“Do you want to see Central Park? It’s only a few blocks away from here and should be pretty empty because of the late hour.” I checked my watch. “Actually, I think it closes to the public soon as well, or might already be closed. We’ll just enchant a guard or something.”
“Central Park?” she repeated, her eyes lighting up. “I’ve never been.”
I figured as much. “I’m sure it’s not the same as the Earth Fae Kingdom, but it’s probably more similar to it than our version of nature in the Midnight Fae realm.”
Her lips twitched. “Yours is about as opposite as you can get with black grass and burning trees.”
“Charcoal blades are not grass.”
“Oh, I know,” she said empathetically. “They’re closer to knives.”
I smirked. “Not like knives either.”
“Sure.” She set her empty plate to the side. “Do you want to go now?”
Given the eagerness pouring off her, I suspected a negative reply would upset her. Not that I wanted to refuse her. Actually, I rather liked the idea of making her smile again. “Sure,” I replied, placing my dish on top of hers. “We’ll need coats instead of cloaks, just to better fit in. Let me see what I can find.”
Aflora released a small chirping sound that had me glancing over my shoulder at her. She had her hands clasped in her lap like she wanted to clap them together, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
I arched a brow. “If all it takes is the mention of a park to earn your happiness, then I should do all right with this mate shit.”
She snorted. “I have a feeling there will be a lot of parks in our future, Zeph. With comments like that, you’ll be apologizing to me all the time.”
“Probably,” I admitted, but I couldn’t stop the grin from spreading over my lips. “Sometimes I’ll make it a little more interesting, though.”
“Yeah? Like how?” she asked, genuinely curious.
“Make-up sex, Aflora,” I told her. “I hear it’s fun. We’ll try it sometime.” I winked at her and left her gaping at me from the bed as I wandered into the living area to find some jackets.
This whole “normal activity” thing would be fun.
We’d have to try it more often.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
SHADE
Four fuckinghours of interrogation later, Councilman Chern ascertained the same thing I’d done in a matter of seconds the other day. “Headmaster Irwin was acting under an enchantment. My suspicion is that a Quandary Blood is to blame.”
The Council members and Elders listened while Chern detailed his tactics for pulling that information from the Death Blood’s mind, then the Sangré Councilman continued with his suggestions for how to handle the situation. “His psyche is vulnerable, so until we apprehend the Quandary Blood who did this, we’ll need to keep Headmaster Irwin under close observation.”
Meaning he wanted to jail the poor man until the matter was resolved.
Several of the Councilmen bobbed their heads in agreement, while Constantine Nacht pointed out that locking up Headmaster Irwin also served as a suitable punishment for being “so easily corrupted by enemy forces.” I nearly snorted at that claim. These imbeciles had no idea whom they truly faced or how many centuries of hatred had piled up toward them.
But they’d find out, and soon.
Kols met my gaze from across the table, his golden orbs flaring with a thousand questions. Fortunately, he hadn’t voiced anything that could incriminate us, but I suspected we were due for a long conversation after this was through.
He probably thought I bit Aflora because the Council told me to, which was partially true—I’d done it to maintain my cover. But I knew years ago that my fate would cross her path. This was so much bigger than the Elders or the Midnight Fae Council could possibly comprehend. They would have to see beyond their own bigotry and arrogance to realize the truth, and I wasn’t about to help them with that task.
Kols’s father made a few closing remarks once the sentencing was done, then looked to Constantine for any further guidance the Elders wished to bestow upon us. The retired king merely advised Kols to allow Aflora to be taken next time, something he agreed to with a mere nod, likely because he was too livid to speak. I understood that feeling all too well.
When the meeting finally adjourned, I stood and stretched my arms, ready to disappear, only a look from Kols told me he’d come after me if I did.
“Your mum is looking forward to having you over for dinner tonight, Kolstov,” Malik said softly, reminding his son that he’d agreed to come home after this mess.
My father, on the other hand, left without even looking at me. There would not be a similar invite to come home for a family dinner. We didn’t do that, because it would require talking and making false pleasantries, something neither of us could be arsed to do.
