Page 67 of Possess Me at Midnight
“According to Mathias, his intent is to bring ‘balance’ to the Council,” Caden spits. “Restore the Deprived’s rights.”
“That’s important, I grant you. Something Bram and I have long worked toward.” I do my best to maintain a clinical, strategic tone, but panic rises inside me. “But we need Ice back, and we need a plan—now.”
“Agreed.” Duke nods, looking grave.
Tynan hisses a harsh curse at Sterling. “You must nominate someone to run against Mathias. Lucan is a sound choice.”
Lucan shakes his head, clearly thinking what I am.
“The Council frowns upon having two members of the same family assuming seats. The rule is unwritten, mind you, but it’s supposed to prevent a family from taking over magickind and ruining their line of succession.”
“It’s been done in extreme situations,” Tynan counters. “The bigger impediment now is that Lucan has no heir and no longer has a mate upon whom to get one. The Council won’t like that sort of instability, especially now.”
Lucan closes his eyes. I give him the privacy of his thoughts, so I’m not certain what he’s feeling, but pain and humiliation likely rank at the top of the list.
“Why not nominate Duke?” Sydney suggests.
“Unlikely,” Duke drawls. “I’m nobody in this world. I may be wealthy and well-connected among humans, but my magic comes from my maternal grandmother, whose family was neither well-known nor well-connected. Besides, I’m not even twenty years past my transition—barely more than a child to the elders. I doubt I’d pass the Council’s scrutiny.”
My hands clench into fists beneath the table, but I force my voice to remain controlled. “Since the vote won’t happen for days or weeks, Mathias’s bid for the Council can wait a few hours. We must rescue Ice now.”
“You’re right,” Duke agrees. “We should?—”
Sterling scowls. “Isdernus is a Rykard. No one of any significance. The Council, however, is of the utmost importance. Magickind’s stability must come before a Deprived who’s more than half out of his mind. Use your common sense, girl.”
Something dark and furious rises in my chest at his casual dismissal. Ice is worth a dozen Council seats. But I’m not naïve. I know that most of magickind holds Sterling’s view of Ice. Despite that, I refuse to stand idly by and do nothing to prevent his death, especially since that possibility is breaking my heart. And I’m all too aware that showing that emotion would only prove Sterling’s point about feminine hysteria. I channel that rage into logic instead.
“We need every spare warrior to fight,” I say, proud that my voice doesn’t waver.
“We do, so is it worth risking them all to save one, especially one from his station?”
“It doesn’t matter if Ice is Deprived. He sacrificed his safety to save my life. Surely, that unselfish deed deserves our help, especially since he’s integral to the Doomsday Brethren.”
Sterling sniffs. “Then he finally did some good. But Duke is right; if no one in his grandmother’s family ever sat on the Council, he won’t pass scrutiny. Mathias still has his sympathizers out there, and people like Blackbourne wield a great deal of clout. He will do his damnedest to convince others like Spencer and Tynan’s grandfather to vote Mathias’s way.”
“After Auropha’s death, I tried to convince my grandfather that Mathias is back. He wouldn’t listen. He still won’t. Too concerned about looking like a neutral ‘voice of reason.’ But honestly, I think he’s afraid to face reality,” Tynan mutters. “Coupled with Mathias’s likely threats to kill loved ones and wipe out entire families if he does not win the seat, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s voted in.”
Tynan clearly knows and understands Council politics well, not surprising since his grandfather sits elbow to elbow with Bram.
“Indeed. And if Mathias gains a Council seat, he’ll have legitimate authority to pass laws, control magical enforcement, and make himself untouchable,” I point out, trying to redirect their focus to the bigger picture. “You’d be fighting a war against your fellow Council members. Magickind would implode.” And take the rest of us into battle with you.
“Excellent points as always, Miss Rion. Too bad you can’t sit on the Council. You’re far more pleasant than your brother. But to your point, we need someone with an unshakable claim to the seat. But who?” Sterling rests his chin on his fist in thought.
Ice might be drawing his last breath right now. The thought nearly breaks my composure. I take a careful breath and try once more. “I won’t simply leave a man to die. And we can’t plan for any Council vote if Mathias extracts our secrets from Ice. We must move now.”
Bless him, Duke nods immediately. “Right then. Ice first. The vote can’t be conducted until we locate the rest of the Council and see if any come forward with a candidate. If only Bram were well, he could nominate?—”
“Focus on the rescue!” The words come out sharper than I intended. I catch myself, soften my tone. “Please. Every moment matters.”
“She’s right.” Duke wipes at tired eyes, then slants a glance at Lucan…who’s focused all his considering stare on me.
They probably suspect I have deeper feelings for Ice than I should, but I can’t bring myself to care. Not when he’s suffering because he saved me. Not after he stole a piece of my heart.
“If we’re going to plan a successful rescue, we need Marrok,” Caden says.
“Where is he?” Tynan searches the cozy, fire-lit room with a frown.
“Putting the new volunteers through their paces, finding out if they’re stout enough for the cause and all that,” his mate, Olivia, puts in. “I’ll bring him in.”
