“Don’t worry. In a strange twist only the universe could provide, I really do think she wants the same thing you do.”
“Oddly I agree.” She links her arm through mine. “Let’s get this over with so we can get back to Whitehorse with the kids and cuddle.”
“I thought we were calling them special hugs around the kids?” I tease.
“You’re not allowed to give Chloe a special hug.” She makes a face. “Although, Chloe says she doesn’t mind. Her vagina is growing cobwebs.”
“After what she did to me—tous, I’m not sure I care.”
Skyla wrinkles her nose. “I know. But I’m here. She didn’t have to say yes. I can’t think of anyone else I could have possessed without complicating things too much. I’ll try to think of someone to set her up with once I vacate the premises. Like maybe one of those wicked Winters boys? Or someone we haven’t even met yet who went to East.”
I grunt, “You mean someone who doesn’t know of her cursed fury. Good luck with that.”
The din of several conversations going at once erupts as a crowd walks by.
“Let’s do this,” I say as I navigate us to the newly rebuilt oversized barn, cavernous and chilly just like the old one, but the walls are painted a creamy yellow and the floors made of distressed wood offer it a homey appeal. Skyla ditches me and finds a seat next to Wesley and I grimace at Skyla’s choice, but I wouldn’t put it past Chloe to sit next to her dicey ex—especially seeing they’re on the same side now.
And seated at the front of the room, boldly facing the crowd is Rory in all her Skyla glory. Her hair is pulled back into a bun that looks as if it’s sprouting weeds, and I’ll admit, it’s a good look on her. It’s not something Skyla would normally do on a night like tonight, but then Rory has let Skyla’s beautiful hair tense up in a giant knot. Skyla will probably have to shave her head and start from scratch when she gets back into her body.
Seated on either side of her, like a couple of bookends, are Brody and Ellis. I’m glad about it, too. It normalizes things. Rory has come to expect their help, my help.
“Hey, beautiful,” I say as I come upon her and land a kiss to her cheek. “Ellis, do you mind?” I nod, and just as he’s about to bounce over a seat, she catches him by the wrist.
“You stay, Ellis.” She smiles my way. “Logan, I don’t need you corrupting me.” She gives a little wink. “Let’s save something for bedtime.” She pushes the papers in front of her over to Brody. “And I don’t need anybody’s notes. I know full well what I’m about to say.”
A wave of panic blows through me. “What are you going to say?”
Her diamond eyes flash my way. “You’ll find out with the rest of them. Don’t worry. I’m securing these people for the greater good of Celestra. Demetri was right, I’ve been stagnating in leading my people. It’s time they understand that my rule over them is ironclad. They couldn’t escape if they tried.”
Brody flashes a worried glance my way. “Skyla, they’re not prisoners. If you make them feel that way, their natural inclination will be to run.”
Her lips twitch. “Run where? We have the ability to cover the markers permanently.”
Ellis shakes his head. “Don’t do it, Messenger. Give them what they want and they won’t need you anymore. Remember?”
Thank God Ellis said it and not me. Clearly Rory is pissed that I’m not slamming her into submission in the bedroom. And the only one not in on our new plan concerning the serum was Rory.
She tips her head to the side.
Gage strides in and takes a seat up front, right next to Skyla—Chloe to everyone else.
“I like you, Ellis,” she says. “You don’t get nearly enough credit around here. That’s brilliant. But I’m not talking about the serum today. They know we have it, and they’ve been temporarily inoculated to hide the markers. Most people here have already gone through the testing procedures to clear themselves of any suspicion. We’ve already done too much for them as far as I can tell. They’re the lazy ones.” She glares out at the crowd. “The government has the country so wound up with thoughts of an alien invasion, our people will need what we can provide for a long time to come. I have something else planned for the meeting. Something a little more radical that will secure them to Celestra.”
My stomach does a revolution.
What the hell could Rory have up her celestial sleeve now?
“Go take a seat with the rest of them,” she says dismissively to Brody and Ellis—in a tone that Skyla would never have invoked with them. Thank God they know the truth or Rory would have burned every bridge between here and Heaven.
Ellis moves out of the way, and I pull his seat out to plunk my way in it.
“No, Logan.” Rory scoots the chair out of my hand. “You don’t sit next to me. I don’t need a man to represent me. I can speak to the Factions on my own. Find your place among the crowd. Take a front row seat, I really don’t care. You don’t belong up here.”
Her cold, unfeeling eyes lock over mine, and I’m tempted to flip the table in a rage.
“Whatever you wish.” I give a slight bow as I head for the front row.
Brody scoots over one for me, and I land between him and Chloe.
