War of Earth: The Elemental Gods Book Four by September Thomas

Author:September Thomas [Thomas, September]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2021-07-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

I recognized the soldiers manning the entrance to the War Room and smiled at them as they opened the heavy doors. I peered past the bigger one into the auditorium beyond, immediately noticing the lack of mood lighting.

“You’ve got about five minutes before the meeting starts,” the skinnier one said with a pointed look at his digital watch.

“Who all is here?” I asked.

The bigger one grunted, handlebar mustache twitching. “Mr. Windrunner’s been here about an hour, but aside from that, you’re the first we’ve seen.”

“Oh, perfect. Then I’m not the last one again.” I rubbed the back of my neck and flicked them a small salute in thanks. They returned it with expressions of vague bemusement before I jogged down the aisle and took my space at the table. I deliberately didn’t look at Joseph, not sure what to say to him.

I hadn’t gone to see him this morning to either make amends like Finn had suggested or ask him again about what it was he didn’t want to share with me. I hadn’t gone to get my ass kicked with Rose. Instead, I’d left the warmth of Ryder’s arms and sat in our bay window, legs curled beneath me, hand propped against the glass.

And I’d thought.

I’d thought about what Joseph had told me, about the resentment that festered between us. I also thought about what Marinda had revealed to me, and what more I needed to learn.

I had a plan, and I felt confident about it.

Casually, I scanned the surrounding seats. I wasn’t sure how many people had watched yesterday, but this afternoon, only a few dozen seats had bodies in them. Most were absorbed in their laptops and cellphones, frantically typing away. Others, like Lachlan, perused the perimeter of the room, stopping to take in the symbols carved into the walls.

Ryder leaned back in his chair in the second row from the front, darkly handsome in his usual all-black attire, his legs propped on the back of the chair in front of him. To his right, hovering midway between my portion of the floor and Joseph’s sat Finn. He twisted his fingers together, again and again, worrying the silk tie of a suit I’d never thought I’d see him wear.

A door opened and Xi entered, Pyra keeping languid pace behind him. He walked beside Marinda, and she laughed as he escorted her to her seat in the front row, directly behind me. She patted his hand, swung her hair from one side of her neck to the other, and waved him on.

She caught me watching and winked conspiratorially.

I didn’t want to know what that was about.

“She’s so weird.” Candy clattered against the back of Pyra’s teeth as she stopped beside me and offered a Jolly Rancher. Blue Raspberry. I declined. She shrugged, gaze fixed on Marinda as she piled a bundle of ivory yarn into her lap. “Spouting off insane statements one day, then cozying up to Xi the next. It makes zero sense.”

“What makes everyone so sure she will not jump up here today?” I asked.

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