I stilled on the threshold.
“Relax,” Slade called in a droll tone. “It’s just the Chosen.”
All the guards holstered their weapons and fell into at-ease poses.
I shot my old friend a look. “Thanks.”
He winked. “You’re late. They’re already in there.”
I waved and ran forward, leaving Adam and Slade shaking hands. They’d follow me in, but since they didn’t hold official seats on the Dark Races Cabinet, they didn’t need to make an entrance.
On my way, I waved at Calyx. She took her role as the new head of security for Queen Maeve too seriously to do anything more friendly than nod. Turned out Cain hadn’t gotten the fae after all. My old friend Vinca had helped Calyx escape Irkalla while we were busy in Lilith’s lair. She’d been heartbroken to learn of Tristan’s and Horus’s deaths, but once I recommended her skills to the Queen, she took to her new role among Maeve’s guard like she was made for it.
Speaking of the Queen, she’d no doubt had a few sharp words for me once I walked in those doors. I smoothed down my hair and prayed Adam hadn’t left any hickies on my neck. Sucking in a deep breath, I put my hands on the handles and pulled the doors open in what I hoped was a stately manner.
“Sorry I’m late,” I said as I rushed inside. Slade had been right—everyone was already seated. But the instant I crossed into the room, they all rose and bowed.
I waved an impatient hand. “Guys, we’ve already discussed the saluting thing. Sit down.”
I took the empty chair at the front of the large, round table. Maisie’s spirit hovered on my right. “Hey, sis!” I said.
“Where have you been? You opened the portal for me to come over, but you weren’t there when I came through.”
“Sorry, I had some… pressing business to attend to.”
My sister raised a brow. “Pressing, sure.”
From Maisie’s right, Rhea leaned over. “You’re late.”
“Talk to your nephew,” I muttered.
Rhea wore the ceremonial chiton that identified her as the leader of the Hekate Council. After we’d returned from Irkalla, the Council had taken a vote to instate her as the official and permanent leader of their government. I had to admit, I was relieved at the development. Even though Rhea never hesitated to voice her opinions on my decisions, she was fair and honest and I felt comfortable bickering with her.
The same couldn’t be said for the frowning female sitting directly across from me.
“Nice of you to join us, Chosen. Do you plan on being unfashionably late to all our meetings?”
Since it was well into October, Queen Maeve was in her Mother phase of the year. A thin thread of gray decorated her dark brown hair, giving it a distinguished appearance. She wore an eggplant-colored robe and the autumn crown, which was decorated with amber acorns and metallic leaves. I had to say, I much preferred this look to her Child manifestation in the spring. It was disconcerting to argue dark races policy with a seven-year-old girl whose eyes were too ancient for her innocent face.
While the Queen seemed to accept me as the leader of the Chamber, she didn’t seem too impressed with my newfound status as a demigoddess. I supposed I couldn’t blame her too much, though. After all, she’d been a deity for millennia and I’d been one for only eight months. I wouldn’t bow down to me either if I were her. Still, I would have appreciated a little less lip from the faery queen.
“I’ll endeavor to be more punctual in the future, if you try to be less bitchy.”
The Queen gasped. “Well,” she huffed. Her eyes scanned the room for an ally to her indignation, but she found none among the remaining Cabinet members.
Next to me, the new vampire leader chuckled and elbowed me. “Nice one, Sabina.”
I looked up and smiled. “Thanks, Nyx. Or should I call you Madame President?”
The vampire rolled her eyes. “Only if you want me to ignore you, O Exalted Chosen.”
I chuckled at my friend. Over the last several months, Nyx and I had worked closely as she set up her new government in Los Angeles. Transforming the historically despotic vampire form of government into a more democratic one wasn’t easy, but Nyx proved herself a strong and prudent leader.
She wore a business suit and I spied the golden rings of her vest winking from the collar of her crisp white shirt. Not for the first time, I sent a little prayer of thanks to Asmodeus for not forcing Nyx to give the vest back to Asclepius. The general vampire population was kept in the dark about her semi-immortal status, but the vest actually was probably more protection than her vampire powers would have been. Plus, she saved a ton on security. Pretty much the only backup she traveled with regularly was Slade and Georgia, but even they were more like trusted confidants than hired guns.
As for Asclepius, no one had heard from him since Asmodeus sent him away from the throne room. I guess the god decided it was better not to make deals with any dark race members than face asking me for permission. Which was fine with me. If I never saw the god again, it’d be too soon.
