“Are you freaking kidding me?” Karl scoffed. “You want us to trust her after everything you’ve told us about her doing her own thing? You even implied she was getting pills indirectly from Wong.”

  Selene’s expression didn’t change. “Although I’m worried Amanda’s focus has drifted, she still has useful contacts and resources. In addition, the best way to keep her under control is to have someone trustworthy and powerful near her and her agents when they investigate magical incidents.”

  “You want Zaena to be her babysitter?” Karl grunted with annoyance.

  “No, I want Princess Zaena to follow up on magical leads Amanda might have discovered,” Selene replied. “In this case, there are other reasons to involve her beyond the fact it was her resources that located the possible hit.”

  Karl looked at Zaena. He needed to let her take the lead. It’d be her life on the line.

  “What reasons are those?” Zaena asked. “It’s imperative I know before I agree to anything. You can direct me to talk to her, but I can choose not to.”

  “Before, we were fortunate that all magical encounters occurred within the borders of the United States,” Selene explained. “Given the nexus and your activity, that’s not surprising, but the inevitable has occurred. Amanda’s people have a lead on possible magical activity in a foreign country. We’d rather not involve government personnel if possible.”

  Karl chuckled. “Let me guess. If this all goes badly, you can pin it on Amanda Morton and the Crimson Wind and not the US government. Good ol’ plausible deniability.”

  “A small amount of plausible deniability is useful in preserving the diplomatic relationships of the United States. That means the government can avoid unpleasantness on a wider scale.” Selene offered him a pitying look. “I won’t apologize for putting my country first.”

  Zaena replied. “I don’t have a problem with that. I’d never ask you to betray your country.”

  “You sure you’re okay with this?” Karl asked.

  “Yes. I’m not yet ready to announce the truth to the world, but I can’t claim the American government has mistreated me.”

  “That we know of,” Karl mumbled.

  Selene raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you the paranoid one, Mr. Smith.”

  “Says the woman running a super-secret magic hunting squad that most of America doesn’t know about and who arranged a major coverup just days ago involving sinking a freaking huge-ass cargo ship with missiles.” Karl shook his head. “I don’t think it’s crazy to be careful.”

  “Secrets are a necessity for the moment,” Zaena countered. “I think we can all agree on that.”

  “Sure, but I can’t be the only one who thinks this is all a little convenient?” Karl replied. “We just clean up a mess, and suddenly we’ve got another hit?”

  “I’d say it’s rather convenient,” Selene countered. “But since we have Amanda Morton willing to commit resources. I don’t see a problem with taking advantage of them.”

  “I’m just saying, I’m not convinced Morton wasn’t behind the guys on that ship,” Karl explained. He held up his hand to Zaena to cut her off before she spoke. “I know what you think, and I know everyone keeps saying there’s a line between selfish and total bitch, but if she’s obsessed with magic pills, who knows what she might do? For all we know, she’s addicted, a magical meth head who’s barely keeping it under control and will do anything she can to get more.”

  “A magical Breaking Bad?” Zaena asked.

  Karl eyed her. “Not exactly. I’m saying she’s acting like an addict now, not a person trying to make money.”

  Selene nodded. “Which is all the more reason for Princess Zaena to check into this.”

  “Just her?”

  “She doesn’t legally exist,” Selene noted. “That means there are fewer systems tracking her movements. That doesn’t apply to you, Mr. Smith. If you openly travel internationally, there’s too much of a risk of you being flagged, and we don’t have time to create a plausible cover. The whole point of this is to avoid an international incident, not create one.”

  Karl scoffed. “Can you create a cover for her?”

  Selene shook her head. “Not quickly, but she can turn invisible at will. Can you?”

  Karl snorted. “It sounds like you want to get me away from Zaena.”

  “We both know she doesn’t need you for physical protection,” Selene replied in an icy tone. “In any serious magical confrontation, you’ll only slow her down.”

