Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Dalia
Rather than have anyone explain immediately, Morrigan invites everyone back to Iero and sets up a meeting of the council.
All four MCs gather outside the council building with my sisters and me before Morrigan demands answers.
“Seriously, who are all these people?” Morrigan asks as most of the council members join us on the stairs.
“I called in some of our allies,” Steel tells her as he, Titan, and Blaze climb the stairs. “We didn’t know how large Renwick’s army would be, so we wanted to make sure we evened the odds as much as possible.”
Enya shoots him a grin. “And thank goodness you did. I’d already died twice before they arrived.”
“That is because you take too many risks,” Frost tells her with a roll of his eyes.
She just waves off his words. “Either way, I’m grateful they arrived when they did.”
Morrigan nods. “I still need to be filled in on everything that happened while I was dead, but it sounds like they really turned the tide. Steel, can we meet their leadership?”
“Of course. Give us a minute to gather them. Blaze, you’re on the Wild Hunt. Titan, the Gorgons.”
“Gorgons? Like real gorgons?” Phoebe giggles. “Do we need sunglasses?”
Titan shakes his head. “As long as their helmets remain on, you’re safe. They also carry sunglasses themselves.”
Morrigan tips her head toward my guys. “I appreciate the three of you.”
“For more than just boning our sister,” Phoebe adds, still giggling.
I bury my face in my hands. “Seriously?”
Blaze grins, winking at my sister. “We’re also happy to be doing that.”
“Enough,” Steel rumbles. “You have your orders.”
“Yes, sir.” Blaze gives him a mock salute before hurrying down the steps with Titan at his heels.
Their president just shakes his head before following them.
A soft hand grazes my arm, and I turn to see Phoebe’s soft smile. “I’m sorry, Dalia. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
“You didn’t. It’s fine. It’s just maybe something we didn’t need to mention in front of the council.”
Frost snorts. “Like that’s the most inappropriate thing anyone has said in front of us. Hell, it’s not even the most inappropriate thing Phoebe’s ever said.”
“That’s true,” my sister agrees. “There was the time—”
Morrigan covers Phoebe’s mouth with her hand. “We don’t need to talk about it again.”
“Should we bring them inside?” Jaeden asks, gesturing toward where the guys are already returning with the leaders of the other MCs. “Since we’re already planning to have a meeting soon?”
Morrigan considers him for a moment before nodding. “We’ll bring them up to the meeting room. I know the people of Iero will want to thank them, but I’d like to speak with them before we invite them any further into our city.”
“Agreed,” Sable says as she joins us. “I knew none of you would take the time to clean up.”
“What can we say? We live for council meetings,” Frost returns easily.
Morrigan’s smile is tight as she turns to greet the MC leadership. “First and foremost, thank you for your help in the battle today. We will, of course, offer you and your clubs a meal and a place to lay your heads for the night, but we were hoping you would speak with us.”
A woman with a president patch on the front of her jacket nods her head. Both she and the woman with her still wear their helmets. “We assumed a conversation would be needed. I am Aleka, president of the Gorgons MC. This is my vice president, Nicoleta.”
“It’s nice to meet both of you.” Morrigan reaches out to shake their gloved hands.
The president and vice president of the Wild Hunt MC introduce themselves as Orrin and Sylvan. They’re both attractive men, but there’s something about them that almost scares me, like a warning beacon or something. It’s weird as hell.
For the Wayward Pookas MC, both their president, Rían, and their vice president, Caelan, have long black hair that’s pulled up on top of their heads. Their golden eyes dart around the council members, and when Rían tilts his head, I realize horse ears are hiding in his hair.
Well, okay then.
I guess it’s true that pookas can’t take a fully human form.
Interesting.
“If you’ll follow me, I’ll lead you to the meeting room. It’s the only place that’s large enough for all of us to meet at once.” I gesture toward the front door before glancing back at Morrigan. “Keres and Coda still aren’t here. Do you want to send for them?”
“No need,” Sable says as she joins me. “I ran into them on my way over here. They were checking in with their families before they were heading this way.”
With a shrug, I lead everyone inside and up to the meeting room. As we’re settling into our seats, the last two councilors join us.
Steel brushes his lips across my forehead before he takes a seat with the other MCs, and I head to the front of the room to my sisters.
