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“What is it?” I ask.
He folds the letter up and tucks it back into its envelope. “Ashton has issued a challenge to our mating pact through the council.”
“Is that…” I can’t imagine that after being found guilty of treason, Ashton would have any standing to ask anything of the pack. “He can’t do that.”
Nathan tosses the envelope aside. “He can.”
“Pack law isn’t the same as the laws of the human world,” I say, as if a king needs to be informed of such a thing. “There aren’t appeals.”
“It seems we aren’t the only ones interested in archaic loopholes.” Nathan’s unbothered tone puts me at ease. If he’s not worried, I’m not.
Until he says softly, “damn,” and rips the envelope in half.
“What? What’s wrong?” I rise up on my knees. “Is it like a trial by combat or something? Are you going to fight each other?”
Nathan scoffs. “He’d never be so foolish. He wouldn’t survive.”
Having felt the full force of Nathan’s strength last night, I agree. “Then what is it?”
“It’s a hearing before the council in he’ll have to prove that he still has a claim over you and that the pact can’t be invalidated.” He pauses. “You’ll have to testify.”
Is that all? “Okay.”
Cautiously, Nathan asks, “You’ll testify for…”
It takes me a moment to understand what he’s asking. When I do, I roll my eyes. “For our side, duh.”
A small smile touches his mouth. “Our side?”
I gesture around the room. “Considering what happened here last night, I don’t think it’s unreasonable for me to use the word. That…thing that happens when we’re near each other, the compulsion we feel? It doesn’t seem like it’s giving us much of a choice.”
He sits on the side of the bed and his shoulders sag. I don’t like the look of that, especially when he won’t look at me. “Bailey…the council will be the ones making the choice now. And I’m not sure we should mention whatever this is when we have no idea what it is or why it’s happening to us.”
“So…it’s not natural?”
He turns and gives me a close-lipped smile of reassurance. “To me, it feels very natural.”
My pulse centers at the base of my throat. “He’s not going to win, right?”
“I have enough experience to know that one should never say never.” He motions me over and I shift awkwardly across the bed on my knees. I sit beside him, and he takes my hand. “I have enemies on the council. And he has allies. You may wish to prepare yourself for the worst.”
My brain lights up with hope. “I know someone on the council.”
“Who?”
“Well, he’s not on the council yet. Ryan Hunter. He’s shortlisted.”
Nathan thinks for a moment, then nods in recognition. “He’s going to be appointed to Wray’s seat. It was decided before I banished him. How do you know Hunter?”
“We’re like, best friends. All through school.” So, at least one vote is secure. But more importantly, my friend has just earned a powerful place in the pack. “Does he know it yet?”
“I was meant to make the announcement at my afternoon audience, but it’s been canceled.” Nathan’s thoughtful gaze settles on me. “It’s better to let other conspirators stew for a day or two. Men make mistakes when panicked. I’m sure a few more traitors will out themselves. Sudden international trips, obsequious gifts, that sort of nonsense.”
The nonchalance with which he describes his manipulation is another chilling reminder that I have no idea who Nathan Frost is. I know what he feels like, what he smells like, I know what my own wet pussy tastes like smeared across his mouth. But I don’t know him.
“What if you told your friend about his promotion to the council?” Nathan asks, an idea more than a question. “Over a casual luncheon, here in the residence?”
“I—”
“Call him,” Nathan says, rising from the bed. The contours of his muscles as he moves lazily toward the stairs make my body thrum with need. “Two o’clock should give you plenty of time to prepare for a friendly visit. I’ll have a thrall from the events office visit you.”
“Where are you going to be?” I ask, feeling a little silly and clingy about the question.
“I’ll see you soon,” is the only answer I get. I don’t even have his phone number. Worse, he turns back and says, “If you can think of any other useful connections, let my secretary know. In the meantime, stay in the private residence.”
And then he leaves me alone, wondering if I’ll ever be able to describe other people as “useful” the way he does.
I hope not.
Ryan and Hannah are as confused by my invitation as I am. They accept it, of course, and come to the private residence, where way too much food has been prepared in the formal dining room.
“I feel like we’re trespassing,” Hannah whispers, her arms tucked into her sides as if she means to make herself as small as possible to keep from touching anything.
