Page 66 of Born Wicked
Angry roars and gasps fill the ballroom. More than one person shoots to their feet, and dozens of eyes flash red in rage.
“The man has accomplished incredible things in his time in this city,” Mason pushes on. He fixes the crowd with a firm gaze, and like a magician, he pushes calm into the room. “But I think everyone was aware he had darkness inside of him. Pain. Ego. What Sebastian has done is unforgivable.”
My eyes slide closed.
I hate Sebastian now.
But I am so, so scared for the outcome of what might happen when he is found.
“We would still be losing numbers, still be suffering, still ignorant of what is happening if not for one person,” Roman says, taking charge once again. Those intense blue eyes scan the people. His people. Our people. “Dr. Juliet Doe not only found a way to cut off what was poisoning this city, she found the cure. It is thanks to her relentless work and her brave actions that so many of you are sitting here with us today instead of in a hospital bed. Instead of feeling disconnected and frozen.”
Roman’s gaze sweeps back to me, and I feel the weight of hundreds of eyes turn to me all at once.
“Juliet has picked up what Sebastian dropped. She has taken on the mantle of caring for Chicago. She found us our answers, and we would still be in the dark without her.” He never looks away from me, doesn’t even blink.
And his words fill me. Worth. Again, Roman makes me feel an emotion I have never been able to grasp.Worth.
“Chicago, I want you to know,” Roman says, never looking away. “That you owe everything to Juliet Doe.”
The weight in the room is palpable. It’s so thick, I can feel it settling on me from every direction. I feel it pushing in from all sides.
“So, welcome the newest Night Councilmember,” Sigrid says, her voice clear and strong. “Dr. Juliet Doe.”
And I almost let it overwhelm me when the entire room breaks out into cheers. Their clapping fills my ears. I hear my name called out. I hear gratitude being shouted.
Me. It’smethey’re appreciative of. It’s me they’re giving gratitude to. Me they’re praising.
But my eyes slide back to Roman, who still hasn’t looked away even once. I’ve never seen his eyes so intense. He’s breathing hard, yet steady. His presence fills the whole room, yet the spotlight has been turned away from him, and he’s pointed it on me.
Roman steps to the side a bit, an obvious invitation for me to step forward. I’m not thrilled about the idea, but I know with leadership like I now have, I’m going to have to get used to speaking up. So I step forward, stopping beside Roman.
“Thank you,” I say, feeling incredibly humbled. The crowd settles, listening with intent. “I really appreciate your trust. I hate that this happened, that so many of you were hurt. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned in this crazy and painful time, it’s that the people of Chicago are some of the strongest I’ve ever met.”
The crowd erupts once again, cheers and hollers, and all-around pride for their city.
I smile, and it’s amazing how good this moment feels. “Thank you, again. I promise you that I’m going to do my best to serve the city well.”
Clapping fills the room once more, and Elena steps forward. “We hope you enjoy the night. We’ve made it through a lot of dark weeks, Chicago. Let’s celebrate our victory!”
I’m not sure how to feel about it when Elena walks right back over to Jon. They’re both way too smiley as they talk to each other. Sigrid steps away, talking to one of her charges. And from where I’m standing, I see it the moment Mason catches sight of Lily. His eyes glue to her, and he watches her with intense curiosity.
“She’s our new nurse in the emergency room,” I explain, not needing to raise my voice above the volume of the crowd. “Human for now, but her dad is one of us.”
A perfect match, I suddenly realize with a smile. She is everything I never was. Kind. Sweet. Not a damn mess emotionally, forever scarred with a traumatic past. “You should go talk to her.”
Mason glances at me once, and I’m surprised at the hesitancy in his eyes. As if he isn’t the calm and confident man I’ve always known him to be.
“Seriously,” I say, arching an eyebrow at him. “It’s impossible not to like Lily. She’s the nicest person I know, maybe second only to you.”
“I’m not that nice,” he says with a smirk, and instantly I remember some very not nice encouraging words from him when my fangs were too close to his neck.
He steps forward, his eyes fixed on Lily Roshan.
“Those two are going to end up married, aren’t they?” Roman says as he observes Mason walking up to her. Her entire face lights up when he extends his hand, introducing himself.
“Most likely,” I acknowledge, because sometimes you just get a feeling.
“Bet you fifty bucks they tie the knot before the end of the year,” he says, and a smile cracks my lips.