“That is going to mean so much paperwork,” Jillian said, turning to Dani. “And I think your assignment just got long-term. We’re going to need you to watch the rift, repair it and keep us updated on any changes.”

Dani nodded. “That works for me. I don’t feel like leaving anytime anyway.”

“I’ll throw in a raise,” Jillian offered.

“That will be nice.” Dani chuckled a little. “Why are you sweetening the pot? I already said ‘yes.’”

“And a bonus for discovering the sabotage.”

Dani threw up her hands. “Seriously, I’m already agreeing to it.”

“And you only have to bake apple crumble for me once a week,” Jillian added, her tone suspiciously casual.

Dani scrunched her face into a scowl. “This is starting to feel like a trick.”

17

Dani

Dani sat on the gazebo swing on the town square, watching her new neighbors mill about, going on with their daily lives. None of them seemed to know how close they’d come to losing everything. They hadn’t seen the rift, felt its intent. They didn’t know what Lara had planned. The knowledge in her head made her feel isolated and separate from almost every man, woman and child in Mystic Bayou.

And yet, it was much better that way, she knew. The last thing the League wanted to do was cause a panic, and there was wisdom in that.

Still she feared what was to come. She was going to be staying in Mystic Bayou for the foreseeable future. She couldn’t leave until she determined what sort of damage Lara had done to the rift. She didn’t know how much energy was leaking through to their side. Not to mention, Lara hadn’t been working alone and whoever had directed her to the bayou was out there somewhere, waiting for another opportunity to tear at the rift. And the scary part was that Dani had no idea why someone would want to do that. It certainly didn’t strike her as something someone would do if they were remotely interested in people being safe or healthy. It seemed about as smart as using a nuclear warhead as a hammer.

Dani couldn’t leave, knowing that what was on the other side of la faille was bleeding through to Mystic Bayou, changing its citizens, spreading to other areas. She definitely couldn’t leave knowing some mystery dynakinetic could come along and rip open the repairs she made.

She was going to be the self-appointed Guardian of La Faille.

She should definitely get some sort of name tag made up.

“You look like you’re thinking some pretty heavy thoughts.”

Dani grinned up at Zed. He leaned down and butted his head gently against hers. She pressed a warm kiss to his mouth.