There are even more Reformists I don’t know. It’s such a crowded, chaotic space, but at least that means not everyone is staring at me yet. As Baelfire, Crypt, and I pass by a small group of Reformists dressed in their combat gear, one of them spots us and hurries over. He looks around my age, with dark skin, faded hair, and an easy, bright white smile.
“Finally! Maven Oakley. Godsdamn, you are so much more stunning than people kept telling me you were. Much better in person than in all those pictures I keep seeing of you everywhere on the news. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, but I hope that’s not the only pleasure we’ll share together,” he grins, reaching for my hand as if to shake it.
Crypt snatches his hand and twists it hard until something breaks, making the stranger yelp in pain. The Nightmare Prince keeps his voice misleadingly calm. “From one incubus to another, I will skin you alive and feed your rotting entrails to the wisps if you ever try to touchmy museagain.”
When Crypt releases the stranger, he’s quick to shake off the pain in his healing hand and looks at me somewhat awkwardly. “Shit. Muse? Okay,clearly, your quintet is not nearly as platonic as a friend told me it was. Really sorry about that. I’m Collins.”
“The orgy guy,” I recall.
He sighs like he gets this all the time. “I mean. I’m now a highly decorated captain leading troops against the worst of the wraith attacks in South America, but…sure. Yeah. I also threw some orgies, back in the day. Good times, right, Bael?” he grins at my shifter like they’re old pals.
Baelfire makes a face of disgust, wrapping his arm possessively around me. “Don’t fucking remind me.”
“By the heavens,” a familiar voice mutters nearby. When I glance over, it’s Ross—one of the Garnet Wizard’s acolytes from the Sanctuary. The one with the third eye, which is still magically concealed as he gawks at me. He bows, but it seems more out of fear than respect. “I heard so much about your return, but…good goods on high, you really are back.”
“Disappointed?” I smirk.
He practically trips over himself trying to assure me that he’s thrilled to have me back, but he’s interrupted when someone clears their throat loudly behind me.
Turning, I come face to face with both Amelia Lykoudis and Harlow Carter. The two high-ranking legacies are eyeing me almost as intensely as they did on my first day at Everbound—only now, they’re not assessing how much of a threat I am. Instead, they’re studying me the way everyone else is starting to: like I’m some otherworldly being they’ve never seen before.
“Carter. Lykoudis,” Baelfire greets flatly with narrowed eyes, clearly not a fan of them.
Harlow’s previously colorful hair is now shorn completely, which is a damn good look on her. The tough legacy folds herarms, shaking her head at me with a grin. “Wow. You really put the bitch in obituary, don’t you?”
Ross chokes nearby like he thinks she just signed her death warrant. Baelfire snarls.
“I think that’s supposed to be a compliment,” I clarify quickly, holding up a hand to keep Crypt from stepping forward and ripping out her spine or whatever beautiful punishment he had in mind.
“It is,” Harlow agrees quickly, glancing at the Nightmare Prince with an appropriate amount of fear.
Amelia Lykoudis sniffs as she studies me. “You know, I lead the northeastern pack of wolf shifters now. After my dad was murdered, they put me in charge, even though I’m not a shifter. I’m the first non-shifter to be in their pack, let alone lead it. It’s a huge honor.”
“That’s nice.” I don’t know what else to say, because none of this is relevant to me.
“Funny thing about my father’s death, though. Turns out, someone ripped his heart straight out of his chest. Exactly the same way Iker Del Mar’s was ripped out and wound up all over the news. Got something to say to me?”
“Nothing you haven’t already figured out on your own.”
Amelia huffs. “I knew it. Listen, I don’t believe you’re a demigoddess. The ravens and coming back to life and weird shit you do—there has to be another dark, disturbing reason for all of it. A lot of Reformists here, including Harlow, say you started the Upheaval with good intentions—but guess what? A lot of people in this room and all over the world hate you for what you’ve done, and they always will.”
Let me rip her jealous, weak little psyche to pieces, love,Crypt pleads.It will only take a moment.
His words trigger Silas to speak through the bond next.Is someone bothering Maven?
My fae and Everett start scanning the room from where they stand, glowering when they see the people gathered around Baelfire, Crypt, and me.
I ignore my pissed-off matches and the way Ross and Harlow are glaring at Amelia as I regard her. “Good. I'm not here to make friends. My inner circle is overcrowded enough as it is."
The next person to join this annoyingly close group gathering around me is Asher Douglas, who shoves Ross aside and starts shooing people away. “Hey. Commander Decimus is about to officially start the meeting. Get your asses into chairs and shut your faces.”
A couple of the people he’s shooing away don’t move at all as they continue to stare at him.
“You missed some,” I point out, gesturing toward them.
He looks where I’m pointing and then back at me like I just grew a second head. “What are you talking about? There’s no one there.”
Oh. “Never mind. Those are just the fresh ghosts.”
