“I know. I love her just as fiercely, but the risks are not worth it.”
“I agree.” She pushes up. “I’ll put the kettle on for some tea and check on her.”
“Okay,” I sigh.
11
Iris
Nervousness carves a scorching path in my stomach’s lining as I step into the compound’s foyer. Almost all hellseekers of the Order in our city are standing under the grand cupola, which is a replica of the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel fresco, waiting for the meeting Grayson called for to start. I square my shoulders and let my cold mask slip into place.
As per usual, they all pretend I don’t exist. Not even a chin tilt or a “hello” is thrown my way—as if they’re afraid they’ll catch the half-blood from me. I’m used to it by now, but every time this happens, it still stings a little. Mostly in my pride because even though I have dedicated all my years since the accident to the Order, it still isn’t enough. And I think it will never be. Well, at least this time, it plays into my favor since I’m too rattled tospeak to anyone anyway.
Grayson hasn’t called a general meeting in a long time. The last time he did, there was a hoard of ghouls wreaking havoc on the outskirts of Ashville, and we all had to work together to kill them that night. Today, he’s going to announce either another mission or Erik’s disappearance. My money’s on the second option. I mean, it’s been a week. He surely knows his grandson is missing by now. Honestly, I’m surprised he waited this long.
Fingers drumming an erratic rhythm on my thigh, I cast a glance over my shoulder toward the entrance. I can’t help but wonder if the Aureal Knights are going to burst any second now through the massive double door and handcuff me, then bring me before the Council to confess my crimes.
Stop being a drama queen!
If that were the case, it would have happened by now. Well, even if slim, there’s still a chance Grayson wants to make a spectacle out of my arrest. The stifling silence that shrouds the room as Grayson descends from the massive staircase on my right, accompanied by Noah, interrupts my racing thoughts.
Even if Grayson’s shoulders are slumped as if he’s bearing the weight of the world on them, his gait is as determined as ever. While I study him, a set of mercurial eyes settle on me. So I look toward Noah. Hurt flashes in them like lightning before he rips his stormy gaze away to follow Grayson into the boardroom we use for our debriefs. I expect the usual warm tingles to take over my body at Noah’s presence, but there’s…nothing.
I trudge forward, my feet heavier than two blocks of cement, and file into the room with the other hellseekers. Veronica and Tessa are already inside, huddled together over a distraught Britney.
“Half-blood freak,” Veronica spews under her breath while Tessa narrows her venomous eyes in my direction.
I throw them a fake-sweet smile but say nothing as Imake a beeline for my usual seat at the enormous table, which accommodates over twenty people. Instead of Raquelle dropping unceremoniously in her chair next to mine, though, the crisp scent of sandalwood and cedar fills my nostrils before Noah occupies her seat.
He heaves out a weighted sigh. “Feeling better?” The minty gum he’s chewing does nothing to hide the pungent smell of alcohol lacing his breath. Has he been on a bender?
He avoids my gaze to look at his steepled hands on top of the table. He’s as gorgeous as ever—sun-streaked hair, pouty lips, and a jaw that could cut diamonds. All topped off with a body that would make angels weep. What is shocking is that this is the first time I can appreciate his beauty almost from a distance—as if he’s merely an acquaintance. A painting I admire in a museum briefly before moving on to new sights. “Yeah. I’ve been meaning to call. I just—”
He cuts me off. “Not here.”
“’Kay,” I mumble.
The only response I get from him is a nod as he sucks on his teeth. But he still doesn’t spare me one glance. I can feel Veronica’s eyes drilling holes in the back of my head as she whispers something snarky to Tessa behind my back. They resemble two hyenas as they cackle.
“If you could all please take a seat. The meeting is about to start,” Grayson’s deep, gravelly voice bounces off the walls.
The chatter quickly dies down while everyone obeys his request. I haven’t had the courage to look at Grayson since entering the room, but the moment I do, the pit in my stomach transforms into a cavernous hole. For the first time, he’s showing his real age. Judging by his gaunt features, he has lost weight since I last saw him. The circles under his eyes are a deep purple, so it’s pretty clear he hasn’t been sleeping either. Erik was the only family member Grayson had left.
“Some of you might wonder why I called a general meeting. And some of you might already know.” There’s a long pause that makes my skin itch. “Erik, my grandson, is missing. Saturday evening was the last time Britney, his fiancée, heard from him. We don’t know yet what happened, but we are investigating his disappearance.”
Britney hyperventilates at Grayson’s words. More than half of the hellseekers swivel their heads in her direction. Her sobs wash over me like acid-riddled guilt.Fuck.As much as I hate Britney because, let’s be real, she was one of my biggest bullies, she doesn’t deserve this. Still, she would have married a rapist and a possible serial killer if I hadn’t killed Erik.
As if sensing the war waging inside me, Grayson’s unyielding gaze rakes over my face. Its intensity blisters my skin. Sweat pools in the center of my palms. It takes everything in me not to look away. Luckily, he turns his attention to the rest of the hellseekers in the room, and my lungs expand on my next breath. At least until his next words efficiently knock the air out of them.
“Unidentified demons attacked Iris a little over two months ago. Though slim, it’s a possibility Erik might have fallen victim to the same demons.”
All eyes turn on me. My cheeks blaze under the weight of their scrutiny. I suppressed the urge to wipe my sweaty palms on the insides of my thighs, where my nails dig deep grooves.
“Over two months ago!” Dana’s eyes almost bulge out of her head as she flaps her hands in indignation from my far left. “Why haven’t we been made aware of this information sooner? Or better yet, right after it happened?” She is so enraged that spittle flies out of her mouth with every word. The buzz of displeased exclamations fills the room.
Grayson slams a palm on top of the table. “Enough!” The effect is instantaneous. Quiet settles over the room akin to asuffocating blanket. The look he throws Dana could level a city to mere ashes as he grits out, “Have you forgotten who you’re speaking to, Dana? Have you all forgottenIam your leader and make decisions according to our covenants? The Council decided it’s best to keep it under wraps until we know more.”
I don’t miss the way his and Noah’s gaze lock briefly before cutting back to Dana. Interesting. So he also needed the Kabal’s permission to let everyone know about the umbra attack. That’s probably the reason Noah’s here—to supervise Grayson. I bet he doesn’t like that one bit.
