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And finally, there was Kingu, Job’s other nephew. Kingu was Tessie’s sister’s son, so he was new to Job’s list of loved ones. Kingu had Phazed with Hope, of the Fire House, which sort of made the gangsters of the Fire Kingdom Job’s in-laws. (God help him.)

At Christmas, Reflection Phases had targeted the Fire Kingdom. They’d tried to frame Kingu’s family --Job’s family-- for an attack on the Cold Kingdom. Job didn’t appreciate that, so he’d come to the Reflection Palace to ask Yuan some questions.

He had no intention of instigating conflict. Calm and rational were Job’s defining character traits. He dressed like a banker, with his white-blond hair pulled back into an elegant queue. Never in his life had he started a fight. But he also wasn’t going to let threats against his family go unanswered. Yuan would cooperate with Job’s investigation, willingly or not.

Unfortunately, Job had told Tessie where he was going, and his Match had told Nia, and Nia had told Cross, and Cross had told Gion. Then, Cross and Gion decided to help Job with this visit.

And with the two of them “helping,” the whole day became more stressful.

Cross stood beside him in the Reflection Palace’s Great Hall, staring at the walls, where hundreds of duplicate Crosses stretched out into eternity. None of the dark-haired, scowling doppelgangers looked happy. “This place is creepy.” He told Job, loud enough that his voice echoed off all the hard surfaces. “And I grew up in the Shadowlands, where “creepy” is a lifestyle brand.”

Gion stayed slightly behind them, watching the back of the room in case Reflection Phases decided to attack them from the rear. Why would Reflection Phases want to attack them from the rear? Job had no idea, but he was sure Gion had plenty of theories. The man lived a life braced for ambush.

“You should have insisted that Yuan come to the Agora, Job.” Gion said for the millionth time. “Make him stand before the Council and explain why there were Reflection Phases pretending to be Fire Phases in the Cold Kingdom.”

“The Council requested Yuan’s presence, and he didn’t show up.” Job reiterated patiently. “That’s why I decided to come and find him.”

“I don’t like it.” Gion grumbled, unappeased. His long black cape swirled around the tops of his boots. “I don’t like Yuan or this land or whatever underhanded shit the Reflection Phases are involved in. And I especially don’t like being away from my Match for a whole afternoon, while we deal with it all.”

Gion’s devotion to Ty was his most redeeming quality.

“We should all go home. Just send men to arrest Yuan and be done with it, Job.” Cross recommended.

“Arrest him for what? It’s not illegal to ignore the Council’s summons unless it’s an official inquiry. We don’t have enough evidence that Yuan’s personally done something wrong to hold an official inquiry. The Reflection Phases who attacked the Cold Kingdom are either missing or dead. Nothing ties back to him.”

“He’s the king of this shithole.” Gion rolled his eyes, like Job was being ridiculous. “It all ties to him.”

“I agree.” Cross agreed. The two of them agreed with each other a dismal amount, these days. “The man is obviously guilty. Why waste time with an investigation to prove what we already know?”

“Because justice requires more than just strong intuition.”

Gion was unmoved by that bedrock of jurisprudence. “Didn’t you say being on the Council means I have to help prevent crimes? Well, basic crime prevention means preventing criminals from committing crimes by killing them before they act.”

“That is not what crime prevention means.” Job corrected.

“Hesitating to end our enemies is how Vandal got away.” Cross weighed in. “Although, that’s at least eighty percent Chason’s fault for not slaughtering him before we even got there.”

“We should’ve killed Chason, too.” Gion had yet to forgive the Magnet King for kidnapping Ty. “Life would just be so much easier with fewer assholes roaming the streets.”

Job realized he was probably going to have to live forever. Gaia only knew what kind of havoc Cross and Gion could create if he was gone and they seized control of the judicial system. And the two of them would absolutely seize control. “The Council doesn’t execute people, just to make things easier.”

“You want me to do it?” Gion offered. “Because I’m fine with executing assholes.”

“Fewer assholes would be a good thing. Decapitation as community service.” Cross gave Job a persuasive nod, like he was trying to talk him into stopping for ice cream on the way home from school.

Job rubbed his forehead, which was, for him, a colossal display of outward emotion. He felt a great deal, but exhibiting those feelings was still a work in progress. “Recall how we discussed that I would let you two come, only if you didn’t make this meeting difficult.”

Gion and Cross frowned at him in baffled unison.

“We’re not making it difficult.” Cross defended. “Killing Yuan would be easy.”

Job shook his head. Yuan’s powers weren’t offensive, but they were vast. “He’s one of the most powerful Elementals alive.”

“So am I.” Gion scoffed with casual arrogance. “And so are you and so is he.” He gestured towards Job, then Cross. “I promise you we can take him.”

“What scary powers do Reflection Phases even have?” Cross made a derisive face. “So they can look like anyone. Big deal. Just so his fake-face is connected to a fake-neck, we can behead Yuan and get on with…”

“You’re plotting to behead the king?” A cold voice interrupted. “If you are, I shan’t follow his wishes to escort you to him.”