Jewels and Feathers (Race Games 3)

CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR

The Opening Ceremony was held in downtown Manhattan among the hustle and bustle of the city. People lined the sidewalks, walking to and fro despite the late hour, uncaring of the line of black cars waiting to offload their occupants. It seemed Muni and the Vikings had arrived at perfectly the right time as everyone else, so they patiently waited their turn as they sat quietly in the interior of the car.

The moment they reached the front of the line, the door opened and Eirik climbed out first, followed by Brin. Brin turned to offer a hand for Muni who took it without hesitation, allowing him to help her from the car. Vidar was the last to exit, his eyes scanning the crowd of people around the green carpet spread along the sidewalk. Some of those people were humans who simply found themselves in the crowd, their eyes wide as they watched people too pretty step from cars they didn’t recognize from any television. The majority of those in the crowd were other supernatural creatures, those who couldn’t afford tickets to the opening ceremony or who just wanted a glimpse of the elite without mingling with them. It was a wise decision. All of their kind were predators, but some were more prey than others. That they might become a meal for someone else wasn’t lost on them. Those were the clever ones.

Cameras began to flash like crazy at their arrival, blinding them. Muni immediately looked just down of the flashes, making sure her vision wasn’t harmed. “Keep your eyes below the line of cameras to avoid having spots in your vision for hours,” she instructed the others. They immediately followed her instructions.

Eirik and Brin flanked Muni on either side, both of their arms offered to her to take. Vidar took up their rear, his need to protect from there strong. She could feel his hot gaze on her backside, could feel the glances he tried not to take. She couldn’t blame him. Her ass did look fantastic in this dress.

The moment they stepped inside the hall, her eyes began searching the crowd despite all the eyes on them. She knew they were being talked about, simply for being the first team of four, but Muni also knew it was because of who she was. Many thought her dead never to return. The fact she’d announced herself in the race with none the wiser that she’d been reincarnated before then unnerved many of them. She knew their secrets, still knew them all and learned new ones, and so she was a threat.

Finding the necromancer racer, the one who’d been the passenger so long ago, she forced herself not to focus on him entirely. He stood talking to a fae female, his stance that of a cocky male who thought he stood a chance with the woman. Instead, the female seemed uncomfortable in Muni’s eyes, as if waiting for the proper moment to distance herself without insult. She dismissed him, but he was marked for death. He didn’t know it yet.

Now wasn’t the time to make moves, not in front of all these people.

Eyes tracing around the room again, her gaze settled on Theo where he enjoyed a glass of something. There was a slight nod on his end that Muni mimicked, an agreement. She didn’t bring attention to their obvious acknowledgement, only continued her perusal to find the necromancer councilman, the one who’d driven back in her brother’s race. He stood just as arrogant, speaking to other councilmembers without a care in the world. Muni made sure not to focus on him for too long. Her eyes found him, marked him, and then moved on.

“Odin’s Spy,” someone purred. When Muni turned, she met the silver eyes of a wolf, one she knew well. “It’s been far too long.”

“Has it, Delilah? Last we spoke, you wanted to rip my throat out.”

She felt her men’s tension as the two women smiled two very false smiles at each other.

“Yes, well. . .” Delilah said, tilting her head. “I’ve grown passed petty grudges.”

Muni very much doubted it, but she nodded at the other woman. “To what, then, do I owe this pleasure?”

Delilah belonged to a small pack from the West, and though she was strong in her own right, she’d never desired to be a leader. Sleeping with the alpha of any given pack, however, Delilah was a master, much to the anger of many a wolf. Delilah, at one point in time, had thrown multiple packs into a frenzy as the alpha fought over who actually owned her. Delilah had laughed all the way back to the pack. She hadn’t actually wanted the alphas. She simply thrived on drama.

“I just came to wish you good luck,” Delilah purred, before her eyes fell on Brin, Eirik, and Vidar. “And to come and meet your friends.”

Ah, there it was. Delilah was interested.

Before Muni could answer and decline the clear offer in her eyes, Eirik beat her to it. “We’re all spoken for, ma’am, but might I suggest the male currently eye-fucking you just over there?”

Delilah turned just in time to catch the demon male’s gaze before he could look away with a flush. Demons didn’t often go outside their species for rendezvous, but this one didn’t seem to mind. A predatory smile pulled at Delilah’s lips.

“Thank you for pointing that out, young Viking.” Delilah met Muni’s eyes again. “You’re a lucky woman, Munin. Perhaps, when you’re racing, I might cheer for you.”

