Simone sat up. "Fine, Dage. Why?"
He surveyed her. "Just checking in. Everything is all right?"
The hair on the back of Nessa's neck rose. "Why are you asking? Have you heard anything?"
The king visibly relaxed. "No. I just wanted to see how everyone was doing. Have you quit your job yet?"
Nessa shook her head and relaxed along with the king. "No. Probably tomorrow." Once Bear was home safely. "I still need to write a quick speech."
"Since I have you, I'd like to offer you a job as Coordinator between Realm Allies," Dage said smoothly. "You'd deal with all the different allies and coordinate agreements and disagreements. You'd answer only to me. Five million a year."
Simone sat up. "Not a bad salary."
No-it was an amazing salary. The job seemed perfect for her and a logical extension of her diplomatic experience with the Guard. "King. I don't know what to say," Nessa murmured.
"Say yes, and feel free to rename the job whatever you want. I just need somebody to coordinate the relationship between witches, demons, vampires, and shifters. Please." He eyed his wristwatch. "You can hire a staff of up to ten if you want. There will be some travel, and you'll have to move to Idaho. I want you at Realm headquarters."
Her stomach dropped. "The job can't be handled remotely?"
"No." He focused right back on her. "This is senior staff level, and meetings occur on the fly and at my convenience. The job is here. Think about it." He reached for an area above the camera and stilled. "Oh. I'm supposed to ask you if a doctor took your blood and sent it our way today."
"Aye," she said weakly. The doctor had shown up hours ago. "Expect the vials tomorrow morning."
"Great. We're hoping there's something in your blood to help counter PK and Apollo. So far, our labs haven't come close to finding an antidote. Have a nice night." He reached again, and then he paused. "Are you sure you're both all right?"
Simone huffed out air. "Why do you keep asking that?"
The king sat back. "I honestly don't know. It's just a feeling." He gazed beyond the camera as if listening. He stood up, and his eyes flared from silver to a deep blue. "Get out. We just received satellite pictures. You're under attack. Get out of the house right now."
An explosion rocked the entire house. The screen fell to the floor and shattered.
Nessa jumped up, grabbing Simone's arm and running for the master bedroom. The door there had the best lock in the entire house.
Another explosion echoed, shattering the windows. Nessa stumbled and fell, glass cutting into her hands. Simone grabbed her by the waist and tugged her up.
Nessa turned to the windows to see two helicopters in position with guns pointed inside, fully armed. They'd sent helicopters? She scrambled and shoved Simone out of the way. Any weapon would hit Nessa before Simone or the baby.
Alarms blared from outside.
Gunfire pattered toward them, and Nessa tackled Simone, trying to cover the taller woman with her body, turning to see the threat.
The sound of zip lines came clearly from outside, and two men landed on the porch, quickly releasing the ropes. The first guy, his head covered with a red mask, yanked a gun from his hip and jumped through the broken window.
He had a dart gun.
Nessa yelled and jumped up, putting herself between Simone and the attacker. "Get in the bedroom. Now." She ran forward, her head down, and tackled the asshole through the window. Glass cut her arm as they flew into the night. She punched and kicked, aiming for his trachea.
A ball of fire whizzed past her head, and she ducked, turning quickly.
Simone stood behind her, balls of morphing fire on her hands, her hair streaming behind her. She threw hard at the other man, hitting him center mass. He flew through the air, landing in the middle of the river and quickly disappearing downstream.
The guy beneath Nessa punched her in the face, and she fell back. Pain burst through her skull.
Soldiers rushed out of the forest, firing up at the helicopters. Jasper came around the house and leaped over Nessa, grabbing her attacker and spinning him across the icy deck. Max, the vampire soldier, ran around the other side of the house, already firing rapidly at the closest helicopter, with Uncle Boondock on his heels. Max hit the pilot, who slumped forward.
The helicopter swung around, its nose dipping.
Bloody hell. Nessa jumped up and turned, running for Simone. The tail boom flew their way, the propeller cutting through the side of the house and then the sofa, sending tufts of cotton everywhere. The helicopter kept going, spinning around and crashing right in the middle of the river.