Page 83 of Riot of Autumn

“What is this bullshit?” Colton steps forward, his thin face hard, his hands closed into fists.

“We offer up this circle of light, filled with iron and chimes to ward off those who would do us harm.”

I shift so I can see Octavia. Her hands are held high over her head as the firelight paints her body a deep gold. She’s short, but her presence is larger than life. She’s selling the hell out of herritual.

Ben and Julian are holding an iron arch behind her that has bells and chimes hanging down. I don’t know if iron really affects the Fae and I have no clue what the bells do. Someone must have googled ways to ward off evil Fae, and this is what they came up with. They probably planned it at one of their activity committee meetings after Colton left.

“It’s just Halloween nonsense.” Anthony glares at the crowd, his words bored even though his face is irritated.

The pissed looks on Colton and the Duke’s faces make me wonder if there’s any power in the charms. If there is, it’s by pure chance.

The Duke inhales deeply, closing his eyes like he’s trying to find some calm. When he opens them back up, they’re focused on me. A slow smile creeps up his face.

“Did you know that the lovely Seraphina here can sense a person’s fear? She can also ferret out magical objects.” The Duke squirms in his chair, eager for whatever he’s planning. “It was quite the surprise when you didn’t shift at my command the other night at the beach.”

Seraphina lowers her phone and steps forward. I don’t know if she’s wearing a costume because she looks like she does every other time I’ve seen her at a party. She has on a fancy as fuck gold dress with sparkling sequins covering every inch, from her chest all the way to the ground. Her nearly white hair is curled in perfect movie star waves, and the sneer on her face is just as delightful as always.

“Let me guess. Vanna White.” Ruby cocks her head as she inspects Seraphina.

“Nice guess.” I lean down as much as I can in my hot dog costume, but I don’t bother whispering.

“What are you two chittering about?” The scowl deepens on Seraphina’s face.

Anthony sighs. “Ignore them. They’re being children.”

“Well, this one has been a naughty boy.” Seraphina saunters forward until she’s standing in front of me.

None of us move, waiting to see what she’s going to do. I’m prepared to take a little pain if need be. We already know these assholes won’t kill us until they have what they want. As far as they know, bonding is something we aren’t willing to do.

Seraphina’s nails are filed sharp like little daggers and painted an innocent pastel pink. She tiptoes the points up my chest, her eyes narrowing as she takes in the padding of my costume. Still, that doesn’t stop her from reaching around my neck and hooking the chain of the best friend’s necklace Ruby charmed for me.

My hand snaps out and grabs Seraphina’s wrist, locking it so tightly I hear her bones creak. “What do you think you’re doing?”

We planned for this, for a whole host of scenarios, but goddamnit, I don’t want them to take this necklace. The Duke’s voice rings out behind Seraphina, her face pinched with pain.

“You will let her have your little charm.”

My jaw ticks, my teeth grinding together as I force myself to let go of her hand. Beside me, Ruby growls, like she’s the one with an animal inside her, desperate to be unleashed. The smirk on Seraphina’s face is briefly marked with a wince as she grasps the chain and yanks. The necklace bites into the skin of my neck and then snaps off. The warmth of the charm that’s been nestled over my heart dissipates, and I struggle to keep from breaking all the fingers in Seraphina’s hand.

“Tricky little beast. Thinking you can keep the Duke from telling you what to do.” Seraphina shakes her head and waves a finger back and forth like I’m a naughty boy.

The Duke repeats his words from earlier. “At midnight tonight. The two of you will bond. You will do it at my feet, and then you will bow to your betters.”

Before any of us get the chance to respond, the crowd behind us goes nuts. Octavia is keeping up her chant about honoring our ancestors and protecting the island, and she’s moving on to the next stage.

“Now we will crown the king of Samhain. King of bones and dust. Ruler of dirt and worms and all the dead things that creep and crawl on Halloween night. Come, let us give our King his due.”

Octavia leads the crowd straight toward us, not stopping until she reaches the Duke’s throne. In her hands, she’s holding a plastic crown. The kind that comes in princess dress-up sets. I don’t think the Duke even realizes what a joke this is. Anthony definitely does, although he doesn’t do anything to stop Octavia. Whether it’s because he doesn’t care for the Duke, or because the Duke wouldn’t listen to his advice, who knows?

Octavia bows her head, but her eyes stay focused on the Duke, giving her a devious look. Which is basically Octavia’s permanent state of being.

“It would please us greatly if the Duke were to accept the offer to be Wild Haven’s King of Samhain.” Octavia holds out the crown, watching the Duke with her head tilted slightly down and to the side.

The pompous ass puffs up his chest and inclines his head, his lips creeping up in a superior smile. “I will graciously accept my due, honoring the folk of this charming city.”

“How magnanimous of you,” Octavia purrs, setting the cheap plastic on the Duke’s head when he leans forward to accept his crown.

With the sparky tiara placed upon his head, he leans back into his throne and sighs. His smile widens as he observes the crowd, already assuming the mantle of king over his subjects.

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