Page 89 of Dark Night Golden Dawn
Thea began to gather her papers. “Yes, Mother,” she said, voice quiet, but steady. “I do. I think the Illuminated Order has poisoned Okairos for long enough. That’s why we asked you all here tonight, to begin to form an alliance—to make a plan, and move against them, before something terrible happens.”
“Like what?” Aurelia asked, hysteria in her tone. “We’ve lived for close to two thousand years without the kinds of poverty, war or major conflicts that plague other worlds. What do you think could happen now?”
Indigo, who’d been staring at her phone, turned it around. “Something like this?”
A video played without sound, but it was clearly the House of Remiel’s building in Nuva Troi—and it was on fire, a mob of humans out front. They were being slaughtered by vampires in high definition on the screen.
“What is this?” Selene gasped.
“A livestream from a cafe across the street,” Indigo answered. “Humans gathered outside the House of Remiel, demanding to know where Mark and Alain Easton are, apparently they’re both missing now—it was all over the gossips earlier today—and things got out of hand. They set the building on fire, apparently, and now the vampires are slaughtering them in retribution.”
The livestream was happening inside Haven. Harlow glanced at Finn, whose face was drawn. He squeezed her arm, just once. She felt as though she moved in slow motion as she looked up at him. She knew what he would say, what he would do. Time sprang back into motion and she felt as though she’d missed a chance for something, though she wasn’t sure what.
“We have to go,” Finn said, glancing at Alaric, who nodded. “Get there, fast,” he said to the Wraiths. “Cian?”
“I will hold things down here—after I call in reinforcements for you.”
Riley Quinn spoke, after looking up from their phone. “The Rogue Order is sending help as well. We’ll get as many humans out as we can. Can we use your safehouse? You have one across the street, yes?”
Cian nodded. “Yes, coordinate with Nox and Arebos. You can ride together.”
Alaric kissed Thea. “Stay here. The wards will keep you safe. We’ll be back soon.”
She nodded, but Aurelia rose. “We should help.”
Finn shook his head. “Please, stay here. Make calls if you need to, but the Knights are well prepared for this kind of thing, and I assume the Rogue Order is as well.”
Riley nodded, swiping a kiss to Enzo’s cheek. “I’m not headed into the fray, love. I promise. I’ll go to Haven and wait. The Erynes will be along shortly.”
“Erynes?” Harlow asked as Alaric and Finn portaled out.
“You can think of them as the Queensguard, if you like,” Riley said, then brushed a kiss on her cheek. “We’ll all be back soon.”
And then Riley and the Wraiths were gone, back out into the night. Harlow’s head spun with how fast they all worked. There was so much she didn’t know about the Knights still.
Petra got up. “I need to go too, but there’s some really nice food in the fridge and in the oven. You all should eat something and get some rest.”
“Where are you going?” Harlow asked, concerned.
Petra took her hand. “I have to help too, Harlow.”
“You’ll fight?”
Petra laughed. “I’m not as delicate as I look.” She turned to the rest of the table. “Plan to stay the night. Nobody leaves ‘til Finn says it’s all right. Cian, Harlow, you can get everyone settled and comfortable, right?”
Harlow and Cian both nodded. Harlow turned to the Argent as Petra portaled out. “If you need to go make calls, I can handle my family. The bedrooms upstairs?”
“All are ready for guests. Sparsely furnished, but they should find everything they need—and I believe anything else that’s needed, you can help with, yes?”
“Yes,” Harlow agreed, as Cian disappeared into Finn’s office.
Petra portaled back in, holding Axel. The cat was calm in her arms, as though he knew he traveled with a friend. “I just thought you’d want him here with you.”
Harlow took the cat, feeling wildly grateful for Petra, and glad she’d invited her in earlier so that her wards had recognized the immortal and allowed her in.“Thank you,” she said as Petra disappeared again, portaling back to the House of Remiel.
Larkin sighed. “Well, this is going well.”
Selene got up. “I suppose we might as well eat.”
