I looked behind me where Lincoln was watching on with calm acknowledgement. He held out his hand to me and, with one last look back at the Rogues, I took it.
‘You bring us together, Vi,’ Lincoln said as I accepted his strength to keep me balanced and limped through the centre of the room.
One by one, Grigori began to kneel and bow their heads.
When I reached Spence I almost leaped on him, so relieved to see a familiar face. But he simply said, ‘Don’t be afraid,’ before he too, took to his knee.
I passed Chloe, Salvatore and Zoe and I bit my lip when even Steph dropped down. Until finally we reached the front of the room, where Griffin and Nyla waited for us and the Assembly sat in their great chairs.
Griffin smiled. ‘Good to see you up and about, Violet.’
‘It’s good to be upright,’ I said, smiling back. I glanced between him and Nyla. ‘Are you …’ I asked Nyla, unable to finish the question and dreading the answer.
‘Honouring Rudyard with every day of my life? Yes,’ she answered. And though I could see the sadness in her eyes, I could also see the acceptance. She and Rudyard had fought and loved side by side. Their bond had been as epic and complete as the one I shared with Lincoln, but she was here and she would mourn his loss even as she fought as if he were still by her side.
I nodded, admiring her great strength even as I hoped I would never have to make the same choice.
Nyla glanced at Griffin. ‘And I have a new partner of whom I know Rudy would have approved.’
I smiled now for them both. It was a perfect partnership. And Griffin deserved to have a loyal and strong warrior by his side. No one had heard from Magda since she disappeared from Lincoln’s warehouse two and a half years ago. It had taken time for Griffin to get over Magda’s betrayal and I knew that deep down he hoped he would never see her again. Because if he did, he would have her brought to justice for her crimes.
‘Then it was worth the wait?’ I asked Griffin.
‘The best things usually are,’ he said, gesturing to my ring finger.
I leaned a little closer, dropping my voice. ‘Any idea what’s going on?’ I asked, my eyes darting about nervously.
His smile broadened and with Nyla mirroring his actions they both knelt. ‘A new era.’
I swallowed tightly and looked up at the Assembly. As I did, Rainer and Wilhelm stood and knelt, followed by Valerie and Hakon. I glanced at the empty chairs of Seth and Decima – Seth’s chair now pure white ivory and Decima’s a perfect black ebony in a fitting tribute – and then to those formerly held by Adele and Drenson. Beside Drenson’s empty chair stood Josephine.
She looked out around the room before settling her gaze on me.
‘Leadership is a privilege,’ she announced, and I braced myself for whatever she had up her sleeve. ‘As old as time, we may implement structures and elect the people we believe to be best at this role, but in the end, the greatest leaders will never wait to be elected. They will not conform, they will not abide. Nor will they campaign or protest.’ For the first time, Josephine’s smile seemed genuine. ‘They simply … are.’ Josephine stepped forward and in front of the entire hall of Grigori, the Vice – and acting head – of the Assembly knelt before me.
Slowly I turned to look around the hall, still silent as every single one of them balanced on one knee, though now with raised heads to watch on. Beside me, Lincoln lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it once before also dropping to his knee.
Stunned, I wanted to shake my head, to tell everyone to stop being crazy. They didn’t need to kneel to me. I hadn’t done anything other than try to save the people I loved and fight for what was right. Everyone in this room had done the same. I was about to say as much, when I remembered how Steph had explained the levels of regard for Grigori. Kneeling was the highest sign of respect, and I realised I could not throw that back in their face.
Studying the crowd, I understood now that this was my role. I was made by the Sole. I was the Keshet – the rainbow. The sign of the covenant. I was created to lead. And I had been empowered to do so by my angel maker, by my soul connection with Lincoln and by my humanity.
‘Stand,’ I said, surprised how steady my voice came out.