Page 107 of Dead Wrong

“You’ve been lied to,” Lynette addressed the Council members as they trickled in. “I’m sure my mother has told you a great number of things, including news of my disappearance. Yet, here I stand. Ready to take my place as the Ascended amongst the Council.”

Near the back of the crowd, I spotted a familiar robe of aqua blue. The Cardinal, Saint Sancha, stood in the entrance, leaning over to whisper to none other than Cirian. I groaned into the fabric, but Grigori put a hand on my shoulder, and I quieted down. He couldn’t see me, at least not clearly, from where he was. But that didn’t mean that he wouldn’t eventually. I just had to wait for the crowd to thin.

Murmurs of confusion rippled through the Council members, but the grey-haired man approached the table opposite Lynette, picking up a small wooden gavel and pounding it against the table. “Silence! We will get to the bottom of this nonsense, I assure you all.”

“This is the truth of it,” Lynette addressed the crowd. “My mother attempted to end my life prior to my Ascension. She feared what I would do should I be allowed to speak unfettered. Now, I tell you all, here I am. Ready to enact the changes necessary to lead us into a new dawn of prosperity. I will bring the second Awakening here and now.”

The second Awakening? What was she talking about?

I struggled against the gag, trying to make any sound that might carry over to Cirian. But there were too many bodies between us, and like the others, Lynette held his full attention.

The grey-haired man continued, “That is a staggering accusation, Lynette?—”

“Councilman Briggs,” Lynette addressed the grey-haired man. “You’ve known me for nearly thirty years. You’ve known my mother for far longer. I would ask that you take a moment to consider which of us you believe carries the want of a brighter future for all Magi.” She moved her attention to the gathering crowd, planting a foot on the chair reserved for the Ascended and standing upon it. “Please, friends. Take your places. Let us discuss this bright future together.”

Another round of murmurs from the crowd, but they began to file around the table, each taking their place amongst the others. As the Cardinal sank into her chair directly across from Lynette, I was finally able to catch Cirian’s eye. He glanced over me at first, then his dark eyes narrowed in, his lips pulling into a thin line. With the slightest of nods, he gave me the sign I’d been waiting for. He knew that I was there.

Once the council had taken their seats—twelve Adored and twelve Hallowed, fanning out from the center—Lynette lowered herself down into the chair, still flanked by Lorelei on one side.

“Friends,” she spoke in a high, clear voice, raising her hands outstretched. “Since the first Awakening, we Magi have been blessed with the responsibility of guiding our world. A thousand years of perspiration has led us to this point, and we’ve never been closer to achieving a second Awakening. Another leap forward in the evolutionary line of the Magi people?—”

“A thousand pardons,” Councilman Briggs interrupted. “We’re all aware of the benevolent history of our people. We do not require a history lesson.”

Lynette chuckled under her breath, Lorelei moving from her side and walking towards the doors. “Yes, I’m well aware of thehistorythat we’ve been taught, Councilman. We’ve all been given the same falsehood, sweetened beyond recognition to paint us in a favorable light. But there is a point to my lesson tonight. A reason why I wanted you all to hear me.”

“And what is that?” Briggs asked, folding his arms across his chest.

Lynette smiled sweetly, leveling her gaze at the man. “So you’ll understand why you’ll burn alongside the rest of them.”

Chaos erupted from the Council members. Shouting quickly overtook the room as Lorelei stood in front of the exit, her gun drawn and pointed toward anyone who got too close.

I spotted Cirian in the bedlam, moving closer and closer to where I was being held as the crowd continued to rage. Grigori must have been caught up in the mess because he didn’t even notice when Cirian slipped behind us, moving silently up to the brute’s ear and whispering a few words, his eyes flashing with electric blue light.

Grigori’s head drooped, his chin falling to his chest as he began to snore softly beside me. Cirian was there in a flash, removing the gag, then pulling at my restraints and cursing under his breath. “Fucking Greenes.”

“It’s good to see you, too,” I muttered, relief sinking into my shoulders.

He’d almost got my hands free when Lynette’s voice rose above the din, the room suddenly filled with the crushing weight of her Command.

“Silence!”

The Council members fell quiet, eyes bulging from their sockets as they looked back and forth to each other in a panic. Lynette was standing on her chair again, her chest heaving as she wiped a bit of spittle from her chin.

My mouth clamped shut, my limbs so heavy I couldn’t lift them any longer.

“That’s better,” she said softly.

“Was that necessary, Lynette?”

My eyes moved to Saint Sancha, still seated across from Lynette, her expression calm as could be. She showed no sign of strain, like the others at the table languishing under the effects of Lynette’s power.

Moving with surprising speed, Lorelei was beside the Cardinal in a flash, her gun trained on the side of her head. “I would think twice about trying anything funny, Your Eminence.”

“I do not wish violence against either of you,” Sancha said calmly, her hands planted on the table, palms down. “I merely want to offer counsel to someone whom I think desperately needs it.”

“Liar,” breathed Lorelei, a clicking noise emanating from her weapon.

Lynette snorted a laugh. “You’re no better than the rest of them, Sancha.”

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