either don’t have the skills I do, or their children are too young. I’m prepared, and I—” Her voice shook for a moment before she steeled herself with a breath. “I’m ready to avenge my husband.”
Reaper didn’t respond, the silence stretching on long and uncomfortably. Finally, he sighed and touched the handle on his gavel. “Are there any objections to Andrea carrying out the mission?”
Noelle and Tessa each held one of Andrea’s hands, their faces twisted up in grimaces as they tried not to cry. The men in the room looked worried, some of them shaking their heads, but no one spoke up to object. Even Governor Vance and General Bray just observed the room silently.
As the seconds ticked by with no objections, Reaper lifted the gavel and brought it down with a firm crack on the table. “You honor us, Andrea,” he said solemnly. “You honor your husband and your whole Steel Demons family.”
The woman nodded sharply and stepped back into the crowd. “Just tell me when to go.”
Reaper nodded, folding his fingers on the tabletop. “That brings us to the next step in our plan—getting you inside. At least one person should go with you, to ensure you get to the border with no issue and report back that you got safely inside. After that, you’re on your own.”
“Understood.” Andrea said.
“Do I have any volunteers on taking Andrea to New Ireland?” Reaper asked the room. “Being unrecognized is not as essential. Ideally, you should be able to hang back while she gets inside, but the risk of death or torture is still high.”
Much to everyone’s surprise, Big G stepped forward. “I’ll take her.”
“G!” Poor Tessa looked like she was going to crumble to the floor. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“And why you?” Reaper peered at him shrewdly.
The large man released a breath, taking a moment to glance back at Tessa and Andrea huddled together.
“I know I’ve been on your shit list lately, president, and rightly so. Everyone here knows I’m not the best husband, and far from the best father. In your eyes, I haven’t been the best Demon either. So let me correct that.” He straightened, puffing his chest out. “Let me take this as a chance to start righting my wrongs. If I don’t come back, I want my kids to remember me as a Demon who helped us win.”
Reaper’s eyes flicked to Andrea. “Do you have any objection to him taking you?”
She regarded Big G with a cool indifference at first, then looked at Tessa with a silent question I couldn’t read. “No objection, president. I’m fine with it.”
“Does anyone else object to Big G escorting Andrea on the mission?” When no response came, Reaper smacked the gavel once again. “Moving right along here,” he sighed, scrubbing a hand down his face. “Now we need at least two scouts to oversee and hang farther back in case anything happens to either Big G or Andrea, and to step in and engage the enemy if necessary. Shadow?” He looked down the length of the table at me.
I knew this would be coming. In all likelihood, the mission would be carried out at night and he’d need me to see in the dark. I was also the most silent rider and least likely to get caught if it came to a fight.
“I accept, president.” My answer came without hesitation, a heated thrill lighting up my senses. I hadn’t been on a true mission since Blakeworth, and was eager to take out more enemies who threatened us.
My ears picked up a small sound, like a gasp behind me. Mari? My hands closed into fists on my lap, the reminder of her making me all the more determined to carry out my duty as a Steel Demon. She had been hurt, nearly killed by the enemy. I’d pick off any man who would follow through on an order to shoot her.
“You’re leading the scouting team, then,” Reaper said. “Who would you like to take with you?”
My gaze lifted to the Sons of Odin across the room, Grudge meeting my eyes.
“I’ll take Grudge with me,” I answered. The silent Son grinned as he stepped forward.
“Anyone else?”
It didn’t take long for me to make a decision. “No, president. The two of us will get the job done.”
“Excellent.” Reaper smacked the gavel once again.
The rest of the meeting was less emotionally taxing. Maps were pulled out to decide on the best route to get Andrea into New Ireland. It would be