“Charity thinks these people will accept me as her mate.” Devon huffed as he caught sight of the First Arcana, dressed in a robe embroidered with beads and gems. A sparkling tiara identified her status. “She seems to think they’re keeping us at arm’s length out of respect.”
“If that’s the case, she’s got a long way to go before she acclimates to this place,” Steve said. Halvor had told him in no uncertain terms that he must wear clothes to this event. Unlike the others, he took great delight in being the fae ladies’ dirty little secret, the dirtier the better. “They are probably throwing shade at her, and she thinks they’re complimenting her.”
“Probably,” Devon said. “And thank God. So far I’ve kept my cool every time that prick Hallen touches the small of her back, but only because I don’t want to mess this up for her. I’d like to rip that fucker’s arms off.”
“Let her secure her place, then raise hell,” Steve said. “I like this place as much as the next guy, but I wouldn’t mind getting back to a nice steak and a bed I don’t have to literally roll out of.”
“See? Didn’t I say I wasn’t the only one annoyed with the bed situation?” Andy said in triumph.
The First noticed Devon, and her posture changed into one of expectation. She wanted to speak with him.
His heart sank and his palms started to sweat. He knew why.
“Go sit down,” he told his pack. “I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Alpha Shifter, hello,” the First said, her tiara catching and throwing the light. She stood in front of a raised platform holding a narrow table. The head table, no doubt, for the ruling party to look over their people. Charity would get a place at that table. She’d get a future that most magical people would kill for.
Devon bowed. “First, thank you for inviting us.”
“Charity expressly requested it.”
Ah. So they were making an exception for Charity.
“How magnanimous of you,” he said with a straight face and no bodily sign of his sarcasm.
Her pursed lips said she read it anyway. “Yes. Quite.” Her smile was false. “You must be relieved this day has finally come.”
“And what day is that, First?” he asked as her assistant, a hard-eyed man with impeccable posture, glided in behind her. He stopped a little too close to her, their proximity speaking of an intimacy that wasn’t strictly professional. No one had mentioned what had happened to her husband. It was as though they didn’t speak of the dead, missing, or lost. Or maybe they just didn’t air their dirty laundry to strangers, and Charity was still one.
“Why, the day your duty ends. After Charity’s role in our society has been decided, you’ll be free to seek your home. You must be missing it.”
Devon’s heart jolted in his chest. And there it was. Spoken aloud as though it wasn’t the thing he’d been dreading since he’d heard Karen utter the words.
“The time will come when you need to make a choice. To save Charity’s life—to give her a life—you must take the hard road, sacrifice your heart, and let her go.”
“This is it, then,” he said to no one in particular. “This is the big deciding moment in Charity’s life.”
The First’s continued smile was thin. She did not enjoy speaking with those of “lower status.” “This is it, yes. If things go badly here, Charity will, of course, always be welcome. She can stay as long as she likes—we will make room for her. Unfortunately, with no desirable skills, she will have her title stripped and a gravely reduced status. Her living situation will change somewhat for the worse. This is to be expected, for one who is only half fae.”
“Your people are harsh, First.”
Her eyes marginally narrowed. He’d spoken out of turn.
He didn’t give a shit.
“And if this goes well?” Devon asked, his heart beating too quickly and a sweat breaking out on his forehead. He felt eyes on him and noticed the Second standing somewhat removed, watching the interaction. Devon couldn’t read his expression or body language.
“Then things will only improve for her. She will be celebrated as the Third Arcana and trained as part of our ruling force.”
“And if the Second has a full-blooded heir?”
“Do not trouble yourself with our politics, Shifter,” she said, her voice lowered, and shivers crawled up Devon’s spine. “They are far above your ability to comprehend.”
“You’re awfully arrogant for someone with a warrior