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“Because you’re friends with my mate, and I know who she’d pick.”
“Who would you pick, Meredith?” Sebastian asked. His chair creaked as he leaned back in it. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was enjoying this as much as Donovan was.
Being far away gave Meredith a bit of an advantage. She could say what she thought without feeling the wrath in the room. The way she rubbed her hands together as she thought almost made me laugh. “Dastien is a must. You can’t have Tessa doing something magical at all without her mate. They’re stronger as a pair.” Exactly. “Lucas because of Claudia, same reason. Chris for sure. He’ll balance them. And that leaves one spot.”
“Who’re you likin’ for it?” The t on his ‘it’ was heavy with his Irish accent. Donovan was having fun.
Meredith did an eenie-meanie-miney-mo. “Blaze.”
Blaze shook his head. “No. If it’s a new group, then I should be out, too. I was just as big of a problem as the rest of them.”
“That’s exactly why she should pick you. I’ve met you a few times over the years, and you’re kind, generous, and powerful. It’s a good combo,” Meredith said. “Plus, you’re admitting that you did something wrong. That counts for a lot. Experience makes up for the difference.”
If I was not mistaken, the Alpha was blushing. “It’s kind of you to say.”
“And that’s such a Blaze thing to say,” Meredith said as she crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair.
Donovan laughed, but the rest of the room turned to me.
“How correct was she?” Sebastian asked.
“Aside from Blaze, exactly right.”
“And who did you like instead of Blaze?” Lisette asked.
I shrugged. “I wasn’t sure. I had that spot empty. I figured there was going to be a fight, so I was going to leave that up to you.”
“Ah. I see,” Sebastian said.
I waited for the outburst, but it didn’t come. I wasn’t sure why, until I saw Cosette rise from her chair. “Blaze is acceptable to the fey,” she said, effectively ending the argument. “I’ll be back soon with the others.”
She was leaving? No. She couldn’t. Not now. She’d just gotten here. “When are you coming back?” I shouted at her as she strode to the door, hoping I didn’t sound too desperate.
“Soon.” She looked over her shoulder and her gaze met mine. “I won’t leave you hanging.” The door closed, but I wanted to ask her who she was bringing back and what the hell soon meant exactly.
I chased after her, but as I stepped into the hallway, she was gone.
I jogged to the front entrance, but she wasn’t there either. Night had fallen on St. Ailbe’s but as far as I could see, there was no one out there.
I knew she couldn’t do that whole teleporting thing without Van, but I hadn’t seen him. So, how did she leave?
The sound of angry voices built as I walked back to the conference room. The reaction I’d been expecting was there. It’d just been delayed.
Shit. I didn’t want to go back in the conference room. The sun had already set, which meant we were running out of time. I could feel Astaroth’s fingers wrapping around my neck as the time slipped away.
Come back. We’ll wrap this up and leave, Dastien said through the bond.
You feel it, too? I asked him.
No. But you do, and ever since this afternoon…I don’t want to fight something I can’t win.
So what do we do?
We need off this land tonight.
So we run? That’s what I thought we should do, but would running send Astaroth the wrong message?
He already knows we’re afraid and that we’re not prepared. But we will be. Part of being a leader is to know when to retreat.
