Page 67 of Seas the Reckoning

It would be a risk to try to add more to our list, but I am eager to learn how it plays into the curse. And if at all possible, we need to know before we make our escape.

“I’d be happy to have a last dance with you, before the end of the festivities today.”

His eyes brighten.

“Until then. Congratulations on your engagement.”

He bows again to me, and then to Claude and Councilman Taylor. Then he sweeps out of the room with surprising speed and nary a sound.

“Father,” Starla asks after the vampire is gone. “Might I know, as Carolina will be his wife, a bit more about Claude?”

Councilman Taylor gestures for his daughter to sit, and she does, in a chair next to me.

“Starla, Carolina, please allow me to introduce my nephew.”

Starla doesn’t hold back a squawk of surprise, and I gasp.

Councilman Taylor speaks over the outburst.

“There was a family falling out when your grandfather was attempting to choose a worthy successor. My sibling was in possession of a genetic trait we valued highly⁠—”

The curse. It has to be.

I thought Seymour said it had died out after the councilman’s father. I guess the accountant didn’t know as much as he thought.

“But I was inarguably stronger than my sister. Her level of ability was seen as an embarrassment. A waste of a key. Each side of the family has acknowledged each other professionally, smart enough to not tear the family business apart, but we have privately squabbled over the vast wealth and inheritance that my father never did leave clear guidance for. Now, as you can see, the feud is settled. This is an ideal turn of events. I have a pesky argument done. Starla, you’ll get your friend as a cousin. I believe a celebration is called for.”

The councilman gets his staff’s attention, calling for champagne.

Claude smirks at me, and Lillian glowers.

The crest mystery is solved, at least. And the curse. Both this family.

One family, and not two.

The question is, just which of them is responsible for working with Leon? Or is it both of them?

I loathe Councilman Taylor and my betrothed, but when Claude looks at me and runs his tongue suggestively along his upper lip, I can’t help hoping it’s him.

I’d love an excuse to sing him a song, once I have my voice back.

26

DRAMATIC EXITS

The last event of the weekend goes mostly as Starla predicted. One large exception occurs when Councilman Taylor ushers everyone outside as the sky is manually darkened above the east gardens.

The stars are vibrant, even if the night is fake, and twinkle lights spark to life to the chorus of oohs and aahs that Starla told me to anticipate. The garden now houses several towering evergreens bedecked with baubles and color-coded themed ornaments on each.

But, instead of snow beginning to fall, Councilman Taylor steps in front of the crowd.

“I have an important announcement. It is my pleasure to share that my daughter, Starla, is engaged. While the happy couple are having a small, private ceremony in the near future, there will be a public wedding to which you may all expect to receive invitations.”

Near future is one way of putting it. Try this evening, so his daughter can’t find a way out of the arrangement. Or so he thinks.

There is a polite smattering of applause and some calls of congratulations for the happy couple as Piers leads Starla to the front of the crowd until they’re standing next to her father. I look around to see how Exos is taking the fake news. It’s one thing to know what we’ve got planned but another to have to witness it. My texts yesterday were less than detailed, since we weren’t sure how talks would go with the groom this morning.

The gargoyle is nowhere to be found, and I smile to myself.