Page 134 of Whispers of Wisteria
“I know!” Gloria snapped. “I don’t recognize their scent. They’re not local.”
Ada lowered her head. “He could be on a job?”
“Maybe,” Gloria responded. “But, if so, I wasn’t briefed.”
Their serious expressions caused my shoulders to draw tight, and I shrank back and touched my lips. “Um…”
“Don’t talk!” Gloria’s tone left no room for argument. “Not until we know more.” She grabbed the red cape and tossed it over my shoulders. “Try to stay hidden.”
I looked down.
Stay hidden… in a bright red garment?
“That’s just perfect,” Ada chastised, backing up until I was pressed closer to a headstone. “Now you’ve gotten me involved in a conspiracy withhismate.”
Gloria glanced at her from the corner of her eyes and pursed her lips. “So you have been paying attention.”
“Of course!” Ada rebutted. “Do you think I’m a complete idiot?”
My eyes dropped to the ground, and my teeth chattered. I couldn’t speak if I wanted. My throat was already closing as the chill in the air dipped further.
They were here.
20
“Gloria Protean.”Her name cut smoothly through the night as a man in a dark suit stepped through a gap between two angel headstones. He walked with a calm purpose, casually touching the cuff of his sleeves, and when he tilted his head, his gold earring reflected the light of the electric lantern.
He tossed a sleek ponytail over his shoulder and he faced the older woman. “You’re certainly a difficult asset to pin down.”
“Jameson,” Gloria replied, frowning deeply. “I’m working.”
My heart pounded as I stared at him—was this the same Jameson who was supposed to mentor Damen?
“Yes, I know,” Jameson replied. “You lost your shikigami and had to come all this way to retrieve it.”
Gloria pressed her lips together as the cat came to sit at her feet. “You trapped Cécile.”
“Don’t ignore my summons,” Jameson said with a shrug. “And I won’t interfere with you and Sao’s agreement.”
“Fine,” Gloria sighed, yet the tension still thickened around her. “What is it that you want?” Her other hand twitched as she opened her eyes and glanced at the other men emerging from the shadows. “And why do we need an audience?”
“So you won’t be tempted to run off again,” Jameson said. “I have a few questions for you.”
She narrowed her eyes. “And this couldn’t have been an internal memo?”
“I want to talk about the fae,” Jameson responded. I’d been peeking around Ada’s stiff form, and I pulled the cape closer around my face and held my breath as his attention landed on me. “And speaking of, I see you’ve found a new one. This wasn’t approved.”
Gloria tilted her body toward me, but remained rooted in place. “What I do in my non-official duties doesn’t concern you.”
He frowned, and she added, “And if you want to discuss the fae, then talk to Declan.”
“This is not a subject that a fae would disclose even to their closest allies,” he glanced at me once more. “However, it is imperative that I know regardless. As you happen to be the fae’s darling, and privy to Mu’s archives, I assume you would know.”
I had no idea what he was talking about—but Gloria certainly seemed to.
“That’s not a topic for discussion,” Gloria stated, crossing her arms. Her attention moved to the men surrounding us. “If not Declan, then perhaps Gregory could be persuaded to talk. Who knows, they might make an exception.” When Jamson narrowed his eyes, she lifted a brow. “Or perhaps he’s already rejected you. So now you’re desperate enough to come to me.”
“Official rankings don’t appear to matter,” Jameson said. “The fae would die before talking.”
