Page 111 of Dead Wrong

The room fell deathly quiet, then, all at once, the standing council members crumpled to the floor, a chorus of groaning beginning amongst those still breathing.

Slowly, I pulled away from Bastien’s hold, making my way over to the window and peering over the edge. It was dark on the street below, too dark for me to be able to confirm exactly what happened, but in my heart, I knew.

Mother had met her end.

Withdrawing the ward from my friends, I projected the aura downward, feeling for either of my family. There was something—Mother’s aura, I recognized, flickering like the flame of a candle. I wrapped my aura around the feeble presence, cradling it.

Did she know I was there?

In the end, it didn’t matter. A moment later, the flame flickered out, and Adoranda Greene was no more.

“Your Mother’s body was recovered and laid next to your Father in the Upper Magi City.”

I sat across a small table from the young woman, her tawny hair wrapped in a tight bun at the crown of her head. She was one of those who met that night at the VanDoughten house before Lynette had ended my first life.

Cynthia Creedy.

I wondered if her brother had told her about me ahead of our meeting.

“We didn’t find any sign of Lynette in the wreckage, so the Council is considering her still at large. Until she’s apprehended, we are suggesting that you stay in hiding, Tobias. For your own safety.”

I snorted a weak laugh, nodding along. “Sorry, but it’s rather cute that you think anyone will keep her from what she wants.”

Cynthia frowned, scratching at the back of her neck. “There’s more. The Council has made the decision to seize all of the assets of the Greene family as a recompense for last week’s tragedy. Amelia and I were able to convince them not to pursue retaliatory action against you so long as you sign these documents forfeiting your rights to the Greene family trusts and properties.” She pulled a stack of paperwork from her satchel, setting it on the table between us.

I stared down at the summation of my family legacy, boiled down to a pile of paper and ink, shocked at the emptiness I felt towards it. The Tobias who had lived a life of wealth and privilege would have mourned the loss. But I gladly signed the documents, a weight lifting from my shoulders as I crossed the final line.

“Thank you for coming all this way,” I told Cynthia, sliding the documents over to her. “I know that it wasn’t easy for a Council member to come all the way to Brierwood.”

“Think nothing of it,” she replied, waving away my thanks. “You should know that negotiations have already started with the Rebellion leaders. Hopefully, it won’t be long till we can put all of this unpleasantness behind us.”

“Let’s hope you’re right.”

“There was one more thing, Tobias. If we could speak off the record for a moment.” Cynthia glanced over her shoulder, then leaned over the table, lowering her voice. “We tracked down Lorelei Orion after the incident, our scouts reporting that she was staying somewhere in the Lower Magi City, near the Mortal Row. But before she was spotted leaving the city a few days ago, there was an incident. An Adored couple was attacked by some kind of monstrosity that Lorelei was transporting. The male was killed, and the surviving party reported that the creature tore something from the victim’s chest, consuming it on the spot. Something that looked a lot like those gems you sport.”

My hand drifted to the stone embedded in my chest.

“Be cautious, Tobias. I fear there are greater evils in this world, waiting to fill the vacuum your mother left behind.”

I nodded once again. “Thank you for the information, Cynthia.”

The woman straightened in her seat. “Of course. We’ll be in touch if there’s any development on the front of your sister. Until then, I hope you keep well.”

“Tobias?”

I looked up from the table, spotting Bastien standing a few paces away.

“Sorry to interrupt,” he continued. “I can come back if you need me to.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Cynthia replied, gathering her satchel and the paperwork under her arm. “Till next time, Tobias.”

“Next time,” I agreed, rising from my seat. Cynthia gave a small wave before exiting the café, immediately stepping into the large, black vehicle that drew the eye of every passerby outside.

“Do I want to know what that was about?” Bastien asked, raising a brow.

“Just tying up some loose ends,” I assured him, then wrapped him up in a hug. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize how late it had gotten.”

“Don’t be. Cirian just arrived a few minutes ago on the train, so he’s waiting outside.”

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