only royal with a penchant for gluttony. While my region is self-sustained, it won’t remain that way if I’m required to start sharing my resources with others.”
“Which is the way this will go,” Ryder added.
“I agree. Lilith won’t allow her favorites to starve.” He slid his hands into the pockets of his black trousers, his suit as impeccable as the rest of him. “Speaking of, I had an interesting chat with her the other day. She wanted to know my thoughts on your reign.”
“Did she?” Ryder asked, sounding amused. “And what did you tell her?”
“Well, first I inquired as to how she knew I was in your capital city.”
“Did she tell you?”
“She evaded.”
“Of course.”
“I just found it a bit interesting since Damien did such a decent job keeping my presence hidden while we were there,” Jace added conversationally. “But I’m sure you both can handle that issue.”
“We can,” Damien confirmed, glancing at Ryder. “I may have used his presence as a test.”
Ryder nodded. “It’s what I would have done.”
“I know.”
“Anyway,” Jace continued. “I told Lilith I found your leadership to be unconventional. She took that to mean I disapproved.”
“Naturally,” Ryder drawled.
Jace smirked. “She asked if I would help her vote you down at the next council meeting.”
Ryder stepped back, his shoulder bumping mine as he relaxed into the counter behind us. He mimicked Jace’s pose by sliding his hands into his pockets. “I didn’t realize my position was up for a vote.”
“She seems to think it is,” Jace replied.
“Fascinating.” Ryder glanced at Damien. “Perhaps we should invite her in for a visit. It seems the Goddess requires a lesson on superiority.”
“I’ll work on arranging it,” Damien agreed, causing me to tremble.
The Goddess was not an immortal I ever wanted to meet. I’d been taught to pray to her, to fear her, and to worship her, all in one breath. “Ryder,” I whispered.
He slid his arm around my waist again, pulling me into him. “She won’t touch you,” he vowed, kissing my temple.
He spoke with such conviction that I wanted to believe him, but the former human in me didn’t relax in the slightest.
He’s inviting the Goddess to visit after illegally turning me. This can’t go well…
But before I had a chance to voice my concern, the alarms on his system sprang to life. He released me to walk over to the panel beside the refrigerator—which happened to be behind Jace—and flicked through the screens with ease. Jace moved to stand beside me while Ryder entered a series of codes.
I shifted awkwardly to the side, which elicited an amused smile from Jace. “Don’t worry, baby wolf. I won’t bite you.”
“She’s not yours to flirt with,” Ryder cut in, his back to us.
“That wasn’t flirting,” Jace replied, his icy eyes going to Damien. “He really is out of practice, isn’t he?”
“And I suspect he’ll remain that way since he seems to favor monogamy at the moment,” Damien muttered, shuddering.
“The wolves are here,” Ryder said, ignoring them both.
“Monogamy?” I repeated, my voice a soft whisper.
All three men looked at me, but it was Jace who said, “I suppose that would be a foreign concept to one raised in this environment.”
“It’s a foreign concept to me, and I’ve lived a millennium,” Damien muttered.
“Truth,” Jace agreed.
Ryder growled at them and moved to pull me into his arms again. “Ignore them. They’re teasing me, not you.”
I had already grasped that aspect of the conversation. I just didn’t understand why. So I asked him, “Why?”
He just shook his head. “They think I’ve taken you as my mate.”
“Think?” Damien scoffed. “You chose her a month ago. Or did you think that place I took you to in San José for the ritual was just a coincidence? I saw your decision from a mile away.”
“We’re not discussing this right now.” A hint of demand underlined Ryder’s tone, causing Damien to concede with a nod. “Let’s go greet the wolves. I want to hear how Edon’s inquisition went.”
Ryder’s hand found mine, his grip reassuring as he pulled me along with him toward the front door. Silas stood on the other side, his shoulder propped up against the brick siding of the house. Edon and Luna were beside him.
It was my first time really seeing my old friend and understanding what his presence meant. I didn’t really think so much as act. “Silas,” I said, releasing Ryder to reach for my old friend. He pushed off the house to wrap me up in a hug, his refreshing scent new and oddly