“Well, well, well. It looks like the bloodsucking leech finallyshowed up.” Valentina sauntered up to Brynleigh, a ruby goblet clutched between her manicured fingers.
Her lips twisted into a reptilian sneer, and violence glimmered in her violet eyes. An enormous diamond that probably cost as much as Hallie’s house sat on Valentina’s ring finger.
Extravagant, indeed.
“Hello, Valentina,” Brynleigh said stiffly, forcing a tight smile on her face. “Congratulations on your wedding. I heard it was… glittery.”
That was about as nice as she could manage around Valentina.
The fire fae sniffed.
“It was amazing, but I’m not surprised that a commoner such as yourself is incapable of appreciating the effort it takes to throw a lavish, beautiful wedding.” Valentina paused, her eyes narrowing. “Yours was… quaint. But I should have expected that since your husband made such an…interestingChoice.”
Brynleigh’s lips curled, and she clenched her fists. So much for being polite.
“First of all, my wedding was perfect.”
She could’ve married Ryker in a back alley and wouldn’t have cared. It wasn’t about the clothes, decorations, or the location. It was about the man. Something Valentina clearly didn’t understand.
The fire fae snarled, but Brynleigh continued over her, “Second of all, how dare you insult my husband’s Choice, you fucking bit?—”
“And that’s enough socializing for tonight.” Hallie appeared out of nowhere, tugging Brynleigh away. “Valentina, as always, it’s… interesting to see you.”
The fire fae’s gaze turned to Hallie, her sneer deepening. “You. I can’t believe you, aSelected, married a dragon shifter. The head of the Carinoc Division, no less. By all the gods. If you think?—”
“Ladies! It’s time.” A human crew member hurried between the trio and ushered them towards the stage. “Come, come. Youneed to take your seats. The stream is scheduled to begin in ten minutes. The Chancellor has arrived, and her time is limited.”
Several other women were already seated. A massive seventy-inch screen stood to their right, and an empty armchair for their interviewer was in the middle of the semi-circle.
Hallie sat on one of the ruby couches, and Valentina took another, but Brynleigh remained standing.
That unease from earlier returned, worse than ever. Her eyes darted around the stage. More women were filtering out, but…
Where was Ryker? Where wereanyof the men? They were supposed to be here. The rebels would be showing up halfway through, but…
Wrong, wrong, wrong.
Brynleigh extended her senses, listening for Ryker or any male voice she recognized.
None reached her ears.
And then, the television screen on the side of the stage crackled to life.
CHAPTER 32
None of this was Right
Aman—or at least, Brynleigh assumed he was a man since he wore a black mask over his face, leaving only his eyes visible—stepped up to the camera.
No amount of cloth could hide the breadth of his shoulders or the bulk of his muscles. A menacing gleam filled his eyes, and the room behind him was pitch-black.
Something about him made Brynleigh’s skin crawl. A few shadows slipped from her palms, and a cold sweat appeared on her forehead.
“What’s happening?” someone in the audience yelled.
“Is this part of the Reunion?”
Brynleigh’s sense of unease increased tenfold.