Page 26 of Dead Wrong

“Apologies,” said the man, crossing quickly to the door in the corner of the space and pulling it open. “I did not intend to keep you waiting.” He removed a tunic of billowy fabric from the closet, pulling it on and fastening it at the waist. “The Source had already taken hold of me when Augustus informed me of your arrival. Once that happens, I’m afraid there’s no stopping my communing until the Source has spoken its piece to me.”

“It’s no trouble, Your Grace,” Lorelei spoke, any annoyance in her expression having evaporated. She smiled politely, crossing her ankles. Her posture was immaculately rigid, like a carved statue. “I appreciate you agreeing to see us on such short notice.”

Cirian turned to face us, shutting the closet behind him and taking his place at the desk. “The Council has been friends of the Church for centuries. I am honored to welcome you into the Cradle of the Source.” His dark eyes moved from Lorelei to Bastien, then finally landed on me. His stare carried a weight to it. A sort of pressure that butted against me and squeezed a bit of air from my lungs. “Who do I have the pleasure of addressing this fine afternoon?”

“My name is Lorelei Orion. These men are my associates. I am acting as a personal attaché to Madame Greene of the Adored. I have been tasked with the location and retrieval of her daughter, the presumed successor to Madame Greene’s position on the council. I’m sure you’ve heard of her recent disappearance.”

“Indeed, I have,” Cirian replied, a certain amusement lilting his voice. “It is a tragedy to lose such a bright light in this dark world. May the Source be with her.”

“I was hoping you could answer a few questions for me pertaining to the conversation the two of you had at her inauguration ceremony.”

Cirian’s expression darkened, the air in the room taking on a weight that settled against my skin. “I would hope, Ms. Orion, that you are not under the assumption that the Church had anything to do with the young Ms. Greene’s disappearance?”

Lorelei didn’t falter, her gaze remaining trained on the man. “I haven’t ruled out the possibility. However, your cooperation today would go far in proving the church’s innocence, should you provide the information I’m seeking.”

Tension swelled between the two of them, tangible as a sheet of fabric wrapped around me. A playful smile danced across Cirian’s face. “Ask away, Ms. Orion. You’ll find no ill intent here.”

I couldn’t help but be drawn back to the first time Cirian and I were introduced all those years ago and the pure vitriol I felt radiate from the boy when he spoke of my family. If those sentiments remained, I could only assume that he would have a plethora of his own reasons to be pleased about Lynette’s disappearance.

“What did the two of you discuss the evening of her ceremony, when you pulled her away from her brother’s company?”

Cirian’s eyes moved to me as he answered. “I was merely congratulating her on behalf of my master, the Cardinal, and assuring her that the Church of the Source would observe all previous agreements with Madame Greene.”

Lorelei’s pen scratched along the page of her notebook, filling the silence.

“You discussed nothing else?” she pressed, leaning forward in her chair.

“Not that I can recall,” Cirian replied, his attention shifting back to Lorelei. “Perhaps you should confirm these details with her brother? He was standing close by and should be able to corroborate.”

A shiver crept up my spine at his words.

“Unfortunately, Tobias Greene has been reported deceased,” Lorelei said, her tone even. “So, you understand the urgency by which we’re working to locate Lynette.”

Cirian didn’t betray an ounce of surprise from the statement. Instead, his eyes trailed between myself and Bastien. “Would you permit me a question of my own, Ms. Orion?”

“Just a moment, Your Grace. Now, when you say that you can’t recall, does it mean that you know for a fact that the conversation between the two of you didn’t stray to the topic of the Unseen Rebellion?”

Cirian blinked—perhaps for the first time since he entered the room—his lips pulling into a tight smile. “Once again, we discussed only her appointing, official council business, and nothing beyond.”

“And you’d be willing to swear by that statement?” Lorelei pressed, leaning over her notebook with a grin that bordered on threatening.

Cirian leveled his gaze at her, a twinge of icy coldness seeping into his answer. “With certainty.”

Another shiver shot through me, the air around Cirian crackling with the oppressive force of his magic. It rippled around the Veil Bastien had spun over the two of us, and I could feel Bastien’s posture tense with concentration as he held the edges of the glamour together, keeping them from fraying under the magical pressure.

Cirian’s power was not something to take lightly, though Lorelei seemed entirely unbothered.

“One last question from me, Your Grace,” Lorelei continued, oblivious to the invisible struggle taking place behind her. “When you spoke with Lynette, did you happen to confide in her the whereabouts of Rudderkin?”

Another flash of recognition moved across Cirian’s features like lightning streaking from behind clouds. “I do hope you understand the weight of such accusations, Ms. Orion. Even for someone in the position you find yourself. To insinuate the Church would have anything to do with the Unseen Rebellion is the ultimate blas?—”

“Not the Church,” interrupted Lorelei, rising to her feet. “Just to be clear, I’m not accusing the Church of the Hallowed for any part of this. Just you. There are certain rumors circling around your icy halls that suggest your loyalties may lie outside of the Church. As I see it, I’m merely giving you the opportunity to defend your good name.”

Cirian smiled coldly at her, a mask of pleasant indifference in place once more. “Rumors can hardly be trusted, even within these hallowed halls, Ms. Orion. Indeed, a woman of your stature would do well to remember that. But if it is my word you’re searching for, then by all means, take it. I am no traitor to the Church, nor do I conspire with the likes of Rudderkin and his pack of mongrels. To suggest such is to besmirch the holy name of the Source itself, and I will not tolerate such blasphemies within the Cradle.”

The room crackled once more with energy, pressing against my skin like a swarm of angry insects. Lorelei didn’t falter, her stony gaze trained on Cirian. “So, you deny the claims?”

“Deny doesn’t seem appropriate to the egregious nature of the accusation,” Cirian scoffed. “I rebuke it in the name of the Source. My loyalties are, as they have ever been, aligned with the Church.”

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