Page 78 of Dead Wrong

Lynette cut a sideways glance at me, pausing at the crosswalk as we waited for the light to change. How many more times would we be able to wander around the Magi City like this now that she was set to assume Mother’s position in the morning? The Ascension ceremony had lasted far longer than I had hoped and proved to be quite boring as far as parties go. Lots of handshaking and arse-kissing and whatever it is that Mother does to prove her superiority over the other houses.

At least the Floating Gardens had served as a picturesque backdrop. I should remember to add it to the list of places I take my “dates” should my role continue under Lynette’s instruction.

“You complain too much, Tobi. Don’t worry, I won’t make you spend any alone time with Amelia.”

“Or her dolls,” I added, shivering at the memory of a night filled with porcelain faces and lifeless eyes.

“Or her dolls,” Lynette agreed, moving into the crosswalk after the light changed. The streets were nearly empty this time of night, and it only struck at that moment, the oddity of Amelia hosting an event so late in the evening. But my head still buzzed with the alcohol from the party, and the promise of more libations awaiting at the VanDoughtens was enough to keep me moving forward.

“So, what is your first plan of action, oh mighty Ascendant? Tell me how you’re going to start fucking with Mother’s reputation.”

“There are lots of things that I want to change,” Lynette replied, her heels echoing along the pavement like the ticking of a clock. Steady and consistent. “But I’ll have to be careful not to come in blazing. Mother says that influence is a practice in subtlety. I have to make the others think that they’re coming up with solutions of their own volition.”

I snorted a laugh. “Says the woman who can bend anyone to her will. Priceless.”

“What would you do, Tobi? If our roles were reversed?”

“Well, that would never happen as I’ve got this thing between my legs?—”

Lynette stopped, and I had to retreat several steps back to her. “I’m serious. What would you do if it were you stepping into Mother’s role tomorrow?”

“I’d do whatever she told me to do,” I answered honestly. “Because there’s no way that she’s giving up that control, even if she has to give up the title.”

Lynette stayed quiet, her head tilting back to gaze up at the stars peeking through the space between the buildings.

“Did I say something to upset you?”

She shook her head, adjusting to look at me again. “No, you have the right of it. She will not rescind control of the council, even if I sit at the head. Try all I might, I simply lack the resources to defy her. She has the wealth of knowledge that far exceeds my own and the trust and loyalty of those in power. I am the youngest on the council by nearly a century—even if I could defy Mother, they’d never heed my word over hers.”

I took her hand in mine, holding it to my chest. The night air had chilled her skin. “Then they are fools, the whole lot.”

Lynette smiled, but there was a melancholia that clung to her still. Was it just the lingering shadow of our mother, hanging over the two of us as it had done since we were old enough to be aware of it?

“We spoke once,” Lynette said, her hand firmly planted against my sternum. “When we were young, and the world was much more vast than it turned out to be, of the life we would lead if we no longer belonged to Mother. Do you remember it?”

“I do.”

“An equal share, that’s what I wanted. A chance to right the scales of balance across our world. I’ve dreamed about it ever since I was little.”

I nodded along, a sobering clarity starting to sink in. “I told you it sounded like a fairy tale.”

“You also said that you would help me make it come true, should the opportunity come.”

“Did I?” I said with a chuckle.

“Would you still say it today, Tobias? If I asked you to risk it all for a chance at the dream I shared with you all those years ago, would you consider it?”

“Of course,” I agreed, though my voice jumped an octave. “But what are we actually talking about here? We were children then.”

Lynette pulled her hand back, shaking her head. “Right, of course. We can talk about it later. I just… I wanted to make sure that my brother was still on my side.”

“I’m always on your side, Lenny.”

We crossed the street, leaving the hypotheticals behind as we approached the VanDoughten residence. It wasn’t their full estate—that was in the countryside among rolling green hills—but rather the place where they stayed while conducting business within the city. A rowhouse, three stories tall, clad with bleached brick and adorned with golden gilded windows. It certainly gave the impression of pomp.

Lynette navigated the stairs leading up to the front door, pausing before she reached for the knob. She turned back to me.

“Promise me something before we go in, Tobi.”

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