“What do you want me to do?” he asks. “Go to her house?”
“Where are you now?”
“Poseidon’s Wharf,” Soter replies, and I scratch my head. He’s too far. Janus and her wife live in Broomwood. Leigh watches me with vast, worried eyes.
“Jaxson’s closer,” I reply. “I’ll have him go.”
Leigh says something.
I cover my phone’s mouthpiece and lower it. “What?”
“The vampires,” Leigh says, her hands clench at her sides. “They didn’t show up either.”
That’s suspicious. Dread settles over me like an icy cloak.
“WILDER!” Soter screams into my phone.
I cringe and raise it. “What?” I snap.
“I know what caused the blackout,” Soter says darkly.
“What is it now?” Leigh’s eyes search mine.
I put my phone on speaker. “Soter, you’re on speakerphone with Leigh.”
“Hi, Leigh,” Soter purrs, but there’s an edge to his voice.
“What’s going on?” Leigh asks, all business. Gone is my girlfriend, and in her place is my queen, her spine straight, her gaze fierce.
Soter clears his throat. “Wilder, check your messages. I just sent you Stellan Navis’s latest article. You will want to read this.”
Leigh peers at my phone as I open the attachment.
The Queen’s Failures Laid Bare
By Stellan Navis
ASdarkness engulfs half the nation due to the Bersa Power Station workers’ strike, demanding higher wages from Epsilon Plant owner Michael Bersa, who refused to increase pay following the War Letters revelation, one thing is crystal clear: Queen Leigh’s leadership is severely lacking.
Plant workers left their posts this afternoon, leaving the plant undermanned. This caused a fire, which darkened parts of Aurora and several other cities, including the capital.These cities share the Bersa Station grid. Countless citizens are left without power, and lives are in disarray.
Where is our queen during this crisis? Instead of demanding a solution or retribution for the Nebula people, she spent the evening swapping stories with the Council. She is too self-absorbed to realize that the Nebula people her ancestors betrayed are crying out for her. She has tunnel vision, prioritizing her pet projects over the needs of the masses.
We need better leadership.
I plan to provide that leadership. Consider this article my official bid for Mayor of Aurora. I am kicking off my campaign now and will see that Aurora and the Nebula people are cared for. We will no longer be ignored or left in the dark. It’s time for a change, and I am ready to lead us into a brighter —
“That bastard,” Leigh screeches. “I was going to propose dismantling the Labor Laws as well as the Lunar Witch centers, but his articles riled up the damn Council too much for them to listen to me!”
I stop reading. My fist clenches around my phone. Leigh is seething, her face flushed.
“Soter, I am going to have to call you back,” I say.
“Someone on the Council is Stellan’s source.” Leigh’s voice shakes with rage.
I glance between my phone and Leigh. “That’s what he claims, but you can’t know for su?—”
“No. I believe it. Most of what he says is too personal.” Leigh paces before me again, her footsteps heavy on the floor.
