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My entire body jolts at the mention of the Kingsley name, and I narrow my eyes at the man in question.
Cade's uncle.
I recall the conversation Mia and I had with James in that diner. He didn't ever say what Lincoln did, but it was obvious that he had connections with Q, even if he wasn't one of them.
I nod at the man at the end of the table. Just like the other Quinctus members, he's wearing a sharp black suit, but that's where the similarities end. Where Q look sophisticated and wealthy, he looks like a gangster. He's got tattoos running up his neck and down onto his hands. His nose is crooked, having been broken more than a few times, and he's got scars over his face, the most obvious running from the tip of his eyebrow down onto his cheek.
Quite frankly, he looks terrifying, and not at all like someone I would expect Q to be associated with or Cade to be related to.
"I asked him to join us to help reassure you all."
"Reassure us?" Tim asks before I get the chance. "How is his presence meant to do that exactly?"
"I know it’s likely that you think that my nephew is with me," the man says, his voice so deep and low it practically makes the furniture in the room vibrate. "But I can assure you that he is not. I haven’t seen him in years. The last time was actually at my brother's funeral."
I glance between him and Phillip, trying to figure out the dynamic between them.
James said that Lincoln had a vested interest in Cade's legacy with Q, so why hasn't he seen his nephew, and why is he here now?
Seems mightily convenient.
"This little reunion, or whatever it is, is nice and all, but who are you? What do you do, and why do you care so much about Cade's well-being and future?" I blurt, much to the shock of the rest of the Electi and the elders if their wide eyes are anything to go by.
"He's my flesh and blood, of course I'm concerned." I stare at him, not believing a word of it. "Quinctus and I are… business associates," he says vaguely, steepling his fingers as he leans back in his chair.
"You had no rite of membership for yourself, so you set up elsewhere while waiting for your nephew to take over, that it?" It’s a stab in the dark, but from the slight shift in Lincoln’s expression I know I’m onto something. “It seems a little strange that you turn up when Cade has gone AWOL, and yet you claim to have no knowledge of his whereabouts.” My eyes narrow right at him.
“You should remember your place, son,” Phillip warns, but I don’t look at him. I’m too busy watching Lincoln, trying to piece together the things we’re obviously missing.
“The boy has questions,” Lincoln says coolly. “It’s to be expected.”
“Your nephew murdered my…” I forcefully correct myself. “His prosapia’s parents. He left her for dead, and you’re sitting there like this is all business as usual.” My body vibrates with rage. Pure undiluted rage. “You—”
"Easton, that's enough," Phillip barks, slamming his palms down on the desk and pinning me with a look that might make others cower. He seems to be forgetting that my girl's safety is potentially at risk right now, and I don't give a fuck about his opinion.
"You're right, it is enough,” I grit out. “Enough lies and bullshit. The Electi of the past might have allowed you to fob them off with half-truths and riddles, but I won’t. I want to know everything. I want to hear from your lips why you—"
My words are cut off as the door behind us flies open and Mia comes storming in.
"Where is he? Is he here? Is this where you're hiding him?" Her face is as white as a sheet as she homes in on Phillip. "You need to tell us where he is and what the hell is going on right now," she screams at him. "I want to know why you would do this to me, to my family, to all of us." She gestures to the rest of the Electi as I race toward her.
"It's okay, mou—Mia," I say, cupping her cheeks in my hands.
"No. No, it's not." She slaps my arms away and races around me. "I watched my parents get lowered into the ground only days ago because of all of you, and I want to know why. Why was I even involved in all of this? Cade told me that he was the one to put my name in the calix. Why did you let it happen? Why would you think that was a good idea when you knew the truth? You knew he wanted to hurt me."
"We didn't know that," Phillip admits, and I’m sure I hear a trace of guilt in his voice. "We had no idea Cade knew the truth about his father's death."
"So you're going to admit it now? You planned his death. You tasked my father to kill him."
Phillips's face turns hard. My eyes skim to Lincoln, and I’m hardly surprised to see the stone mask he wears still in place. If he’s shocked about Mia’s unexpected arrival or about anything that just happened, he isn’t showing it.
"Did you really expect that he wouldn't find out, or that he wasn't as fucking twisted as his father? A man who could only be controlled by death?"
"We never intended any harm to come to you, Mia, truly. We had hoped that you would be a good influence on Cade. Help us to steer him in the correct direction."
"The only place he's heading is hell," Mia seethes. "He's twisted. The things he said—" A sob rips from her throat as the tears that were filling her eyes begin to fall. "The things he did to me."
"Okay, that's enough," I say, wrapping my arms around her.
