Page 64 of Seas the Reckoning

Councilman Taylor makes a noncommittal sound in the back of his throat, keeping his eyes glued to the Founder’s back as Feral makes his way to the food.

At least his suspicions aren’t directed at us.

For his part, Feral looks utterly unbothered as he has a seat, plate piled high with breakfast fare.

I wish I felt the same, but I recognize Piers making his way over to the breakfast table, a satisfied smirk on his face. Also coming into the room are Claude and Lillian. And Arloc.

The councilman waves them down, greeting each personally and then gesturing in our direction.

I fear the day is about to take a bad turn.

25

STRATEGIC PROPOSALS

The group reaches us, and Piers’s smile is as oily as his hair when he turns to me, instead of my best friend.

“Could you move? The councilman’s daughter and I have something to discuss.”

Councilman’s daughter. He doesn’t even address her by her name. My throat grows hot.

Starla gives a simpering smile.

“Of course.”

“I’ve prepared a private room for all of you to finish breakfast, where we can discuss particulars," Councilman Taylor announces before Piers can even sit down.

We stand, and my mood bounces back and forth.

I don’t have many doubts as to the purpose of bringing Arloc and Claude over. But why both?

Jackal and Exos are entering the room as we prepare to leave, arriving at the estate for the final day’s activities. Ji-hwan has slipped in before them, already flirting with one of the women in line for breakfast.

The gargoyle glares daggers in our direction but turns and heads to a spot far down the table. If he gets a chance to punch Piers in his smarmy face using a stone fist, I think he’ll take it.

We are so close, and I don’t want to raise suspicion, but I also need to play a small game of pass-the-pocket-portal.

I linger at the back of our group, but I need an excuse. Using the only thing I can think of, I reach up to adjust my hair and unclasp my shell necklace. It slides down my front, clattering to the ground underneath my dress.

“Oh dear!” I stoop, fumbling on the floor and looking for it.

Jackal is there in an instant.

“Please, allow me to assist.”

While he examines the floor, I run my hands over the dress material as though checking for the piece of jewelry. Instead, I grab the pocket portal.

“Oh!” I lurch forward, acting as though crouching in my heels has thrown me off-balance. Jackal catches me, and I slide the pocket portal into his actual pocket.

“Thank you,” I tell him, voice breathy.

He’ll be able to pass it to the gargoyle.

“Is this what you were looking for?” I turn to see Arloc holding the shell necklace out to me. His red eyes are bordering on pink today, which I think might mean he needs blood. “A shell. But not just a shell, is it? Extraordinary.”

I swipe it from his hands before he can discern anything further. I have no idea of his methods, and while I’m still curious, the last thing I want is for Councilman Taylor to become interested as well. He hasn’t mentioned the necklace, and if there are any details about the process we can keep to ourselves, the better it will be.

Instead of looking upset that I’ve snatched the piece of jewelry, Arloc just watches me with a small smile that grows until it shows his fangs.