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“No, not all of it. Just enough to grasp the meaning of your mark. I didn’t want to discover something I might be able to hold over your head to get you to marry me.”
A laugh fell from her lips, unexpectedly. “Still riding that train, I see.”
His expression was an honest—and burning—one, making her nerve endings blaze and her pulse skyrocket.
“I know what I want,” he said, his voice confident and strong. “And when I make up my mind, it doesn’t change.”
As much as his unwavering commitment to her warmed her heart, she had to say, “Telling me I’m not one-hundred percent human doesn’t pave the way for a formal union between us, Davian. And I do need to be careful when we’re together, because us having a child when we’re not married would only create more strife in the village. And between us.”
In her mind, it went without saying where each of them would want their child to reside and be raised—Davian would demand it be the castle and she would insist it be the cottage. What an explosive situation that would become!
Resisting the urge to groan, she said, “Perhaps we should change the subject. You’ve already blown me out of the water with your little discovery and I’m not sure I can take any more hits tonight.”
“Fine,” he conceded as he pulled her to him and she rested her head on his chest. “But I do think we should address the townspeople tomorrow regarding your new post. It might be something they find comforting.”
She agreed, yet asked, “What about the impending threat of a demon army heading this way?”
“I don’t believe it’s necessary to alarm anyone just yet. I want to know more of their mission and whereabouts before I raise any hackles. Can you understand that?”
Jade grinned. “Don’t you mean, can I abide by that?”
“Yes,” he said as his fingertips glided over her bare arm. “Precisely what I mean.”
“All right. I’ll leave the military matters to your discretion. I’m now promoting goodwill amongst the species.”
The quest had a very nice appeal to it. And for once, Jade embraced an optimistic outlook. Though in the back of her head, she didn’t forget their world was a dangerous one no matter what good intentions were verbally expressed…
Chapter Twenty-Four
The meeting hall was packed when Jade arrived with Toran and, not surprisingly, Davian. She’d known all along he wouldn’t permit her to speak to the villagers without him when it came to her new position as ambassador. He’d want to offer his own perspective of the job rather than let her pontificate on something that had grown so exponentially in her mind overnight, it led her to believe she was on par with reestablishing a peace sanction akin to the United Nations.
She was brimming with excitement as they entered the hall and walked in unison to the front of the room. Toran placed an additional chair at the main table and he sat to the right of Davian, while she sat to the left.
It wasn’t an everyday occurrence to be appointed an ambassador by a king, so she believed the butterflies in her stomach were justified. The fact that she still needed to reconcile her newly discovered demi-demon status aside, a heady sensation of purpose and direction consumed her.
Apprehension over the king’s presence, however, had everyone whispering and chattering in agitated voices—as it had the last time Davian had unexpectedly visited the hall.
The din didn’t die. Jade jumped to her feet, as she was prone to do when she’d had enough of the speculative conversation.
“Everyone, please,” she said in a steady voice. “Let us begin.” The talking dimmed. “Thank you. Now, allow Toran and I to recognize King Davian’s presence at our meeting.”
Davian stood and the congregation knelt in front of their chairs, accordingly.
“Thank you, Jade.” He slid a sideways glance her way. He clearly found it amusing her patience with the villagers’ anxiety always snapped when there were important matters to discuss. He gestured for the group to return to their chairs. Then he said, “I appreciate Toran and Jade giving me the floor for a few moments to—”
A movement in the anteroom snagged Davian’s attention.
Seconds later, Morgan swept into the hall, his cloak swirling at his feet. He wore a tense expression that made Jade instantly ill at ease. The villagers turned their gazes from the king to his general and more bewildered whispers ensued.
“Excuse me,” Davian announced before joining Morgan in the far corner.
Jade exchanged looks with Toran, then he stepped closer to her and ventured, “This must have something to do with the outlaw army.”
Her stomach took a dive south. “Let’s hope there aren’t more casualties.”
Since she wasn’t one to be left hanging, she moved away from Toran and insinuated herself into Davian and Morgan’s conversation.
Davian stopped mid-sentence, his brow jerking upward.
