Chapter 32 | Grim Vibes

Emilian grapples with personal stakes and the looming threat of a volatile crown.

Emilian

The weight of the day presses on my chest as I walk into Grim Systems with Uncle East at my side. Synthetic Soul Veronique’s voice hums through the air, crisp and mechanical. “Hello again, Emilian and East.”

“Lock up, E-G-L-one-zero,” I command, my voice sharper than I intend.

Every window darkens to an opaque black, and the exterior doors snap shut with a synchronized metallic clank. Veronique’s voice confirms, “Grim Systems is secure, Emilian.”

I glance at East. “They’re in the suite, right?”

He’s scrolling through messages on his watch, barely looking up. “Yes. Tehanie confirmed. Just waiting for your father.”

We head for the elevator, and as the doors slide shut, my blurred reflection stares back at me. My blood’s boiling, a storm raging under my skin. “What the fuck is this about?” I growl.

“Hey,” East calls, his tone steady, pulling me back. I catch his reflection behind mine—those calm blue eyes, almost like Dad’s, minus the cowboy hat. I turn to face him. “You’re good, alright? We took precautions,” he assures, his voice a lifeline. “Soldiers would be here already if it were about that.”

My mind spirals to Misa. Her warmth, her bright smiles, the way her laugh lights up a room. That golden glow from her heart I can’t get enough of. Even when I stopped at home earlier, her presence lingered like she was right there with me.

God… What if I never see her again?

She’d be living in our house alone. Depressed. Childless. Tears falling from her cheeks into the crease of some book. A chapter she keeps rereading, unable to complete… Paper would come sniffing around… Fixing things around the house for her. Doing yardwork. Eating stew.

Fuck that.

“You’re thinking too much, Emilian,” East warns, reading me like an open book. “Get ahold of yourself.”

I nod, clearing my throat, forcing myself to get back into a professional headspace. An outburst is the last thing I need.

“You’re untouchable,” East adds, clapping a hand on my back. The weight of it grounds me, and I believe him. He’s always a straight shooter.

The elevator doors open, and Lux’s grin greets us. She’s decked out in head-to-toe black, looking like a crown soldier for a split second. “Hey, they’re inside,” she announces, her tone light, easing the knot in my chest. “Tee’s watching her like a hawk. Some weird alpha female vibes going on, I think.” She laughs, shaking her head. “Good luck, man. Feels like drama in there. I’m heading up to monitor the network.”

She slips into the elevator, waving as the doors close. East smirks. “Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be,” I mutter.

We step into the basement suite, and my eyes land on a woman at the head of a long glass table. Chestnut hair cascades over her shoulders, her crimson lips stark against a jade-colored dress that hugs her like it was poured on. She looks up, locking eyes with me. “Emilian Grim.” Her voice is syrupy sweet, the way Misa says my name.

Hm.

“Crown Secretary Velia,” I reply, keeping my tone even.

She stands, extending a hand. Her grip is firm, not the delicate nonsense I expected. “Pleasure to meet you face to face,” she remarks, tightening her hold. “I read about your little sky adventure. I hope your fiancée is well after that close call with your drone.”

Little? My jaw clenches. “Misa is well. Thank you, ma’am.”

Her smile flashes, and I catch the glint of tiny gold square earrings. Then, as she releases my hand, her ring scrapes my finger—sharp, deliberate. Bitch.

East steps in, shaking her hand while I take a seat near Tehanie at the opposite end of the table. I check my finger—no blood, thankfully. Tee shoots me a lopsided grin and shrugs. If she knew what this meeting was about, I’d have a novel-length text from her by now.

The door swings open, and Dad storms in, rubbing his hands together greedily. “Well, well!” East shuts the door behind him, standing guard. “Wasn’t expecting winter in Black Mountain today! I enjoy summer myself. Sexier weather.” He flashes a grin, shaking Velia’s hand. “Heh. Weston Grim, Crown Secretary.”

He doesn’t sit, just leans against the table, looming over her. She’s forced to crane her neck to meet his gaze, and I can tell it’s rattling her. “I see you met the family,” he says. “Now what can House Grim do for a member of the crown?”

“Mr. Grim, thank you for meeting on short notice,” Velia starts. “I understand a visit from a crown official is usually planned far in advance—”

“Uh-huh,” Dad cuts in. “Your pops know you’re in Black Mountain? Probably whoop your behind if he found out you were at Grim Systems.”

Velia’s unfazed. “I’m far too old for that, but my father is a person of interest I’d like to discuss.” Dad starts to speak, but she interrupts. “First, I didn’t come empty-handed.”

She pulls a gold envelope with a black crown emblem from her portfolio. Tehanie, wearing slim rubber gloves, snatches it before Velia can blink.