“Did Georgia come with you on this trip?”
The vampire nodded. “Are you kidding? She wouldn’t miss the wedding for anything. She’s off helping Zen set up the hall now.”
I nodded. The reminder of the wedding ceremony later that night made my hands sweat. It wasn’t every day a female watched her demon get married.
“Speaking of,” Maisie said. “We’d better get started. Brooks will have our heads if we’re not on our marks at midnight on the dot.”
I picked up the silver gavel from the table and rapped it twice on the stone surface. “I now call this meeting of the Dark Races Cabinet to order. We’ll begin with reports.” I looked up. “Maisie, is there any news from Irkalla?”
“Yes, there’s been some progress on the coup against the Dominae, but there’s a holdout.”
“Let me guess—Lavinia?”
Maisie nodded. “Naturally. She and one of the ancients have turned against the other Dominae and are refusing to step down. I was hoping you’d be willing to come down for a visit so we can convince dear old grandmother to cut the shit.”
I pursed my lips. Part of me would love to give Lavinia a dose of humble pie, but the other part didn’t relish the idea of spending more time in the Bloodlands.
Sensing my hesitation, Maisie continued. “Mom and Dad have been asking when you’re going to visit again. You can even bring Adam.”
I sighed. It had been a couple of months since I’d been down to see my parents and even longer since I’d checked in on Vinca. “Okay, but we can only stay for a couple of days.”
My twin smiled. “Deal.”
I made a mental note to share the news with Adam later. He loved being able to visit with Orpheus when we went to Irkalla, so I was pretty sure he wouldn’t have a problem.
“Alpha Romulus, do you have a report?”
As the only male in the Cabinet, Michael Romulus was hard to miss. Because it was the night of a full moon, he sent off waves of pheromones that permeated the air like musky cologne. I even caught the Queen shooting him a suggestive glance or three.
In addition to being the only male, Michael was an exception on the Cabinet because he wasn’t technically the leader of his entire race. Instead, the werewolf Alphas had elected him as a sort of delegate. He reported our decisions back to the leaders and came to us with requests from individual packs. Even though we’d had our share of run-ins in the past, I actually enjoyed working with him. He could be surly and dominating, but I enjoyed the challenge every now and again.
The werewolf cleared his throat. “There’s not much to report since last quarter’s meeting. The Alpha of the Miami pack has had a little trouble in his sector and wanted me to ask High Councilwoman Lazarus if she’d be willing to send a few mages down to help handle the situation.”
“What kind of trouble?” Rhea asked, switching to business mode.
“Some immigrants from Haiti hexed some of the weres.”
“Hmm,” I said. “Voodoo?”
He nodded. “I was also going to speak to Madame Zenobia to see if she had any solutions.”
“That’s a good idea,” Rhea said. “If she can’t help you, I’d be happy to send a couple of people down to look into it.”
Michael smiled. “Thanks. I’ll be in touch.”
“Anything else, Michael?”
He paused, as if reluctant to bring up the next item. “Actually, yes. As you know, my niece Mac is expecting her first cub in a couple of months.”
My stomach sank. It’s not that I didn’t know about Mac’s pregnancy, but this topic was a touchy one for several of us in the room. Georgia worked for Nyx, so Nyx knew the whole sordid tale of how Michael forced his niece to leave her girlfriend to marry a male of his choosing. And Rhea and I had both been friends with everyone involved. I nodded for him to continue.
“The doctors believe the cub will be a female.” His tone was so disappointed that I had to bite my lips to hide my smile. Served him right. “Mac asked me if you would allow her to bring the cub here for a blessing once she was born.”
I frowned. “A blessing from whom? Zen?” Before she’d left for New York, Mac and Zen had been good friends.
“From you.”
I blinked. I still wasn’t used to the more ceremonial parts of my new role among the races. Plus, the whole thing would be so awkward. Still, Mac had made her choices and Georgia actually seemed happier since she’d been in Los Angeles. Balking about a simple blessing on a child who didn’t have anything to do with the pain of her parents’ joining would be pretty hypocritical of me of all people. “Tell Mac I’d love to see her and meet the baby.”
Michael’s eyes shifted. “Will Mac’s mate also be welcomed?”
Ugh. I wanted to hang out with Logan Remus about as much as I wanted to get stabbed in the eye. But to slight him now would be a huge humiliation for the male. “He may come, too.”