“Tell me,” he said, crossing to the other chair and listening as Mireille explained everything that Otto had told her this morning. About his search for Fae with human heritage. About the purpose of these bizarre performances, an attempt to appease the Creator.
About his desire to raise some weapon to take down the Empire, for fuck’s sake. The old billionaire really was off his fucking rocker.
“Otto will be distracted for the next several hours as he meets with the other guests.” Mireille pushed herself up out of her chair. “We should take the opportunity to see what else we can learn about this weapon he’s hoping to unleash. He offered me an unintentional clue this morning about where we should look.”
Ronin rose, stepping past her to open the door. “Your lead, Valette. Where are we headed?”
He was heartened by the small smile she offered him.
“To the place where death feeds life and life feeds death.
“The greenhouse.”
Mireille ledRonin through the halls of the guest wing, then down the staircase to the first floor.
In the parlors, small groups of guests chattered in excited speculation about their readings with Otto and Nostrata this morning.
Mireille held her tongue, though she wanted to scream at them. Wanted to warn them about what Otto had told her.
But causing chaos right now was not the most prudent move. They needed more information, needed to get a better grasp on Otto’s plans in order make their own to defeat him and save the guests.
Plus, even if she was able to convince them all to abandon this crazy pursuit, no one could go anywhere until Otto lifted that ward surrounding the estate.
Just as she and Ronin reached the double-doors to the patio, a hand gripped her upper arm.
“I was right!” Nero Beruglia gushed in Mireille’s ear as he pulled her aside. Ronin paused by the doors. “I just had my reading with Otto and Nostrata. Iknewthere was water power in my bloodline. My great-great-great-grandfather visited me in the Halfway. He was human, if you can believe it.”
Mireille plastered on a friendly smile. “I can believe it.”
“Otto says he’s found a way to restore the power to me.” Awe rippled across Nero’s feline features. “Something about a final performance tomorrow? I cannot wait to see what he’s got planned for us.”
Guilt twisted Mireille’s gut. She wanted to warn Nero to be on his guard, but something about the blatant hunger in the male’s eyes stilled her tongue. Mireille wasn’t confident he’d even believe her.
“How did Cecelia take the news?”
Nero’s face fell. “Her reading was not as…successful. No mixed bloodlines in her heritage. But she is excited for me. Wait until our children hear about this. I wonder if Otto will allow them to come here for a treatment as well.”
Mireille jolted. She’d never even considered what Otto might do to the guestswithouthuman blood.
“Just…be wary tomorrow. You’ve heard everything Otto said. About blessings not coming without sacrifice? Think long and hard tonight about what sacrifices you are willing to make.”
He waved her off. “Nonsense. I would makeanysacrifice to reclaim the power that’s been taken from my family.”
Mireille’s gaze drifted to the parlor, full of Fae showcasing the same ravenous excitement as Nero. All firmly within Otto’s thrall. She returned pleading eyes to Nero, but he was lost to his dreams.
“Mireille,” Ronin called out, shooting her a questioning glance.
“Take care, Nero.” She loaded as much warning as she dared into the sign-off.
The male nodded, then bounded back to join the jubilant conversation in the parlor.
“What was that all about?” Ronin asked as they stepped out onto the patio.
“Otto’s got them all wrapped around his slithery fingers. They’ll do whatever he says in exchange for thesegiftshe’s promised them.”
Ronin remained silent as they hurried down the steps and into the greenhouse, the humid warmth within a balm against the freeze.
They clomped down the iron staircase, their footfalls echoing into silence broken only by the faint buzzing of insects and the eerie whisper of rustling leaves.
