Page 8 of Laid Bare

As soon as we step in, Luka lowers the shield that’s been keeping others away, obviously not sensing a threat now that we’re behind closed doors.

But that’s just silly. Even to me. Doesn’t he realize that we’re just walking to my doom and not safety like he thinks?

The lights are dim in the small hall between the door we just entered and the room we are heading to, but the bright light flooding from ahead of us acts as a beacon of where we’re supposed to go. Every step forward seems harder than the last, our gait slowing as it feels like concrete encases my feet.

“Breathe,cor meum.” Axel’s smooth murmur does nothing to soothe the panic bubbling in my gut. I can’t breathe. Doesn’t he realize that?

This is the end of the road for me. Because there’s no way in hell one councilman was able to convince nine others that I’m not a threat to society.

I so badly want to cry and stomp my feet and blast to the world how unfair life is. But I won’t. I plan to stick to my word of concealing my emotions to the very bitter end. An end coming far quicker than I hoped.

My knees damn near buckle the moment I step over the threshold as my gaze collides with the familiar green orbs of the only person—or should I say gargoyle—I know.

Jasper Stonewell. My headmaster.

But… I snap my gaping lips closed, my brows furrowing as I look around the room, realizing eight of the ten council members have robes on, whereas two do not.

That could only mean…

This time my legs do give out, but before I can hit the ground, Luka steadies me with one arm banded around my waist.

The overgrown rock bird is a member of the council. He… left me there to be condemned for what I am. For what he told me was special. For whathewas willing to hide.

Fuck. Keep it together, Bailey.

Well, that’s one major kick in the damn face. Just goes to show that there are very few I can actually trust with my life. And he isn’t one of them. Not anymore. Not after learning this piece of information he so helpfully left out.

Betrayal and sour bile surge like hot lava up my throat, but I swallow it down, just barely, allowing Luka to lead me to the middle seat of the only three empty ones left.

Jasper’s stare feels like a hot brand on my flesh as it remains on me, probably hoping to catch my eye, but I refuse to give him any more of my attention. This revelation hurts way too much. It shouldn’t, though. He’s just my headmaster. Not my mate. If it was Axel or Luka, I’d be losing my absolute shit right now. Hell, I still kind of am.

But that’s only because I thought he was… different. Guess I should have known better.

Axel and Luka shadow me on each side, their postures tense but not outwardly showing it. I can only tell because they’re mine. We’re so intricately linked, it’s easy to tell how they’re faring. I can say that they’re handling this a hell of a lot better than me.

In an attempt to quell the fear I know is permeating from my skin, I glance around the room, taking in the large boardroom-style table in a beautiful walnut brown, with high back chairs perfectly spaced to take up the perimeter. White damask wallpaper covers the walls, and sconces are evenly placed around the room, but the main source of light is the big fancy ass chandelier hanging precariously over the table.

“Miss Foss.” Shit. It’s starting. Taking a deep breath, I clench my hands on my lap before looking toward the voice. The angel stands proud behind his seat, his voice warm and welcoming. It’s on the tip of my tongue to blow a raspberry at his greeting, but I keep it in. Just barely. “My name is Cassian Deveroe, and I’m the angel representative on the council. I want to apologize for our less than welcoming introduction into our society as we’ve learned that you’ve only recently joined us not knowing what you were.”

Axel hisses at his words as that bile earlier makes a reappearance, but I force it back down again. There’s only one way they’d learn that little tidbit of information, and I don’t even have to guess to know who spilled the beans.

“Th-thank you,” I stutter, mentally kicking myself over my blunder. Dammit. I need to keep my shit straight for now, and I can lose it later in the privacy of my own room.IfI make it home.

Cassian smiles at me, but it’s not something I can return. And he can tell by how his smile falters for a mere moment before he continues. “I know you’re waiting for our deliberation, so I’ll just come right out with it, then we can go over the logistics. It’s been decided that we’re going to give you a chance. A chance to prove that you are not like your ancestors. I’m unsure if you know the full story behind what happened, but your headmaster,” he sweeps his arm toward Jasper, but I keep my eyes on the angel, refusing to make eye contact with the jerk, “can fill you in.”

A loud thump makes me jump almost damn near out of skin as the head councilman slams his fist on the table, the crack reverberating around the smallish room. Shit. He’s pissed. Probably more so than before.

“It’s not a goddamn story. It’s fucking murder, and you know it,” Dirk, the head councilman, hisses in his eerie disembodied voice, his fury palatable. “She should be fucking put in the damn ground, not given a chance.”

Thunder rumbles through the small room, and a dark ominous cloud starts to gather around the chandelier. Small sparks of light flash as the pressure builds, making my ears pop. Luka’s display of power instantly shuts the head councilman up, but it doesn’t seem to stem the anger radiating off his body. A trickle of rain starts to fall centered on the table, but as I look around, it’s also falling on every single council member, minus Cassian. He’s still dry as a bone.

They all grumble as the rain picks up, but my mates and I are spared from the onslaught, thank goodness. I doubt wet curiomancer is a good look on me.

Cassian stifles a laugh as the other council members grumble over being soaked, including Jasper, but then he shoots me a pointed look, telling me to end this now. Even though every person in the room knows I’m not the one doing it. Knowing he’s right, I reach over and place my hand on Luka’s thigh, rubbing what I hope are soothing circles in an effort to calm my mate down before he fries Dirk to a crisp. Cause it’s a given that he will after his most recent comment.

Oh so slowly the rain stops, the thunder quiets, and the clouds dissipate, leaving a slight glossy sheen on the table and wet council members to pull themselves together. I fully expect Dirk to put the blame on me, but he remains quiet, not voicing his displeasure over his current circumstances.

Cassian takes center stage again, continuing what he was saying before he was so rudely cut off.

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