Shade’s mom had agreed to join, so long as Shade sat with her. She was a timid woman after being kept in the dark for a thousand years. But we would be patient and work with her on reform.
Zen had also turned down a position, stating she had other obligations to the Hell Fae King to fulfill first. But she’d agreed to act as an advisor so long as we ventured to the Hell Fae realm to visit her.
Kols’s father would serve as an Elder, but a well-watched one.
And Vadim had agreed to an Elder position as well.
“What are we going to do about Svart and Chern?” I asked, referring to the Warrior Blood and Sangré Blood Councilmen.
Zakkai was the clear choice for the Quandary Blood position, with Laki as his Second. Kols had taken the Elite Blood leadership role—where he would wait until Tray either agreed to take over or perhaps join as his Second-in-Command. And Shade had agreed to the Death Blood mantle, with his mother serving as his Second.
All of us looked expectantly at Zeph.
Who proceeded to say, “No,” for the thousandth time.
I sighed. “You’re a clear choice for the Warrior Blood Councilman position, and you know it.”
“I have a duty to guard my queen, not play politician. So no.”
My lips pinched to the side as I glanced at Kols.So stubborn.
Tell me about it,he replied.We might need Shade to suck his cock after all.
I laughed out loud, causing them all to look at me.
Kols merely smirked.
I cleared my throat and acted as though I hadn’t just snorted a laugh in front of all of them, and refocused on the Councilmen discussion.
But Zeph was adamantly against joining.
So we started going through other names and making a list of whom to visit. Chern was on ourpotentially trustlist. He hadn’t been consumed by Constantine’s power, but he also hadn’t been for his plans at all. He’d apparently voted down several of the Council decisions but had been ignored in favor of the majority.
What concerned me was that they claimed those decisions had been unanimous.
So either he was lying—huge possibility—or Constantine had lied—also a huge possibility.
Regardless, we were watching him. And he couldn’t remain on the Council.
“We don’t have to figure it out today,” Zeph said, sliding a plate of orc steak with a side of berries my way. “That’s the beauty of time.”
“At least in this path,” Shade interjected.
A few of us smiled at him, then silence filled the dining area as we all ate our respective meals. Zeph had apparently made beef steaks for himself and Zakkai, which, gross. Their penchant for eating animals in this realm was seriously unnerving.
I’d sooner try a stonepecker.
Shuddering, I cut off a piece of orc and brought it to my lips as a commotion sounded outside near the in-ground pool.
Zakkai groaned as Zimney howled. “Your fucking snake is going to drown one of these days,” he said, looking at Zeph.
“He sees your beast as an equal and just wants to play,” Zeph returned. “I’m not going to stop him.”
More splashing sounded, followed by Clove chittering as she chastised the animals for roughhousing.
Draco swooped in through a window to huddle on Shade’s shoulder, his bat wings vibrating with irritation.
Then Kols’s crow landed on the windowsill with an expectant look.
