The assembled group looked toward the voice coming from the entrance to the stairs. Kenzi sidled closer to Dyson, who had stepped in front of her slightly. Hale as always came shoulder to shoulder with him while Vex stood with Kenzi. Despite his outer demeanor Vex loved Kenzi and would always stand with her regardless of who the foe was.
Trick moved forward, drawing himself up to his full height. It was at times like this, when his family and friends were threatened that he assumed the authority of the Blood King once more. "You should leave now! You are not welcome here!"
"Oh relax, old man!" the Morrigan responded "I'm not here to cause trouble." She sauntered into the room.
"Well that would be a first." Hale retorted. The Morrigan turned her gaze on him but only rolled her eyes at him.
"What do you want?" Dyson ground out from between his teeth. His wolf was pacing, knowing that the Morrigan posed a threat to Kenzi's safety regardless of what she claimed.
"Well if you must know dog boy, I'm here to speak to the little human." The Morrigan dropped into one of the chairs, crossing her legs and dropping her elbow length black gloves into her lap. Waving a hand at Vex she continued "Vexie, be a good boy and fetch me a drink." Vex didn't move from Kenzi's side, something that Dyson noted and strongly approved of. "Vex?! Did you hear what I said?"
"I did, but..."
The Morrigan fixed a harsh glare in his direction "You know the penalty for disobedience Vex."
"Enough!" Trick announced. "This is my establishment and as you are all well aware, a place of sanctuary so that's enough of the threats. Why are you here?"
The Morrigan tossed her dark hair over her shoulder. "Well if you must know" she drawled, I came to make the little human an offer." The air seemed to be sucked out of the room in an instant. "You see the Ash made it very clear to me, that Kenzi becoming unaligned like Bo wasn't an option for her and she possesses a certain skill set, shall we say, that I am keen to acquire."
Kenzi blanched a little as the words the Morrigan said reverberated around her head. It appeared that she was going to choose a side as the option was that she wasn't going to be breathing for long.
Dyson couldn't quite believe what he was hearing. The Ash was effectively signing Kenzi's death warrant if she didn't align herself with either Light or Dark. And while the Mesmer and Tamsin flaunted the law not many others were willing to take the risk. It would be virtually impossible for them to continue their relationship in the city if she chose the Dark. They would have to leave everything and everyone behind and while Dyson was ready to do that, he wasn't sure if Kenzi could manage it again. He already knew she had done it several times before so if they could avoid it, he would.
"So here's my proposal" the Morrigan continued "You chose to become Dark Fae, and things can continue as they are. You can work with Bo, remain in certain friendships," her eyes swept over Trick, Hale and Vex "and of course you can bump your lady bits with any Tom, Dog or Harry of your choosing." She finished with a little smirk.
Dyson's growl thundered around the room. The thought of Kenzi with anyone else was enough, let alone the insult. "Easy boy!" The Morrigan feigned concern.
Kenzi finally found her voice. "And what exactly would you want in return for this life? What do you want from me?" Her eyes narrowed as she stared at the Morrigan.
"Oh darling...not much really!"
Dyson's eyebrow was just about off his head as he turned to Kenzi "You're actually considering this?" He couldn't keep the incredulous tone out of his voice.
"Tell me exactly what you want from me or I'll ignore Trick's sanctuary rule and beat the crap out you." Kenzi said, holding up an open hand to stop Dyson's interference.
"Well there could be the odd job here and there, where you need to acquire an item of importance for me."
"You mean steal something you want." Hale clarified.
The Morrigan looked at Hale "You say potato, I say potatoe"
"What else?" Kenzi asked. The Morrigan shrugged her shoulders. "What else?" Kenzi ground out from between her teeth.
"Oh alright! Draw Bo over to 'our' side I could do with someone of her power."
"So you could control her, with Vex's help, no doubt."
Once again the Morrigan shrugged her shoulders "Control is such an ugly word, I'd prefer utilize responsibly."
At those words the group erupted with each having their own opinion on where the Morrigan could go, how she could get there and the speed at which it could happen, although Vex wasn't quite as vocal as the others. The Morrigan was completely unaffected by all the noise. She just picked up her gloves and bag, left her calling card on the table and sauntered her way back up the stairs.
Once everyone had calmed down, they sat and had a couple of drinks to settle the nerves that still had them twitching.
Trick finally broke the uneasy silence that had surrounded them "Well now we know what not only the Morrigan has in mind but also the Ash. It is beyond me, however, that he would demand that Kenzi chose, considering that she's human and claimed by Bo, who is unaligned."
"Yeah...well who knows if the claim now stands seeing she hates me." Kenzi stated.
"Hates a strong word Lil' Momma." Hale pointed out.
"If I knew a stronger one, I'd use it."
"Ok, so if the claiming by Bo doesn't stand?" Dyson asked "What then?" All eyes turned to Trick, the resident expert on all Fae law, considering he wrote most, if not all of it and knew it best. You could almost hear Trick's mind turning over all the possibilities.
"I think it will stand. If Bo doesn't revoke it."
Dyson looked intently at Trick, trying to keep his wolf soothed, "You need...I need you to be sure Trick."
Trick nodded in response but he wasn't completely focused on Dyson or anyone else for that matter. His mind still working through the problem and the possible outcomes.
"So what now?" Hale asked.
"Well it's pretty clear, this party is a bust!" Vex answered. Bad move on his part as it reminded Dyson he was there.
"Did you know? Did you tell the Morrigan about our meeting?" Dyson roared. Hale and Kenzi quickly moved to keep the two of them separated.
"No I didn't." Vex pouted. "Obviously she has a spy here abouts. And I mean, really, where else are you two gonna go for help? It's not rocket science, my friends."
Kenz's ice chip blue eyes looked up at Dyson. "Please..." He could see the e motions of the morning were taking their toll on her, as if the trials hadn't been enough with all the pressure in the lead up and then the actual trials. He melted when he saw her. He relaxed his stance and gathered her in his arms. "Kenz, it'll be ok, I promise!"
Trick wandered back into the room carrying a large, dusty tome. "This meeting is over. We re-convene tomorrow at the same time. You two had better stay here, you're claiming sanctuary right?" His face wore a grin but his eyes betrayed his concern.
Kenzi looked at him. "Sure Trick, whatever you think is best." Everyone was surprised, including Dyson, that Kenzi accepted sanctuary so quickly. She was usually the first one most willing to fight the way out of things. And Dyson wasn't about to let this gift horse trot away.
"Thanks Trick. We'll use my rooms." He grabbed Kenzi's hand and started pulling her towards the door, towards some privacy so he could find out what the hell was going on with her.