Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 171450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 857(@200wpm)___ 686(@250wpm)___ 572(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 171450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 857(@200wpm)___ 686(@250wpm)___ 572(@300wpm)
“Your ego will be the death of you.”
He shrugged. “I can survive my ego. Just not you.”
She couldn’t help but laugh and watch the fear in everyone’s eyes as they passed. No wonder he survived on it. The power was intoxicating.
They entered the main lobby of the general assembly building, which was a beautiful glass wall that opened to a three-tiered balcony. The tiled floor was in a checkered pattern, leaving everything feeling bright, open, and cheerful. Most of the delegates would access the assembly through the Secretariat building, which housed the delegate offices.
Kierse and Graves followed the masses past the lobby, listening to the whispers swirl around them about the convocation. It was feverish chatter over the Monster Treaty, including what amendments would come up to modify the existing document. Many seemed to think that it would be better for humans to change it. Kierse was skeptical. She thought the more likely outcome would give monsters free rein. Especially knowing what she did of Amberdash.
“This way,” Graves said, bypassing the crowds who had come to watch and veering them toward the lounge.
A security guard checked their clearance cards and then let them inside the enormous hall full of delegates. Officially, one hundred and ninety-three delegates had been chosen, divided among the various types of monsters as well as humans. They’d been selected over the summer to represent their kind, and it was a spectacle even now to see monsters teem among an array of humans from all over the country.
Mafi stood directly inside the hall when they entered. She had on a black pantsuit with a black-and-white hijab. “Graves.”
“Emmaline,” Graves said with a smile. “I thought that Covenant was on medical duty?”
“They are,” she confirmed.
“But we’re not,” another voice said as the Black woman at Mafi’s side turned around.
Kierse did a double take at the sight of Rosetta Davis. Out of her darkened Vegas quarters and the beaded velvet attire and, apparently, white contacts, she looked even younger than Kierse had envisioned. Not a day over sixty and yet she knew her to be much older. She had on a flattering purple blouse and fitted wide-leg black trousers with her dark hair in its customary bun.
“Rosetta,” Graves said in surprise.
“I forgot to tell you,” Kierse began. It had gotten lost in the shuffle of the party and their fight and the heist.
Mafi glanced between them. “Do you know everyone, Graves?”
“When you’ve been around as long as him, it becomes habit,” Rosetta said.
Graves caught her eye and then managed a smile. “What made you come back?”
Rosetta shot him a wide-toothed grin. “Times are changing.”
“That they are,” he confirmed.
“Given any more thought to the trials?” Rosetta asked casually.
Mafi’s eyebrows rose. “What trials?”
“We’ve been a little busy,” Kierse muttered.
“As the lady says.” Graves gestured toward their friends. “We have to…”
“Of course.” Rosetta touched Kierse’s arm before she left. “Good luck in there.”
Kierse startled at the intensity in her eyes. “You, too.”
Then they pushed away from the contingent of witches only to be stopped again by a figure with a long, lupine stride. “Lounge is for delegates and their staff only.”
Graves straightened at her approach. “Hello, Nova. I wasn’t sure you were going to make it.”
“Of course I made it. I took Nathaniel’s seat, after all,” she said with a toothy grin.
Kierse jerked forward at Nate’s name on her tongue. How dare she after being the one to tear out his throat. She missed him with an indescribable ache in that moment. It was only Graves’s hand on her arm that kept her from attacking Nova, which of course was what the werewolf wanted.
“Touchy,” Nova said.
“You’re lucky to be standing,” Graves told her, his voice iced over and embodying winter.
“Why? Because you killed off everyone else from that balcony?” Nova spit back, all fire. “I’m not going to sit around and wait for you to enact your ill-fated revenge. I’m smarter than that.”
“We’ll see,” Graves said. “Come on, Kierse. We should go join our delegation.”
“Your delegation?”
But they ignored her as they strode toward Niamh and the contingent of Druids at her back.
“I’m going to kill her,” Kierse snarled under her breath.
“All in due time.”
“Any trouble?” Niamh asked.
“Nothing we can’t handle.”
Kierse’s gaze swept across the room, waiting for the nearness of the bond to catch. The invitation was technically Lorcan’s. It had been delivered to him as the delegate this summer with Niamh as his second. And yet she didn’t see or feel Lorcan at all.
“He’s not here,” Niamh told her.
Kierse’s gaze snapped back to her. “I know.”
“He said he wouldn’t be party to what we were doing.”
“Good riddance,” Graves said and then pulled Niamh aside for final preparations.
Kierse saw Lyra at her parents’ side, dressed to the nines in a power suit, four-inch designer heels, and an oversized leather bag. Beckham and Reyna Anderson looked like royalty amongst the vampire kind. Quint stood separately with his father Roland and the rest of the Syndicate. It didn’t stop them from chancing glances at each other when they thought no one was looking.