he’d ever seen in his entire life, and the sight of her was enough to suck the breath from his body.
“Hello,” Charity said, stopping near the long table overlooking the green. Her family and their assistants had left a single space for her. Charity’s eyes roved through the crowd before stopping on Devon. Her relieved smile told him that she, at least, was pleased to see him. She needed his support. “I’ve done something a little different for you. We’re going to start with a sampling of tea, which is now making its way to you. Pick whichever one you want.”
“I love that dress,” Macy murmured to Yasmine. “It’s a good compromise between the Brink and the Flush. Nice work.”
Devon frowned at them. “You helped her, Yasmine?” he asked. How had he missed that?
Yasmine shrugged. “She asked me about it a few days ago when I stopped by. I know my way around fashion.”
“No contest,” Andy said as an assistant neared the table with a tray full of china. Each small plate bore a teacup and a biscuit. They were so delicate that they looked absurd in the male shifters’ hands.
“Served with your tea is my take on a biscuit. It will stay good in your homes for three to four days and should complement any of the teas. You can serve these to company, or have them around as a snack. They’re also the perfect thing to serve as a stalling tactic if you have a guest who accidentally indicates she’ll stay for longer than you had anticipated, and you didn’t place a food order for her…”
Laughter filled the place, everyone knowing Charity was making a joke about herself.
Dale stuffed the rest of a biscuit in his mouth. “That tea is no match for coffee, but these biscuits are fantastic.”
“Next we have a small salad dish…”
Devon watched the faces around him as Charity explained what came next: a sampling of a five-course meal, something she’d brought over from the Brink. Each dish was better than the last, so completely different to the things he was used to, and more delicious for it.
“She’s got the plant life around here nailed,” Penny said, for she and Emery, as fellow outsiders, had been squished in with the rest of Devon’s pack. She munched through some sort of seed pancake. “If only she were a mage, we could really create some masterpieces together.”
“You can just steal some of her magic for your spells,” Emery said. “She’s gotten the hang of it now, I hear.”
“Well, yes, if Devon goes against my mother’s Sight and stays with her, sure.” Penny took a sip of a fruity, clear liquid in a blown glass goblet made especially for this dinner. The pack looked down at their hands. He’d told them of the session with Karen, and there were mixed views as to if he should believe it or not.
“Nice subtlety,” Steve told her before winking.
Upon tasting the main dish, the First closed her eyes in utter delight, and a proud smile lit up her face.
All the feeling left Devon’s body.
That was it. That smile was the nail in his coffin. Charity was in. This food, hands-down better than anyone else’s—better than anything he’d ever tasted—would grant her admission into the family. She was officially the Third Arcana. Officially a member of the ruling party of a magical people held in the utmost respect in the Realm.
Officially on the road to lead a people and claim her mantle.
What the hell was he doing, contemplating tearing her away from this? How selfish could a guy be?
Karen had been wrong. The choice he faced wasn’t against his heart. It was the easiest choice in the world—he would do anything to grant Charity a lifetime of happiness. Anything. If that meant walking away and leaving his heart behind, so be it. He’d live with his pain to see her smile.
But Karen had been right about something else: this went against everything he wanted. Because Charity was all he could ever want. He loved her with his whole person, now more than ever. To see her shine in her element was a rare treat that he would savor for the rest of his life. As she climbed the steps onto the platform where her family waited, she looked back at him, her smile bright, her eyes brighter. Even now, she thought of him.
He would do the same for her.
He ignored the pain and clapped along. Tonight, he’d say goodbye with his body.