Page 100 of Red Rooster

This wasn’t why she’d brought it, but she thought it might do, and drew the bell from her pocket. “Maybe,” she said, dropping it into her grandmother’s cupped palm.

“Ah.” Dottie smiled. “That old thing.”

“You brought my bell,” Nikita said, like an accusation.

“Thefamilybell,” Dottie corrected.

“It rings when he comes around. Or he comes around when it rings. I don’t know, but it seemed worth a shot,” Trina said.

Nikita frowned, but didn’t argue.

Dottie put the bell in the little marble bowl that held the fresh, shredded sage and moved it to the center of the table, in a ring of squat, black candles. “Alright then, we’ll begin. Everyone join hands.”

Trina took her grandmother’s on the right, and Lanny’s on the left. His palm felt hot, clammy; it was nice to think she wasn’t the only one who was nervous about this.

“Clear your minds,” Dottie instructed. “Let yourself relax. Don’t hold on to any thoughts but one: the person you want to contact. Think of Valerian. Call to him.”

“Shouldn’t we do some kinda chant?” Lanny asked.

Trina squeezed his hand. “Shh.”

“Open yourself,” Dottie said.

“Um…not really wanting toopenmyself–”

“Lanny.”

“Right.”

Trina shut her eyes and forced all other thoughts away. Managed, with effort, to tune out the rustling and murmurs of the others at the table. She gripped Lanny’s hand hard, her grandmother’s a little gentler, and thought of Val. Pictured him standing in the snow, sword in his hand, triumphant and bitter all at once. Thought of him as Sasha had seen him, resplendent and princely…and helpful, telling Sasha how to save Nikita.

Val, she thought,we need your help.

The bell rang, just one little chime.

“My,” a voice –hisvoice – said, low and cultured, “but isn’t this flattering?”

Trina smiled, relief flooding her nerves, and opened her eyes to find Val standing on the far side of the table, behind Alexei, dressed in breeches and velvet, hands folded behind his back. He met Trina’s gaze and smiled, all teeth; winked.

Everyone else turned, looked. Dottie and Kolya actively gaped. Nikita scowled.

“Quite a gathering,” Val said mildly, corner of his mouth twitching like he was trying to smother his smile. “May I enquire as to the occasion?”

Everyone else seemed struck dumb, and Trina realized that, of those at the table, she was the only one who’d ever spoken to the prince before. So she took a deep breath and settled into the role of spokesperson with no small amount of trepidation.

“If you heard us just now, then I think you already know that we need your help,” she said.

His grin widened, sharp and delighted. “You need my help.Wonderful.”

“Hey,” she said, desperation closing around her lungs, voice sharpening. “Hey. This isn’t a game. I’m serious, okay?”

He grew comically grave, smile morphing into a frown. Hands still behind his back, he began to pace slowly around the table. “I see.”

Shit, she’d pushed too hard. She took a deep, steadying breath, and started over. “Val. I’m sorry, I – emotions are just a little high right now.”

“Hmm. I can imagine why. It seems your merry band is one man short.”

Jamie made a quiet, pained sound, and she saw Nikita releasing his hand, and Alexei’s on the other side – his grip had spasmed at mention of Sasha.