Page 5 of Power's Fall
“But I hate people.”
Franco clapped him on the shoulder. “I know you do.”
Colum took a deep breath, looked around, and said, “Well, sits down, why don’t ’cha.”
Okay, not exactly the dramatic or elegant intro Franco had been hoping for, but it worked.
Eric smiled at Colum, shaking his head as he circled around to hold out Hande’s chair. Arthur held Sophia’s. With Hande seated, Eric moved to hold Nikolett’s chair, but she and Regina pulled out their own chairs.
Marek and Devon did the gentlemanly thing for Rose and Juliette, then took their seats.
Franco was seated toward the middle, beside Colum. Directly across from Colum was an empty space that divided Nikolett from Owen. The symbolism was clear—Colum sat in the true neutral position on this side of the table, with no one else able to occupy that space on the other side.
But, if this meeting went well…
Regina sat to Eric’s right, her chair half turned so she could see the library entrance and could jump up from the table without scooting out her chair. The Masters’ Admiralty was providing security for this meeting, the rest of the fleet admiral’s Spartan Guard outside posing as tourists and students.
The likelihood that they’d be attacked was minimal. But not zero. The grim reality was that they were never truly safe.
Franco looked at his pregnant wife and his stomach tightened.
Colum sighed, then leaned in, looking left then right. “Welcome to the first meeting of the Trinity Council.”
Eric sighed heavily, and Juliette smiled.
“Trinity Council?” Hande said with a raised brow. “You plan to make this a regular occurrence?”
“It’s possible,” Juliette said. “And I believe congratulations are in order, Admiral?”
Hande sat back. “Yes, I just got married.”
Eric pointed at Marek. “Your grandmother is a problem.”
Marek’s grandmother, Jane Dell, was, from what Franco could figure out, the basis for James Bond, and though technically retired, still incredibly well connected and well informed. Marek was her favorite grandchild, which meant she fed him a steady diet of information about what was happening “across the pond.”
Marek was entirely unruffled. “Are you planning to tell her that?”
“No, she’s terrifying.” Eric looked completely serious.
At that, Marek smiled.
Eric sat back. “You want to start us, Grand Master?”
“No, by all means, please go first, Fleet Admiral,” Juliette said graciously.
Eric cleared his throat, his gaze briefly touching everyone at the table. Except Nikolett.
Oh yeah, they had athing.
“The purpose of this meeting is twofold. First, we’re here to strengthen the relationship between the Masters’ Admiralty and the Trinity Masters. Second, Juliette and I decided it’s time to go on the offensive.”
Percy and Owen exchanged a look.
“And who are we being offensive at?” Hande asked, the grammar not quite right, but the question was still clear.
“For the past several years,” Juliette said, “both societies have essentially been under siege, thanks to an ongoing series of attacks and threats.”
Franco had to look down. The memory of almost losing Juliette and Devon was still fresh, though it had been nearly a year since they were kidnapped. Sometimes at night, he still woke up and had to touch them to make sure they were there.