Page 67 of Obsidian Prince

Siobhan, Doctor Nudd, Detective Jackson, several members of Alexander’s Special Enemies and Tactics (SET) unit – everyone they needed was there, except Pete.

Liliana and Alexander had just hiked the short distance down the forest trail from where they parked the cars when Pete’s van arrived behind them. Liliana had been watching for it with her fourth eyes.

She felt a little odd about using her spider eyes with so many people around, but they were all either Others, or Normals like Detective Jackson, who were comfortable around Others. A few were even her clients. Not having to hide what she was among so many felt a little daring and scary, but…liberating.

She saw Sergeant Giovanni get out of the van with Pete. Liliana vaguely remembered that the two had planned to play a virtual reality laser tag game together on their day off.

As Giovanni and Pete came up the trail from Pete’s van, they were arguing. Liliana stopped on the edge of the trees a fair distance from the SET squad to watch them with her fourth vision.

She touched Alexander’s arm, stopping him from joining his soldiers. Softly, she said, “Sergeant Giovanni is very loudly griping about how horrible Eliot was. She thought he might be her next husband. She never would have dated him if she’d known he had Other ancestry. She is arguing that Others of any kind can’t be trusted.”

Alexander asked, “Are you going to advise me on what to do about that?”

“I am not. I am terrible at relationships. I don’t know how to fix this. I just thought you should know there is a problem. Sergeant Giovanni is dear to you. Pete is her closest friend and she loves him. She admires and is loyal to you.” Liliana pointed at the group of people waiting a short distance away. “But everyone here is some kind of Other except Detective Jackson. And Sergeant Giovanni is saying this loudly enough for some of them to hear.”

She pointed at John Runningwolf, standing in front of the small squad of SET soldiers in demi-badger form, his round ears folded back and prominent fangs bared slightly. Several of the others in demi-plant, demi-stone, or demi-animal form, also showed signs of anger. Keen hearing was a common trait in many Others.

“Sergeant Giovanni is now talking about Andrew Periclum. He seemed like just another soldier, a doctor even. He had so little concern for anyone that he did deadly experiments on his own people. Others have no real compassion, even for their own kind. They’re all basically sociopaths.”

A muscle jumped in the side of Alexander’s jaw. They were close enough to the trail in the quiet of the forest that they could hear the two arguing now. Liliana no longer needed to repeat the ugly words to Alexander.

“Doc Periclum was a sociopath. Sure. I’m not saying he wasn’t.” Pete’s voice was getting louder as they neared. “But that doesn’t mean all Others are evil, just because that one person was. That’s like saying all Italians like chocolate just because you do.”

“Others are beasts and plants, though. They don’t have real souls. Them passing as people most of the time makes them all big liars to boot.” At that moment, Sergeant Giovanni who was in the lead, stepped into the clearing and looked around. She saw a large group of Others from her Colonel’s special unit, plus Siobhan and Doctor Nudd in human form, all looking at her.

Her olive complexion darkened with a flush of blood, but instead of ducking her head in shame, she lifted her chin defiantly. She ignored the group, and smartly saluted Colonel Bennett, despite wearing civilian clothes.

Alexander stood there for a moment, not answering her salute, so she was stuck standing at attention and saluting. “I wasn’t aware of how strongly you felt about Others, Sergeant.”

“I apologize, sir. I shouldn’t have aired my personal feelings like that. I never would have if I’d been on duty. I had no idea anyone but Pete could hear me.”

Alexander sighed. He returned Sergeant Giovanni’s salute half-heartedly so she could put her arm down. “I’ll put you in for a transfer on Monday.”

Sergeant Giovanni’s face looked like Alexander slapped her. “Sir, I … I’m really sorry. I’ve never let my personal opinions keep me from working well with them before, though. I swear I can still do my job.”

“You misunderstand me,” Alexander said. “I assume you won’t wish to work for someone who isn’t human, who lacks compassion or a soul.” He paused for a moment while Sergeant Giovanni sputtered a little, then added, “Someone like me.”

She stopped, still. “But … you’re not…”

“I am.” He looked up where Pete hung back a little. “I had intended to discuss this with you privately, but it seems keeping my identity secret has caused more than one issue on my team.”

Pete stepped up beside Sergeant Giovanni. He glanced to the side and a few feet away where Liliana watched them with her second and fourth eyes. Her human eyes were aimed at her feet. Pete’s face was thoughtful, as if doing math in his head. He looked at Alexander. “You’re the Fae prince Lilly mentioned.”

Alexander nodded to him. “I gather she told you there was one in the area, but not who it was.”

“I don’t tell people’s secrets.” Liliana stepped up beside Alexander, human eyes on the grass and leaves on the ground between Sergeant Giovanni and Pete. She believed they would not come to blows, but to her surprise, she found herself preparing to defend Alexander from Pete if the worst happened. Not the other way around.

Alexander seemed far less concerned with Pete’s reaction than with Zoe Giovanni’s. He faced his sergeant, who had followed him loyally from assignment to assignment for years, believing he was human. “I am Other.”

Sergeant Giovanni shook her head in denial.

“My father was human, but my mother was a queen of the Sidhe.”

“Sir, you don’t have to say that to show what I did wrong. I know I messed up, but I also know you’re human. You’ve always been human.”

“Why? Because I care about the people I lead? Because I have protected you—and you, me?”

She tightened her lips in a thin, angry line. “Because Others aren’t like you, sir. I know I was out of line. I understand if you need to send me away from your SET unit, but you don’t have to lie to me.”