  Zaena sighed. “You feel this is a good potential lead? What does Amanda Morton get out of it?”

  “Good question,” Karl noted. “Based on what we’ve seen, she’ll want samples.”

  “Yes,” Selene replied. “And although I’m not averse to providing limited biological samples to Amanda Morton, I’d rather she not take any magical beings into custody, especially if they are elves. We can’t risk her creating a diplomatic incident, especially given how little she knows about the overall situation. We can’t just send government agents with her without working more with the host country’s government than I’d prefer.”

  Zaena frowned. “Before we continue, I want to verify something. Do you have any new ideas about the source of the pills? You still believe Mark Wong was involved?”

  “The trail is currently cold,” Selene replied. “We’re continuing to explore different paths. We do maintain that his operation is the most likely explanation, but you spending time with Morton’s operatives will help verify that.”

  “How?”

  “Because if she was involved in that as anything other than a customer, your proximity might make her worry enough to put into motion other actions that US intelligence can detect and follow up on.”

  Karl wanted to flip the damned table over and take the laptop with it. “What if this whole thing is a trap? What if Morton wants to capture Zaena? How do you know she isn’t feeding you BS intel to get Zaena thousands of miles away from your agents and influence?”

  He’d already let himself be led by the nose, thanks to an informant on Morton’s payroll. He didn’t know why she couldn’t pull the same stunt with the government.

  “That would be ill-advised,” Selene explained. “She’s well aware of our relationship. If Amanda’s people take hostile action against Princess Zaena, it risks forming diplomatic ties with her people in the future. We’ll be forced to take extreme actions. There might be a point where she’d risk something like that, but not in this situation when we’re watching her so closely.”

  “Wait.” Karl narrowed his eyes. “How much does she know about Zaena?”

  “She knows what you’ve told her, but based on our conversations, it doesn’t appear that Amanda knows about the existence of elves per se,” Selene clarified. “She’s much more focused on magic. Of course, if you’re going to be working closely with her, some revelations might be inevitable. I’ll leave it up to you how much you’re comfortable sharing. I can’t verify for certain what she knows and doesn’t know.”

  “I don’t like this at all.” Karl slammed his fist on the table. “This is crap. This is the government using Zaena as a pawn.”

  “A pawn is a weak foot soldier in chess,” Selene replied with a thin smile. “A princess is all but a queen. We need her as a powerful warrior, not someone weak and expendable.”

  Zaena put her hand on his shoulder. “We both know my mission can’t advance without my taking some chances. At least this way, Miss Morton knows someone else is watching her.” She stared at the screen. “I presume you have no objection to me using my full power to protect myself? I won’t let myself be injured for political expediency.”

  Selene shook her head. “Should Morton or any of her operatives seek to harm you, you’ll be well within your rights to defend yourself. We’ll file it under diplomatic immunity.”

  Karl frowned. He liked the idea that Zaena could take down whoever messed with her without pissing off the feds, but he didn’t want Zaena to leave the country without real backup that was not loyal to the government.

  “Bring Dino Boy,” he suggested. “That guy’s not going to let anyone pull crap, and we both know he doesn’t give two shits about offending humans.”

  “I can ask,” Zaena replied. “I can’t order him. He might not find such a task amusing.”

  “I think he says that crap more than he believes it.”

  “I have no objections about other friendly elves coming.” Selene cleared her throat. “I’ll also make it clear to Amanda that should she do anything that threatens the relationship between the US government and Zaena, we would be forced to implement extreme sanctions.”

  Karl stared at the cold-looking woman on the screen. “You’re saying you’ll kill her?”

  There was no emotion in her voice when she replied, no hint that it wasn’t something she did all the time. Karl didn’t object to taking out people who threatened his friends, but he didn’t like the idea that the government official was so casual about it.

