Page 34 of Scales and Seduction

“Here, take this.” He removes the note from the book, pressing it into my palm urgently. “We can’t risk anyone seeing the book, so we need to leave it. We can take this, and maybe Loran can use it as a means of uncovering my brother’s plan.”

Reluctantly, I take the paper and place it between my cleavage. The touch of my hand to my skin sends my body into overdrive. Goose-flesh breaks out over my arms, and it’s hard not to close my eyes and moan at the feeling. “Could we maybe wash this off before we go down?”

“We have to hurry,” Gideon says, giving me a terse smile, grabbing hold of my hand. “Besides, now Silas’s cloaking has been dispelled, we will need you in complete control.”

The flickering lights from sconces on the walls cast long, shifting shadows below us as we descend the grand staircase. Below us, the foyer churns with movement as maids rush around lighting candles to combat the dark. I hear hushed whispers as they maneuver around the castle.

“The power grid was hit hard,” one murmurs to another. “’alf the town is out.”

Everyone is gathered below us, their voices tumultuous, and I can’t make out who’s saying what. My stomach churns the moment we reach the bottom as the sea of people parts and Gideon’s hand leaves mine.

A towering orc wearing a perfectly tailored suit is the first to speak. His hulking muscles stretch the fabric around his biceps, and the candlelight highlights the dangerous glint of his tusks. He’s much larger than Loran, almost double his size. “The draugr were concentrated near the power station,” he states with an air of authority. “Without the Night Weavers, we would have lost more ground. My clan wouldn’t have been able to reach it in time.”

A centaur woman stands beside him in a white bodice that accentuates her willowy frame. She nods gravely, though herpiercing eyes find mine immediately, looking as if she’s trying to decipher something. “We still have to determine why they struck there and not the castle itself. We’re looking at a blackout on this side of the town and the outer homes. The worst-hit areas are the estates beyond the southern ridge.”

Across the room is a hulking beast of a man with horns and a bull body. I think it’s a minotaur, and he’s almost too large to fit in the room. A thick cigar dangles from his lips, and the smoke curls lazily around his horns. He exhales a slow drag before speaking. “If this was a random necromancer, they’d have aimed for the castle itself, not the power grid. Someone wanted to cripple us—but not completely.”

I’m totally enthralled by everything happening around me, as the chaos continues. I’m surprised the council is having this conversation so out in the open. I glance at Loran and Silas amongst the crowd, searching for support or at least answers. I expect Gideon to mention the attack last night at the cabin, but he remains silent. Instead, the room continues to simmer with tension.

Suddenly, I feel someone’s body close to mine, so close that a chill of their presence prickles my skin. My eyes cut over to an androgynous being with bright red eyes. They’re wearing their white hair swept back into a sleek style with the sharpest cheekbones I’ve ever seen on a person.

They lean in, taking a long slow inhale. The breath lingers like a whisper against my neck. “She’s human,” they hiss, their voice is filled with venom. “I knew she smelled odd. How is that possible?”

The tension in the room swells, and every gaze snaps to me. I feel as though I’m completely bare to them all. Gideon doesn’t even flinch. His shoulders square, and his face becomes an unreadable mask. “Let’s focus on the immediate threats rather than distractions,” he says calmly, though its clipped.

Distractions? The word stings immediately like a punch to my stomach. I can only bite my lips and stay quiet. Gideon’s tail flicks behind him in unease, but he doesn’t so much as glance my way. It’s as if he’s put up a wall that even I can’t penetrate.

“A human crossed the barrier, and you didn’t even alert us?” The minotaur growls, crossing his arms. “How has she penetrated the barrier?”

“I have been gathering information prior to alerting you of her existence,” Gideon replies curtly. “She is under my protection. Now, if we could please focus our attention on the attack that happened tonight?”

The orc male grunts, his voice a deep, booming sound. “If the human came, then these attacks are her doing.” His thick finger juts out, pointing at my heart with a sneer.

I don’t know what to do. Everyone’s eyes are on me, and panic is rising in my chest. “I—” I try to explain, but immediately a hand finds its way to mine. Glancing down, I know it’s not Gideon’s, but I’m shocked to find it’s a pale green color. It belongs to Loran. He gives me a reassuring look before squeezing my hand again.

“She’s not the cause of the attack. Wasting time pointing your fingers at her won’t find the person responsible for her appearance in the Vale nor the attack on the power plant.” Loran’s hand squeezes mine as he finishes his sentence. “The biggest concern should be why would draugr attack the power plant, and what we will do to restore power to those affected.”

The larger orc growls with annoyance, though he settles. “My son is correct,” he says, but his tone is far from agreeable. “Why would a necromancer send the undead after the power supply?”

The council members exchange tense glances, settling on Avalon, demanding answers silently as if she knew necromancy. Is that the extent of her power that Gideon mentioned was so important to his family?

Avalon’s mother chuckles, clearly unbothered, waving her hand around dismissively. “We will check into the source of dark magic for you,” she says smoothly as if it’s not a chore in the slightest. “It’s quite a pity that a portion of your town is without power. We’ll see to it that the right…methods are used to restore it.” Her gaze sweeps across the room until it finds me, and a wicked, slow smile stretches across her face, a sneer twisting her lips. “With our dear Avalon soon to be wed, we will certainly aid all we can.”

I search for Avalon in the crowd. Though she stands much taller than the men, she looks entirely unperturbed by the entire conversation. Her face holds no evidence that she may not be married after all. Instead, she, like Gideon, seems far away mentally as if she’s not the same woman I’ve met previously at all. They each have a mask on, as if a part of them is tucked deeply away for safekeeping.

Is this what it’s like being royalty?

“Thank you, I appreciate your efforts,” Gideon replies mechanically. “Now, have the undead been disposed of?”

“Yes, sir. I dispatched my warriors immediately with help from the Night Weavers, and we’re burning their bodies. However, we will need increased security for the time being,” the orc decrees, tilting his head upwards with confidence. “I’ll have my men do patrols.”

“I’ll spend some time creating protection spells for the town, though there must be a reason they’re attacking,” Avalon says, giving me a once-over.

The minotaur takes a long drag of his cigar before pulling its chewed end from his lips, exhaling a long stream of smoke. “As for the human, does this mean the barrier is failing? There must be a connection between the two.”

I wait for Gideon to give me some sign of reassurance, but his focus remains on the council. I wish I were invisible rightnow. I knew eventually this might happen, but it feels worse than I’d ever imagined.

Loran squeezes my hand, again glancing down at me. “It’s alright, Ruby,” he whispers into my ear.

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