Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X #1)(76)
Author: Richelle Mead

“Speaking of armed nutjobs…” Callista’s expression of easy charm transformed, making her the hard-edged leader who had ordered around Menari’s people. “What the hell were you thinking bringing her here?”

“Why do you keep saying that? I didn’t bring her to you. We were captured.”

Callista traced the edge of her wineglass, gazing into its depths by the candlelight. “I never thought I’d see the day someone like you was traveling with someone like her. Of course, from what I can tell, a lot’s changed with you.”

“Traveling with a prætorian’s not that weird,” he countered. “Especially in light of today’s events.”

Callista jerked her head up. “She’s a prætorian?”

“Isn’t that what you’re talking about? How else do you think she did what she did?”

“You know how she did what she did! She’s an undisciplined and uninitiated elect,” she snarled. No more flirtation now. “Chosen by someone powerful from the looks of it. It was a wonder the rest of them couldn’t see the glamour—and don’t act like you couldn’t. You’ve got a lot more control since the last time I saw you. I didn’t actually think you’d embrace your calling.”

“I haven’t,” he said firmly.

Callista’s face said she didn’t believe that. “What god follows her?”

He hesitated. “I don’t know. It’s not my concern.”

“It should be! A prætorian elected by something that strong? That kind of combination is a ticking time bomb waiting to go off.”

Justin decided it probably wasn’t a good time to bring up Mae’s nigh-perfect genes.

“She needs to deal with whatever’s following her,” continued Callista. “She needs to either embrace it and get some control or else get rid of it.”

“I don’t even think she knows it’s there,” he said.

“Well, she should. You should enlighten her.” She seemed to calm down a little and poured more wine for both of them. “It’s fitting that you’ve found this path, you know. There’s no better advocate than someone who used to persecute believers. Do you know the Christian story of Paul?”

“Of course I do. And don’t use the past tense. I still ‘persecute’ believers.”

“You let me off,” she said softly. “And that was before I slept with you.”

He said nothing right away. Neither of those past actions had been smart. “You were the first person I ever saw who…” Even now, he couldn’t give voice to it. It was something he’d kept buried inside all these long years, the secret he’d told no one. The secret that could have worse consequences than what he’d already faced.

“Who showed proof of the supernatural?” Callista said.

“I’d lose my job for that,” he said. “Or worse.”

“Your secret’s safe with me. I could tell then you had the signs of an elect. The potential for power wreathed you. But you had no god then. Who do you serve?”

“I don’t serve anyone, Internal Security aside.”

“But you’ve got something with you,” she insisted. “It isn’t blatantly out of control like hers, but I can sense it.”

“It’s unwanted,” he said.

That hurts, said Horatio.

“And I don’t know who,” Justin added. “As I’m often told, gods don’t like to give up their names.”

Callista reached across the table and put her hand over his. “I’d be happy to help you explore…a number of things.”

He smiled but didn’t take back his hand. “Thanks, but—”

“Callista!” A man came frantically tearing out of her bedroom door. “Juan and Eduardo are unconscious, and the castal woman’s gone!”

“What?” Callista jumped to her feet. “Get the others and find out where—”

“Relax,” came a smooth voice from the darkness. “I’m right here.”

Mae strolled out of the shadows of the nearby trees, a gun in her hand and displaying a casualness that made Justin despondently think she’d been at ease there for a while. And, judging from the look on her face, she’d also overheard a number of things she shouldn’t have.

Well, said Horatio optimistically. It had to happen sooner or later.

CHAPTER 21

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

“My job’s to protect him,” Mae told Callista in a voice that chilled the warm night. “Admittedly, I didn’t really realize what kind of danger he was in.”

Justin had the grace to look embarrassed, but Mae wasn’t sure exactly what part of the madness she’d just heard was responsible for it. It could’ve been anything from the part where he had slept with a cult leader to him admitting he was a believer in the supernatural. For now, she couldn’t spare the mental energy to process it all, not when Callista’s guard held a gun and others were coming.

“I thought we were here to track down a ritual murderer,” added Mae.

That actually seemed to startle Callista. She turned to Justin. “What?”

He sighed and apparently decided to just make the best of the mess he was in. “Call off your dogs and let Mae join us. Secrecy’s blown, and she already knows what I’ve come to talk to you about.”

Callista gave Mae a long, considering look. “If she puts away the gun.”

Mae glanced at the guard. “Him first.”

Callista gave a small nod, and he lowered his weapon. Several moments later, Mae followed suit. Callista dismissed her reluctant guard and beckoned Mae over to sit.

“I can get you a glass.” Despite the offer, Callista didn’t sound nearly as hospitable as she had for Justin. Had Justin really slept with her? Had he liked it? Mae refused to speculate.

“No thanks.”

Callista shrugged. “Suit yourself. Now what’s this about murders?”

Justin looked like he wanted to sink into the ground—as well he should have—but recovered himself enough to begin explaining the story. He told Callista everything. Everything. Even the part about the video they weren’t supposed to talk about. Whatever regard Mae had developed for Justin began to crumble away as he spilled secrets to this zealot-turned-lover.

When he finished, Callista took her time to process his words. “So. You’ve come to me because you think I might know something about a moon deity whose followers wield silver daggers.” She gave him a sidelong look. “Or maybe you think I serve one.”