  “It’s as Princess Zaena has expressed to my agents in previous conversations,” Selene offered. “The wicked must receive justice. She has her people to worry about, and I have the security of the entire country to worry about. If that requires Amanda Morton to be handled in an unpleasant manner, so be it. So far, she’s only been an annoyance who I believe can be steered back onto an appropriate path, but I won’t let her turn into an active hindrance.”

  “I don’t trust Amanda Morton,” Zaena admitted. “I doubt she’d risk so much when she knows the stakes. She also doesn’t know enough to ignore the risk of vengeance on my behalf. I doubt any special sanctions will be necessary.”

  “That’s an excellent point. She can’t adjust for unknown magical factors,” Selene replied.

  “What’s your call, Zaena?” Karl asked.

  “We’ve nothing to lose by speaking with Miss Morton,” Zaena replied, “and everything to gain, potentially.”

  “Then I’ll leave it to you two to coordinate that,” Selene replied. “Good luck.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  The meeting weighed on Zaena’s mind as Karl drove them back to the White Ruby Building. She’d been interested in moving forward on her mission before, but now so many things had happened in rapid succession that she wanted time to reflect and plan.

  “Do you think your government would kill Amanda Morton if she vexed them?” Zaena asked.

  “Yes,” Karl replied. “Not that half the government would know or approve of it, but that woman? I’ve no doubt she’d pull the trigger herself.” He grunted. “Damn. I’m not even sure it’s a bad idea. Let’s face it; if Morton screws you over too badly, you might be forced into it yourself. We both implied that to her face.”

  “You seem far more bothered by the idea than I would have thought.”

  “What people do and what the government does are two separate things. At the end of the day, it’s a lot easier to stop people like us if we get out of hand. It’s not so easy to stop the government when they get out of hand.”

  “I see.”

  Zaena lifted the Ruby of Tarilan. “I can’t say I enjoy how complicated the web of interactions and politics has become. It was inevitable, but that doesn’t make it any less vexing.”

  Karl chuckled and slowed for a turn before speaking. “I feel you. This was easy when it was just about kicking gangster ass. Some of the cops didn’t like you stealing their thunder, but most of that dropped away when they realized you were making the city a better place.”

  “Defeating criminals does provide for clarity of motivation,” Zaena admitted, “but now I question how to define what a criminal is. The more I think about it, the more I think Miss D’Arcy’s theories about the source of the pills is incorrect.”

  “Really?” Karl sounded surprised. “Why?”

  “Because even with artifacts, Mountain Elf enhancement magic doesn’t work like that,” Zaena explained.

  Karl frowned. “Are you sure? I mean, those Desert Elves are shapechangers. It’s not crazy an elf could do that to someone else. It’s like she said. Mark Wong made the Stone Demons.” He furrowed his brow. “I’m not trying to be a dick, Princess, but you’ve made it clear that you Royal Elves have certain types of magic you allow and certain types you don’t. If you never experimented with it, how could you be so sure?”

  Zaena laid her head against the headrest and stared at the bright yellow sports car in front of them. “I understand what you’re saying, and it’s occurred to me too, but please note what I’m saying.”

  “I’m trying to listen, but I don’t know all the ins and outs of magic.”

  “You don’t understand. I’m not claiming it’s impossible for the pills to exist. It’s obvious they do because I’ve seen them in use. The ones used by the terrorists were different from the ones used by Miss Morton, but any magical pills that enhance humans are an unknown quantity.”

  Karl changed lanes with a nod. “Okay, then what are you saying?”

  “There were few Stone Demons,” Zaena explained. “Mark Wong had attuned access to the nexus. He also had many regular minions. If Mark Wong could have given his men regenerative capabilities with a pill, it stands to reason he would have made it available to at least some of them.”

  She wore a confused look. “I fought his men on many occasions, and the only ones with magical enhancement were the Stone Demons. Now we’re to believe he was producing the product and selling it without partaking of it for his organization?”

  “You raise a good point.” Karl narrowed his eyes and looked at his side mirror. “That’s annoying.”

