Unclean Spirits (26 page)

I took a sip of the wine and waited while it sank in.

“I have a job,” Aubrey said. “The lab…”

Chogyi Jake considered his water glass as if it were a piece of fine art. Ex leaned forward. No one spoke. They
were going to do it. I could already smell it. They were in, all of them.

I’d come to Denver a little under a month before, knowing nothing about riders or the Invisible College, Eric’s wealth, or my role as his heir. I hadn’t had anyone. Now I had all of it. Sitting in the dim elegance around our table, I could see a future worth hoping for. I watched as each of them—Aubrey, Ex, Chogyi Jake—nodded. I grinned, delighted.

My uncle hadn’t had the time to train me, but he’d meant for me to have all of this, to follow in his footsteps. With a little help, I would. I’d be the one who could help the Candaces and Aarons and stand against the Randolph Coins. And even better, I’d have my friends beside me. In that moment, I was as sure of myself, as confident, and as at peace as I had ever been.

I didn’t have a clue.