Hexbound by Chloe Neill Read Free Book Online Page B

without argument. That was good enough for me.
    The brat pack walked down the hall, and then into a small room at the end.
    It was a conference room with an oval table surrounded by office chairs.
    We filed down one side of the table. I took a chair a couple of seats from the end beside Dakota or Taylor (whichever they were) while M.K. flounced dramatically into her own chair and pasted a bored expression on her face. Amie took a seat beside Veronica near the head of the table, then arranged her pink pen and notebook just so.
    And on the other side of the table, something much more pleasant—a contingent from Montclare. Michael, Jason, and John Creed—of the dark brows and moody dark eyes—sat in a line, all spiffy and perfect in their sweaters and button-up shirts. All three boys smiled when they saw me, but Michael’s smile flattened pretty fast, probably when he realized Scout wasn’t following me into the room.
    “She’s not much of a party planner,” I quietly explained.
    “Party pooper,” he muttered.
    I smiled at him, and then at Jason, my cheeks warming a little at the secret smile on his face and the glow in his sky blue eyes. I felt like a nervous little kid, my stomach full of butterflies. Here I was—only a few weeks out of Sagamore, and I was talking to a boy who turned into a wolf at will. A boy who’d jumped in front of me to keep me safe. Was it crazy cool? Yes. And unexpected and strange, and still a little bit nerve-racking. We hadn’t really gotten to that point of comfort yet, where you just sink into the relationship, where you’re actually just dating , instead of thinking about the possibility and constantly analyzing it.
    Veronica cleared her throat, then gazed at us expectantly.
    “Now that we’re all here,” she said, “let’s get down to business. Our theme for this year’s Halloween Sneak, already decided, is Graveyard Glam.”
    John gave three loud claps. “I like it already. Meeting dismissed.”
    Veronica gave him a half smile. “Keep your pants on, Mr. Creed. The theme is only the first item on the checklist.”
    Did Adepts even get Halloween off? It seemed like that would be a busy night for us.
    “Last year’s Sneak was held at Navy Pier.”
    There were oooh ’s and aaah ’s from the other girls. I knew what Navy Pier was—an amusement park-type complex deal a few blocks away—but I hadn’t yet been there.
    “This year, we want to do something a little more mysterious.”
    Dakota/Taylor popped up a hand. “How about the Art Institute? Plenty of secret corners in there.”
    “Already done,” Veronica said. “Two years ago.”
    “Pritzker Pavilion?” Taylor asked. “We could have it outside?”
    M.K. huffed. “Have you been outside in Chicago in October? Nobody’s gonna want to wear a Marchesa mini in the 312 when it’s rainy and fifty degrees.”
    “It was just an idea.”
    “And we’ve ixnayed it,” Veronica matter-of-factly said. “Next?”
    Creed raised a hand.
    Veronica gave him a catty look. “Do you have something substantive to add?”
    “Only that my father has a yacht.”
    Figured.
    Veronica crossed her arms. “I’ve seen your father’s yacht, John Creed. It’s not enough boat for all of us.”
    “Are you insulting the size of my father’s boat?”
    “Only in reference to Sneak. Other ideas?” Veronica scanned the room, and her gaze stopped on me. “Parker?” she asked, with a challenging bob of her shoulders.
    “Um, I really haven’t been in Chicago very long.” And more important, you don’t want any part of the things I’ve seen.
    “ Great . You’re all clearly going to be a huge asset to getting this thing off the—”
    “Field Museum.”
    Veronica stopped midinsult, then tilted her head at Jason. “What do you mean, Field Museum?”
    “The Chicago Field Museum.” He leaned forward and linked his hands on the table. “I went to a bar mitzvah there once. You can rent out the main hall. I’m sure it’s not