  “I thought it wasn’t that annoying.”

  “It’s not you. We’re being followed.”

  Zaena frowned. “Take us somewhere out of the way, and I’ll handle it. I’m out of patience today.”

  Karl turned his head. “Not necessary. It’s a black SUV. I recognize it from our little raid on HQ. They’re more of D’Arcy’s lackeys. I think they’re making sure we’re going home and not running off to meet with Chinese spies or something.”

  “They want us to trust them, but they don’t trust us.” Zaena scoffed.

  “Hey, people like her don’t trust people, not really,” Karl replied. “It’s not the end of the world if we return the favor.”

  “I just want to make sure I’m working with honorable people,” Zaena explained.

  “That’s where things get complicated, Princess. You’ve been among humans long enough to know that nobody’s completely honorable. I think you’re going to have to settle for working with people who can help you accomplish what you want to accomplish and are not complete pieces of trash.”

  “My mission is not only about freeing my people. It’s also to make sure our future with humanity begins on an appropriate footing.” Zaena ran a hand through her hair. “I’m not as naïve as you think, Karl. I understand even my tribe doesn’t always live up to the standards of honor we preach, but I still strive for it. It’s better to strive for perfection and fail than convince yourself it’s impossible and never try.”

  Karl grunted. “I guess so. I’m not a guy who ever went for perfection.”

  “Do you regret becoming involved in all this? Your life has repeatedly been threatened. You’re forced to bear the secrets of a race not your own. I value your friendship and aid, but sometimes I worry that I take you for granted.”

  “I became a cop for a simple reason,” Karl replied, his hands tightening on the wheel. “I wanted to leave the world a better place than I found it. I’ve screwed up a lot in my life, and I figured after I left the department, there wasn’t much for me to do that was worth anything anymore, but then I stumbled onto a naïve elven princess.”

  Zaena harumphed. “I think I’ve improved.”

  “Sure.” Karl grinned. “It might not be fair, but I’m using you to make the world a better place because I believe helping a magic princess who is obsessed with trying to live an honorable life and save everybody while not letting herself get too corrupted is a good way to do that.”

  “Corruption.” Zaena sighed. “I must admit I don’t know what that means anymore. I don’t regret delivering justice to any I’ve battled, but it’s easy to…what is the expression? Ah, yes…it’s easy to let the end justify the means. The values of my people are different from your human values, let alone your American values, and it’s been challenging to keep to what I feel is right.”

  Karl slowed and turned into the parking lot of an In-N-Out. Zaena checked the rearview mirror. They were still being followed.

  “There are too many people here to take on the agents,” Zaena noted.

  “Take them on?” Karl chuckled. “I’m not worried about them. I just want a Double-Double. You want anything, or is it too corrupting to eat fast food?”

  Zaena rolled her eyes. “Eat your burger. I find that acceptable.”

  Karl pulled up behind an SUV filled with kids. Zaena smiled. She could spend years in the human world and still not get used to how many children were about.

  “I’ve known you a while now,” Karl began, “but I’m not sure I can say I know you all that well.”

  “I’m not trying to hide anything from you,” Zaena replied. “Not anymore.”

  Karl pulled up as the line advanced. “I’m not saying you are, Princess. I’m saying it’s hard to understand how an elf thinks. It’s like you said. Your values are different.”

  “I see. Does that worry you?”

  “Not really, but I’m still not sure where the line is for you. Your delivering justice thing is kind of a judge, jury, and executioner play by human standards.” He glanced her way. “I’m not complaining, and arguably, I’ve done the same thing. I think it’s a good thing you’ve dialed down always trying to talk these guys out of the inevitable, and it’s not like you’re killing every random mugger you run into.”

  Zaena nodded slowly. “I understand. Force is a more serious affair for my people, and perhaps because we all have magic, battles are, by their nature, always entered with the assumption lethal force might be necessary.”