“Along with respect for power, leverage to negotiate, and breathing room. Much as Omega has achieved by seizing control of all nuclear weapons,” Tanya responded. “Also, those lawsuits didn’t amount to anything. How do you prove that someone just accomplished what many called an act of God? You can’t. Did it stir up the world? Yes, but if anything, it drew attention away from the Coven and put it directly on Chris, myself, and Demidova Corporation.”

“There should never have been attention on the Coven,” Mausya said.

“You do remember that I was here for the Conclave? That I saw and heard everything that occurred that left you, Mausya, as the newest Elder, right? All three elders agreed to a sweeping wave of change, moving from secrecy to direct Darkkin involvement in the modern world. Guess what? We’re involved.”

“You met with all manner of US officials, fought with law enforcement agencies, threatened politicians, and held interviews with journalists,” Sun said.

“Yes, she did. How very vampiric of her. Galina, our little Tanya is all grown up and modifying world events. Just as I knew she would,” Senka said. “How has it all turned out? We have at least as much positive public opinion as we do negative. The whole global news articles thing yesterday proved that. We have arguably more influence over the supercomputer than any government or organization anywhere does. We influence, through Tanya and Chris, an entire crop of the most talented weres and witches in the world. We have powerful assets and allies to help defend our world from Hell, Fairie, and the aliens. What would we have if I had somehow contained Tatiana and her mate? Mausya? What’s the probability we will survive our threats now, compared to before?”

“Before is gone, changed by what you’ve done. So I don’t have a comparison point. My best estimate is that we have no better than a twenty-one percent chance of surviving all our enemies,” Mausya said.

“That high? Impressive,” Senka said.

“You feel twenty-one percent is a good number?” Gault asked, eyebrows raised. Senka gave him a blank look and he quickly added, “Elder Senka.”

“Yes, because it is based on what you all know, not what the rest of us know,” Senka said.

“What is it you know?” Gault asked.

“That would be jumping ahead. Let’s stay on the task you all set. Tanya, back to you leaving the Coven,” Senka said. “Why did you leave?”

“Because of the need to spread knowledge of Darkkin and other elements of our world to the greater masses. Because the government sent a handful of NSA agents to New Jersey to die. Because somehow a Tomahawk missile got launched into the Pine Barrens from a US sub.”

“You and Chris went into hiding?” Senka asked immediately, not leaving anyone else time to speak.

“Yes, which left Nika in charge of our group.”

“How’d she do?”