Page 40 of Hexbound
"And one might argue that we cannot predict what will happen," Bishop responded. "Perhaps a new Prime will falter? Or perhaps a powerful new Prime steps into the chair and the Order happily continues its course? There's nothing to say that Drake's ongoing life will cause difficulties."
"I don't like it," the man he'd called Osiris said bluntly. "It's a potential threat."
"And I say it’s not," Bishop countered, in a very soft, very dangerous voice.
"Shall we take a vote?" asked another woman, someone younger, wearing brown. "Who believes Drake should be removed from the equation?"
Watching Bishop's face, Verity saw the strain he couldn't quite hide.
"I do," said the man named Osiris.
"I agree," muttered the woman in brown.
"I say nay," Bishop muttered, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Thanatos?" the older woman murmured.
Another man, one who'd remained silent, seemed to frown. "It's too early to commit to action," he finally said. "Do we snuff a candle flame because itmayburn out of control and burn our house down? No. So I say no. For now."
"I agree with Thanatos," said the older woman. "It's too early to make predictions. Drake can be... removed later if he becomes a threat. For now we watch and wait, and prepare for Ascension." Bishop let out the breath he'd been holding, but the older woman cocked her head on an angle and held out a hand to still him. "We're being watched."
Verity froze.
"Madrigal?" Bishop asked, looking around.
"Someone is watching this meeting."
Verity didn't wait around to see what the woman was up to. Cutting the connection, she watched the rift hiss closed, and then immediately slipped into the crowd of Londoners who were enjoying the exhibits. The rules of the chase were simple: don't get caught. Which meant that she forced herself to stop and peruse something called a hairy-nosed wombat, making her magic very small inside her, so small and hidden she was holding her breath.
They'd be looking for someone on the move, someone pushing against the tide of people, fighting for the exits.
Instead, Verity slowly edged toward the exit at the back, forcing herself not to fidget, nor to move from exhibit to exhibit too quickly. She was almost clear when someone grabbed her by the arm.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Bishop demanded, pressing her into an alcove with the hard flex of his body. "Are you insane? I told you to stay at Agatha's!"
The unyielding wall of his body hid the rest of the room from view. Verity tipped her chin up. "I didn't realize you were meeting with the rest of the Sicarii. Else I wouldn't be here."
"Then why did you come?" Those dark eyes narrowed in suspicion.
Verity glanced away. "I overheard your conversation last night, and wanted to see who you were meeting. I thought it might have something to do with the Chalice, and you were trying to keep me in the dark."
"Overheard?" His voice was soft with sarcasm.
"Very well, I eavesdropped," she bit out. "You were performing some sort of magic. I wanted to know what it was."
The tension in his shoulders lingered, but he wasn't looming so obviously at her now. "You don't trust me."
There wasn't much she could say to that. "It's not personal," she pointed out. "I grew up in the Hex, Bishop, and the only way to make sure you weren't going to be dragged under was to make sure you were informed."
"Did you spy on Murphy like this?"
"All the time."
Thought darkened his eyes. He pushed away from her and the wall she was pressed against before glancing around. "Well, as you can see," he bit out, glancing around, "I wasn't going behind your back. I didn't want you here for quite obvious reasons."
"They were planning to kill the Prime." She let herself touch his arm gently. It was his father, after all, and she'd heard his tone during the meeting. "Bishop—"
"They were thinking about it," he replied, jerking free as if he couldn't bear her touch. "And I convinced them otherwise. Now come. They should have gone by now. Keep your head down and in future, if I tell you not to follow me,don'tfollow me. You could have been killed."
