"Business as usual. I'll have Jule, and Jonny will have you. The balance will be maintained."
"What's in it for me?" Xander asked.
"Nothing," Damian said and crossed his arms. "Your choice."
"You Guardians don't understand how to bargain."
"I don't have a need to bargain."
The vamp said nothing. Damian turned to walk away. Xander was there for a reason, and Damian suspected it had something to do with the immortals plaguing both gods. Damian made it halfway to the grass, where the Black God paced beside a calm Jenn, when Xander's low voice stopped him.
"Very well, Guardian. I will work with Jule."
"Good. He'll find you in a day or so," Damian said without turning. His gaze went to Jenn. "You okay?"
"Yes, ikir," she replied, though her eyes strayed to Xander. Damian heard the uneasy note in her voice and looked her over, his gaze lingering at her hips, where her weapons should've been.
"I told you she'd be fine, Damian," the Black God said, irritated.
"When Jule goes to see Xander, he'll stop by to have a chat with her," Damian replied. "Maybe she can explain to him why you stripped her of weapons."
Jonny glanced at Jenn, as if noticing for the first time that she wasn't armed. The Black God frowned and looked towards Xander. His hunch confirmed that Jonny wasn't running the show, and Damian pinned the youth with a heated look.
"I'll have them returned," Jonny said. "And Charles? Where is he?"
"He can track Others. He led us here." Damian lifted his head, indicating the three forms standing at the top of the hill. Charles' eyes glowed red in the night. He stood next to Dusty and another of Dusty's Guardians.
"Useful ability," Xander said. "Unfortunate I didn't know that before you traded him, Jonny."
Jonny flushed at his tone.
"Just part of the game, kid," Damian said to the Black God. "That's what happens when you have an Oracle for a mate."
"Damn Oracles," Jonny muttered.
"You have no idea," Damian replied then turned his attention to the figures on the hill. "Disarm and go home, Dusty!"
The assassin nodded. Damian glanced around Ballynoe once more, satisfied they'd resolved this mess without blowing up an international landmark. He closed his eyes to Transport home, well aware he had to figure out what to do when the Watchers came for Jule's woman, which they certainly would.