“Is there a problem?” Jackson asked as he hurried up to them, clearly having seen the altercation.

“Not anymore,” Viève said as she hugged Kamen to her side.

Jackson watched the easy affection between them with bemusement. Kamen had changed these past two days. Viève had brought something out in him that hadn’t been there before. Or maybe it was just that he seemed so much more human, more approachable because he was attached to her.

“If he’s giving you trouble, Viève, we can petition the Doyen to send someone else.”

“It would only be more of the same,” Viève said with a shrug. “I am simply less to them, and they can’t see past it.”

“If they can’t see past it for one of their own, how will they be able to see past it for the rest of us?”

“That’s a very good question,” Kamen said. “One worth considering seriously.”

“We’re going to need them. Our deathtouch is going to be crucial. It will even the odds considerably.”

“If we didn’t need them I would have kicked them to the curb already,” Jackson said. “I don’t like to see anyone treated badly.”

“We’re bound to have friction with this many people. They are so varied and their mind-sets so differing. I’m amazed it hasn’t happened before this,” Kamen said.

“So far I’ve seen a lot of mind-sets turned to the same direction. To getting along and working as a cohesive unit.”

“We’ve been lucky so far.”

“Until now,” Viève said grimly as she cast a glance back at a fuming Felix. “What do we do when he reports back to the Doyen?”

“As you said, the Doyen has no power over you.”

“He may not see it that way,” Viève said anxiously. “What if I become a point of contention?”

“You aren’t the first to ‘spawn’ with a human and you won’t be the last. They’ll realize there is nothing they can do to stop it,” Kamen said.

“I hope you’re right.”

“I’m right,” he assured her. “Anyway, we’ll find out soon enough,” Kamen said.

“Do we really know for certain what side they are on?” Jackson asked.

“We have to give them the benefit of the doubt until they give us cause to do otherwise,” Kamen said.

“I only hope it doesn’t cost us in lives later on,” Jackson said uneasily.

“All it takes is a touch,” Viève said softly.

“Let’s just stay on our guard. Trust is earned and so far they haven’t been earning much in my opinion,” Kamen said.

“They’re just being what they’ve always been. We have to give them a chance to prove they can be something different. Or rather, different enough to be of use to us,” Viève said.

“Us. I like the sound of that,” Kamen said, giving her a smile. “Jackson, I told Viève that she would always have a home here with us. I hope I did not overstep myself, but I felt that you would agree.”

“Of course I agree. Viève, we haven’t known you long but we know enough. You have a good and true heart. You will always be welcome here.”

“Thank you so much,” she said, flushing warmly under the acceptance.

“Any time. Any time at all.” Jackson’s head went up and his gaze narrowed on a point over their shoulders. “What’s this?” he asked curiously.

Thinking Felix had done something, she turned to take him in. To her surprise, she saw someone walking slowly up the drive; coming in starts and stops, carrying something in her arms. It was a female. She had long brown hair blowing loosely in the night breeze.

“Templar,” Kamen hissed suddenly, pulling Viève behind himself.

Jackson stepped forward and put a calming hand on Kamen’s arm. “She’s alone.”

“It could be a trick.”

“My instincts are screaming at me to not trust, but haven’t we been saying that trust has to start somewhere or this won’t work?” Jackson stepped forward to greet the Templar female, Kamen following quickly behind him.

“I…I couldn’t find you,” she said hesitantly. “Please don’t hurt me. I wish to defect.”

“We won’t hurt you,” Jackson assured her. “All Bodywalkers who wish to come and follow the way of the Politic are welcome here.” He nodded to the bundle in her arms. “What is this?”

She pushed the fabric aside and revealed a baby. The infant gurgled in its sleep then settled down.

“Is this your child?” Jackson asked gently. “She looks newly born. Are you well?”

“It’s not my child. The child is Odjit’s. When she saw it was not a boy she ordered me to kill it and dispose of it as if it were trash. I could not bring myself to do so, so I risked all to come here.”

Jackson went very still. “Odjit has given birth?” he asked, needing to hear it again.

“Yes.”

Kamen stepped forward and held his hands out for the child. The Templar held on to it more tightly. “I need your word that you will not harm her. I would rather live in the wilds of the humans if that is what I must do. Only…Odjit has discovered a way, I know not how, of tracking those who would try and defect from her. I will need your protection in case she comes for me or the child.”

“You have my promise that no harm will come to her from us,” Jackson said, making Kamen give him a hard look. But Jackson remained firm. “She is safe here.”

The Templar struggled visibly for a moment, clearly trying to decide if they should be trusted. But she must have realized there was no choice for her in the matter really, so she handed the baby to Kamen.

Kamen took the child and inspected her. She had the black skin of a Night Angel. Her hair was a deep, dark blue, almost black as well. She couldn’t weigh more than seven pounds and on close inspection she looked just like any normal Night Angel child.

“Viève, go get Faith,” Jackson instructed her. Viève wasted no time running to get the Night Angel.

Kamen and Jackson focused on welcoming the child and its rescuer.

“What’s your name?”

“Filomena,” she said. “But most call me Mena.”