The twins are still emotionally stunted, but their taste in holiday rom-coms gives me hope.
“You’re still high on the list of People She Wants to Kill,” Jaeger informs him. “But so am I.”
“I can live with it if you can.” Kaiser settles into his chair and grabs the remote. He unpauses the movie, and I pretend to watch while the brothers keep murmuring to each other.
“We’re not at the top, though,” Jaeger says. “Of the list.”
“Oh? Who’s number one?”
I could cover my ears, but I don’t, so I hear when Jaeger says, “A man from her past. But he won’t hold the spot for long.”
Jaeger
My gunshot woundgives us a month to prepare for the claiming ritual. It also gives Kaiser time to track down a certain member from her past and lay the groundwork for his disappearance. Fraternitas is powerful, but when it comes to prominent members of society, it’s best to obscure our connection to their death. It’ll be safer for Elodie.
Ten days before the big night, I start edging her. She pouts and sighs but lets me touch her carefully and slowly and stop before she goes over. I lay my hand on her quivering belly and listen to her fight to control her breathing.
The night of her collaring, Elodie gets a visitor. Kaiser opens the door, and Lucy rolls in. Her usual glower softens when she sees my penthouse.
“Jaeger, love what you’ve done with the place.” The tattoo vines on her arms ripple as she wheels around, giving herself a tour.
Elodie uses one of her new crutches to rise and greet her boss. She looks surprised to see Lucy and blanches when she sees Lucy’s right hand.
Lucy notices her reaction. “Oh yes.” She holds up her hand, showing off the skull ring. There’s a black pearl in one of the eye sockets. “I have one of these, too. I don’t wear it in public. No need to broadcast my status to civilians.”
“Lucy’s one of the Seven,” I tell Elodie. Her eyes widen further.
“Another thing I don’t advertise. Jaeger, is there somewhere Elodie and I can talk in private?”
They end up in my bedroom. I take Elodie’s second crutch and lean on it while I lurk outside the door, eavesdropping.
Lucy doesn’t waste time on small talk. “Do you know what happens tonight?”
“Yes.” Elodie’s voice is soft, muffled by the door.
“And you understand the rules?”
“Loyalty to Fraternitas or death,” Elodie recites what I’ve taught her.
Lucy’s voice lowers. “Are you sure about this?”
“Yes.” Elodie clears her throat and repeats louder, “Yes.”
There’s a long pause, and Lucy says, “I gave your friends the rest of the afternoon and night off. They’ll be at Club Empire. But not the ritual after. Understand?”
Elodie murmurs something, and then the door opens, and Lucy comes out. She sees me and snorts, wheeling close enough to nearly run over my toe.
“So glad you could visit,” I tell her. “Come again.”
“I will.” She pauses halfway to the door, taking a gander at the TV. “Is this the one with the lumberjack who saves Christmas?”
I nod, hiding my surprise that Lucy knows the plot of a rom-com.
“Kaiser told me it was good. Maybe I’ll come watch one with you sometime.”
I leave Lucy to let herself out and go to Elodie.
She’s sitting on the bed. Her hand is at her throat, absently playing with the ribbon there. I don’t even know if she’s aware she’s doing it. I sit and take her hands in mine, then push her to her back.
