Even if Brynleigh hadn’t known that there would be an increased military presence at the Reunion tonight, she would’ve known the men were soldiers.
Davis parked, cut the engine, and walked around the vehicle. He opened the door, a smile on his kind, older face.
“Ladies,” he said in a baritone voice, extending a hand. “Welcome to the Reunion.”
Brynleigh grabbed her black clutch containing her phone, Sarai’s picture, and the invitation. Placing her fingers in the driver’s, she exited the vehicle, the cold night air brushing against her.
“Thank you.” She smiled and stepped aside, making room for Hallie to exit.
Cameras flashed, and Brynleigh glanced at the sky to avoid looking at them.
Then she saw it.
Crimson edged the moon like a splash of blood on an otherwise pristine piece of paper. It was incredibly out of place. A frown tugged at Brynleigh’s lips, and her shadows throbbed at the sight.
Now that she’d noticed the odd sight, she couldn’t look away. A heavy sense of foreboding filled her, and her stomach twisted.
Red moons were never a good sign. The last time a Blood Moon had appeared, a queen died, two battles took place, and the world was forever changed. Everyone knew about that turning point in the Four Kingdom’s history.
So what did this one mean? Were the gods playing with them?
She stared at the moon until a hand landed on her arm.
“Brynleigh, what’s wrong?” Hallie asked.
Hopefully, it didn’t mean anything. But she couldn’t shake the sick feeling. Shaking her head, she ripped her gaze away from the bloody moon.
“Oh, nothing.”
It had to be nothing, right?
Tonight would be fine. Ryker and his team had spent days preparing for this. Everything was in position. They would ambush the rebels, stop them before anyone got hurt, and end the Black Night’s madness once and for all.
And yet, that uneasy feeling remained.
Gods, she hoped Ryker would arrive soon. His presence grounded her like nothing else in this world.
Entering the Hall of Choice was a blur.
Arm in arm, Brynleigh and Hallie climbed the steps and posed for the press. They smiled and answered a few questions, but Brynleigh barely paid them any attention.
She kept looking back at the red moon.
No matter how often she told herself it didn’t mean anything, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.
Crimson crystals hungfrom a dozen glistening chandeliers in the ballroom, casting shades of red over the massive space. Ruby tapestries embedded with hundreds of tiny gems hung on the walls, glittering like bloody skies. A red carpet lined the stage where the Reunion would take place, and all the couches were the same color.
Hallie had stepped away to use the restroom, leaving Brynleigh alone for a few minutes. She didn’t mind. It gave her time to assess the gathered crowd.
The ballroom was already teeming with people. Crew members wearing black ran across the stage, talking into headsets. Audience members filled the nearly three dozen rows of seats, many wearing crimson to match the theme. Most were smiling and chatting with their neighbors, but several sat stoically, their gazes moving methodically through the space.
One of the audience members locked eyes with Brynleigh, and he dipped his chin. Nikhail wore a black suit and tie, looking just as distinguished as thefirst time Brynleigh met him.
She wasn’t entirely sure what the air fae did for the army, but she knew that Ryker trusted the man, which was good enough for her.
“Excuse me, Mrs. Waterborn?” a pleasant voice came from behind Brynleigh.
It took a moment for Brynleigh to realize they were speaking to her. It would take time to get used to that name, and changing her name legally to Ryker’s would be a legal pain, but it would be worth it to shed her Maker’s hold on her.