Total pages in book: 194
Estimated words: 187021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 187021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
“Good,” Graves said. His eyes shot up to hers, and she mouthed, I told you so. He tipped his head at her in concession.
“I’ve reestablished your security net and reinforced it with my warding. I’m working on the problem of the Curator now. That might take me a little longer.” Walter ripped the papers off the printer and passed them to Graves. “I’d print the list of registrants, but it’s hundreds of monsters long. If you’re looking for anyone in particular, I can do a search for you. Otherwise I’ll send it to your email for review.”
“Excellent.”
Graves scanned the schedule that Walter had given him. Kierse abandoned the decoy to take a look at the second half of the papers and see what all the fuss was about.
Saturday, June 22nd 11:00 a.m.
The Rise and Fall of Vampires: A Comprehensive Look at the Changes in Blood Composition by leading experts in the field, including ex-Visage scientist Harry Hayward.
Saturday June 22nd 11:00 a.m.
The Monster Treaty: Pros and Cons for Wraiths including panelists Gregory Amberdash, Michelle Lombardy, James Van Dyken, and Anders Larsson.
Saturday June 22nd 11:00 a.m.
Monsters in Academia: A Who’s Who of Tenured Monster Faculty including Waylan Yarrow, Bastian Williams, Ifetayo Musa, Samantha Smith, and Jorie Nguyen.
Saturday June 22nd 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Lunch served in The Oak Room. Dietary restrictions pass required.
Saturday June 22nd 2:00 p.m.
Blessed Be the Peacemakers: The Role of Human Religion in Upholding the Monster Treaty with Harvard anthropologist Eugenie Ethridge
Saturday June 22nd 2:00 p.m.
Don’t Say the M Word: How to Talk to Humans About Magic with the leading Fae folklorist, Andrea Chapman, paired with human/monster psychologist Henrietta Sanchez.
The list was endless. Every time slot had six to ten different panels of varying topics for monsters.
“This is…exhausting,” Kierse admitted as she continued to flip through the pages.
“Yes. Everyone who is going is required to speak. It’s the bipartisan contribution, blah, blah,” Graves grumbled.
“You’re speaking?”
He glanced up at her. “On Sunday.”
“We’ll have the cauldron before that.”
He smirked. “Exactly.”
She flipped through the pages until she found the list for Sunday. She almost missed it twice because there was no name associated with it.
Sunday, June 23rd 8:00 a.m.
Monsters Not Magic: A Comprehensive Look at the Myth and Lie of the Motto featuring a surprise guest, a renowned Monster Treaty specialist.
“You got your name removed?” Kierse asked.
“I did,” Walter said with a grin.
“Worth his weight at least,” Graves said.
“Eight in the morning,” she said with a snort. “They should have known you’d never agree to that.”
Gen snorted. “Facts.”
Kierse went back to where she’d left off. She already had more questions than she could keep in her head all at once. Amberdash would be there, which made sense. He wouldn’t be able to avoid being included in something like this. A Fae folklorist sounded like someone Kierse should corner in a bathroom for information. The dietary restrictions card had her worried. She knew what monsters ate—who they ate—and what that card must look like. She doubted it was just gluten free.
“Oh,” Graves said softly.
“What’s oh?” Kierse asked.
“I might have found your way in.”
Kierse peered over his shoulder and saw that his finger was pointing toward the Friday night entertainment. “A welcome reception benefit for the arts?”
“That’s where the Curator is going to be showcasing his collection.”
“How is that going to get me inside?”
He pointed at the next line: “Including the cast of New Amsterdam Theatre’s Aerial Garden reproduction of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
Kierse’s mouth formed an O.
“Lyra.”
Chapter Fifty
Lyra Anderson on stage at the New Amsterdam Aerial Gardens theater, playing her rendition of Hermia, was a revelation. Kierse had thought she was a triumph on their opening night during the auction. With a few weeks of regular shows, she had transformed into an otherworldly creature. The crowd grew still and silent every time she appeared on the stage.
This was the fourth show that Kierse had seen in so many nights. Graves had gone to the first with her, and he was here again tonight. His hand rested on her inner thigh under her dress as they watched from a secluded table to the right of the stage, closest to the backstage door.
“You think this will work?”
“After what she said to you at the auction?” he asked with a smirk.
“I am irresistible,” she teased.
His hand inched higher. “You are.”
She spread her legs wider under the table and let him find that she’d opted out of panties for the night. The dress was a form-fitting navy silk that showed every line and curve. She hadn’t had a single pair of underwear that worked with it.
Graves stilled the second he found out. “Wren…”
“Hmm?” she asked coyly.
“Can you be quiet?”
She shook her head but didn’t stop him as he slid his fingers higher. She inhaled sharply, feeling the flex of his magic surround them. She could still hear the stage performance, but no one would be able to hear them. That wouldn’t keep her face from revealing what he was doing to her, however.