Southwest Nights (Semiautomatic Sorceress Book 1) by Kal Aaron (large ebook reader txt) 📕

the EAA is the proper procedure, so it’s not like they did anything wrong.”

Lyssa returned to the couch, scowling. “But why all the secrecy?”

“They were acting so offended it made me more suspicious. I thought the cost might come off as extravagant, and maybe they were worried about justifying it, but I think this is more about maintaining relationships.” Damien inclined his head toward the window. “It’s the same reason the EAA sent me and a couple of people here from California to follow you. I think the locals are still getting used to the idea that they have a Sorceress living openly among them and trying to figure out how they can use that politically and otherwise.”

“How does that translate into the FBI and their leads?”

Lyssa didn’t understand or care much about the fine details of politics. She could barely bring herself to care about Illuminated politics, and it was all but impossible to muster any interest in Shadow politics. She dealt with assignments involving discrete targets and harbored no interest in working her way to an Elder position, let alone the Tribunal.

For now, she needed flexibility if she wanted to achieve her long-term goals, including finding the truth about her brother. But not caring about politics wasn’t the same as not having them affect her. If the mayor had indirectly set her up because someone at the FBI had told her something, she needed to understand why.

Damien leaned forward and lowered his voice. “It seems like there’s been a major spike of illegal shard smuggling in the US in the last couple of weeks, particularly in the Southwest. I don’t think you appreciate that we’re still working out the fine details of handling all this.”

“As in, the government?”

“Exactly.” Damien nodded. “Technically, the illegal transport and import of any sorcery-based object should be handled by the same organizations handling all black-market smuggling, but the practical truth is, the FBI, the Coast Guard, the DEA, and just about everyone else doesn’t want to get near sorcery. They try to shove as much of it as they can onto the EAA, but we’re stretched thin, and we don’t have the depth of experience or the personnel to handle that kind of thing.” He averted his eyes. “There are other considerations.”

Lyssa stared at him, trying to read his face. She’d only known Damien for a few months. He’d been a welcome relief after the uptight idiot who had been her previous primary personal liaison, but that wasn’t the same thing as always understanding how his mind worked.

This time, though, she could see it right on his face—the shame. The rest worked itself out quickly.

“You don’t always want to come to the Society hat in hand,” Lyssa murmured.

“It’s more than that. If a fox eats a bunch of hens, it’s crazy to hire another fox to hunt them down. No offense.”

“It sounds more logical than hiring a bunch of hens. No offense.”

Damien met her gaze with steely determination. “You saying you think normies are a bunch of hens waiting to be eaten?”

Lyssa rolled her eyes. “Dial it down, Damien. Remember what you told me the other day? It’s me you’re talking to, not some fossil Sorcerer who thinks he’s inherently better than all Shadows.”

He gave a shallow nod. “You’re right. Sorry. But yes, the more we depend on Torches, let alone Eclipses, the more the higher-ups are concerned that it makes normies look weak. I don’t think you always appreciate how deeply people are afraid of you.”

“The ratio of Shadows to Illuminated is, like, four million to one.” Lyssa shrugged. “If we were all-powerful, I don’t think the Society would have gone public after M-Day. They would have found a way to blow it off.”

“I’m not saying I buy into all the conspiracy theories. What I am saying is that the federal government, at both the law enforcement and military levels, is very, very paranoid about what would happen if the Society decided the treaties are nothing more than pieces of paper. Things like shards flooding the black market don’t make them feel calmer.”

“I’m not going to defend every Sorcerer, but I know the Society can’t be happy about this either. I’m waiting to hear back from Samuel, but you know how that guy is. The question is, if the FBI knew about the shards, why didn’t you? Shouldn’t they have wanted to shove the investigation off on you EAA boys?”

Damien looked grim. “Normally, I wouldn’t have to ask. I’m still trying to figure that out, but for now, we need to proceed on the assumption that the best solution here is to send a fox after a fox. For now, I’m authorized to hire you to front a longer-term investigation into the shards, though it seems only Alvarez knew where he got them from.”

Lyssa grimaced, regretting blowing a hole through the criminal. “Really?”

“They’re following up with their phones and computers and the others, but I don’t think the FBI or the police are going to find out. I’m going to do what I can on my end too, but I’m not convinced I’ll get far. Too much ass-covering and not enough resources. I’m also going to keep my distance on this for your benefit.”

“More politics?”

“Exactly.” Damien nodded. “There’s been more noise than I expected about the alleged excessive force of the raid.”

“Hey.” Lyssa glared at him. “Do you expect—”

“No.” He shook his head. “After reviewing all the facts, I think if anything, you were restrained. But what I think and what the people above me decide aren’t the same thing. You’ve been working with us long enough to understand that.”

“By Society laws and Society treaties with the US, I have the right to defend myself with full sorcery, up to and including lethal force.” Lyssa clenched her hand into a fist. “If they think I went overboard, they should take it up with Samuel and the Society. They can try to get an Eclipse after me.”

“I don’t think anyone’s interested in doing