police aren’t equipped for it. The mayor agrees that we need a militia we can call on when skeletal walkers or vrykos or zombies are on the move.”
A light flickered in her eyes. “I think I know where you’re going with this.”
“We’ve already spoken to TirNaNog and Navane and have forged a truce between them for the present. We’ve also received their permission to call up the Fae militia. We’d like the Shifter Alliance to create a militia and give us access for the same reasons.” Herne motioned to Viktor and pointed toward his coffee cup. “Jana, would you like a cup of coffee and something to eat? I think we have cookies?”
“Doughnuts today,” Talia said.
Jana smiled at Viktor. “Thank you, yes. With cream.” She turned back to the rest of us as the half-ogre crossed to the counter where he poured her coffee and carried both it and the doughnut platter over to the table.
“So, do you think the Shifter Alliance might agree?” Herne asked, pressing gently.
Jana accepted the coffee and took a sip, then set her cup down. “I think we might, though I can’t speak with certainty until I talk to the others. I may be the president of the Shifter Alliance, but I’ll have to take a vote of the council. But I can say that I, for one, will be pressing for a yes on this. Typhon poses an incredible threat to everyone.”
Visibly relieved, Herne let out a sigh and leaned back in his chair. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear that. Typhon’s the biggest threat to this world right now that I can think of, and we need everyone on board in this.”
She arched one eyebrow, turning to Yutani. “Pardon me, I don’t mean to be rude, but do I sense coyote medicine around you?”
He shrugged, giving her a long look. “My father’s the Great Coyote, and my mother’s a coyote shifter. So, yes.” He held her gaze and I detected a subtle challenge.
Jana stared back at him, until he suddenly flinched, which was totally uncharacteristic for Yutani. I grinned. He had met his match. Jana was no beta bitch—she was an alpha for sure.
But a smile played over her face as she dragged her gaze away and turned back to Herne. “I’ll meet with the council today—I can convene a special meeting under our emergency treaty rules. I’ll get back to you with our decision either tonight or tomorrow.”
Herne let out a long breath. I wondered if he had expected to have a fight on his hands. “Thank you,” he said. “For once, something might go smoothly.”
“Just promise my people that we’ll only have to deal with the Fae if we’re all called out to a fight.” She glanced at me and blushed. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean…well, I guess I did but I didn’t…” Her voice drifted off and she shook her head. “I’m not going to even try to talk myself out of this one. I apologize. I seem to have lodged my foot in my mouth and I really don’t know what to say.”
I decided that being gracious was more important than being offended. Besides, my own opinion of my people was pretty much at the bottom of the barrel when speaking in generalities. “Not a problem,” I said, and the tension faded as we hammered out the details of what we were looking for.
Chapter Twelve
Angel and I were curled up on the sofa with Mr. Rumblebutt, watching a movie and eating pizza when the phone rang. It was Raven, calling my work phone. Uh oh. Something was up.
“Raven, are you okay?” I motioned for Angel to pause the movie as I put Raven on speaker. “Angel’s listening too. What’s up?”
“More than I bargained for. I could use your help.”
I frowned. Raven wasn’t one to ask for help unless she really needed it. “What’s going on?”
“I’m in a bar. I was called out on a case and it’s not at all what I thought it would be,” she shouted in my ear as the sound of crashing echoed behind her. “Cripes!”
“What the hell? Are you hurt?”
“No. A chair just flew past me, but I ducked. I honestly don’t know what I’m dealing with. They thought it was a ghost but I don’t think so. Or maybe it is, but it’s crazy physical and I’m having trouble protecting myself long enough to even set out my gear. I wasn’t sure who else to call.