Page 35 of The Black Table
My blouse is still dripping, my heart is still pounding, and my fingers are sticky with whatever’s left of my cocktail.
I’m a disaster.
“Come on,” someone whispers, a perfumed arm draping over my shoulders. It’s Morgan. “Let’s get you out of here, roomie.”
EIGHT
KINGSTON
I sitat the table alone.
It is, by design, a meeting place. A center, literal and figurative, of our order. Our team. Our brotherhood. The deepest and oldest chamber in all of Camlann House, sunk a full story below the ground,
But right now, it is my sanctuary.
I press my hands into the ebony wood surface and close my eyes. Try to call up guidance, ask forgiveness, seek penance to do.
It isn’t working. Hasn’t been. Not for days.
The chapel—I was interrupted.
Morgan’s tonic—a cheap replacement for real discipline. Effective, but short-lived. And not anything I want to be dependent on.
Practice—always.
But the fact remains.
He’s in my head. Moroslav. And I don’t like it.
I inhale, exhale. Tense, relax.
A buzz against my thigh. My phone. I ignore it.
Two seconds later, another buzz. Harder—unnaturally so. Almost hard enough to hurt.
I pull it out and see the contact: Morgan.
Of course. I swipe it unlocked.
“Jesus, King, pick up on the first right next time or else I’ll make the damn thing explode.”
“Good evening, Morgan.” I have to hold back to wince as I put the phone to my ear; whatever power she channeled to make it vibrate like that has the case hot and crackling with energy. “You need?—”
“Get to the cap,” she says, breathless. “Now. There’s a fight starting, and?—”
“Kai?” I feel my fingers tense.
Morgan gives a briefha.“Yes and no. It’s more?—”
What does she mean? “Not the other two?” That’s not like Lanz, and certainly not like Cal.
“No, no. It’s—Christ, would you let me finish?” Morgan rushes on. “It’s a girl thing, I think. But Kai’s getting aggro.”
I let out a long, steadying breath. “We don’t start fights.”
“Iknow,” Morgan says, “and I’m notaskingyou to start one. I’m asking you toendit. Isn’t that something youhaveto do?”
I don’t say anything. She knows the answer.
