"Cell?" Jo asked indignantly. "You're going to lock him up?"
"Yes," he said calmly. "And I'm going to have you locked up as well."
"What?" Now Nicholas looked furious. His eyes were frigid silver as he stepped up to his uncle, fists clenched and growled, "Locking me up is one thing, Uncle, but Jo hasn't done anything to deserve being treated like a criminal."
"She's already plotting ways to help you escape in case I can't get to the bottom of this," he said quietly.
Nicholas turned to Jo with surprise and she felt herself flush guiltily. She actually had started thinking about ways to get him out of there. It seemed she was still incredibly readable.
"Maybe she is," Nicholas acknowledged reluctantly as he turned back to his uncle. "But, still, she hasn't done anything wrong yet. You can't lock her up for something she might try to do. Besides, I'll talk to her. I'll—"
"Locking her up with you will keep her from getting herself or anyone else killed with her amateurish efforts to break you out," Lucian interrupted firmly.
"Amateurish?" Jo squawked. "I got him out, didn't I. I picked the damned lock and set him free."
"Very impressive," Lucian assured her and then turned to Mortimer to say, "Make sure they're only given plastic utensils and don't allow them anything small enough to use to pick the lock this time."
"Crap," Jo muttered irritably, wishing she'd stopped to think before speaking. Her eyes narrowed on Lucian as she thought she saw his mouth twitch, and then he turned to Nicholas and continued.
"I will have Ernie and Dee transported to the Council for judgment. Mortimer will remove the cot from one of the cells and have a double bed moved in to replace it." He turned to Jo and Nicholas and said, "We shall give you candlelight and wine and roses and put a curtain on the cell so that the two of you can entertain each other safely and in privacy while I look into the matter of Annie and the mortal."
"Wouldn't it be easier just to keep them locked in one of the rooms in the house?" Sam asked with a frown. "It would be much more comfortable and—"
"And only mean four men would have to stand guard at the hall and balcony doors," Lucian interrupted dryly, and then shook his head. "We are already shorthanded. They go in the cells."
Sam didn't look pleased, but did nod unhappily. However, she also asked, "Can they have books or a television or something out there so they don't get bored?"
Jo thought her sister's concern was very sweet but totally unnecessary. It was hard for her to imagine growing bored with Nicholas around. Judging by the arched eyebrow Lucian turned on Sam, he thought so too.
"They are new life mates, Samantha," he said dryly. "As you still are yourself. Do you really think a television is necessary or would even be turned on?"
"Oh, right," Sam muttered, flushing as Mortimer grinned and slid his arm around her waist.
"Indeed," Lucian said dryly. He then glanced over the group and raised his other eyebrow. "Well? What are we waiting for? Let's get to it so these lovebirds can enjoy Nicholas's reprieve."
"Right." Mortimer turned to the group. "Bricker and Anders, you're with Nicholas and Jo until we put them in the cell. I'll get some of the men outside to help me with Ernie and Dee. Sam, honey," he said, his voice softening notably when he glanced to her. "Maybe you could make a list of what you think Jo and Nicholas will need in the cell and start organizing it; clothes, sheets, which bed to take, and so on?"
"Of course," she murmured.
Nodding, Mortimer kissed her quickly and then turned to head out of the house, Lucian on his heels. The moment the door closed behind them, Nicholas's aunt Marguerite stood up. Jo eyed the woman, still amazed that she could be seven hundred years old, but her voice had the ring of authority as she said, "The girls and I can help you with the list and gathering the things on it, Sam. And perhaps Thomas and Greg could help with shifting the cot from the cell and moving a double bed out?"
"Of course," Thomas and Greg murmured together.
Much to Jo's amazement, the room cleared out quickly then, everyone moving off to perform his task. Everyone but she, Nicholas, Bricker, and Anders, that was.
They all stared at one another for a moment and then Nicholas said, "I'd like a moment alone with Jo." When Bricker glanced to Anders in question, he considered the matter and then shrugged and said, "The men will still be on the balcony outside the guest bedroom and we can guard the hall. It should be all right."
Bricker nodded. "Okay."