AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh, Andromeda, there you are. I’ve been texting you.” Cassia leaned over the banister from upstairs. Likely, she’d come from Thora’s room. “Called you too.”
When Romy pulled her phone from her pocket and saw her mom’s missed call and unanswered texts, she immediately regretted getting sidetracked with Silvan. Thora was fighting for her life, and Romy justhadto see the big lycan jack off. “Is Thora—”
“The same.” Cassia interrupted. “I needed to speak with you about a favor.”
Dane backtracked to the door. “That’s my cue to make like a banana and split. I’ll check you—”
“Stay, Dane.” She cut in again. “This pertains to you as well.”
They exchanged puzzled glances and sat on the couch as Cassia came downstairs. After a few seconds, Cyril joined them as well.
Cassia rubbed her eyes, bloodshot from late nights and anxiety. Romy thought she’d aged decades in two days. “I know this will come as a shock, but there needs to be a High Council meeting tonight, and I need you to preside.”
“Come again?” She couldn’t have heard that correctly. No way in this world would Cassia suggest that Romy, with her unactivated powers, supervise the Preternatural High Council that she wasn’t even a member of.
“I have to stay here with Thora, but the findings of Claude’s investigation must be disclosed to Asa Rincewind and his pack, Monsignor Marchland, and the other leaders.”
Romy slumped against Dane, and he offered a supportive squeeze to her arm. “Can’t you FaceTime them? Zoom call or something?”
“Unfortunately, no. This kind of announcement must be face-to-face and in a formal setting. Everyone bears witness to my verdict, which you will read after disclosing the details of the investigation. As the future high priestess, you exist as the mouthpiece of The One and The Only.”
“Well, Mom, I appreciate the vote of confidence, but I gotta sit this one out. I’m not ready to lead the council yet.” After a hard swallow, she forced a tight grin. “I’ll be there to support Grandmother or Aunt Selene or whoever you get to do it.”
“This wasn’t an invitation, sweetheart.” Cyril leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “This is mandatory.”
“You said afavor,” Romy fired at her mother. “Not an order.”
Cassia’s eyes fluttered in exhaustion. “Andromeda, I really don’t have time to do this with you.”
“You’re the one who said I can’t even move a candlestick so why the hell would you want me to lead your stupid council?”
Wide-eyed, Cyril stood and clapped his hands once. “Dane, that’s our cue, bud.”
As the men withdrew to the kitchen, Romy didn’t take her eyes off her mother. Cassia didn’t relent in her stare either. Green eyes to green eyes. Same skin. Same hair. Sometimes even the same attitude. But they were not the same in everything. Romy did not want to be bound by the constraints Cassia created. “This is wrong, Mom. And you know it. You could literally get anybody else.”
“I don’t want anyone else, Andromeda. I want you. As my daughter and my heir, it’s my right to appoint you to stand in for me.”
“You say it’s your right, and I say you’re forcing me to do something I don’t want to do.”
Her mouth curled into a slight sneer that Romy barely noticed. “Sometimes we have to participate in situations we don’t want to for reasons we can’t understand. I will say this to you once, Andromeda, and that is all. I need you to hear what I say and what Idon’tsay.”
Romy nodded but remained quiet.
“You must oversee tonight’s meeting. I cannot tell you why, but I don’t need to be there. You have to trust that I would never put you in harm’s way, nor would I give you a task I thought you were incapable of.” Cassia paused. “Do you understand?”
She didn’t understand, but she did trust her mother. “Mm-hmm.”
“Good. Dane will be at your side.”
“And you’ll be here? With Thora?”
The muscles in Cassia’s jaw tightened as she answered, “Yes.”
But Romy knew she was lying.
CHAPTER12
you are mine and i am yours
