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Jeen stops in front of the plain door, the light buzzing overhead. “Jacel is in here. He’s a bit terrified of you, I think.” She giggles.
From the other side of the entrance, I hear a low growl. The door swings open. “I’m.not.Fearful,” Jacel snarls.
Nevertheless, it takes him a few seconds to tear his gaze away from Jeen and move it to mine. He winces. “Are you sure about this, Jeen?”
Jeen rolls her sunshine eyes and links her arm with the male. He obliges, a sour expression forming. “No one trusts me!”
As Jeen removes Jacel from his office, I step in front of their path, forcing him to look me directly in the eyes. Before he can hiss or turn away, I speak. “I’m sorry for almost killing you. And for scaring Maggie.”
Jacel’s widening stare snaps upward, past me and over my shoulder. His bewilderment morphs into a simmering fury. “You’ve been discussing my mate, Ren?”
Oops.“It wasn’t like that. Ren isn’t one to gossip. I justheard.” This Jacel has as large of a temper as my mate.
Jacel snickers, but when Ren pulls me closer to his body, chest rumbling, the male quietens. “As you know,” Ren speaks between gritted teeth. “Hiding things from a mate is impossible.”
Jeen clears her throat. “Jacel, where is Aldeon? Shouldn’t he be here?”
The dhampirs spine straightens. “We thought it best if he stayed with his mate while ourguests,” his irises flame. “Are visiting.”
Jeen crosses her arms, tucking them beneath her dainty breasts. “And your mate?”
His dark eyes cut to her, and both of his hands fists at his sides. “He’s promised to protect her, as well.”
The dark Queen tosses one of her manicured braids over her shoulder. “Wouldn’t it be more productive if we could converse in a neutral environment? Somewhere you could both protect Maggie and take part in the discussion?”
His eyes narrow. “You want to let her meet our most vulnerable?”
My throat dries. “I’m not a threat to anyone. I’ve come to talk with the humans, nothing more.”
He continues to stare at Jeen. “So I’ve heard.”
In Ren’s head, I hear Jacel’s silent warning.If you or your Queen touch my mate, you’ll both die a painfully slow death.
Jacel transforms then, plastering a fake, fangy smile on his face. He stretches out one arm in offering. “Ladies first.”
We walk for another two minutes, and as we continue down the corridor, the traveling chatter breathes life through the base. Voices bounce from one side of the hallway to the other, but I can’t make out what their hushed words say.
Jacel leads us straight to a set of double doors. “They already know we’re coming.” His grumbling words don’t sound too enthusiastic about the situation.
Without making a grand scene of things, he swings the doors open and strides inside, gliding deliberately into the arms of a petite, curly-haired human.
Maggie.
Surrounding her, some sitting and some standing to attention, are seven other women. Behind them is a collection of very intimidating male guards, a mixture of dhampir and Novian.
I don’t realize I’ve frozen in place until Jeen excuses herself to glide around me, and then Ren touches my arm.
Everyone here seems healthy. Vibrant.
And-
And the fairest of the women, with a broody dhampir attached to her hip, is cupping the swell of her stomach. She’s pregnant.
Life is capable of overcoming all obstacles.
Jeen sweeps to the center of the room, her white sundress swishing with each step. She raises both hands to capture the group’s attention. I take notice that the raven-haired girl standing near a Novian male gives her a small wave. “The Light Queen is here to discuss her existence and what it means for all of us. I’ve touched her mind, and I think we can trust her.” Jeen’s lip lifts on one side, and she winks at me.
She’s touched my mind?
