Page 213 of The Robin on the Oak Throne

“Hurry up, girls,” a manager said as he yanked open the door that led into the ballroom. “You’re missing a basket.” The man stuffed a basket full of masks into Kierse’s hand. “Hand those out and don’t come back until they’re gone.”

Lyra waved her hand. “Of course, Jeremy.”

Then they were through the door and into the mass of people. Kierse’s jaw dropped. She had known from the start that the Curator was showcasing his collection of famous artworks, priceless jewelry, monster artifacts, and magical objects—including the cauldron, which would be unveiled after the dinner—and while she’d memorized the layout of the showcasing room, it was nothing to the actual display.

The Curator had earned his name honorably. The pieceson display were beyond stunning. Kierse had walked the halls of the Met with Graves and Kingston not six months earlier, enamored and a bit overwhelmed. The Curator’s was nearly as splendid. They passed a towering renaissance sculpture, crown jewels in a glittering necklace and earrings set, and a long, golden staff from an Egyptian monster hunter. Each item more dazzling than the next.

“How did they even get him to show all this stuff off?” Lyra asked.

“He volunteered,” Kierse said. “Guess he was tired of living in the shadows with his prized possessions.”

“How do you think he even got all of it?”

Kierse shrugged. “He’s a Druid. Long lived.”

Lyra wrinkled her nose. “Thank fuck my parents aren’t like this.”

“Can we focus?” Graves said over the line.

Nate appeared then, taking a black mask out of her basket and covering his face. “All set here,” he said with a wink.

“Noted,” Graves said.

“See you soon,” he told Kierse before blending back into the crowd.

Kierse glanced across the room full of bespoke suits and custom gowns. Her eyes found Graves at the edge of the party with Kingston gesturing wildly next to him. She would have rather had him watching her back, but they needed Lyra for an alibi. With the arrival of Kingston, it was more imperative than ever that Graves be seen in public at all times. The last thing they wanted was for anyone to get suspicious.

Graves seemed to feel her gaze and looked up with a dangerous smile on his face. The one that said his enemies would not bend but break under his gaze. She loved it. Shelovedhim.

“That’s the last attendee,” Walter said in her ear. “Doors will lock soon. Kierse, Lyra, get moving. I’ll give you a countdown.”

Kierse would have known someone had just entered even if Walter hadn’t told her. If she was honest, she had known for a while that Lorcan was getting closer, and now that he was in the room, her hand itched to press against her chest. It felt like a lightning strike as his attention shifted fully to her. That kiss had altered something. Clicked something together that made her want to run across the room right this very minute.

Lyra tugged on her arm. “Come on. We need to duck out.”

Kierse resurfaced as if coming up from a deep swim. They meandered the enormous ballroom, bypassing enchanted swords and sneak cloaks and a black-and-white photograph of the city from on high. Lyra paused with her mouth agape.

“How did he get this?”

“What is it?”

Lyra blinked. “It’s a photograph my father took before the first vampire war. I thought he had all of them.”

“Maybe he sold one.”

“I don’t think he did,” Lyra said contemplatively. “I’ll have to ask him.”

The line in their ear came alive with a burst of static before Laz said, “Box secure.”

Kierse and Lyra veered to the exit when a throat cleared over a microphone. “Thank you so much for coming to the first official Monster Con since the war.”

Applause rose up from the spectators, most of themhidden behind the masks the theater performers were handing out. Half of Kierse’s basket was empty, and she could see black-and-gold masks everywhere.

“I’m happy to present to you our first keynote speaker. You may know him as a Midtown businessman, the man who can make anything happen. But what you may not know is that he is also the new head of the elusive society, the Men of Valor.”

Another roar of approval. Kierse jolted to a halt.

“Please give a warm welcome to…Gregory Amberdash!”

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