Page 133 of The Wildcard

Ray felt the goosebumps erupt on her arms as Maya’s smile extended and finally,finally–

Her eyes snapped down to face Raylene Walker.

Ray ducked her chin, and without warning, turned on her heels to face the crowd just as Maya’s voice roared from behind her,

“I present to you, Raylene Walker. Our mediator, our thread between our newly formedalliance.”

Her eyes cast into the crowd, into their wide eyes. So full of fear anddreadas she let a dark smile tilt her lips. As she saw those amber eyes glint in the moonlight when he tilted his head back and Maya continued with her hand in Alessandro’s,

“The beginning of anew era!”Maya said and Ray’s chin tilted further. She glared out into the crowd, ignoring her pounding heart, ignoringeverything.Because there were too many of them, too many eyes on her, too many people everywhere.

“The beginning of the Lions joining hands with the Ravens.” Alessandro continued and must’ve beckoned Angel forward because the boy stepped forward. Walked until he was standingrightin front of her and stared back. Ray spared him no glance.

“Angel De Santos.” Kyle said, his voice equally jarring the entire crowd as he stepped forward and extended his hand in the other boy’s direction. Ray noticed the look in green eyes, almost balked at the excitement dancing in them. She couldn’t help but sympathize, because her heart was pounding right against her ribs, making her entire body light with a fire she hadn’t felt inages.

She stared back into the crowd as Angel shook Kyle’s hand and said in his ever-charming voice,

“Kyle Larsen.”

The people, the men and the women,everyonewatchedonlyher.Because now they all knew what stood between them and the greatest alliance to ever bless their world. And they all looked at her with onlyoneintent in their eyes.

Murder.

Ray took it with a challenging grin. With a daring glint in her eyes as Maya clinked her glass behind her and said in a loud,blaringvoice,

“Let the new era commence!”

And so began a new sort of hell.

29

He’d guessed the problems would begin after five minutes. Giving them the benefit of the doubt, he had chosen to give the situation, the crowd fivewholeminutes before they all burst. As usual, Angel had been wrong.

He was wrong about alotof things these days.

Surprisingly though, it was Irene Sinaga who snapped first.

“Iknewit.” She scoffed from up ahead, her voice loud enough to rise above the sudden whispers. Angel turned around slowly, Raylene tucked behind him as he heard Maya and Alessandro step down from the dais.It was done,he thought as Ray stepped past him and stood beside him,it was announced.

And truly– it was another era to witness.

“Please,” came Maya’s smooth response as she took her husband’s hand and finally stepped around them, “Do continue. We’re here to entertain all your doubts.”

Another leader would’ve put it off for another day. Would’ve organized a meeting or announced it during one of those annual gatherings that happened between all the key individuals. But this was the Larsens he was thinking about, the only people who had ever dared to go out of the set of rules.

It had begun with their war against the Ravens.

And now ended with an alliance.

“This is no small matter,” Irene hissed, appearing anythingbuttimid as she took a step forward.

The crowd parted for her, and Angel saw all the important people, all those representatives step forward. His lips quirked into a swift smile as he saw Myra sidle close to Irene, Akash beside her. Cameron stepped with Neera as well, a cold mask of indifference on all their faces as Irene continued.

“You’re talking about monopolizing our world. Joining hands with the Ravens–”

“Would be an end to an age-long war.”

Ray’s voice jarred the entire crowd, and her heels clacked against the smooth marble surface as she stepped before them all, “You would be free of allresponsibilitiesyou might bear to either side.”

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