Page 96 of Malice
“With this many factions banded together under one roof, she thought it might be best to re-establish the Council. Last I heard, she went off to collect someone she felt could be of assistance in that regard.”
“The Council?” Kingston said, coming out from behind the wall Hades had erected. “LiketheCouncil. The one made up of assholes who tried to convince us to k-i-l-l our little sunbeam?”
If Eden were still here, I was certain she’d be shooting around the room like a bouncy ball. That kid only sat still whenshe was sleeping. My lips twitched in the beginning of a smile. I couldn’t help but wonder if our pups would be the same.
“One and the same,” Caleb affirmed.
Kingston made a face. “Sounds like a bad idea. Besides, more than half the members are dead.”
“That’s why we want to re-establish it. Create a new Council with a new goal.”
Hades nodded. “That’s the best idea I’ve heard in weeks. It’s the only way the gods ever achieved anything.”
“Well, who are we appointing to this society of weirdos?” I asked.
“Oooh, we can call it the Hades Society,” Remi suggested, grinning at the lord of the underworld like he was a delicious ice cream cone. “It has a nice ring to it. So chic, but also sort of sinister. It totally commands respect. Just say it. The Hades Society.”
Hades smirked. “Well, I don’t hate it.”
Caleb sighed. “Call it whatever you want.”
“Yes!” Remi whispered as he pumped his fist.
“What time is this Council meeting supposed to start?” I asked. Remi shot me a wounded look, and I immediately rolled my eyes and corrected myself. “Sorry, Hades Society.”
“Good boy,” Remi murmured, putting his hand in my back pocket and giving my ass a squeeze.
“First and foremost, we need to select members from each of the supernatural factions. That way we know who should be part of this Hades Society.” Caleb turned to face the crowd of people we’d brought with us. “Everyone!” he shouted in his hellfire and brimstone priest voice.
“Oh, daddy,” Remi said under his breath. “Take me to church.”
I elbowed him, but he wasn’t wrong.
Caleb continued, pure authority in his tone. “Choose amongst yourselves one leader to represent your species or realm. When called upon, this person will join us in the newly established Hades Society. You have one hour.”
Nine of ussat in a circle in a room that felt a lot like a dingy, unused basement, the atmosphere heavy with the gravity of what we were about to do. It seemed equal parts futile and vital.
The door was still open since we were four members shy of our thirteen. Caspian was currently leaning against the doorway, arms crossed over his chest and a petulant pout on his lips.
“I still don’t understand whyhegets to represent all of Faerie. He’s only familiar with one realm. I was the king of Ravenndel, which is a sovereign realm, I’ll have you know. They deserve representation.”
Kai, thehein question, looked around the room. “Remind me again, Cas, where is the Ravenndel contingent? Are they here, offering their support in the upcoming battle? No? Then kindly shut the fuck up.”
Cas huffed, clearly affronted. “They are loyal to none but their realm. It’s the nature of Ravenndel. Why else would it be the escape for those who wish to stay forgotten?”
The dragon shifter placed a large hand on Caspian’s shoulder. “Go and see to our Dahlia. With two of her mates in here, she could do with a spare set of eyes.”
“Or hands,” Cas said with a lascivious wink. “Consider me convinced. As you were, dragon.”
Crombie strode through the doorway Caspian had just vacated, his hair slick and shining, a black waterfall down his back, suit impeccable, and throat noticeably free of the goldcollar I’d grown accustomed to seeing. He radiated power like never before, the promise of death, or at the bare minimum, violence if you fucked with him, following in his wake.
“Why haven’t you got everyone here, Hades?” Crombie asked. “My Lilypad will be here momentarily, and you know how cross she can get when her time is wasted.”
Hades, looking as unbothered as could be, simply shrugged. “Sit down and stop bothering me. I’m opening the portal now.”
Crombie raised a challenging brow. “How convenient. Funny how the mice all scurry into position when the wolf appears.”
Kingston glanced at Thorne. “Crombie’s a wolf? I thought he was fae?” The shifter lifted his nose and sniffed the air. “He doesn’t smell like a wolf.”
