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“Welcome, everyone.” Life stepped up. “A bit has happened since we split. First, Jeff and Tessa have found they are Consorts.”
Murmurs were heard around the table. The races were doing their job.
“This solves the problem of one of the boys not having a mate. However, Tessa is too young for Jeff to bond with.”
I snorted but covered my mouth as Life looked at me with a raised eyebrow. Was she in on the plan? I’d assumed she was; if so, she was a good actress.
“Yes, Mrs. Lanshay?”
Pride burst from Jefferson, and happiness filled me, but I had to focus and keep it from showing.
“Sorry, Lady Life, it’s just that everyone assumes I’m going to bond with Jefferson.”
Lady Life looked between Jefferson and me. “He told you his full name?”
I smirked. “Well, it was tell me, or let me call him—"
“Tessa.” Jeff growled behind me, no doubt remembering the horrid name I’d called him, making his given name more feminine for the fun of it.
Life looked worried. “I’d assumed because you are Consorts that you would be bonding.”
“As far as I’m concerned, Jefferson—yes, I know he loathes the name, hence my usage—can bond with any bimbo on the street before me.”
Dang, that hurt.
“Well, apparently Jeff and Tessa have some things to work through.” Life actually looked hesitant. Alex looked furious. His conversation with Jefferson yesterday—I’d overheard it—came back to mind. He probably hated that his nephew—a nephew he already despised—had been given a Witch like me for a Consort. “As you have noticed, Lady Love has joined Jeff and the Harbor Witches. She is not a guard for the Witches, so other races, please do not feel as if you are less important than them. Love is the guard for Lord Jeff, who was attacked with Tessa on their way home yesterday. It is believed that whoever attacked them is out for the healer’s head. Love is ensuring that does not happen, as Jeff wields her element as well as the Healing element.
“Now, we have much to discuss after the two days we have taken to get to know each other.”
Saber, the Dark King, raised his hand. He looked young, and I knew he was the same age as Jeff. Maybe a little younger.
“Yes, Saber,” Life called on him.
“The first thing I would like to do is call for a decimation of boundaries. My sister is bonded to a Light warrior. I would like to see her whenever I wish and not have to worry about borders. And, if we want peace and for our people to mingle, to marry or bond, even, with other races, we need to give them free rein to live where they would like.”
“What about the Demons?” Damian perked up at Borgman’s question. “Would they be required to leave the Ridge? No one else can live there. They would still be isolated.”
“I think,” the Demon King spoke slowly, “what Saber is trying to say is that people can live and travel where they wish. My people feel safe in the Ridge. If it were safer to move out, would they? Some yes. Others, maybe not. Then again, how many Light do you know that are going to hop up and move to Dark territory, or even into the hills with the Witches? The point of no boundaries isn’t tomakeour people move, but to allow them to do so if they wish.”
Victor raised his hand and gained the attention. “My people are nomadic and have always lived in hives. We will not be changing that, but it would be nice to feel we can live anywhere, maybe even buy our own land to have permanent homes instead of finding land that is abandoned or put a hive in discreetly.”
When he finished speaking, I found myself saying, “The Harbor Witches would like to come out of the mountains. We feel trapped there and have nowhere else to go. I’ve found many things in this city that I love, that I want more of, and I want to share them with my people.”
Councilwoman Nash spoke up. “I have always wanted to see your palace. I hear it is beautiful.”
“You are welcome anytime, Councilwoman,” Nate offered.
Borgman scoffed.
“Why are you so against this, Councilman? Why do you not want peace?” I barked at him.
He glared at me. “It is not that I do not want peace. I just do not see how it is possible.”
“Well then, I suggest you trade places with a member of your Council who at least wants to try. Because whether or not you think it can happen doesn’t matter. Things can’t get worse before the Mindolin is freed. So make your choice. You sit here in luxury while the rest of the races beg for peace. While your own people beg for it. I do not think they’d be proud of the way you are handling this. So go find a replacement.”
The entire room sat silent while Borgman turned red-faced and fumed. For a moment, I worried I’d done something so very wrong, but then Jefferson’s pride washed over me, and I relaxed. He had my back. Even if he couldn’t say he did.
“You are nothing but a child, a monster child from a monster race!” Borgman’s roar had me jumping in my seat, and my heart stuttered when he stood.
