As a Current Night Son, I wasn’t permitted to wear my mask during hearings. Only Elders had earned that privilege.
That rule always pissed me off. If you knew who I was, then I wanted to know exactly who the hell you were too.
Attendance wasn’t mandatory for Selection Hearings.
To my left, a screen lit up with Blair’s face. The photo was one I’d uploaded, taken from her previous university ID.
I shifted in my chair, studying it as if it were the first time I’d seen her. As if I hadn’t already memorized every detail.
The curves of her plump lips. Eyes that had nearly transfixed me.
Slow heat writhed inside me.
I couldn’t wait to corrupt her. To claim her.
And once she was mine, I’d no longer have to entertain as many bullshit rules.
I’d never wanted a Fawn the way I wanted Blair, and she wasn’t even officially mine yet.
My previous Selection Hearings had always been routine. Another name, another girl to break.
This was the first time anticipation bit at me like an animal.
If any of these assholes tried to challenge her becoming my Fawn, there’d be hell to pay.
“This is the girl my son, Jett, died for?”
I looked up at the sound of Reginald’s smug voice.
I slammed my hands onto the table, shoved my chair back,and stood. “Would you like to lose another finger, Reginald?” I asked the room, not bothering to search for him in the tiers.
Most of the men hid behind pseudonyms, but not Reginald. He wanted to be known down here.
Even without seeing his face, I smiled. There wasn’t a trace of humor in it.
Whispers rose from the Elders above, though I couldn’t make out the words. One of our rules was to show respect to the Elder Sons.
Fuck that.
I rolled my shoulders back and straightened my hoodie before speaking. “I’m glad you brought that up.” I pointed at Blair’s face on the screen. “This is the woman your dipshit son ran his mouth to, spilling all our secrets.”
A few Elders shifted on their benches.
I placed a hand over my chest. “So, yes, I made the decision to make this woman my Fawn.” My gaze swept the room. “Wouldn’t you all agree it’s far less complicated to claim her than kill her?”
Every Night Son at the table nodded.
Some of the Elders from the tiers followed suit.
Others stayed silent and still.
Leaning forward, I braced my hands on the edge of the table. “This prospective Fawn has known about our existence for nearly a week. Yet she hasn’t spoken a word about it.” My eyes lifted toward the upper tiers, where Reginald usually sat. “Meanwhile, Reginald’s son couldn’t keep his mouth shut. He exposed us. The real question is how he learned enough to do it.”
Conversation rippled through the chamber, and I flashed a shit-eating grin.
Reginald had really been fucking up lately.
Both of his children were dead. His reelection campaign was collapsing after news broke about several mistresses. I’d heard there were dick pics involved, but I had no interest in confirming it.
