Total pages in book: 194
Estimated words: 187021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 187021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
“What is Monster Con?” Kierse asked.
“An exclusive meetup for powerful monsters. The rich and entitled go there to gloat. It’s supposed to be for both sides of the aisle to come together without fear of retribution.”
“Both sides?” Kierse asked. “You mean monsters for and against the Treaty?”
“Among other things. No in-fighting allowed. It’s supposed to be a sort of renaissance—or that’s how it’s pitched, at least.”
“We have another problem,” Kierse said.
“Many,” Graves agreed.
Kierse raised the gold pin she’d lifted off of Amberdash. Graves saw what it was and laughed.
“Did you steal from him?”
“I wanted to see what he was hiding.”
“Is that a…Men of Valor pin?”
“Yes,” Kierse said softly, looking down grimly at the golden wings shot through with crossed arrows.
When she had killed King Louis in Third Floor, she had hoped it would be the end of the Men of Valor—a group of anti-human monsters who wanted to see the Treaty burn and monsters on top once more. But if Amberdash was wearing it, that only meant trouble.
“For another day,” Graves said. “Stick to the plan.”
She nodded grimly. “You’re right.”
The production of Midsummer was coming to a close with the final reveal of Theseus and Hippolyta’s wedding. A union of power to contrast with the dream quality of the faerie realm. Only Hermia looked as if faerie still thrummed in her veins even as she fell into society’s order and married Lysander. But perhaps that was just Lyra Anderson’s star quality on stage.
The crowd cheered at the end, particularly loudly for Lyra’s rendition of Hermia. A promise that the actors would mingle with the audience while the stage was set up for the auction.
Kierse met Graves’s eyes. He nodded once. “Showtime.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Kierse caught the backstage door as a pair of actors exited in a hurry. The auction wasn’t open for viewing until the item was presented by the auctioneer. So the only way she was going to get her eyes on the cauldron and its accompanying vault was to get into the auction room. While she wanted to move into stealth mode and hide amongst the shadows, that wasn’t her role tonight. She wasn’t here to steal anything, as much as she wanted to get a good look at the security system around the cauldron.
Her fingers itched for the chance to crack it. It felt like a challenge, and it only made her wrong smile appear on her face. The one that said if she did this she would be a legend. But she knew she shouldn’t try. She didn’t have the time or luxury to play tonight.
Still, she noted all the exits. There were very few ways directly off the roof—only a single elevator bank. However, the back side of the building was under construction and had scaffolding with stairs in the event of an emergency.
Now that Kierse was alone, she pressed a finger to the micro earpiece Graves had doled out to each of them before the party. The line switched on, and she heard Laz breathing softly on the other line.
“Laz,” she whispered.
“Roger that,” he said.
A second later, Graves said under his breath, “Here.”
Kierse called up the blueprints in her mind and continued down a hallway that led to the area reserved for the auctioneers. She was almost there when a dressing room door banged open and out walked Lyra Anderson.
Kierse’s breath caught at the sight of her. She truly was stunning, but Kierse noticed up close what she hadn’t seen before…Lyra was a vampire. And not just any vampire—by the red rose necklace at her throat, she was part of the most elite Upper East Side clan. No wonder her dad didn’t want her involved in the theater.
“Love your dress,” Lyra said.
Kierse pushed all of that away and leaned into the character she had to play. “Thanks,” she preened. “I adored your performance. I’ve never seen a Hermia quite like that.”
“I appreciate that,” she said, hand to her exposed chest. “Let’s hope I get to continue to play the role.”
“I heard that your father was interfering.” Kierse hoped that was public information.
“Interfering is his middle name.”
Graves cleared his throat on the line. A soft, “Get moving.”
But Kierse couldn’t just walk away from her without raising suspicions.
Lyra waved a hand. “But we’re going to continue this run of Midsummer until the end of the month.” She fluttered her long eyelashes at her. “Are you going to come to another show?”
Was Lyra flirting with her? God above, she was absolutely Kierse’s type in any other circumstance. Not that she went for monsters, but one who looked like this…
“I sure hope so. My beau is a big Shakespeare buff,” Kierse said.
Lyra stepped closer, her eyes wide, the scent of flowers on her pale skin. “Good. The show is all about messy relationships. Hopefully, I can serve the king and queen of faerie well.” She winked as she strutted away.