A Council of Betrayal by Kim Schubert Page A

potion,” Jerry
admitted.
    “Fuck, how many of you are in here?” I
hissed, pulling away from Logan’s hands.
    “You’ve been asleep for 14 hours, Olie. It’s
time for the first meetings,” Logan informed me, running a hand
through my hair.
    I groaned, “My head still hurts. Fucking
hell, Jerry.”
    I fought for control to open my eyes, feeling
pretty sure sand should be pouring out given how dry they felt.
    “Sorry,” he offered meekly.
    I huffed, “What did you give me, anyway?” I
sat up with help from Logan.
    “A heavy relaxation aid. I made it for myself
in case I was too stressed.” He shrugged.
    I huffed, “I feel confident in saying it
works.”
    He smiled before putting his hands in his
black pants pockets.
    “Fuck, you all are dressed? How much time do
I have?”
    “Twenty minutes,” Grams announced at the open
doorway. “Breakfast is waiting until you smell better.”
    I pulled my hair down, giving it a sniff.
“Fucking Dijnn,” I muttered, before heading to the shower
again.
    Fifteen minutes later I was inhaling a cream
filled donut while Jerry tried to blow dry my hair into something
presentable. Grams had laid out a pinstriped pant suit for me with
a silk shirt. Apparently I was no longer dressing myself, either.
Whatever, there was food.
    “Look up, Olie,” Jerry instructed, coating my
lashes with mascara. “There, that’s all the time we have.”
    I nodded. “So help me if you wipe your hands
on your pants!” he scolded me, throwing several napkins at me. I
smiled, carefully cleaning my hands. “Gah!” He complained.
    Mark smiled in the corner. “What’s on the
agenda today?” I asked, checking the clock. It was approaching
noon, but since most Supernaturals were more active at night, this
was our morning.
    “Meet and greet,” Logan announced.
    I groaned, “Didn’t I miss that last
night?”
    Logan laughed, “No one stayed around last
night. The smell was hard to handle for many.”
    “You’ll get to say hello to the witches,
Olie,” Jerry informed me with glee.
    “Fucking hell,” I groaned.
    …
    The ride down the elevator was a silent one.
I was still half asleep, as evidenced by my head lolling on Logan’s
shoulder. The sudden jerk at the lobby had me wiping my drool away.
I wasn’t even looking at the asshole for a comment.
    Jerry led the way, winding past the
restaurant from last night, which still had a very distinctive odor
coming from it, past the lobby, down another hallway, until we
finally arrived at a massive conference room. Tables had been set
up similar to last night and there was a breakfast buffet.
    “Mmm, come to mama sugar goodness,” I
crooned, making a beeline for the food.
    Logan laughed, corralling me easily against
his body and leading me to a seat. The tables were larger than last
night and our entire group was able to sit together, shifters and
council members.
    We had just made it. The speaker in the
middle of the room watched us settle with a disapproving gaze. I
lifted my arm to flip him off, but Logan covered my hand, smoothing
a laugh under a cough. The speaker raised an eyebrow and I glared
at him, trying to pull away from Logan.
    The speaker cleared his throat, averting his
gaze as he began to speak.
    “Thank you everyone for attending this year’s
Conferences. We are pleased to announce this year the human
government has decided to send an ambassador. Governor Hash, will
you please stand?”
    Ice ran through my veins as I turned sharply,
staring holes into Grams. Son of a bitch! Is this what the no good,
twisted asshole had been doing in her office when I arrived with
Mindy, Mercer’s granddaughter?
    Logan’s fingers clamped down around my hand,
currently gripping my dinner knife in a chokehold. I cut a glance
to him. I didn’t appreciate the slight shake of his head telling me
to calm the fuck down. Grams had lied, monumentally, and I wasn’t
sure our relationship could be repaired. I wasn’t sure I wanted it
to be.
    Hash