Page 41 of Iris
It doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
“Couples that are not biologically matched can cause stillborns or maternal deaths. There’s a reason mates are paired the way they are. It’s dangerous to mix in any other way.” She stops there, but I hear the unspoken words hovering.Like what happened to Stephan.
Years before he mated with my sister, Stephan had lost his first love, Cecilia. She was a Beta and died during childbirth. It had destroyed him and caused him to do some not so good things to Violet out of fear. The Monarch had been against the relationship from the start, and it had caused a lot of bad blood between her, her sister, and her nephew.
“Alphas and Omegas make Alphas and Omegas.” She stands to stare down at me. “The birth numbers are at a dangerous low as it is. If things continue like this…”
Fredrick clears his throat, and her head snaps to him before nodding. She was revealing too much.
Birth numbers low? Didn’t the man she had been talking to before mention something about numbers and things looking bad. Could that be what he was talking about?
Lifting her chin, she regains her regal, stone-carved façade. “Miss Gardener, tell me. Have you ever heard of the terrorist rebel group, the Nightshades?”
That takes me aback. Talk about out of left field. “Rebel group?” How have I never heard of such a thing on Sabine? “No. I haven’t.”
I know what else I’ll be looking up when I get home.
But then I realize why she’s asked me such a question. She’s wondering if I’m secretly a Shade.
She sits again, crossing her opposite leg over the other knee. Picking up her glass, she takes another swallow, this one less dainty than the first. “Good. Because they’re enemies of the Council, and I want to think that you’re smart enough not to getinvolved in something like that. For your future’s sake and your family’s. Am I right?”
Another hidden threat.
I only nod. It’s safer.
“Excellent.” She checks her watch and scowls. “And now, you’re out of time. Get out.”
Hivemind, it’s time to hone your stingers and get your stripes in order.
There’s talk of a revolution coming.
There are some interesting Stitches coming into my DMs all talking about changing the way things are here in Sabine.
Some are calling for a complete overhaul the system—I’m sure the Monarch justlovesthat. But others think rules should be stricter, marks and mates fully arranged by the Council like it used to be in the old, old days. Without pomp and fanfare.
Why does this matter? Why am I wasting a Stitch on politics instead of talking about the latest up of steaming tea?
Because this year isdiff-er-ent.
Old man Adams hasFINALLYretired, and that means there’s an empty seat in the Council. C’mon, who’ll nominate me?
Ha!
Kidding.
But I’m not kidding about the fact that the three Alphas who are in the running to take his place aren’t exactly for the young people. Two of them are the kind of Draconian that make the Monarch look edgy and wild.
Whoever is chosen will help determine the rules for the next generation.
And that’s important.
But I know you’re really here for the gossip. So, without further ado…
One person who seems to be behaving herself this Season is Alicia D. Seems our blonde bombshell’s determined to be Luxe this year, so she’s staying away from all the clubs and party spots that she used to frequent last year.
She’s up against the beleaguered Iris G and even though the family’s been rocked with rumors of the scandalous kind, there’s an in all the other Omegas of the Season don’t have.
Mr. Asher St. James. The Monarch’s nephew.