“Once again, the council wants to thank the Gorgons MC, the Wild Hunt MC, and the Wayward Pookas MC—and, obviously, the Headless Riders MC—for assisting us today,” Morrigan begins, dipping her head toward the MC leaders.
“Until the Headless Riders MC, we’d only had negative experiences with MCs, so I’m sure you can understand why we’re wary of them. ”
“While understandable, we hope you won’t hold it against us,” Aleka says, reaching for her helmet. “If you don’t mind, Nicoleta and I would like to remove our helmets. We have glasses with us, and we’ll keep our eyes closed while putting them on, but we understand if you’d prefer to look away.”
Morrigan turns her head away. “Of course. We’d like you to be comfortable while we speak, and we’d never hold our experiences with others against you.”
While most of the council members turn their heads away, I keep my eyes on the two women. I’ve never met a gorgon in person before, and I’m curious what they look like.
Color me surprised when they remove their helmets to reveal two normal—albeit gorgeous—women. No snakes in sight, and I’ll admit to being slightly disappointed.
After they slip their sunglasses on, Aleka lifts her head and grins at me. For a moment, her ebony braids waver and reveal hissing black snakes. I blink, and all I see is hair.
Did I really see snakes?
“Did you see that?” Phoebe murmurs, nudging me.
I nod. “So I really saw what I thought I saw.”
“For sure,” she agrees.
“What are the two of you talking about?” Morrigan hisses, and we both snap our mouths shut as she turns her attention to us.
“You’re all safe to look now,” Aleka announces.
Morrigan glares at the two of us before shaking her head and returning her attention to the MCs. “Our first question is whether you just plan to stay for the night or if you’d be interested in remaining in Iero.”
“Fuck, if that’s an option, we’d love to say,” Orrin blurts out, running a hand through his blond hair. “My guys and gals are so tired of being nomads.”
“As are we,” Aleka says softly.
Rían clears his throat. “Not having a home is hard on us all. We’d still have to leave as there’s so many horrors out there, but to have a home base?”
“It was brought to my attention by one of our enforcers that the guys were asking about staying long term as well,” Steel admits. “We need to call a meeting, but I know Titan, Blaze, and I have no intention of leaving.”
“Finding your fated mate will do that.” Phoebe grins at my mates, and I bite back a sigh.
I love my sister, I remind myself.
Steel nods. “It will. We just weren’t sure what the others would want.”
“Do you have enough room for all of us?” Sylvan asks, glancing around the room. “Our MCs might not be huge, but that’s a lot of people to take in at once.”
“Of course we do. We’ll need to start rebuilding some of the larger homes and building others, but we have enough room if you don’t mind being in tight quarters or split up for a time.” I don’t bother looking at anyone, already running through the list of available homes in my head.
Morrigan clears her throat. “There are a few things we need to go over before we can invite you to stay, but as long as there aren’t any issues that arise and you’re willing to assist in the work to ready homes for you, we’re more than happy to have you stay.”
As my sister goes over the list of questions we ask anyone who wishes to join us in Iero, I zone out.
I can’t believe Renwick’s dead—that I killed him.
I thought I’d feel relieved, but I just feel…blank.
In my head, I know I’m glad he’s gone, but it’s like my emotions are all mixed up inside me. I’m sure it has something to do with the blood bond that snapped when he died, but I hate it.
There’s a part of me that’s grieving his loss.
What does that say about me?
Who grieves the death of their abuser—someone they once loved but now hate? There must be something wrong with me.
“Dalia?”
My head snaps up when Blaze calls out to me. My eyes lock on his, finding his face filled with worry.
Wait.
“What. The. Actual. Fuck?” I jump up, eyes widening as they move from Blaze to Titan to Steel.
I can see all of their heads clearly, and, holy shit, my mates are hot as hell.
“What’s wrong, Dalia?” Morrigan grabs my arm, shaking me when I don’t answer her.
“I can see your faces,” I murmur, watching as joy and disbelief light up my mates’ faces.
Phoebe clears her throat. “Umm…I still can’t.”
“Neither can I,” Morrigan agrees.
I ignore them, yanking my arm free of Morrigan’s hold as I step toward my men.
Steel’s brown hair is longer on top and pushed back from his face from running his hands through it.
His eyes are a pale blue I wasn’t expecting, standing out against his golden skin.
His cheekbones are sharp, his jawline angular.
There’s a dusting of hair along his cheeks and chin, almost as if he forgot to shave.