‘Moving from being a country bumpkin to a city boy, I’m still finding that it’s easier to think of it as early mornings,’ he confesses ruefully. ‘But I doubt I have as much to entertain me at night as you do.’
The Kelsos and the MacGowans laugh, but the rest of us remain stoic.
While we wait, I glance at the five alcoves in the chamber that will remain empty– four Unseelie Kin who simply disappeared, leaving no trace and barely any memories, and the alcove containing the doorway to The Seelie Court. All are covered in signs of Blight, and the creeping black spores are showing signs of spreading even further in the chamber. I wonder if I’m allowing the Blight to ultimately destroy us if I choose Niamh? The Hunters are just one Kinfolk family– surely, we’re not powerful enough to do that? Am I the only Kennard left who truly wants to stop the Blight? None of the others have shown many signs of standing up to Vincenzo. In fact, most seem to benefit from his decisions, however, given the fact that I was supposed to be marrying his daughter, most of the others probably believe the same of me. Finally, the door opens and Robert McLoughlin wanders in, swaggering towards his seat without a word of apology.
‘Are you going to tell us why we’re here, Cillian?’ Vincenzo asks when no one makes a move to call the session to order, and I stare at him.
‘You called this meeting, not me,’ I reply.
There’s a low murmur around the room. Clearly, I am the only one to whom Vittoria told the truth.
‘My apologies, Kinfolk,’ Vittoria says, standing gracefully. ‘There was little time and I didn’t want there to be any delays or risk any of the Kin being missing.’
‘Youcalled the meeting?’ Carruth turns to her.
‘I did,’ she says calmly, but doesn’t elaborate, forcing Carruth to press her.
‘And?’ Alec Carruth asks. ‘Why are we here,Vittoria?’
If the emphasis he places on her name bothers her, she doesn’t show it. But I make a mental note to watch him. There’s something about him I just don’t trust.
‘I called this meeting because Cillian Hunter is considering backing out of a deal with my family,’ Vittoria announces. I clench my fists as I fight to retain a neutral expression.
‘You haven’t dragged us all here simply to inform the rest of the Court that a deal between the Rialis and the Hunters has gone south, have you? I don’t have time for this.’ Carruth pushes to his feet and takes two steps towards the exit.
‘It is relevant if it has an impact on the future Unseelie King,’ Vittoria states. ‘Something that affects all of us, surely. Plus, you were all happy to accept our hospitality to celebrate the making of the deal, which makes you all a part of it.’
‘Your engagement?’ Carruth says, now staring at me. ‘You’re ending an engagement that’s taken you, what… four years to finalise… after four days? Or is it three? What the actual fuck are you playing at Hunter?’
I don’t miss the fact that his gaze slides to Vittoria and then to Rose, and I shift forward so that my body blocks his view of my sister.
‘It’s true. Since last week, certain things have come to my attention, and it will no longer be possible for me to?—’
‘Please, Cillian. You really should let me speak– before you make a complete fool of yourself.’ Vittoria’s voice is dripping with hate, and there’s a sharp intake of breath around the room.
‘Very well, as long as you don’t actually think I’m going to change my mind, then by all means, speak.’
‘For the past four years, my fiancé may have done his best to keep his infatuation with a human secret. But on Friday, that infatuation caused him to betray his duty to The Unseelie Court in the worst way possible.’
I stare at her. Who would have guessed that Vittoria was such a master at pretending to care? But looking at the other faces, I can see that most are thoroughly engrossed in her performance. There are actual tears pooling in her eyes as she continues.
‘Last Friday night, after our engagement party. When Cillian and I were… celebrating… we were interrupted by a message from this human– his sister’s friend. She claimed that Rose had been attacked at Sussurri– of all places.’ Rose shifts in her seat beside me.
‘Vittoria—’
‘No, Cillian, I am allowed to finish, am I not?’
Her father nods and gestures for her to continue.
‘We arrived at the club, where it appeared that we were rescuing Rose and her friend. In fact, it was a clever set-up. Three Kinfolk lost their lives all due to a misunderstanding, engineered by this human.’
‘That’s not—’ I start, but Rose places a hand on my arm and shakes her head.
‘Let her finish,’ she whispers. ‘You need to find out exactly what you’re dealing with before you can form a rebuttal.’
I nod, impressed by her wits and maturity.
‘Of course, I immediately tasked our security with investigating. Rose had, indeed, been drugged as the human claimed, and we prevented her removal from the premises. We also located and tended to her bodyguard who had been attacked. There was a confrontation, but we were not in possession of all the facts at the time and mistakes were made.’
