you’ve done, I’m never angry at you.”
That sounded like it would be good, if a bit confusing, but I had a feeling that whatever he was going to say next might be worse.
“I’m disappointed,” he said, and my shoulders drooped. I was right. That was worse. “I—”
Whatever he was about to say was cut off by Luce’s arrival. My blood pressure was a little high, which wasn’t exactly surprising. And then others arrived, one after another. Faye. Tink. Fabian. Ren and Ivy. Some fae I recognized but didn’t know their names. Others I wasn’t sure I’d seen before.
There was a lot of disbelief. Not a single person or fae who came through the door could believe or understand why Tanner had done what he did. There were long moments of shocked silence, there were tears, and then Caden reassured everyone that life at Hotel Good Fae would continue, and that things would be rough, but that it would be okay. And as I sat there, listening to how calm he was, how sure he sounded, I didn’t doubt for one second that things would eventually be okay once enough time had passed to move past the shock of Tanner’s betrayal and the grief of his loss that was still to come, no matter what he’d done.
I didn’t think I realized until then that Caden had truly been born to be a leader. I think he even eased Ren’s and Ivy’s concern, which was truly saying something. They left to share the news with Miles.
The whole time, Caden remained at my side. I kept expecting him to leave. I imagined that he needed to make a statement to all the fae at one time, but he didn’t go.
There wasn’t much for me to do as I sat there, other than to replay what’d happened with Tanner over and over and also wonder what it would take for Caden to no longer be disappointed.
If that was even possible.
I had to believe that it was. Like Hotel Good Fae, it would take time. There would be grief. There would be anger, but we had to get past this.
We had to.
Eventually, only Fabian and Tink remained in the room with us. Tink was standing in the corner, leaning against the wall. He’d been quiet through most of this, and I worried about him. He really liked Tanner, and I knew this had to be hitting him hard.
“There is something I can do,” Fabian said after he and Caden discussed what needed to be done and whether what Tanner had said about Neal could be believed. Like me, I didn’t think there was a reason to doubt what Tanner had claimed. Neal wasn’t a problem. For now, at least. “I know you’ll need to speak with the Court, but Tink and I can hold things down here while you make sure Brighton and my future niece or nephew actually get some stress-free rest.”
I opened my mouth.
“We got this.” Tink pushed off the wall, joining Fabian. “Consider these early godfather duties.”
I closed my mouth as Caden frowned at the whole godfather thing. I fully expected him to thank them for the offer but pass. He was King, after all.
“Thank you. I appreciate it,” Caden said.
Slowly, I turned toward him. “But aren’t you needed? Don’t you have to talk to them?”
“I’m needed here more,” he said.
Too afraid to hope that was a positive sign, all I could do was nod. Tink came to my side, then bent and kissed my cheek. “Please get some rest.”
“I will,” I promised, catching his arm as he pulled away. “Are you okay?”
He gave me a small, sad smile. “I will be.”
“It’s a lot.”
“It is.” He slipped free, and then he left with Fabian.
The door closed behind them, and then I was alone with Caden, sitting close but not touching. I was exhausted, but I knew I wouldn’t be sleeping anytime soon. There was too much going on in my head and—
“Tanner was wrong,” Caden stated, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“I think there are a lot of things he was wrong about.”
“Yes, but there was something he was very wrong about.” He looked over at me then. “You’re not my weakness.”
My lips parted on a sharp inhale.
His gaze searched mine. “I could sense that you expected me to leave.”
“I…I did. I imagined that they’d want to see you. You’re really good at calming others.”
“They will want to see me, and they will. But like I said, I’m needed here. I know