Free Darkest Misery by Tracey Martin Page A

being seated directly across from him. “Will you be running this show?”
    I swallowed. “Not precisely. There’s no one in charge. We’re all on equal footing because we all have the same goal.”
    â€œAssuming you believe this prophecy or that recent events are related to it.”
    â€œYou don’t?”
    â€œConsider me skeptical. I’m not saying it isn’t possible, just as I’m not saying you aren’t a satyr. But on both accounts, I think people might be misinterpreting facts.”
    I blinked at him, and I wasn’t the only one. Lucen visibly tensed, and Devon paused with his wineglass in hand. Sonya said nothing, but her dark eyes were alert, cataloguing the table.
    Dezzi folded her hands. “There are stories of such people as Jessica in the lore. When you consider her talents—she feeds on human emotion, she can make humans lust, she can bypass wards designed to keep out anyone who is not a satyr—it seems entirely reasonable to assume she is one.”
    â€œPlus the Gryphons told me the other day that they used satyr magic on me.” Did I sound defensive? It had to be Claudius’s attitude pissing me off. I’d been in denial about what I was for so long. Defending my screwed-up biology was laughable.
    Devon grinned, though it looked as forced as his smile had been earlier. “Well, there you go.”
    â€œThere you don’t go.” Claudius’s glance at Devon could have withered a dandelion, but Devon just cocked his head to the side, questioning him. “Gryphons could not possibly have done anything of the sort. It takes a satyr to make another satyr.”
    So I’d heard before, but I didn’t know what that meant. “You assume they couldn’t have convinced one to work with them?”
    â€œNo satyr with sufficient power for the task would do it.”
    â€œPeople will do a lot of things when you don’t give them other options.” I shrugged, but I really wanted to hurl my steak knife at Claudius’s perfect head. “Or, you know, maybe a very powerful satyr became physically damaged, was kicked out of his domus for it, and helped the Gryphons out of spite. Sounds like the sort of thing I’d do.”
    Satyrs valued physical perfection to such a degree that they’d ostracize anyone without it, a fact that had bugged me since I learned of it. Dezzi had taken in one such satyr, Angelia, who—in spite of some issues I had with her—seemed like a lovely person. It was one reason I had some respect for Dezzi.
    But it was probably something Claudius would disapprove of, and I was starting to get an idea about why everyone was so on edge. I made a mental note not to mention Angelia’s name in his company.
    My answer seemed to prove some sort of point with Claudius. “Another reason why I have my doubts as to whether you’re truly a satyr or some other creature. You don’t understand us or think like us.”
    â€œSo we’re back to my positive traits?”
    Lucen stepped on my foot.
    â€œRegardless of what she is, Jessica has been useful to our domus.” Dezzi motioned toward me with her wineglass. “And there is certainly enough evidence before us to make this meeting worthwhile. It would not do to be like some races and become too self-absorbed to pay attention to the events surrounding us.”
    Claudius inclined his head her way. “Certainly not. If I didn’t believe the discussion was worth having, I wouldn’t have made the trip.”
    At once, the errant displeasure in my head lifted. Startled, I dropped my fork, and it clattered against my plate. I winced as everyone turned to me. “Sorry.”
    â€œDid you feel it?” Claudius asked.
    I pushed my hair aside, no longer able to hide being flustered. “You in my head? Yes.”
    â€œInteresting.” He gave Dezzi a pointed look. “More evidence, I