Southwest Truths (Semiautomatic Sorceress Book 3) by Kal Aaron (the red fox clan .txt) 📗

the same thing, but if I go to Last Remnant at the same time Tristan does, I’ll have backup I know can handle himself. Even if this involves Tristan and me being taken out, maybe we can take the rogues with us.”

“Now we have confirmed rogues instead of a single rogue?” Samuel sounded more worried than angry.

“Lubon was dirty, and he’s not the only one. We’re scraping the bottom of the barrel, only to find a rotting barrel filled with filth below it.”

“What a colorful metaphor.” Samuel closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “You should understand, by your admission, you were incorrect about some of the people you suspected of corruption. That does suggest your paranoia and logic aren’t always the best things to follow.”

“So what? That’s the past. I’m not perfect, but we need to move on. I’m willing to risk my butt to close this thing out, and it might just save both our lives.” Lyssa put up a hand to stop his response. “Yeah, I know this is about my personal business, but this time, my personal business is mixed up with the Society’s business. If Tristan’s right, I can shake it all loose on Last Remnant and end the threat before one of these stupid plans succeeds and the Society is fatally wounded.”

“I thought you believed the Society was ossified and in need of reform?” Samuel replied.

“Sure, but that’s not the same thing as agreeing with assassins and certainly not enough to support someone sending huge monsters at innocent people. Better the devil you know.”

“Such painfully conditional loyalty.” Samuel frowned. “If Mr. St. James is right and it goes higher than we suspect, you might be in more danger on Last Remnant. There’s not a greater concentration of Sorcerers on the planet.”

“I’ll be in danger anywhere, and unless you think the Tribunal’s willing to spit up another Eclipse soon, we might as well use the one who has offered his unofficial services.” Lyssa shrugged. “Even if I doubt there’s another dirty Eclipse, I know the Tribunal’s as overly cautious as you are. I bet at this point, they’re thinking they can just sit this out until everyone involved with the incident is dead and the problem goes away.”

“They’ve strongly implied they wish to minimize more deaths of our kind.” Samuel’s frown ebbed away to be replaced by a pained look. “Are you sure about this, Miss Corti?”

“No, I’m not sure, but I feel like this is our one chance to finish this before whoever’s involved slips back into the shadows and waits until our guard is down to take us out. And I want to go back to doing Torch work, not watching my back because someone in the Society might be trying to take me out.”

“Very well.” Samuel offered a shallow nod. “I’ll do my best to confirm the particulars and get you on a ship, but I won’t be there to help you. Also, keep in mind that Tristan St. James still has his plans and desires. He might not care if you die as long as he can find his target.”

Lyssa let out a dark chuckle. “At least that means someone will avenge my death.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Lyssa stood near the rail of the white yacht, staring at the clouds zooming past. A shimmering field surrounded the boat, concealing the vessel from outside eyes and lifting it almost out of the water. Powerful winds swirled past and pushed it forward. While the entire vessel wasn’t a shard, there were so many powerful ones involved in its use that it was hard to tell the difference.

This was the true potential of sorcery, even if the worries of the Elders kept these sorts of things far from the Shadow public. From what Lyssa could tell, they didn’t believe wonder could convince the Shadows to respect Illuminated, so they were relying on fear of the power of the Society instead. Far more people knew about Torches than Illuminated artists or scientists.

She said, “it’s messed up.”

“What is?” Jofi asked. “Do you suspect danger on the ship?”

“No. It would have already happened. One person couldn’t control this whole ship, so they couldn’t risk waiting so long.” Lyssa squinted at a bird far in the distance. “We Illuminated think we’re better than the Shadows, but at least they’ve evolved. All we’ve done is whine and bitch about losing Lemuria and spend our time thinking of new ways to slink around and lie to the Shadows and each other.”

“There’s a significant risk of the Shadows wiping out your kind without proper precautions,” Jofi replied.

“I’m not saying we give them a list of every Sorcerer out there, complete with addresses and weaknesses.” Lyssa gripped the rail tightly. “It’s just that we have this special power, something less than one in a million people have, and we’re busy worrying about politics rather than working together.”

“The vast majority of your assignments involve threats to the Shadows or Shadows who have gotten out of hand.”

“I get that.” Lyssa sighed. “I’m not saying they’re saints, but it feels like they’re progressing toward something vaguely better. Making a lot of mistakes along the way, but at least they’re looking to the future. Not the past, and not to a history we don’t even remember. Sometimes I think we’re all full of crap. For all we know, Lemuria was a hellhole. The Elders insist the legends concerning Atlantis are not about our ancestors, but it’s hard to ignore a story about an advanced continent destroyed by hubris. What’s the defining characteristic of the Illuminated if not excessive pride?”

“It’s as you said, Lyssa,” Jofi replied. “Better the devil you know.”

Lyssa laughed. It was a perfect comment. She was afraid of the sealed spirit, and certitude escaped her when she thought about the best way to handle him. From what she’d seen of normal emptiness spirits, letting loose a grand emptiness spirit would make the Sicilian Inferno look like a minor traffic accident.

She leaned over the railing, staring