finished quickly, so I'm giving you a more lenient rein than most. Do not make me regret it."
"Yes, Your Majesty." My agreement relaxed his furrowed brows and tensed shoulders, telltale signs of his hatred of Oscal.
"Aide, give her the papers."
The young Aide rushed over with a stack of bound papers in his hands. They were thicker than any of the books I'd stolen, and I wanted to groan. Lenient rein? I would have bet my toes I had plenty of restrictions within those pages. All wrapped up in the easy deniability and convenient fall person if anything went awry. When I took them, their weight transferred to my soul, pulling it down and threatening to drown me.
Bodies filed out of the door they'd come through, and the King rose.
"Master Healani? Do not think I have forgotten exactly how all of this was brought to my attention. You've gotten off lightly once. It would be a grave mistake to believe that it gives you more freedom. Many things can occur during your leadership," the King warned, the threat clear.
"Yes, Your Majesty." I bowed slightly, hoping that would satisfy him enough to get him the fuck out of the room.
I need to scream. I need to dance in a storm of torn papers. How would I survive? Did I even want to?
Finally, everyone left except our Guards, Master Akai, and the seventh Angel. Master Akai stepped towards me, looping his arm around mine as he turned me towards our exit.
"I will escort them out. You are excused," he told the Guards and pulled me out of the room. Once outside, he lowered his voice and said, "Go home and take the Angel with you. Watch her but start reading. I will be there soon."
He left us on the steps of the palace, switching into his Grim form.
Pausing for a moment to take stock in exactly where Grouping Mannix stood on things they weren't officially connected to, I asked Axton, "Is Grouping Mannix willing to transfer to and assist in the OMIEB? I'm not currently aware of the positions or processes, so this does not constitute a binding agreement. It is a promissory—"
Axton held up his hand, and I chewed my cheek as I waited on the verdict. I could do it alone, but I found myself not wanting to.
"Grim Grouping Mannix is willing to assist the OMIEB in whatever capacity Master Healani deems necessary." He bowed, and the rest of the trio followed.
That I didn't want, either, so I sent a small burst of cold up their cloaks and stifled my chuckle when they straightened so quickly that I worried they threw their backs out.
"As Master of the Office of the Ministry of Investigations, Earth Branch, I accept your offer, with the condition you may request a termination at any time." Well, that's settled.
I winked at them before spinning around to find the Angel tagging along behind us. She seemed cowed; her head bent towards the ground as she tried to shrink into herself. Already tiny, the move only made her look even smaller and younger. She didn't appear to be a threat, but I knew that appearances were often a distraction for what lay beneath.
Floating over to her, I gritted my teeth against the sound that kept snaking up and introduced myself in an effort to start our relationship civilly. "Hello, I'm Elite, I mean Master of Masters Healani. What do you wish to be called?"
Her head bobbed, her white-blonde mane swaying from side to side as she glanced up for an instant before dropping her head again.
So quietly that I had to strain to hear her, she answered, "Greetings, Master Healani. I am called Angel Grace."
My mouth mimed words for a moment as I struggled to get over her designation. Being merely an Angel was an insult. Every Angel had a title of some sort. Even the children had one in their culture.
"Well, it's lovely to meet you, Angel Grace. If it is acceptable, we are returning to our unit for the time. Do you wish to come?" I hated the proper speech of politics, but until I had a better feel for the girl, I didn't want to inadvertently start some sort of civil war.
"Thank you. That would be lovely, but I must warn you I cannot change forms. Since I know how much quicker your Grim forms are, if you would be kind enough to give me an address or directions, I can find my way, so I