“Igor Svechnikov,” Saxon cuts in. “You’re one of Jacques Tellier’s henchmen.”
“Hello, Sax. Long time no see.” The Russian smirks.
Saxon takes a menacing step toward Igor, his hands balled into fists. “It’s Saxon to you. What the hell are you doing here?”
“Whoa, do you know each other?” I ask.
“Yes, Saxon and I go way back.” Igor crosses his arms. “Didn’t he ever tell you he used to be on our side of the war?”
“Shut up,” I blurt out. “Is that true?”
Saxon’s face turns beet red. “That was before I knew better.”
“Everyone, calm the fuck down.” Lucca gets between Saxon and Igor. “It’s been a long night, and we have a lot to unpack.”
“I’ll bring refreshments and human snacks,” Gerard says before leaving the room.
Lucca turns around and sits next to Vivi, who had already sat down. She looks a bit tired. Sophie should probably rest too. I steer her toward the couch opposite Lucca’s. Saxon remains standing and glaring at Igor.
“Come on, Sax. Let’s hear the debrief.” Aurora nudges him to the love seat.
Igor doesn’t make a motion to sit down, and that’s when I notice the first familiar isn’t here.
“Where did Solomon go?” I ask.
“My guess is he went home. He probably didn’t want to be part of this discussion,” Lucca answers. “Now, I want to know everything we missed while we were away.”
I let out a loud exhale. “Get comfortable. It’ll be a while.”
SOPHIE
Vaughn tells the part of the story that pertains to his point of view, but there are things he doesn’t have all the details for because he wasn’t present—such as my visit to see my mother.
After I tell Lucca and the others how that meeting went, it’s like the air vanishes from the room. Everyone is staring at me in utter silence.
“Let me get this straight,” Lucca finally speaks. “You’re telling me my uncle and Tatiana have truly agreed to end the war.”
“Yes, that’s what she told me. I think her illness gave her clarity—at least when she’s herself and not a monster filled with rage.”
“I can’t believe the war was caused because King Raphael broke off the engagement. That’s an extreme reaction,” Aurora says.
“I don’t claim to have any understanding of the inner workings of my mother’s twisted mind.”
Vivi’s brow is furrowed, and she seems to be in deep thought. “I wonder if my mother had a hand in all this.”
“Why do you say that, love?” Lucca caresses her arm.
She looks at him. “I don’t know. King Raphael was her favorite human. It’s why she convinced the other sovereigns to grant immortality to him and his followers. She couldn’t bear the thought that he would die.”
“I didn’t know it was Queen Maewe who had that idea,” I say.
“I suppose that’s not a detail that was disclosed to everyone,” she replies.
“What are you implying exactly?” Aurora squints, leaning forward to rest her elbows on her knees.
Vivi rubs her forehead. “I’m not sure. Maybe Rik can shed some light on the situation.”
“That’s Rikkon, Vivi’s brother,” Vaughn whispers to me.