Muni inclined her head just so, a sign of respect without it being overbearing. Delilah mimicked the movement before following after the demon male sporting wide eyes as he watched her come closer. Poor man. Delilah would eat him up and spit him out and all the while, he’d believe himself in love.

Through the interaction, many others acted as if they wanted to come up to them, but none thought to make a move quite yet. Some simply glared daggers at her from across the room.

When a waitress brought around a tray laden with open-topped glasses, Eirik went to reach for one before Muni shot out her hand and stopped him. The waitress’ face twisted with offense despite Muni knowing they often allowed poisons to be distributed throughout the party. Just the last Opening Ceremony, one of the racers had been killed before they’d ever touched the track, all because of poison in the champagne.

“Are we not allowed to drink?” Eirik asked, dropping his hand back down to his side.

“Poison won’t kill me, but it could make me vulnerable for a short time. I don’t know if the poison will harm the three of you, so I’ll trust no drinks from anyone.”

Brin nodded in agreement at her words. “No drinking here then unless it’s fetched ourselves and we open the bottle.”

They proceeded further into the room, intermingling with those who gave them mostly a wide berth. Either they were afraid, or they preferred to soak in their hatred from far away. Either way, Muni didn’t mind, and had settled into a pattern of nodding to those who dared openly glare at her, until a single woman broke through the crowd and headed right for her.

This woman, Muni knew well, not because she’d ever met her, but because her face was often plastered across all the news outlets. Muni smiled fondly at her as she came to stop before them in a brilliant blood red dress so obviously picked out by her lovers. Perhaps, one day, this woman could be another friend.

“Theo tells me you’ve joined our cause,” Danica Dyers murmured, her voice low enough that Muni knew she’d practiced how to keep secrets in a room full of supernatural creatures. Not a single creature outside their small group would catch those words.

“Our goals align,” Muni replied. “There was no point in declining when we care about the same thing.” Muni tilted her head toward the human woman. “You haven’t heard anything while sitting on the council with King Yophiel?”

“Unfortunately, no. You see none of the others trust me or Phi. We’re kept out of the loop, but the necromancer and the Elf take up the lead. That’s the only information I’ve gathered so far.”

Blinking, Muni thought about that. A necromancer and an elf teaming up was unheard of. Necromancers preferred to keep to themselves for fear of their secrets getting out. Elves simply thought themselves above everyone else. The fact the two were together, not only getting along but leading things, surprised Muni far more than she expected. They were likely in direct contact with whoever was pulling their strings, if there was anyone. If not, then the corruption came from them.

“I just want you to know you’ll have my sponship—” Danica continued, her voice at a normal level now. It wasn’t a secret with sponsorships. It would be listed on the public records.

“I don’t need it,” Muni interrupted, focusing again on Danica. “Your offer is appreciated but perhaps, save your money for someone who cares to win.”

Danica studied her, her head tilted to the side, and Muni could see the intelligence behind her eyes. Though Danica was human, she commanded this room, a strength inside her that was rare in humanity. Often, they wore rose-colored glasses, preferred to ignore things, but this one, she saw everything. It was no wonder she’d found herself deep in the supernatural world.

“Regardless of winning or survival, extra tools always come in handy. I’m sure you understand if you saw my own race.”

Muni blinked. “The blade?”

Danica nodded. “Was Theo’s sponsorship. Perhaps, whatever I can sponsor you with will help you survive when you need it.”

After a second to reconsider, Muni nodded her head in agreement. “You’re correct. I’ll accept your sponsorship.”

Danica smiled. “I’m rooting for you. If I find out anything else, I’ll let you know. Cricket has been working on finding information as well, but the Council is tightlipped, even at her famous parties.”

With a final nod of respect between them and a smile toward the men around her, Danica turned and disappeared back into the party. Muni found her again next to King Yophiel and his second, Arden.

“She’s like a flame,” Muni commented softly so her men could hear her. “It’s no wonder the vamps fell in love with her. Look how she burns.”

Eirik touched his fingers to the back of her hand, and she turned from the scene of Danica’s men wrapping arms around her to look up at him. “She’s beautiful, yes,” he agreed. “But she doesn’t shine quite like you.”

Muni smiled up at him, wanting to kiss him here in front of all these cameras and people, but before she can speak her desire, another voice interrupts them.

“Odin’s Whore,” the male voice growled, and Muni sighed.

Let the battles begin.