Page 57 of Carry Your Debt

As soon as the words pass my lips, I purse them, knowing I should probably retry that. He may not hold a candle to Sebastian’s cruelty, but heisthe only person with a direct line to our boss. Even his fellow Councillors must go through him first. If I pisshimoff, there’s every chance he’ll shoot me straight to the top of the shitpile for punishment.

Wouldn’t be the first time, either.

“Sorry,” I amend, attempting to at leastsoundcontrite. “He’s always given me as much time as I needed. I usually need at least a couple of months to collate and crosscheck, and this year, I have to juggle schoolwork, recruiting, and now training up the Rox Boys on top of that.”

Casually slipping his hands into his pockets, he tilts his head, staring me down for a long minute. Dominic Licata could hold a master class on carving expressions into stone, and the look he shoots me this time is also just asplain to read.Because you were still in his good books then, the look says.

“You were told I was coming today. The Labors are about to begin. We need those names and details.”

“I understand,” I reply, so sweetly my teeth hurt. “But I thought you were coming to discuss the Labors themselves. I need more time for the report. He needs me free for the trials, doesn’t he? Give me two months, please.”

“One month.”

“Six weeks for the full report. And as soon as they announce the Crown contenders, I’ll prepare a preliminary workup of their attendance on the night.”

It’s an edge the other participants won’t have. If a Southern member managed to score an invitation to the exclusive party, chances are they’ll be involved with the Labors in some capacity. It might give us clues about possible trades and alliances based on who they each spent time with over the course of the evening.

My mind flashes with images of Smiley making nice with his rival Irishmen, and Trick chatting with one of the Four Horsemen.

It’s a tangled fucking web, with hundreds of possible connections. A mess I could rightfully be sifting through for years. But I don’t have years. Not even months.Weeks, if I’m lucky.

He clucks his tongue, but then reluctantly, he nods. Once. “Six weeks. Jackson has our skeleton plan for the Labors.”

I do my best to keep my expression nonchalant. “He’s staying in Roxborough?”

“He’ll be staying with the rest of the Juniors for the duration of the Labors. Easier to have you all in one place for Herald broadcasts.”

Translation: Easier to keep an eye on you all.

Not that I doubted for a second that the Suits would be throwing their name in the hat, but I guess that’s my actual confirmation. It almost seems a little unreal, though. After so much time spent scheming behind the scenes, hoping to clear the Southern chessboard for himself, Sebastian now has to execute his bid for the Crown through official channels instead.

I’d say it’skismet, but we all know that none of us arethatlucky.

“Okay, I’ll get myself caught up.”

“Herald said the First Labor goes out after the roster, so anticipate starting Sunday evening.”

I nod.

“Six weeks, and get the Southern challengers to me as soon as possible. I’ll go through Jackson for handling each of the trials as they come in.”

“Yep, of course,” I agree evenly. You won’t ever catch me arguing against having Zeus as another Gray Man buffer.

“And remember, Librarian, you do still need to sort out the Academy before the end of the school year.” His voice grates against my eardrums.

“Yep.”Like I could fucking forget.They’ll be needing fresh meat more than ever now. I ignore the deliberate use of my designation this time.

And then, without another word, he slips back under the shadowed cover of the building and is gone. I stand frozen in place for at least another five minutes, listening for returning footsteps. When I’m satisfied he’s not coming back, I yank out my phone.

“Are you alright?” Zeus’s soothing baritone floats through the receiver and wraps around my tense shoulders like a warm blanket. I haven’t seen him since Monday morning, since we were unceremoniously shipped back to Roxborough via private jet escort. But just the knowledge that he’s still herecleanses some of the horrid taste that Dominic’s visit left in my mouth.

No, I thought your father was going to change his mind and have Dominic dump you back in Lexington, after all.

Or at the bottom of the Tethys River.

“Dominic just left,” I say instead.

“I told him I was running point, thatIwould handle the trials,” he grinds out.

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