Page 126 of Mage Massacres

“You two are adorable,” Lesley professed, and Palmer’s cheeks pinked for the second time today.

Sean had been quiet since Brent had struck, but he rubbed his hand over his bald head as he questioned, “Are we going to ignore the death of a council member?”

I shrugged one shoulder, no fucks given about the laws broken. “Do you have an issue with that?”

His gaze bounced from person to person, assessing the room before he flopped back in his chair. “No. I’m fucking relieved that he’s dead.”

He slapped his hand over his mouth, and Palmer shook his head.

“We’re not as formal as Nate, Sean. We’ll work better as a council if we’re honest and comfortable with each other. I think everyone feels the same relief. The only reason Gary was still at this table is that Amelia picked him. If he weren’t already dead, then he’d be fired.”

“And then dead,” I chimed in.

“Is the meeting over now?” Sean scrubbed his eyes. “I need whiskey and a nap.”

I smirked at him. “Tequila or bust. Whiskey is for bad days.”

“This meeting is done. We’ll have to go over the budgets at some point, though I don’t see anything more to change this quarter,” Palmer acknowledged. “Take the folders and let me know if you have any questions.”

They stood as one, and I wondered what kind of rules Nate had required with his outdated Victorian ways.

Palmer offered his hand to me, pulling me from my chair. He was ready to leave, and I couldn’t blame him. We had so much more shit to do, but our to-do list was growing smaller every day.

My phone pinged with an email from Sherice. She let me know the power had been cut to the elevators, and they were functioning again.

We led the group into the corridor, and I absently shoved the dead councilman into the Void. This wasn’t the House of Vampyre, and I didn’t know how the guild staff would feel about it being a new decor option.

Sean whistled. “What happened there?”

I scrunched my face when I remembered the door. “We were going to be late.”

“You did that?”

I nodded, calling a tiny flame of hellfire into my hand. “I’m not just a mage-vampire hybrid, Sean. I’m a bit of a mutt.”

We stepped into the elevator, and Lesley ran her fingers through brunette hair as she contemplated how to word her questions. I put her out of her misery.

“Palmer and I are mates. Yes, I have others. Five more, to be exact. Yes, I can read your minds’, but I choose to block everyone out because privacy is important to me. I know what you’re thinking now because you’re shouting the thoughts at me. Nate and Amelia are two of my parents.”

I gave her a broad smile when her hand stilled, and her eyes enlarged.

“I think I answered all of your inquiries.”

The elevator doors slid open, everyone departing except Palmer and me.

“See you next month,” Sean called over his shoulder in haste, done with today.

“You two aren’t leaving yet?” Marsha prodded, curious.

“Well, I have all this energy to burn since I didn’t get to kill Gary,” I teased, winking at the two women.

“We’re going to replace the barrier,” Palmer confessed, elbowing me before the dirty thoughts could even begin.

Marsha pulled her keys from her purse. “What of the body?”

“Leave it,” Brent suggested. “It won’t smell, and I’ll bring some darts to the next meeting.”

I pointed at him. “I like the way you think.”