Aphrodite's Flame by Julie Kenner Read Free Book Online Page B

answer the question of how she got admitted to the Council in the first place. Now, however, wasn’t the time to argue. She
was
on the Council, she
was
doing a good job, and she intended to continue doing just that.
    Except...
    She grimaced, realizing that by keeping the secret about Hieronymous, she was violating her oath.
    Time for a reality check... and also time for the truth, no matter how much it would hurt her father.
    She straightened, drawing her shoulders back as if the movement would give her courage. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
    He waved her words away. “Isole, my praise of your job skills is sincere. However, you must learn when to be familiar and when that is inappropriate. We need to discuss your next assignment. You may address another topic, personal or Council-related, once our business is complete.”
    Her cheeks burned, but she merely nodded. “Yes, Zephron.” She cleared her throat. “You were saying I’d be on display with my new assignment. Why is that?”
    “The nature of your first Outcast,” Zephron said. “We’ve never before had such a prominent Outcast apply for re-assimilation. The process will undoubtedly be covered daily in columns on the Council website, news and editorials in the
Daily Protector
, and, of course, gossip.”
    “Oh.” It sounded horrible. Idly, Izzy wondered if it wasn’t too late to request reassignment. Maybe working undercover as a lifeguard at some beach resort. A few daring rescues ...
    “Izzy?”
    She licked her lips. “Sorry. I’m still here.”
    “You aren’t going to disappoint me.” It was a statement, not a question, and she couldn’t help but smile at his confidence.
    “No. I won’t.” She cleared her throat. “But, um, why me? I mean, if this Outcast is that big a deal, why not assign one of the Level-Fives that have been around for a while?”
    “Under the circumstances,” he said, “I thought that this assignment should go to you. I was able to persuade the other members of the committee to my point of view.”
    His gaze settled on her, his kind yet penetrating eyes. A chill seemed to settle over her, and she knew that she should ask what he meant, but somehow she couldn’t manage the question.
    He was watching her expectantly, but after a few moments of silence, he shifted his gaze back toward the door. He’d entered with a briefcase, now resting by the closed door, a portfolio peeking out of the top. He crooked a finger and the portfolio levitated, lifting free of the briefcase, then glided across the room to land in his outstretched hand. Izzy tried not to look jealous.
    Zephron flipped pages. “Also under the circumstances,” he said after a moment, “I thought it best if you had an assistant. I intend to assign someone to help you out.”
    She frowned, her forehead creasing.
An assistant
? Whatever for? “Who are we talking about?”
    “The assistant?”
    “The Outcast!” Her voice rose in frustration.
    “Ah, of course. The Outcast, my dear, is Hieronymous Black.”
    She blinked, positive she’d heard wrong.
    She opened her mouth to say something, but then closed it when she realized she had no idea what to say.
    She tried again. “Hier—Hieronymous Black. Hieronymous Black?
He
wants to be re-assimilated?”
    “So he says.”
    “Why?”
    “He has seen the error of his ways, according to his application.”
    “And you
believe
him?”
    Zephron smiled. “What I believe is immaterial, my dear.
You
are the one who will make the final recommendation to the Inner Circle.”
    “Oh.” She rubbed her temples. “Oh.”
    “I will say that if he is sincere it couldn’t come at a better time.”
    “The treaty negotiations, you mean.”
    Zephron nodded. “Precisely.”
    Izzy sank into a chair, her fingers tight on the leather armrests and her thoughts in a whirl. The first Mortal-Protector Treaty had been signed in 1970. It was a complicated document, but the basic deal was that Protectors would remain