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EMILY
In the center throne was a tall, slim woman. Was she middle-aged or in her 20s? I couldn’t tell. Features like crow’s-feet were barely visible. Despite her mostly smooth minty-celadon skin, her overall demeanor held an heir of antiquity. Moss grew on her arms, and her pointed ears poked through her auburn hair. Her slitted emerald eyes that sat over her high cheekbones glowered at us. No doubt, she was the infamous fae Queen Amaranth.
To her right sat a ginormous, muscular man with a long, full beard and short, trimmed hair. He wore a red-plaid flannel shirt and jeans and looked like he could bend steel with his fingers. Must be the wolf representative because he greeted Elder Silas and stared at my mates with a confused yet disapproving look. When they each gave their introductions, I discovered he was Alpha Leonidas, from the Hallowed Sombermane Pack.
Next to the alpha was a pale man with long, black hair that hung over his shoulders like silk. His red eyes were the same color as the tips of his pointed fangs. Briar, the vampire representative, looked bored sitting on that throne.
To the left of Queen Amaranth sat a woman small in stature with curly black hair and skin the color of mahogany. Her eyes were dark brown with flecks of green, the same color as the power that swirled around her rhythmically. This must be the witch representative, Juniper.
Finally, the man beside the witch—the demon representative of the High Council—was a face I recognized. Amon.
I had no idea whatsoever that he was a member of the High Council. Relief filled me, as did wariness. I dreaded the possibility that by not getting Thanat to kill the Seven Sins, he’s declined our alliance.
Now was the moment of truth.
Staring at each of them, I realized that in their positions, their skin went from the darkest it could be to the palest—like a beautiful color palette. Or maybe I just missed drawing.
Queen Amaranth skipped the pleasantries and told us to cut to the chase. “I’m rather busy, and I don’t have time to spare on a meeting over such trivial matters. Make it quick.”
Cassian stepped forward, the first to speak. “We’ve hoped for this meeting to address our concerns with Samara. She’s grown in strength and numbers, including the feral wolves that have run rampant in New York City.”
He explained everything, starting from the beginning. From the attack and kidnapping from the Langston Pack to Samara’s threats carved into her recent victims.
“Aren’t you a Langston,” Leonidas interrupted, motioning to Griffin. “Oh, no, that’s right. You’re a rogue.” Such disdain in his words that he spoke with a sneer on his face.
“You are mistaken, Alpha Leonidas. Griffin is a member of the Knox Pack—our pack. He was honorable enough to leave his own pack when he sensed the trouble they were causing, the lives they tormented for their own sick pleasure. He did something when the High Council chose to overlook the situation, as you seem to do so often.”
My jaw dropped to the cloudy surface beneath us.
Cassian, the one who was constantly worried about the High Council’s approval, had just cut them down in a matter of seconds. I was impressed, to say the least. He stuck up for Griffin, and that meant the world to me because it meant my mates could finally coexist without me as their glue.
With his confidence boosted, Griffin jumped into the conversation to explain the increase in the police investigation over the feral wolves’ attacks and how it would affect everyone if something wasn’t done soon.
“It starts with taking down Samara. Cutting off the curse at its source. And to do that, we need your help.”
The fae queen rose from her throne, her dress of leaves, flowers, and moss swishing side to side as it flowed with her movement. “After what you’ve done to my palace, you dare ask for help?”
Well, shit.
We weren’t expecting that. Ember said the guards thought it was the rebellion causing trouble, not us. But she knew, which meant we were royally effed.
“My apologies, Queen Amaranth. With the unlikeliness of gaining an alliance with the High Council, we sought an alliance elsewhere.”
The queen rolled her eyes at Cassian’s declaration. No explanation would satisfy her. She’d decided long ago that she wasn’t interested in helping us move forward, so she wanted to hold us back.
When we finished presenting our request, the fae queen wasted no time in giving her denial.
Leonidas wasn’t far behind her. “I’ll speak with the Langston Pack about their behavior, but that is the extension of my involvement. I will not risk my own pack for a fight that you’re probably blowing out of proportion.”
“Precisely,” Queen Amaranth agreed. “Samara is locked up, away from the world. These concerns you wish to address are unfounded and overexaggerated.”
“The hell she is!” Cassian shouted. “She’s free and growing in power. Just ask my packmates that her cronies attacked. Oh, wait, you can’t, because they’re dead.”
“Of course, you would say that, but—”
“We saw her cottage burn to the fucking ground!” Ember snapped, waving her arms through the air. “When she tried to kill Emily! And now, she’s using the Maledictio Propagator to intensify the curse.”
“Oh please,” Queen Amaranth said, waving her hand as if it were nothing. “Those things are mere trinkets. Parents would use them to make their children clean their rooms or curse their toys to break. I doubt a witch with power like Samara’s would use a Maledictio Propagator.”
