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I turned thirty in one more year. Then, it didn’t matter if they ruled against me, I would have the final say.
Of course, when my father had been here, they had all been his yes men. Under my reign, they were almost the exact opposite.
“I want some of the units in the new complex allotted to low-income families,” I insisted. “Or I won’t sign off on the plans.”
“Why don’t we vote on it?” the Minister of Birchbank suggested sweetly, knowing full well that I would be outvoted.
“NO!” I said sharply, taking everyone aback. They looked at me, and I inhaled slowly. “I am still the King of Steelshire. You can’t build on my land without my approval. I’m not giving approval to build unless you agree to those terms.”
It was the first time I’d ever put my foot down on an issue like this, and their stunned faces were warranted.
“Alpha—”
“It’s not up for negotiation. No allotment for low income, no new building.”
Low grumbles filled the room as they looked at one another, and finally, the Minister of Birchbank nodded begrudgingly.
“Fine. Five percent of the units?—”
“Ten,” I corrected him. He paled. “Ten percent. Take it before I make it fifteen.”
“Ten it is,” he agreed hastily and bowed his head.
“Good.” I stood abruptly, having had enough of the meeting for the day. “Let’s adjourn before tensions run any higher, shall we?”
I banged the gavel before anyone could argue and spun toward the doors, my guards in perfect lockstep to my marching.
I’d made it through the worst of the day. Now it was time for dessert.
Chapter 8
Maren
Ididn’t know if Nyx already had my schedule or if he’d lucked out on guessing my day off from Maximo’s, but I was off before our official date, and it was the most excruciating twelve hours of my life.
After I woke and had breakfast, I took myself out for a flight in my owl form, just to clear my head somewhat. It was hard to do with so many thoughts coursing through my mind, but my tiny apartment in the middle of South Havenmire seemed to be closing in on me as I counted the hours down until the car arrived.
I found myself soaring over the very same spot the king had shown me that first night, but this time, I swooped down to take a look at the view, my breaths escaping through my yellow beak as I peered out into the magnificent city.
Why does he want to see me again?
The obvious reason was front and center, but I couldn’t get Tristiana’s cautions out of my head. And she was right, of course. What would a king want with a peasant like me that he hadn’t already gotten?
Moreover, if I believed that, why was I meeting with him again? Was I just a glutton for punishment, waiting for him toturn his back on me? I was so conflicted, part of me wanting to run, part of me wanting to stay and see where this would go.
But Tristiana would also tell me that I was overthinking this if Nyx were anyone else.
“Let it flow, baby!” was her favorite thing to say. Could I just let it flow when it came to an Alpha King?
Extending my wings, I allowed the gentle autumn breeze to guide me down from the cliffs toward the city and back through the open window of my apartment again. I realized with dismay, as my fae body replaced the russet feathers and claws, that I still had hours to kill.
I sat at the tiny table between the kitchen and small sitting room, pulling out a metal box filled with hundreds of beads and trinkets. I hadn’t entertained my jewelry making at all since starting at Maximo’s, as my time was limited between rehearsals and shows. It felt good to get back into making the necklaces and bracelets, sealed with their own magic secrets for whoever purchased them online.
I hadn’t realized I’d lost myself in the art of my craft until my phone dinged around two.
Nyx:Are we still good for six?
My pulse immediately quickened, and I set down the beads in my hands to respond, willing myself to catch my breath before I answered.
