Page 58 of Ruthless Prince

“I mean, when do I get told about my responsibilities as a member? Or what the Order is allabout?”

She smiled gently. “Don’t worry about that. You pick up most of it as you go along when you attend our functions. If the council has a specific need for you, you’ll be called in for a meeting and told inprivate.”

“Is it true that no one knows who the supreme leader is?” Iasked.

She nodded. “That’sright.”

“I don’t get it. How can none of you know who it is? Has it always been the sameperson?”

“Oh, heavens, no.” She laughed. “The Order is very old, so we’ve had multiple leaders. The one we call Q has been with us for around twenty-three yearsnow.”

I frowned. “So everyone in the Order is okay with answering to a total stranger and carrying out their bidding, whatever it may be? That seems kind ofcrazy.”

“I know, but it makes sense when you think about it. If we knew exactly who he or she was, we might feel some sort of bias depending on our opinion of that person. That could affect our judgment or willingness to serve. We’re only human, afterall.”

“I guess that makes sense.” I winced again as the tattoo pen hit a particularly sensitive spot on my neck. “But if no one ever knows who the leader is, how do they get elected in the firstplace?”

“The previous leader picks a new one in secret before he or she retires. Before Q, we had M, and before that, I believe it was G,” she explained. “I think the very first leader in the nineteenth century was known as P, but don’t quote me onthat.”

“Hm. So it’s not alphabetical,” I said. “It can’t just be totally random letters, though. They must stand forsomething.”

Marissa’s mom laughed again. “Don’t try to figure out who it is. It’s not our job toknow.”

I took that as a hint to shut up and stop being sonosy.

When the tattoo was complete, the artist put a little bandage over the area and patted it down. “Keep this covered and dry for a few days. Don’t scratch it. If you think it might be getting infected, let someone know rightaway.”

“Okay.”

Marissa’s mother pulled my hood over my head. “There you go,” she said with a wide smile. “You’re officially one ofus.”

“Thank you.” I smiled back at her. “What happensnow?”

She pointed toward the owl statue. “Go behind that and head down the path. At the end, you’ll find your firstreward.”

With a tentative nod, I left the council and stepped behind the owl. A winding path led away from it, lined with shrubs and small flamingtorches.

It took about five minutes to make it down to the bottom of the hill. I heard faint music and the sound of voices coming from somewhere up ahead, but the thick bushes and whipping wind caught most of thesound.

When I finally reached the end of the path and saw what lay in the valley ahead, I froze, rooted to the spot withshock.

“Holyshit…”

12

Willow

Stretchingout in the valley before me was the biggest and wildest party I’d everseen.

It was a festival of light and decadence. Thousands of lamps had been strung up around the enormous perimeter, illuminating the night with their flickering candles, and a raging bonfire lit up the center. In the distance, I saw an enormous hedge maze with fairy lights and lanterns strewn throughout. Next to that was a steaming hot spring; the last thing I ever expected to see on a cold northernisland.

Decorated marquees and booths with various casino games lined one side of the main space, and on the other, a large stage had been set up for musicians. Smaller rounded platforms with flashing lights on their bases were scattered around the stage, and beautiful women adorned in feathers and pearls danced on top of them, seductively swinging their hips to the music like they were in a giant burlesqueshow.

Glistening champagne towers sat on low tables dotted around the place, and topless men and women roamed around with trays of drinks, pills and powders. Their skin was spray-painted gold and plaited wreaths sat atop theirheads.

The Order members celebrated raucously, everyone dancing, drinking, and darting around like they’d forgotten how to stand still. None of them were wearing masks anymore, and a lot of them had removed their black robes as well. Some were dressed in stunning gowns and formal suits, while others wore skimpy party clothes. There didn’t seem to be any rules aboutanything.

Before I could enter the party, two women with golden skin stepped into my path with widesmiles.