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think the Athanate will be far behind? Better if this is dealt with quickly, by us.”
    Bian also frowned. “The Were are better at sniffing out strangers. Why would they need you? In fact, I’m about to ask them for help.”
    “I think we’ve done enough for you, unless you’re suggesting a quid pro quo,” Alex cut in before I could say anything.
    “The pair of you, stop it,” I said.
    There was a moment’s blessed silence.
    I wanted time with Jen, alone. I wanted time with Alex and Bian, to try and get everything straight in my head. But what I had was this mess and I had to deal with it now.
     “Bian, I’m walking a tightrope here,” I said. “I’m part Were, but I’m not part of the Denver pack. That’s causing as many issues in their community as my being an unaffiliated Athanate caused in yours. If I’d stomped in here a few weeks ago, demanding that the Athanate do this and do that, you would have squashed me like a bug. I’m not going to piss off Larimer and jeopardize any hope of a peaceful resolution with the Were just because you and Skylur can’t ask nicely for what you want. Now. What request would you like me to take to Larimer?”
    She ran her hands up and down the arms of her chair, then sat back again. “That they help us track down the remainder of Matlal Athanate in Denver.”
    “But we—” Alex started.
    “Enough.” I held a hand up to stop him. To my surprise, he did. I didn’t want him to argue the pack’s side against Bian, either. I hadn’t worked out all the reasoning yet, but I was going with my gut feeling. “I’ll put the request to Larimer. Now, is there anything else we need to discuss before we go?”
    “You’re not leaving me here,” Jen said.
    “Yes, they are. It’s not safe for you anywhere else.” Bian dismissed the idea of her leaving. “And your being out there would be a hindrance to Amber.”
    “I am not staying.”
    I felt like a firefighter leaping between fires. Every time I thought one had been put out, another came back. “She’ll be safe. I have some additional arrangements in place. If you’re concerned, you can give me David and Pia back.”
    It was Bian’s turn to frown again. “What arrangements?”
    “I have a friend outside who’s from the same army unit I was. She’s good and she’s a specialist in close protection. If I have David and Pia to brief her on the threats, and Victor’s team as well, then Jen’s going to be as safe back at home as she is here.”
    I could see Jen’s face tighten at the mention of extra security, but she sure as hell couldn’t argue against it now. She was pale again, looking tired and upset. She needed this to be finished.
    Bian hadn’t come up with an immediate objection and she was distracted when her assistant came back in with some more documents for her to sign off on.
    She quickly sent the assistant on his way again. “You have to be back here on Wednesday anyway,” she said. “All of you, together .” She paused. “There’s a reception for all the Panethus Houses before they return to their countries. I need to present House Farrell,” her eyes flicked back and forth between all of us, “ and kin to them. It’s vital they have the opportunity to meet you.”
    “Why?”
    “They don’t entirely believe the problem with your Blood. Oh, they sort of accept it mentally, but they need to know it in their gut. When they get a sniff of you, they’ll really understand that whatever benefit it may have to ease crusis comes with Were cross-infusion. Without that to cool them off, Skylur’s under too much pressure from people trying to bargain for a taste of you.”
    I could sense she wasn’t telling me everything, but there wasn’t much hope I’d get her to be more forthcoming in front of the others.
    “It’s a formal occasion,” she went on, eyeing my clothes. I’d borrowed sweats rather than walk around in the blood-soaked clothes I’d been wearing at the Assembly, but I was