The Black Tide (Outcast 3)

I'm not sure our bunker will ever be as pretty as this.

But we can pretend. She paused, and then added more somberly, We have searched the entire room. No one here wears jewelry.

Most are wearing even less than you, Bear added, something akin to bemusement in his voice. It is very strange, even if it is the fashion.

A smile twitched my lips. I gather you also haven't spotted Branna?

No, Cat said. But we will keep looking.

Remember he could be wearing a disguise, I said. So if you feel an odd sort of energy hovering around someone, let me know.

And be careful, they intoned as they raced away again.

We continued to make our way down the long room. While Charles had implied the ball was something of a sexual free-for-all, the behavior of everyone we met was reserved.

But maybe the veneer of politeness only cracked after the official part of the evening was done with.

As we approached another group of people, a silver-suited, dark-skinned gentleman turned around to face us. He had close-cropped hair, eyes as dark as his skin, and a nose that dominated his otherwise unremarkable features and rather reminded me of a bird’s beak. Recognition stirred, but I couldn’t immediately place him.

“Charles,” he said, his voice pleasant and holding the faintest hint of warmth. “It’s such a pleasure to see you again.”

The two shook hands and then Charles said, “Catherine, I’d like you to meet my longtime friend and mentor, Julius Valkarie.”

His name brought the memory to life. This was the man I’d used to sneak through the sensor and escape at Government House. Was it chance that he happened to be Charles’s friend, or was Rhea playing games yet again?

I inclined my head politely. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, m

y lord.”

“Please, call me Julius, at least during this momentous occasion.” His expression suggested I should consider it a great honor to be on such familiar terms with him. “I would love to introduce you to my lady, but I’m afraid she readies for the presentation.”

“I heard she was poorly,” Charles said. “Nothing too major, I hope?”

Julius shrugged. There was something in his expression that made me suspect he didn’t really care. “She’s been working all sorts of strange hours of late, so I daresay it’s merely stress.”

“Ah,” Charles said. “The chancellor’s job is not for the faint of heart.”

A cool smile touched the other man’s lips. “That is one attribution that can never be laid at her feet.”

“Indeed.” Charles glanced past Julius as a bell chimed lightly. “I’m being paged. Could I ask you to look after Catherine for me? She doesn’t know anyone here, I’m afraid.”

“I’m okay—”

“Of course you are,” he cut in. “But it would make me feel better about abandoning you for the next hour.”

The ceremony went for an hour? Rhea save me from boredom.... I forced a smile and dropped a kiss on his cheek. “Fine. I’ll see you afterward.”

As Charles left, Julius swung around and offered me his arm. “Come along, lovely Catherine, and we’ll go find a comfortable position from which to view proceedings.”

He escorted me down the room. At the far end, there was a raised platform and, on the wall behind it, six large gold-framed mirrors. In the middle of five were what I presumed were the crests representing each of the houses. The sixth was empty, and obviously waiting for Charles to place his family's crest within it.

To either side of this, inset from the main room, were several raised seating areas. Julius walked me up the steps of the one closest to the stage and guided me to a couple of plush golden chairs in the front row.

“So,” he said as he elegantly crossed his legs. “How did you and Charles meet?”

“We ran into each other. Literally.”

His gaze shot to mine, disbelief evident. “Truly?”