"It's not impossible," Jaclyn said. "But, I can't say I'm excited to find out whether they're ultimately more loyal to humanity or themselves. Lee's deal with the Cabal gives us a year where they'll leave us alone."

Haley bit her lip. “That was last June.”

Jaclyn nodded. “Do you think they’ve been counting down the days?”

Haley sighed and her eyes darted between the two of us. “I hope not. I don’t even know what day it was. Do you?”

I looked over at Jaclyn and she shook her head.

“No," I said, "but I’m sure I could figure it out. Anyway, I bet one of us knows.”

Jaclyn nodded. “Even with their descendants here, I’m not that worried about us, but Marcus and Sydney are still in Grand Lake. Even if they weren’t, all of our parents are.”

I wanted to say that they were soldiers, and they probably wouldn’t go after civilians like our parents. I also wanted to believe they wouldn’t go after Marcus or Sydney because even though they were both there, they weren’t big players in what happened. If anybody, I’d expect them to go after me. I’d been the guy who’d dropped their leader’s head in a pond, ensuring that he’d actually die for real.

Of course, Lee had cut the man’s head off, and he was probably going to be teaching here.

Anyway, as much as I wanted to think that the Cabal’s soldiers wouldn’t go after Marcus, Sydney or our parents, they had the last time around.

From the way Haley stiffened, I guessed that her thoughts had gone in the same direction as mine.

“Look,” Jaclyn said, “Lee knew about the deal. So did Larry. I’m sure one of them told the League’s board.”

Daniel’s voice filled my head. Along with it, I felt the presences of Haley and Jaclyn.

Don’t worry about it. Well, don’t worry much. The board knows, and my dad mentioned to tell people that they were on it. I don’t know what they’re doing, but they have connections. I’m sure they’ll work something out.

Izzy and Daniel were ahead of us in the food line, already grabbing plates. The two of them looked like they belonged together—both of them taller than six feet with light brown skin. Both of them drew attention, but in different ways—Daniel because he was literally tall, dark and handsome in a baby faced way. Izzy drew looks because even if she held herself like she wanted to hide behind the glasses she wore, she had a presence to her.

I’d call it an indefinable presence, but her muscles were more defined than most. She wore clothes that hid them—like tonight’s long sleeved, loose blouse—but they were there.

Izzy brushed against him, and even though Daniel could construct an effective mental shield, it wasn’t as effective with those of us who’d grown up with him. Even though he must have blocked us from feeling all of it, we still felt a hint of everything a guy feels when his girlfriend brushes against him.

Haley giggled.

Jaclyn thought back, Thanks for telling us. How about we end this conversation now, and pretend that last part never happened?

The connection ended as Daniel blushed.

Izzy asked Daniel something, glancing back at us as he answered. Then she smiled uncertainly, and went back to loading her plate with food.

Jaclyn shook her head. “For now, we’ll hope that the board has Grand Lake covered.”

Haley looked up at Jaclyn. “You don’t think the Cabal would come here, do you?”

Jaclyn shrugged. “I don’t know, but I doubt it.”

“Me too,” I added. “With all the security they have here, whatever the Cabal tried would turn into a direct attack before it was over, and I doubt they want more attention. It pretty much destroyed them after we exposed the mayor.”

In the lull that followed my comment, a hand tapped my shoulder. “Planning something big?”

I turned to find a red haired girl my own age. She wore black jeans and a matching jean jacket. A blood red gem hung from the necklace she wore.

“Amy,” I said, happy I remembered her name. That sounds bad, but I knew her codename better. “This is my girlfriend, Haley who’s also Night Cat. Haley, this is Amy, also known as Bloodmaiden. She was with us for New York.”

“The magical princess?” Haley asked.

Amy glanced at me. “My fame precedes me, what there is of it. Did Nick mention me?”

Haley shook her head. “No, I saw you on the news afterward, and looked you up.”

I spoke up again, realizing something I should have said, “And, of course you know Jaclyn.”

“Of course you do,” Jaclyn said. “Did everything heal up?”

Amy nodded. “It took a few days even with magic. How about you? I saw them burn you. I would have died a few times over.”

Jaclyn clenched her jaw at that. “I’m okay. Doctors and healers can’t do much for me, but on the bright side, it’s hard to really hurt me. I got better.”

Amy turned her head, following the line. I recognized some of her friends near the end of it.

“I should go,” she said. “See you later.”

She gave a little wave, and left.

We were at the table. I grabbed a plate, and then a hamburger.

Next to me, Haley grabbed her own plate. In a tone that sounded more curious than accusing she asked, “Did you know she likes you?”

I hadn’t.