I frown as I curl my limbs up towards my chest, feeling Henry taking up his usual position at my crown, burrowing himself into my hair as he enjoys. Before I can reply, I’m asleep again.
When I wake up for the second time, it’s not Sabrina in bed with me, but Stacey, playing a cooking game on her phone, muttering under her breath.
“Oh, are we up?” she asks, leaning over to peer at me with her almond-shaped eyes.
I roll over and rub my face, kicking the sheets back. “I feel less tired,” I mutter, pushing myself up and scanning the room. Stacey’s backpack lies against the door, and her two nimpins chirp at me in greeting. “But I need to get up now.”
“Yeah, Minnie said you’d say that!” Stacey leaps out of bed, her blonde plaits swinging wildly. “And you smell a bit funky, by the way. It’s better if you shower andthengo to the meeting.”
“What meeting?” I say sharply, downing the glass of the water on my bedside table and testing my leg. It’s found its strength, but I’m going to have to watch it today and I send healing down to it to smooth away any excessive inflammation. If I need to fight, I need to be in my best physical condition.
“Yeah, something’s gone down,” Stacey says, picking up Eugene and striding into the attached bathroom. I hurry after her, goosebumps erupting all over my naked skin as Henry levitates alongside me. “Beak’ll tell you.”
Ten minutes later, I’m showered, with my teeth aggressively cleaned and my hair brushed, dressed in leggings and a tank top, stepping out of the hidden staircase to the lower part of the animus dorms. Sure enough, the pale, dark-haired twins are on guard, daring anyone to look their way, which no one does because they’re cold, hard beasts. They escort Stacey, Eugene, Henry and me to the Rec room on the ground floor.
When I arrive, Marduk, Minnie and Beak are standing around a table, talking softly. Minnie has her pink sparkly folder in hand.
Beak’s face brightens. “Aurelia.”
Stacey and the twins leave us, quietly shutting the door with a definitive clunk. “What’s going on?” I ask suspiciously.
The smile slides off Beak’s tanned face as his expression becomes serious. “There are a few things you need to know.” He pulls out a seat at the table.
Carefully, I sit down, placing Eugene on the table before glancing at Minnie and her mate. Minnie is the only one who gives me a reassuring nod. Henry buries himself in my hair once again, and his old reassurance settles my heart. Just a little.
There’s a knock at the door before it opens to reveal Yeti, leading in a middle-aged man in a suit with long brown hair. He smells like a jaguar and I recognise him, but I don’t know where from.
Strangely, he stops on the opposite side of the table and bows to me before sitting down. “Lady Boneweaver, my name is Rufus. I help Mr Kharkorous with the administration side of his enterprises.” He gives me a soft smile. “You might have seen me at the Jewel of the Jungle.”
“Of course,” I say quickly. That particular night had been a whirlwind, and there had been many new faces. “How…can I help you?”
Something about his demeanour turns grave as he opens the business folder. “A few months ago, Mr Kharkorous made some adjustments to the ownership of his multiple corporate entities…in the case of his death or return to sea.”
My stomach drops. Like, completely out of my body. This was when Scythe had intended toreturn to seain a permanent way. Of course, it would make sense that he’d prepped for the business side of things.
“Scythe is not at sea,” I hiss. “Nor is he dead.”
Rufus’ head snaps up. “Of course, my lady. However, he was quite explicit with me about the succession of his estate. Both he and Xander Drakos were the existing directors of his enterprises, but he listed an additional name.”
Ignoring the fact that Savage is not listed as director, my heart leaps into my throat as Rufus levels me a look. “That name is yours.”
I stare at Rufus. The jaguar clasps his hands over his papers and lowers his eyes respectfully. “As neither director is available, Kharkorous Enterprises is left to you.”
My throat is suddenly dry. Scythe has given me his empire.
The room swims a little. The floor trembles. The wooden table vibrates. Minnie reaches over and squeezes my hand. Beak says in a low voice from next to me, “You’re not alone in this, Lia.” Slowly, the room quietens, my power settling down as I slither back into a sense of calm.
“Your first salary has been transferred into your account. Each morning, I will call you to provide a brief of the current events and action points for the day. Some will be more pressing than others.” So this is who Scythe spoke to every morning. Rufus slides a piece of paper towards me, but the letters are a little blurry. “I’m afraid there is a matter of importance that cannot be delayed. I need a signature on this.”
“What’s it for?” I croak.
“An execution order.”
My mind is suddenly sharp, and I sit up, the black words on the paper suddenly focusing. “Whoever for?”
“A young beast caught sifting for information. He was a spy for an opposing crime lord. Not a very good spy, obviously.”
“And…this is normal for Scythe to sign?”
