Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 110809 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110809 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
“I …” I meet Juno’s gaze. It softens as she takes a deep breath and reaches for my arms. She doesn’t pull me away, just squeezes me a little in a reassuring way. “Trust me, sis. I’ve got this.”
“I do trust you.” It’s the truth.
“Then you have to let me do this. Once this press conference is over, you’ll see what I mean, and then it’ll be time for you to get to work.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You will. Trust, little sister.” She leans forward and kisses my forehead. Then she laughs a little and rubs away her lipstick with her palm. “It’s a good color for me, but you don’t have enough melanin to carry it off.”
The tension between us ebbs, and my grip on the door handle lightens a fraction. “Do you promise it isn’t a lie?” I ask softly, stupidly, childishly. Hopefully.
“I promise.” She crosses her finger over her heart the way she taught me when I was still little. That sort of promise was ironclad, far more binding than the pedestrian pinky promise.
“Fine.” I breathe out, my knees a little wobbly as I step forward and allow Vince to open the door.
Fatima, her face pale, stares at me from behind Vince. “They’re restless. We need to get going.”
“I’m ready.” Juno stops beside me and pulls me in for a quick hug. “Thank you.”
“For what?” I say, slightly dazed.
“Believing in me.” With that, she lets go and strides down the hallway and to the stairs. The clamor in the reception room grows as she approaches.
I follow and meet Candice outside the room where we can still get a decent view of the podium where Juno will speak. I hurriedly put my mask in place and reach over to pinch Candice’s nose bridge to make sure it’s secure.
“You look whiter than my dentures. That bad, huh?” Candice leans on my arm.
“I’m … I …” I don’t know what to say.
Fatima, her headscarf a deep navy today, taps on the microphone, then speaks in a steady voice. “Governor Clark will make her remarks. We will not have time for a question and answer session.” This is met with grumbles. “Please be respectful to the governor as well as to each other.”
The front door opens, calling my attention away from the press conference.
The guard nods at the newly-arrived guests, who I assume are late press members—at least until I see them. I recognize the first man immediately. His deep blue eyes sweep the room and seize on me as he walks with neat, measured strides toward the reception room. I stare, unable to look anywhere else but at him. Tall, lean but strong, he wears his suit like he was born into it. Impeccable. Handsome. Undeniably cold. His strange magnetism rankles, but even so, I’m drawn in. Watching him as he watches me.
Valen Dragonis is dangerous. I know that much. Anything else about him is a mystery. Behind him, a man with white-blond hair and steely gray eyes follows.
Valen breaks his gaze with me as he walks into the press briefing along with the blond man. They climb the few steps to the stage and take up positions behind my sister.
I find myself clenching the doorframe as they stand at her back, both of them towering over her as she speaks. Vince is to the side, his eyes on the men, his hand not quite on his gun but at his hip all the same. It’s like a reflex for him, sensing trouble but trying to stay calm.
“… presidency isn’t for the faint of heart. I think all of you here know that I’m not a shrinking violet when it comes to doing the work of governing. Texas is strong, our people are fed, and we are maintaining order here in Austin and all over the state. There has been no looting, no massive waves of crime, no constant shortages that other states are experiencing. I’m here to lead. And in that vein—” She smirks a little. “I’m here to give you a roadmap of what my first year will be like.”
“Aren’t you getting the cart ahead of the horse?” a reporter calls.
Fatima steps forward, poised to scold—but Juno waves her back with a gentle hand movement. “No, it’s all right. It’s a fair question. The presidency is still up for grabs, and if you’ve had your ear to the ground, you know that President Gray doesn’t intend to leave office without a fight. There’s a saying ‘you don’t have to attend every fight you’re invited to’, but I certainly disagree. I feel it would be rude not to attend, and tonight is when I officially RSVP.” Pregnant pause as she scans the room. Juno has always been able to hold a crowd in the palm of her hand. Tonight is no different. “In my first year as your president, I vow that the federal government will develop a cure for the plague.”