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“After. Let’s get through this first, Love. We don’t want to taint the evening with the underbelly scum,” Wyatt explains.
Tamara orders us to place our masks and earplugs in, halting any protests I would’ve made about waiting.
I feel the person before their cold fingers tap my shoulder before helping me rise. The walk doesn’t last long before I hear the distinct sound of an elevator. I can feel the heat of other bodies, most of which belong to my guys.
The doors open and we file out, walking another ten steps before the smell of fire hits my nostrils. My blindfold is pulled off, and I look around the room. We’re in the inner sanctum of the NOS. Guliana and I have had meetings here over the last few months.
At the front of the room is a stage where a man prepares the branding station. That explains the smell of fire.
A smiling Guliana signals for us to pull out the earplugs. “So glad to have you all here, finally.” Then, she approaches and hugs each of us. “I want to explain how tonight will work, as you all will have a different induction ceremony than the rest of the NOS members.”
Nodding, I move into Wyatt’s side, needing his comfort for this part. It’s bittersweet. We’re finally here, but Wes isn’t.
“You’re all fucking fools if you think I’d ever let you win. Enjoy your love for the five seconds it’ll last.”
The words of the repulsive cunt still plague my nightmares. She’s cost us so much.
“Stay with us, Dove. It’s what Wes would’ve wanted,” Lev encourages, but I want to tell him that if that’s the case, he should be here to tell me.
My eyes bulge from my skull when Wes jumps from the platform, heading in Samantha’s direction.
“Wes,” I shout, but he’s too focused to hear me.
A cry rips from my chest as I watch the scene unfold in slow motion.
Shaking my head clear, I focus on Guliana’s instructions. “We’ve moved to the private portion of the ceremony. You’ll each be called up one at a time and take the pledge.”
It’s time.
“Once you’ve done that, you will receive your brand. However, unlike the others, an invisible ink tattoo will circle it. Then the tattoo Tamara described earlier will be inked onto your finger before you receive your ring, which is only for appearance’s sake,” Guliana states.
Guliana moves to the podium, grabbing a gold metal box. Then she hands it to the man and continues. “In the meetings, no one in the room will ever know any of you are the Princeps or that Ariah is the true Princep. This is what allows for your identity to remain hidden. As we discussed, you’ll fill some vacancies over the coming years. I will remain on until those spaces are filled.”
Owen steps forward and speaks, “I, Owen Preston Jefferson, swear to uphold the tenets of the Novus Ordo Seclorum. I pledge my loyalty to the Novus Ordo Seclorum. I pledge my allegiance to the mission and swear to take all I know to my grave, never divulging its secrets to nonmembers. I pledge this of sound mind, body, and spirit.” Then, the branding iron is pressed into the inside of his upper arm.
I have to cover my mouth to hide my snicker. Owen’s face is gleeful, and the person branding him looks almost appalled.
Owen moves over, and then Sebastian’s name is called. Wyatt quickly follows, leaving Lev and I standing at the bottom of the steps to the stage.
“Levi Washington, please step forward,” Guliana orders, and he ascends the stairs, joining the others.
I sigh, staring at the empty space next to Lev. Wes’s absence is glaringly apparent as only the four of them stand on the dais.
The echo of dress shoes reverberates off the hollowed-out walls of the once-quiet room, momentarily distracting me from watching Lev receive his brand.
Turning my head, I look toward the sound but no one appears. My nose scrunches in confusion before I return my gaze to the stage.
Lev is holding up his arm when the scent of spiced, smoked brandy fills my nostrils.
“There’s my forever girl.”
My eyes flick up, and I take my first real breath of the night. “Wes,” I murmur, turning to level him with a glare.
“I can’t believe you assholes didn’t tell me you chipped Samantha,” I yell, mostly in relief, but rage is mixed in. My heart stopped and started in the span of twenty seconds.
“In our defense, it would only work if she didn’t get someone else to make the tech,” Lev mumbles, and my pupils double in size.
I massage my temples before I glare at him. Between the ringing in my ears from an exploding Samantha and my loud shrieks, my head is throbbing.
