted; the cosmos had a perverse sense of humor. Two scared newbies and Damali