Page 69 of Beauty

Lach puts a hand on my shoulder. “She was confused by thepotion.”

“Potion?” Dellacourt asks.

Gillian takes her eyes off Roan and frowns Dellacourt’s way.“Your sweet cos was nearly executed today for being a witch. It was only mybrothers who saved her.”

“As was right. We’re her husbands,” I point out. “And weknew she was in danger. We’re bonded. We can feel her. Dellacourt, tell me youcan’t feel your consort.”

Dellacourt frowns. “Most of the time, though she’s good atshielding. It pisses me off. She tends to do it when she wants a spanking. ButI understand what you’re saying. I can feel my Kaj.” He smiles a bit, his eyeslosing focus. “She’s happy right now. She’s also curious about the villagearound her.”

I turn on the vampire mercenary. He doesn’t understand them.He can’t. “See? You don’t have a consort. You don’t have the bond. You can’tunderstand.”

Roan laughs, a disdainful huff. “No, Your Highness, I don’thave a consort. I haven’t had the cash or the connections to keep one. But thatwill change.” His eyes go right back to Gillian.

She hugs me. “Stop baiting the mercenary, brother. I willtry to do so as well. He’s only here to help. And I’m grateful since otherwisewe have nothing but you and Lach to protect our precious Bron.” She smiles, herface vibrant. “She’s wonderful, isn’t she? When I first came to negotiate yourmarriage, I worried she was far too young and spoiled, but she’s beenmagnificent through all of this. You should know I have come to love the girldearly, and I will kick both of your asses if you cause my Bron a moment’spain.”

I like that my sister is so protective of our wife. “We loveher, Gilly. We’ve been lost without her.”

“But we have some work to do with her. I’m worried she’sangry at you,” Lach says, his eyes going back to the stairs.

Gillian sighs. “I am sure she will be. I thought it best tosimply be her guardian. We kept to ourselves. We’ve met so many nobles here whowould have used her as a rallying point.”

Dellacourt’s foot taps as he thinks. “Not just a rallyingpoint, I would suspect. Bron is the last Finn on the plane. And she’s female.If I were a betting man, I would lay a lot of gold on the fact that noblefamilies here would see her as a way to take the crown. Oh, wait. I’m actuallyquite a good gambler. I also bet that’s what you were doing here in the first place.”

“I was attempting to negotiate a proper, advantageousmarriage for my brothers,” Gillian replies. “When the coup occurred, Iprotected the princess. She died. Do you understand that, vampire? She wasdead, but my magic brought her back to life. I was the one who used magic tocover up the fact that she was alive. She’s here today because of me.”

Gillian is wrong about her magic. It was me and Lach whobrought her back, but I keep my mouth closed. Gillian needs all the help shecan get with the vampires.

“And you intend to use her to unite the crowns.”Dellacourt’s voice is without a touch of emotion. Bland, even. But there’s ashrewd ruthlessness in the vampire’s eyes that lets me know he has an angle toplay. “It might work except for one small fact you’ve overlooked.”

“Really? I don’t think I overlooked a thing. When Torinfalls, and I will see that bastard fall if it is the last thing I do, Bronwynwill assume the crown and my brothers will be kings. My father will step downand the triumvirate will rule both planes.” Gillian makes her announcement witha brutal practicality.

“That will be interesting to see.” Roan crosses his armsover his chest and smirks, his fangs peeking out.

Dante sighs a bit before making his point. “I believe TheirMajesties, Beckett, Cian, and Megan Finn, will have something to say about thatwhen they reclaim their throne. Or were you planning on Bronwyn going to warwith her brothers? I assure you I love my cousin, but I will not allow her toclaim her brothers’ rightful throne. Certainly not when she would be anUnseelie puppet. But then your brothers would be puppets, too. You want to bethe power behind the throne.”

I stare at my sister, Dellacourt’s words sinking in.“Gillian, Lach and I have no intentions of fighting with the Seelies.”

“We’re taking Bronwyn home. We’re going to make sure she’ssafe,” Lach says. “Her brothers can have this plane.”

Gillian rounds on them both, her eyes alive with fire andanger. “Where is your bloody ambition, brothers? I don’t care that the Finnsbonded or that they think they can waltz in after thirteen long years andreclaim their throne as if they never ran.”

“They had to run,” Dellacourt argues. “And don’t think theyhaven’t tried to fight.”

“Well, as I’ve been alone and protecting their sister,you’ll have to forgive me for saying that they didn’t try hard enough.”Gillian’s fists are clenched at her sides. “I have fought and protected her. Iwill not allow them to come in and claim that which I have sacrificed for. Iwill speak to Father. He will see reason. If my brothers don’t want the crown,I’ll take it myself. I’ll take it by right of blood. I’ll bring an Unseeliearmy back. Father will support me.”

“Your father wants you safe,” Roan says, his eyes hooded.

“My father trusts me, vampire. And you have nothing to dowith it.” She dismisses him utterly.

“Your father promised me a boon if I carried this off,” Roansays, his words a silky menace. “Would you like to know what that boon is,Princess? Your father has spent too much of his time mourning. He needs someoneto come in and train his forces in modern warfare. He would feel so much saferif the general of his army was also his son-in-law.”

“Bloody hell, Roan. Did you have to tell her that now?”Dellacourt asks, cool green eyes rolling.

I know I should be shocked, but I’m not. Gillian is a royal.She won’t be marrying the stableboy. She planned to offer herself as bondmateto the Seelie twins. She can’t be shocked that our father offered her up to theman who would save her.

Except she obviously is. “No. My father wouldn’t do that.”

Roan doesn’t move, but there’s a certain satisfaction in hisstance. “Your father wants you safe, consort. I have done the king and yourcousin Julian much service and will continue in the future. And you will be myreward.”