Page 25 of Hunger & Harmony

After exchanging a look with Ezren, I nod.

“Can do. Let me know if there’s anything else.” I glance up. “What about you?”

“You’ve satisfied me enough, Pookie,” Ezren coos, and I have to playfully punch his shoulder for that.

“Ez.”

He snickers triumphantly as he steps away. Before Niko can scold either of us, my work phone buzzes.

“It’s Selene!”

I don’t have to explain more than that.

Up the narrow hallway, I follow the path until I’m sitting across from her and Lorelai at the table. The chill, mundane vibe has dissipated, making room for pinched eyebrows and furious mouse clicks.

“What is it?” I ask, stomach sinking further the longer they don’t answer.

After a few more moments of tense silence, Lorelai whips around her laptop. Multiple windows are up, each showing news articles and videos with similar headlines.

Anti-vampire protests are rising in Gravemont.

My brain nearly short-circuits as I scan over the words, reading everything but not understanding.

Tensions, near-violent skirmishes, crowds with pickets.

I sit back, wide eyes flicking between Selene and Lorelai. It’s hard to know what to say.

Ryel and Ezren file in, the latter taking his spot next to me while Ryel heads to the couch. Niko appears, too, keeping his back against the wall as Selene speaks. The hum of the highway leading to Gravemont is a humbling backing track.

“Correspondence from the Court came in. Archduchess Imara has already relayed a warning about this,” she says.

Isn’t that Niko’s aunt and the previous regent?

“She’s pushing to not play this venue?” Ezren asks like he already knows the answer.

“With threats to revoke privileges if a scandal arises,” Ryel hums.

Niko remains silent. It’s confusing. If he truly is king, then how could his aunt threaten him? Is he not the one in charge? The air pressure in the bus is nearly suffocating, regardless.

I turn the laptop away, tired of the ugly clickbait titles and comments.

“What’s your call?”

Selene looks at Niko. Everyone is. Even I turn towards him.

My heart leaps when his eyes find mine first. Those burgundy irises leave me dizzy, so I lower my gaze to his crossed arms.

“We’re going.”

No one dares to object. In fact, when I glance at everyone, they look assured. Relaxed. As prickly as Ryel is, even his body language loosens. Niko may have to answer to his family and his Court, but it’s obvious that here, with his bandmates and allies, his word is law. They trust him.

“We’ve defied in worse ways,” Ezren says with a dry laugh.

Selene nods.

“Survived worse, too.”

“What do the Midnight Cynics not scrutinize?” Niko adds, and the road to Gravemont already feels breezier. “They weren’t the ones facing the first wave of hate like we did.”