“I disagree.”
I could see it now, what Milo would have wanted me to say, to do. I wanted to throttle the man before me. I wanted to wrap my hands around his throat and squeeze until he couldn’t hurt anyone anymore. But that was his whole point, wasn’t it? When you fought fire with fire, everyone ended up getting burned. I’d always been the one doing the burning, the hotter head, but looking into this man’s eyes, I could tell he wasn’t going to back down. His fire burned hotter than mine because his flames had been fanned by centuries of oppression.
So I’d have to try Milo's way. I’d have to keep a cool head and be the bigger person because if I didn’t, we’d all get burned.
“I know you don’t have any reason to trust us,” I started, keeping my voice measured, calm. “If I was in your place, I wouldn’t either. But we are not all Cosmo. Let Milo prove that to you. Come and meet him, speak to him, listen to what he’s done and what he plans to do for Sanctuary. Ask him your questions but just give him a chance.”
His eyes narrowed and I sensed I was losing him. I needed to switch tactics, appeal to him in a different way.
Olympia,Luca’s voice in my mind was like a bucket of ice water splashed over my soul. I ignored it, focusing on the rebel in front of me, on the argument I was making.
“If you go on like this, your own people will die, people you love,” I reminded him. “Whether you win in the end or not, whatever success looks like for you, you’ll lose some of them, maybe all of them. Is that a price you’re willing to pay? Is proving your point so important?”
His anger shuttered. I could see the flame flickering in his gaze. I gave him a moment to think on my offer, to ruminate on it in peace. Then he spoke.
“When?”
“Tomorrow night,” I told him. “I’ll come get you myself.”
Olympia, answer me. It’s important.
I blinked, resisting the urge to shake my head, to clear my mind.
Wait, I hissed back at him.
Wolf gave one nod. I nodded back. As that was likely the most in the form of agreement I was likely to get, I took the cue to rise from my chair. Ignoring the glares cast my way, I headed for the door at the back.
“How’s your witness?” Wolf called out when I’d made it just to the light of the shop beyond. “Quite unfortunate timing for his true loyalties to be revealed when they were, wouldn’t you say?”
I turned back, slowly, to face him. Images of throttling the grinning Wolf were flitting through my mind once more. I clenched my fists at my sides and took half a step back toward that table.
Olympia, it can’t wait. It’s important.
I sighed, letting air hiss through my teeth in an irritated fashion as I shook my head and turned back again.
“I hope you protect your own, Wolf,” I said over my shoulder instead, “because that one’s got a target on his back even bigger than yours.”
The asshole actually laughed as I left their shitty bar, stepping into the light of the shop and crossing quickly through it to the cool, dark street beyond.
What?I mentally barked at Luca the moment I was free of them, the moment I could think again.
Bade just left,Luca started.
You called me out of an important meeting just to tell me your plaything had other plans tonight?
Listen for once, would you? He said he was on strict orders from Cosmo to perform reconnaissance on House Avus. He said he was looking for something specific but he wouldn’t tell me what. He seemed spooked, Olympia, all wide-eyed and frantic. He was acting like he wasn’t going to see me again.
My eyes darted to the nearest stairwell, the west ones. I needed to get home. Now.
Thank you, Luca,I sent back as I sprinted for the steps.
Be careful, Olympia. Bade didn’t say anything but I think something might have happened when they were all at the temple. Cosmo came back plotting and when Cosmo plots…
People die.
I ran.
Chapter Thirty-One
