Katie's Hellion (Rhyn Trilogy, Book One) by Lizzy Ford

Jade commented.
"Do we return her and pretend we don’t know or keep her where they
can’t get her?"
    It’s not cool to use women like that.
    Kris had never heard anything so ridiculous.
No human --nor most of those in his organization --would dream of
speaking to him like that. And yet, she had without fear. Shock did
much to humans, he knew, but she was either crazy or incredibly
stupid to challenge someone like him.
    Worse, they’d never run across this type of
issue in all their years. That it emerged now, when the Council was
on the verge of disintegrating, couldn’t be a coincidence.
    "Jade, send some men to her apartment and dig
around. Check on Toby while you’re there. Iliana, we have a Council
meeting to attend in a couple of hours."
    "You want them to take her back?" Jade
asked.
    "Yeah. Take her back and post guards
everywhere you can. I want to see what Sasha’s planning."
    "You shouldn’t go alone to the Council
meeting," Jade warned.
    "It’s the way it is."
    "Someday, one of you is gonna snap and take
out the others."
    "Let’s hope it’s me," he said with a small
smile.
    "If you wouldn’t take out half the continent
doing so, I wouldn’t care. C’mon, death dude. Let’s get her to her
apartment. Travel safely, Kris."
    Gabriel followed them out obediently, content
to hang around them while bored.
    Kris traveled via shortcuts through the
shadow world as Gabriel did and willed himself to the in-between
world. It was foggy and chilly, like a walk on the beach after the
fog rolled in. Several portals glowed, and he strode across the
silent domain toward the portal he needed. He emerged from the
shadow world in a luxurious penthouse suite in Paris overlooking
the Arc de Triomphe.
    "You Americans. Jeans and T-shirt, Kris,
really?"
    He dismissed his uneasy thoughts at his
eldest brother's accented voice. He shook the hand of his brother
and friend, whose black skin clashed with his. Andre was dressed in
cashmere and wool, his hair kept short and neat, his loafers more
expensive than Kris’s conference room had cost to build.
    "Got nothing to prove, big brother."
    Andre snorted and motioned to the pristine
white sofa. Kris sat.
    "I wasn’t expecting you," Andre said. He
crossed to the wet bar for two glasses, one with red wine and the
other with whiskey. "I keep this cheap shit around just in
case."
    "I like the cheap shit," Kris replied,
accepting his whiskey.
    "You obviously clothes shop at yard
sales."
    Kris smiled, and Andre echoed the movement,
the skin around his eyes crinkling in warmth.
    "I hate these things," Andre admitted. "I’d
rather stay home. Brother, go change. You’re not going to embarrass
me again."
    Kris chuckled, at ease with his brother
despite the unprotected penthouse on the top floor of a building
that could be easily leveled by a single explosive charge. Being
underground meant he was a much harder target to hit, yet despite
his attempts to convince his brother to act likewise, he’d not yet
succeeded.
    He went through one of Andre’s two walk-in
closets, choosing a maroon sweater and chocolate suede pants. He
knew his brother would disapprove but also knew Andre would view it
better than jeans.
    Andre pursed his lips in displeasure as Kris
reappeared.
    "Good enough," his brother grunted. "One of
my most expensive shirts with the pants that went out of season
five years ago."
    "How’s your spy network?" Kris asked as he
poured himself a second glass of whiskey.
    "Eh, not so hot lately. I’ve been losing some
good ones. Still have an idea of what Kiki and Tamer are doing but
no idea what Erik is doing."
    "You keeping track of me as well?"
    "Part of an older brother’s duty."
    Kris sat opposite his brother. Their alliance
off the Council was as important as their balance of power on the
Council. Despite being brothers, neither approved of what the other
did. Andre’s gift lent him great power and control over the mind,
enough so that he had no problem recruiting spies as