I lift my brows. “War?”
“That’s what this is. We’re not painting a mural or picking daisies here. You are overthrowing Alfo. You’ll spare those who pledge allegiance. The rest will be vanquished.”
I collapse onto the couch beside Leo. Across the sectional, Misha has her lips tucked around her teeth, a finger twirling rapidly at her hair. She’s anxious too.
“God, it just sounds so…” I pinch at the skin between my eyes.
“Because it is,” Misha says, voice firm. “This is a big deal. It’ll affect the entire community.” She scoots forward on the couch and fixes Leo with a severe look. “We need to figure out when, where…howwe’re going to do this. If Diantha needs to sacrifice a lot of demons, let’s find a way to get a lot of demons in one place. And we need an army. There aren’t many vampires willing to go against Alfo.”
“You have my commitment, Meesh. You know that,” he says.
“We can call on my coterie,” Orfeo offers almost sheepishly. He’s leaning back against the stone mantel of the fireplace, one hand buried in his hair while the other holds a cigarette that seems to be infinite. The firelight catches on his bone structure—the hollows of his cheeks, the sharp angle of his jaw, the hook of his nose. He catches me watching him, and I quickly tear my gaze away.
I hear Hecate’s voice in the back of my mind.Start again.
Leo nods. “Good idea.”
“And I can contact the last of my coven,” Misha says, before turning to me. “I was a witch before I was a vampire.”
“Can I ask a question?” I interject. At once, they all look at me. Three pairs of supernatural eyes with their glowing irises and perfectly symmetrical faces. I try not to lose my confidence as I ask, “Why do you have to pledge yourself to me?”
“Good question,” Orfeo says, stubbing out the last of his cigarette in an ashtray. “We’ve all taken an oath of servitude toAlfo, for varying reasons. This is different from our debts. A debt can be worked off, but an oath of servitude is a choice.”
Misha scoffs. “A choice we made at knifepoint.”
“Regardless, we made it. It is an alliance, like being in a gang. When we shift our servitude to you, it is a sign of commitment and trust in your leadership, regardless of whether or not you grant us our freedom. Our commitment will make you stronger.”
“But ifyoutake the oath of servitude,” I begin, locking eyes with Leo, “he’ll notice?”
“We are only half-brothers, but I believe…yes. He will register the shift.” Leo’s large shoulders slump forward and he works his jaw with his hand. “It will activate him, put him on edge, at the very least. He could flee or snap.”
“So we’ll table that for now. Let’s just…let Alfo know I want to work with him.”
“I’ll let him know you’re, uh, ready to cast the spell.” Leo adds heavy air quotes around the end of his sentence, and it hits me how gentle he seems in comparison to the first night I spied on him. Almost like his instinct is at odds with his physical appearance. He tears his hand away from his jaw and pushes it through his golden curls, pulling them out of their shape. “Once we set a date, we can begin the planning from there.”
Orfeo nods. “Diantha, you will need to stay here until we are ready to execute the plan. We will need to do everything to protect you and this knowledge. Leo, any guards you can spare?”
“Her,” he says at the same time Misha says, “Me.”
“Perfect.” Orfeo presses another cigarette between his lips. He hasn’t stopped smoking, I realize.
What are you thinking?What are you afraid of?I wish I could unscrew the top of his dark head of hair and root around in his brain. I wish I could find out if he has the same fear as me: that I’m a fraud.
“Guys, what if…” I shake my head. “What if she got something wrong or…or was lying? What if I’m not anything at all, and this is all a trick?”
Misha and Leo trade a knowing look. “There’s one way for you to find out.” She smirks. “For you both to find out, actually. Leo, shall we go?”
Leo smiles for the first time, maybe ever, in my presence. “I think we shall.”
“Enough, you filthy children.” Orfeo rolls his eyes. “Exit my home at once.”
Misha stands almost mechanically, grabs her purse, and strides toward the door, turning her head at an unnatural angle to call out, “You know how much I fucking hate when you do that, right?”
Even Leo chuckles. “Wait for me, Meesh.”
After Orfeo watches them safely disappear into the dense, dark forest that surrounds the carriage house, he pushes the door shut, bolts it, and then turns back to me. “Please excuse their vulgarity.”
I laugh, getting up from the couch. “I think I might be missing something. I need a little explanation?—”
