Page 12 of Death Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Eve continued, eyes on Caton. “She has a growing social media following with her short films and other media. Perhaps we could use her and the other empowered students.”

Caton’s gaze flicked to Lucinda so fast it was almost comical. Like he needed permission from the queen before he let his daughter breathe.

“It would be nice to bring my daughter in on council business,” he said. “I trust her.”

Faith grunted at that, the sound rough and obvious.

Caton’s eyes cut toward her. “Something you would like to add?”

Faith’s voice stayed intense, but there was a bite under it. “Just interesting wording. You trust her. Nice of you to say out loud what you do not trust.”

Eve’s fingers tightened around her necklace again. She did not look at Faith, but I could feel the gratitude and the discomfort coming off her in equal measure. Being defended by Faith was like being protected by a blunt instrument.

Lucinda nodded once, decisive. “Mina is responsible. Caton, you should call her.”

Caton did not call. He pulled out his phone and started typing, thumbs moving fast. A text, not a conversation. Control maintained.

While he did that, the rest of the room continued to circle the problem like wolves around a fire.

Alex tapped the board, focusing us. “Containment. If this continues, we need to limit movement in town.”

Hunter nodded once. “The pack can set physical boundaries. We can keep mundanes away from any hotspots.”

Nishi added, “My hunters can do the same, but we need something that does not look supernatural. Barricades. Emergency detours. We can feed mundanes a reason they accept.”

“Gas leak,” Carnell suggested.

Eve gave him a look. “Gas leak that smells like death.”

“Rotting sewer line,” Carnell tried.

Faith nodded in agreement. But the council members did not seem to like the idea.

“Something else then,” Carnell said, mildly offended.

Nishi’s gaze drifted, listening to things none of us could hear. “Fear is spreading faster than bodies.”

Lucinda’s tone rose. “Then we stop the fear.”

I could not help myself. “You want to tell them to breathe and drink some water?”

Lucinda’s eyes flashed. “I want to give them a story that allows them to file this away as nonsense.”

Alex nodded. “A film. A prank. Something viral. If it looks like a stunt, the public will argue with itself until the truth gets buried under opinions.”

I hated that I agreed. I hated that my brain immediately pictured comment sections doing the council’s work for them.

This is fake.

No, it is real, my cousin saw it.

That is makeup.

That is a demon.

You need therapy.

And while people fought online, they would stop looking for answers in the real world. That was the goal. Not truth. Containment.