Hidden Devotion (Trinity Masters #5)(52)

Yet he stood off to the side with his spouses, Deni and Gunner.

Franco rang the gong in the altar room, the reverberating sound heavy and solemn.

Juliette took her place behind the altar. Franco and Devon flanked her. Harrison, Alexis and Michael stood near the front of the crowd, Harrison’s expression was worried. He whispered to Michael and Gunner, who melted back through the crowd, taking up positions in different places and carefully watching the reactions of those around them.

Price stepped forward, standing in front of the altar. They’d decided he was the best person to start the presentation, since he was well known. His support would carry weight.

Price waited until the crowd fell silent, those who were out in the hall crowding into the altar room. When all eyes were on him, he spoke. “Tonight we welcome a new Grand Master, even as we honor the service of the previous master, who can no longer shoulder the responsibility.”

Unease rippled through the crowd, spreading out from Price as if he were the point where a stone had dropped into water. He stepped aside, revealing the cloaked figure of the Grand Master.

“I greet you at the dawn of a new day.” Juliette projected so her voice carried, but had to pause as whispers and small sounds of surprise moved through the assemblage. Her voice was clearly feminine, her words unexpected.

“We are stronger than ever before, our dedication to our society second only to our commitment to our country.”

There was a smattering of clapping and even some cheers from the oh-so-slightly drunk younger members.

“But our line is not unbroken, the story of our past is not complete.”

Now everyone fell silent.

“Within our records are mysteries that must be solved. Powerful families who were once part of our order were allowed to drift away. Secrets and artifacts we swore to protect have been lost or forgotten. It will take the combined intellect and talents of all members to solve these mysteries.

“Therefore, starting now, all new trinities will be given a task, a puzzle to work, when they are called to the altar. Only when they’ve completed that task will they return to be formally married. Success or failure will impact their trinities, and their marriages.”

There were exclamations of surprise, disgruntled mutterings from older members, and in the front, Harrison’s eyebrows rose nearly to his hairline. The rumblings rose in volume, the situation seeming to slip out of the Grand Master’s control.

Juliette held up her hand in a “stop” motion. Her will and authority flowed over the crowd. They fell silent and waited. Waited for orders from the Grand Master.

“This is not without danger. A box bearing our symbol and containing a secret message was left with a man who, two generations ago, was not called to the altar. His grandson wore his ring, not knowing the truth. The box, when opened, contained a deadly poison that nearly cost one of our members their life.

“A new trinity was tasked with solving this mystery. They uncovered past misdeeds and betrayals. We must right the wrongs of our past, ferret out threats to our society.”

When she paused, there was a respectful silence.

“I will not allow disloyalty to our society or our mission. Together we will move forward, even as we respect and honor our past.”

Juliette raised a glass. “Mitimur in Vetitum.”

They repeated after her. “Mitimur in Vetitum.”

We strive for the forbidden.

The Grand Master disappeared through an archway, Franco and Devon stepping out from behind the altar and going to mingle with the crowd, who quickly surrounded them in an effort to find out more about the new Grand Master. They answered the questions they could, and shook their heads when they were asked something they would not answer, such as who was the new Grand Master or what had happened to the previous one. No one would have dared asked if it had been a man’s voice.

Juliette Adams slid into the room. She wore a sparkling white gown and a crystal broach in her hair. She snaked through the crowd, avoiding her friends. Because she’d grown up as a legacy, because she was known by many, it wouldn’t take her friends long to figure out she was the new Grand Master. The great legacy families knew an Adams always had been, and always would be, the Grand Master.

Moving quickly, she found her brother in the crowd.

“Harrison.”

He turned, his expression a combination of pride and alarm. “Juliette. Why don’t we go and talk—”

“No. Thank you, but no. I appreciate your offer but I don’t need your advice.”

Harrison’s jaw clenched, and then he nodded once. “Of course.”

“But I do need something else. Will you stay after?”

He looked her over from head to foot, taking in the white gown and elegant hairdo. He smiled. “I’d be honored.”

She took his hand and squeezed it before turning away.

“Juliette.” Rose tapped her shoulder, pulling her attention.

“Rose.” Juliette’s heart lurched. Rose had been caught in the middle of her battle with Devon, and now that she and Devon were going to be part of a trinity, it was Rose who suffered the most.

So much had happened that Juliette hadn’t considered what she would say if she saw Rose. She couldn’t say much without revealing she was the one who’d broken the trinity.

It turned out she didn’t need to say anything.