“I—”
“Just answer the question, Arthie,” Jin said.
She flicked her gaze to his, suddenly shy. It was adorable. “Yes. I am.”
Matteo sank into the armchair. “Did you ever consider, Shaw and Sora, that you’re simply joiningourfamily?”
Arthie laughed. “Well, this family is full of murderers, and we’re after the biggest one.” She nodded at Jin. “The Ram shot him, by the way, is what I meant.”
“Point-blank, if I may add,” Matteo said.
Jin’s father sucked in a breath. His mother bit out a curse. Jin rubbed at the spot where her bullet had made its home, burning through the layers of his clothes and his skin, tearing through his heart.
“I turned him,” Arthie said. “And I know your reunion was ten years in the making, but we cannot mistake it for a happy ending. It’s only the beginning. We need to plan.”
She was right. Irritatingly so. Could he not, for a moment, pretend to ignore reality and bask in his victory?Soon, he promised himself, surprised by his optimism. Flick would be proud.
“The tribute,” Matteo said. “Remind me: How many days away is it?”
“One,” Arthie said. “Thanks to that wretched storm.”
“How do you know?” Jin asked. “We don’t have a calendar.”
Arthie dangled her pocket watch. “No, but I have a clock and a brain. I’ve been keeping track.”
“What is this tribute?” Jin’s father asked.
“She’s sent invitations to the rich and powerful for an event to honor the members of the press thatshemassacred, unbeknownst to the public, and celebrate a vicennial of her monarchy. It’ll be anything but that. We stole her incriminating ledger that led us to you, and she’s lashing out. She started with renewing chaos on the streets by kidnapping humans to stir up hatred and fear of vampires once again.”
“Humans?” his mother asked. “Whatever for?”
“For a public uproar,” Arthie answered. “Blaming the press massacre on vampires was the first step, but she needed to keep that thread of fear alive.”
Jin’s mother’s lip twisted in disgust. “While she throws a celebration.”
“I hadn’t realized we were nearing a vicennial,” his father said. “Those usually bring in officials at every level.”
“Even the Council?” Arthie asked.
He pursed his lips. “Yes. If we’ll be able to attend, their presence could work in our favor. What is our plan to dispose of her?”
Sora asked. “Death?”
But when Jin thought of killing the Ram, he thought of Flick. The Ram was a monster undeserving of a daughter like Flick, but she was still her mother, the woman who had raised her from a young age.
“Death is an easy punishment,” his father replied. “I much prefer a suffering in which she can watch us flourish, don’t you?”
Yes. Jin liked that very much.
“If we must,” his mother said with a sigh. “Whatisyour plan to take her down?”
“Unfortunately, we dipped into this battle long after it started,” Arthie said, “but there are three parts to the Ram: monarch, businesswoman, and lady. We’ve burned down the heart of the EJC. We’ve put a dent in the monarch’s plans for weaponizing vampires. Now we’llexpose all three, ruining the lady’s image by unmasking her in front of her handpicked audience.”
“How do you plan to unmask her?” Sora asked. “The rich and the powerful might have been invited, but she won’t risk standing among them.”
“Perhaps Shaw and Sora can convince the Council to demand that she unmasks,” Matteo suggested, looking at the Siwangs.
“The Council appointed her; they know who she is,” Jin said. “Are they masked too?”
