23
The next evening, I decided to hit the gym for a workout. I hadn’t slept at all, but my body strained for action. My pent-up emotions and worries needed a release.
The headphones on my ears blocked out the world and filled my head with angry music. All my energy was focused on knocking the stuffing out of the punching bag. My skin dripped sweat and my muscles screamed from exertion. It felt good to be back in the zone.
I was so focused on my punishing workout that I didn’t notice the person coming up behind me. Not until a hand landed on my shoulder. On autopilot, I spun and swung my fist into a jaw.
“Oof!” My target fell to the hardwood with a crash.
Panting, I looked down and cursed. “Shit. Orpheus, I’m so sorry!”
I threw off my headphones and bent down to help him off the ground. His eyes were unfocused and he was so disoriented he didn’t fight my assistance. When I finally had him upright again, he wobbled. His hand flew to his jaw and he worked it back and forth with a grimace. “That’ll teach me to sneak up on a former assassin.”
“Sorry.” I grimaced. “You caught me off guard.”
He waved a hand. “My fault. I should have made more noise.”
I wiped the back of my arm across my forehead, suddenly self-conscious. “Did you need something?”
He shook his head, as if clearing out cobwebs. I bit my lip, as guilt warred with amusement. Over the last few months, I’d wanted to clean Orpheus’s clock more than once after he’d done some ass**le thing. But the truth was I never would have landed that punch if he’d seen it coming.
“It’s about Maisie,” he said. “Rhea came to me last night and told me about your talk.”
I schooled my features at his mention of my mentor because it reminded me of my problems with Adam. Did Rhea know what happened? Did she tell Orpheus? But obviously, the leader of the mage race had more important issues to worry about than my relationship troubles.
“I wish you had come to us sooner,” he continued. “But I suppose I understand how your desire to be loyal to Maisie made you hesitate.”
I nodded. “Thanks for understanding. What did you two decide?”
“We agreed that immediate action must be taken. Obviously, refusing to sleep is dangerous to Maisie’s health.”
I raised a brow. “Yes, her health.”
He paused and shot me a sharp look. “Save your judgment, Sabina. Yes, I am also concerned about what this development means for the treaty signing. But as much as you’d like to believe I am just a cold politician, I’ve known that girl longer than you. Hell, I practically raised her alongside Ameritat. Seeing her in pain hurts me as much as, if not more than, it hurts you.”
I sighed and softened my expression. “I know. I just wish we didn’t have this treaty deadline looming. She needs time to heal.”
“If wishes solved problems, the world would be a very different place.”
“I hear that,” I said. “So what’s the next step?”
“I’ve given Rhea leave to move forward with the plan to trick Maisie into doing the incubation.”
“Really?” My eyebrows rose. “I figured you’d be against it.”
He grimaced. “Let’s just say Rhea can be quite persuasive when she wants to be.” He rubbed his head as if comforting an old wound. “She convinced me that this is the only way to help Maisie.”
“So where do I come in?” I asked. I figured I was the last person Rhea would want help from now.
“You’re going to assist in the ritual.” He frowned as if I’d asked a trick question. “Rhea said she’d already discussed it with you.”
My eyebrows shot up to my hairline. “Of course. Sorry.” I was shocked Rhea would allow me to help. That meant she was either desperate for help… or she didn’t know about Adam and me.
He frowned. “Is that a problem?”
I shook my head. “Not at all.”
“Good. Rhea is going to invite Maisie to go to the Crossroads this evening under the guise of getting away from the city for a couple of days. It’ll give Rhea a chance to do the necessary cleansing rituals without tipping Maisie off to their real purpose. Plus, being close to the ley line in the Sacred Grove for twenty-four hours will help prepare Maisie for the incubation. Tomorrow night, you’ll go out there for dinner. Rhea will slip a sedative into Maisie’s food and then you will proceed with the ritual.”
He noticed my grimace at his mention of the sedative.
“Don’t get squeamish on us now, Sabina,” he said, his tone rueful. “You’ve committed far more heinous crimes for far less noble causes. Don’t let your conscience get in the way of what needs to be done. Not when so much is at stake. This may be our last chance to get Maisie back.”
I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. I didn’t like the idea of tricking Maisie, but Orpheus was right. I’d murdered people for looking at me the wrong way. This betrayal, at least, might have a positive outcome. And gods knew, where Maisie was concerned, we needed some good news.
“I’ll be there.”
“Good. Thank you.”
I hesitated, wondering if now was a good time to bring up the other issue I wanted to speak to him about. It’d been so long since Orpheus and I had a positive conversation, I hated to ruin it. On the other hand, I didn’t want to miss this opportunity to find out if Alexis was really taking over control of the BLD.
“Listen, have you and the Despina made a decision about Slade’s position yet?”
He took a deep breath. “Sabina, I know Slade’s your friend—”
“No, that’s not why I’m asking. I mean, sure, I think Slade got the shaft—” He raised a warning eyebrow. “Sorry but it’s the truth. Anyway, I ask because Alexis seemed pretty sure she’d be taking over that role.”
Orpheus crossed his arms. “No final decisions have been made,” he said, evading the question. “Should I take it you doubt Alexis’s suitability?”
“Look, it’s not that I think she’s unskilled. She’s clearly well trained and strong. But does she have the judgment and patience a leader needs for such a politically sensitive role?” I shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. Not after she killed Tiny.”
Orpheus stiffened, as if preparing to argue, but I cut off his objections.
“Relax. I’m not going to argue that Tiny wasn’t the killer. There haven’t been any more killings, so it appears my objections might have been… reactionary.” His eyebrows rose, his expression heavy with irony. But I’d be staked before I admitted to being wrong. “Anyway, my concerns about Alexis have more to do with her impulsivity and lack of knowledge about the workings of New York vampire culture. Is that really who you want in such a strategically critical and politically sensitive position?”