Across the opening, there is another cliff, where two beings stand, also looking down over the Orizians gathered below.
Chants echo through the canyon for the newcomers.
One of them is High Orizian, with his wings tucked in tightly. The other is a woman nearly as beautiful as the griffin. Her long blond hair rustles in the wind. Her skin glows gold.
Liz’s face is all attitude. Eyes lidded, jaw tight. Her hip is popped.
The image blinks out.
“What was that?” Janet asks, lightly touching my thigh.
“Jarron sent me an image,” I explain. “Liz is at the assembly with Mr. Vandozer.”
They exchange looks. I try to focus back on Jarron. There is a tightness in his chest, but also a level of anger and determination.
A moment later, the connection again cuts out. He wouldn’t keep pushing me out unless he was worried something bad could happen, right?
In the looking-glass meeting, my only ally finally arrives, along with three others.
The outcast Orizian princess in her beautiful, walking-anime form, complete with perfect makeup. Next to her is a brunette with furry ears and catlike eyes. I point down at our list.
Emily: Sphinx
She makes me the most nervous because she’s the psychic. Manuela assured me she couldn’t read us through the portal but knowing that she could read our thoughts at some point is unnerving. And that one wrong thought from Bea could expose our portal in the corner of the room.
Behind the two ladies, two men stride into the room.
A dark-skinned fae with yellow eyes. Asad, the Crackling Court fae. He’s pretty much a walking stun gun—or electric chair, depending on his desired level of power.
And a leathery-skinned creature who may as well be a lanky orc. The creature has a hunched back and long thin limbs.
The small talk continues, with the witch dropping digs at her peers. Most of them seem not to notice or care. Bea simply smirks every once in a while but mostly stays quiet, until the insults move to her.
“Why didn’t you want to go to your world’s big assembly?” the little witch asks, her expression serious enough to make a few people second-guess her intent. “Oh!”
Bea rolls her eyes.
“Sorry I forgot the prince put a price on your head and your own mate turned against you. Whoops!”
Bea’s nostrils flare, but otherwise she doesn’t respond.
“Who invited her?” the Crackling Court fae mutters.
“Blame Dara for that one,” Bea answers.
“Like you could come up with anyone better,” Dara spits back. “She’s powerful, and she’s on our side. Ignore her ill-guided attempts at humor and we’ll be just fine.”
Well, that explains why Dara was advising her earlier. They’re not exactly friendly, but Dara is invested in her.
A few minutes later, two punk-rock-looking males walk in together, each with feline grace. One wears a black cutoff vest straight from the eighties and matching jeans. The other is in a black T-shirt, dickies, and has a chain hanging from his belt loop.
I don’t recall there being relatives on the list. In fact, there are only two from the same species: Bea and Vincent.
I frown down at the list. Lola flutters over and drops onto the book, pointing at,Gabbai: Dragon. My eyes flare. That’s what a dragon looks like? Lola then hops over to a second name.
Aceline: Serpent
Wow, so feline is incorrect. They’re both reptile creatures. Are they shifters like Orizians? Is it a glamor that makes them appear human?
