Iron Crowned Page 0,73

Stop acting like a human."

"I am human. You keep forgetting that."

He studied me up and down, giving me the opportunity to do the same to him. You don't care, you don't care, I told myself, trying to push aside how much I'd loved that gorgeous face.

"No," he said at last, contempt in his voice. "It's impossible to forget. You're acting like one now, refusing to do the right thing just because I've asked you to. You're being contrary out of spite." He strode toward the door. "If you don't act soon, you'll regret it."

I didn't like him being the one to end this conversation. It was more of him always having the power. "Are you threatening me?"

Dorian put his hand on the door's handle and glanced at me over his shoulder. "No. I'm not the threat. Katrice is. And while you keep going on and on about how much I've wronged you and lied to you, I can say with absolute certainty that what I've just told you is the truth."

"Noted." Hastily, I made an attempt at acting like the queen around here. "You can go now. And don't come back."

That earned me a half smile, though there wasn't much humor in it. "Are you revoking my hospitality?"

I hesitated. "No. I'm above that. I'll just assume you'll do the right thing and stay the hell away from me."

"Noted," he replied, imitating my earlier tone. He opened the door and walked away without another look. I stared at the empty space where he'd been, wondering who'd come out on top of that argument.

By the time I emerged and found Shaya, Dorian had already left my castle for his own lands. She asked nothing about what had transpired with him, but worry was written all over her face.

"How close are we?" I demanded. "How close are we to sitting down with Katrice and writing up a treaty?"

Shaya paled, and I realized I had turned my anger at Dorian on her. "Not as close as I'd like. She agreed ... she agreed she'd come in person, but only if the talks were held in the Willow Land. Queen Maiwenn has agreed, but Dor - King Dorian says that's unacceptable. He suggests the Linden Land or the Maple Land. Katrice refuses."

Linden and Maple. Kingdoms both staunchly neutral. Maiwenn theoretically was too. She'd always put on the pretense of friendship, and I was certain Kiyo would endorse her hospitality. But something about it made me uneasy. I didn't want to support Dorian ... but then I realized that instinct came from exactly what he'd warned me of: wanting to oppose him just out of spite. Our personal mess aside, he was my ally. Neutral ground was best for us.

"Reiterate Dorian's stance," I said. "Linden or Maple. I'm going back to Tucson. Let me know what happens."

Shaya opened her mouth, to protest or beg for help, I couldn't say. Dorian's words came back to me. Get actively involved. "Wave the crown" and make Katrice agree to our terms. No. On that, I wouldn't agree with him. I wouldn't use that crown like he wanted me too, even as a threat.

"That'll be all," I told Shaya. She nodded, obedient as always.

The look on her face as I left made me feel a little guilty. Maybe I could make things easier for her. Maybe I could expedite all this. But for now, there was literally no harm being done. What could Katrice's stalling achieve? If she began hostilities again, she ran the risk of facing the crown she obviously feared. My people were safe. The waiting was frustrating, but it had to end soon. I'd told Dorian I was human, and that's what I intended to be. I would go home, start following up on jobs, and let the gentry deal with this red tape until I was absolutely needed.

And that was exactly what I did.

I returned to my old life. Kiyo and I continued dating, and being with him, reestablishing our old connection and sex life, went a long way toward blocking out images of beautiful, voluptuous Ysabel in Dorian's bed. My workload increased - as did my income - though my jobs tired me out more than I was used to. That scared me. It made me think about what it meant to be human and gentry. I'd fought to keep my human side dominant. Was the gentry part taking over? Stunting my shamanic abilities? No, I firmly decided. This was stress, pure and simple.

In the