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Even if I can understand why she’s done what she did, and maybe even respect her for making the tough decisions, it still begs the question as to why. Why the fuck would she think she’d lose to Elena?
I’ve already grilled Arthur on everything under the sun, and to his credit, he’s been more than forthcoming. He’s even tried to search for loopholes to nullify the challenge, but there are none. Acacia barely skipped a beat when she bent down and picked up Elena’s gauntlet before verbally accepting the fucking challenge. And since the expectations were laid out in the challenge, it can’t be canceled on the grounds of foul play.
“And there’s nothing preventing Elena from issuing the challenge?” I ask, not for the first time.
Arthur sighs and runs a hand through his blond hair. “We’ve already been over this, Kai. Had she not picked up the gauntlet, I could have refused the challenge. But there’s nothing I—oranyone—can do once a challenge has been accepted.” He continues to look at me in a way that tells me he has something specific on his mind.
While I don’t know the new Leaders as well as I knew the ones before them, I have a good feeling about both Remus and Arthur. Though I would have preferred if Lupa was sitting in Remus’ chair, that’s only for selfish reasons. If the she-wolf was here, maybe I could lean on her and find out where Acacia is hiding. Obviously that would be an abuse of my power, but I don’t give a flying fuck about that.
Truthfully, if I thought it would help, I’d take care of Elena myself, and I would fucking smile while choking her pathetic life from her body. Getting up I start pacing as unbidden thoughts assault me.
Why did I insist on keeping my marriage a secret? If I’d claimed her in public, Elena couldn’t have challenged her. Well, she could, but my nereid wouldn’t be the one to accept or decline, I would. Normally I don’t condone taking anyone’s right away from them, but right now I would give anything to be able to nullify Acacia’s choice.
“Are you listening?” Remus speaks up for the first time. Christ, I’d almost forgotten his presence. “We know you care for her, more than you’re letting on and that’s your business. However, as your council we both feel we should warn you. If you get involved and use your status when there are no rules broken, it won’t help Acacia. If anything, it’ll paint more of a target on her back, and possibly on yours.”
I have the need to ask if that’s a threat but I don’t really need to ask to know it isn’t. It’s a warning, one I should heed.
“So, what are my options?” I ask, looking at the empty chair Nikolaos used to favor.
It’s almost eerie the way Remus and Arthur immediately went to the chair their fathers used to sit in, especially since there are no indicators. Because in my office at Kronos University there are no set seats, unlike in the room in my house I use for Society business.
“What is it you wish, Ruler?” There’s no disrespect in Arthur’s voice as he asks, only genuine curiosity. “Do you want to stop the challenge altogether? Or find a way for Acacia to pull out without losing everything?”
Before I can answer, Remus adds his own questions. “What we speak off here is kept in the strictest confidence, correct?” Even though I shouldn’t have to, I nod. “So I’m not going to beat around the bush, and I hope you’ll give me the answer straight. Are you asking us to find a way to make Acacia win, regardless of means?”
Yes… I want to shout that three letter word so loud there can be no doubt. “Absolutely not,” I refuse, feeling like a dick for vehemently denying what’s the truth. Sighing, I decide to come clean. “I want to, because Acacia is special to me. Even so, I’m not going to take a dishonorable route. She wouldn’t allow it or forgive me.” The last part is murmured.
Both Leaders chuckle good-naturedly and voice their agreement, we all know my nereid wouldn’t be okay with foul play, even if it was in her favor—maybe especially in her favor.
Not for the first time I ponder whether I should come clean with my two newest council members. They haven’t given me any reason to distrust them, if they had they wouldn’t still be here. It’s not only that, though. I’m reminded of Arthur’s openness when we were in England, and I’ve sensed similar qualities in Remus.
I open my mouth to tell them about my marriage to Acacia, but before I can say anything, loud voices penetrate the silence.
“I don’t care what your precious Ruler is doing. I have a right to be in there.” Arthur flies out of his chair. “Let me in there this instant, or you won’t like the outcome,” the female voice seethes.
“No, you can’t be in there. Kairos was very specific in his wording. Only Arthur and Remus were invited, so you need to leave.” My poor assistant sounds like she’s scared.
Remus lets out a booming laugh, looking at the door that Arthur is standing in front of. “If you don’t move back, she will hit you when she bursts through,” the Russo Leader deadpans.
“I’m sorry, Ruler. Please give me a minute to make her leave,” Arthur says, sounding apologetic.
I shake my head and motion for him to open the door. “Let her in, Arthur. She has every right to be here, and it was an oversight on my behalf to not invite her.”
The Hatt Leader opens the door and lets his twin—who isn’t really his twin—in, and Morgana strides through with a sneer on her face. “Why wasn’t I invited?” she asks before the door closes behind her. “Am I not the acting Drákon Leader?”
“You are,” I calmly say while pulling out a chair for her. “I apologize for not including you. But you’re here now.”
When she’s seated I quickly get her up to speed on why we’re here, and what we’ve talked about so far. Through my recap, Morgana looks like a statue. Her body barely moves as she breathes, and her slender fingers are steepled together on the table in front of her.
“Men!” The one word sounds like an insult, especially when she rolls her eyes and pats Arthur’s shoulder. “You’re looking in all the wrong places,” she sniffs disdainfully.
“Morgana!” Arthur growls her name like a warning, and I’m honestly surprised when she flinches at the venom. “You’reonlythe acting Leader, show some respect.”
Remus straightens in his chair and openly glares at her. “This isn’t about being the acting Leader or the family’s elected Leader, at least not to me. But your brother is right. Respect gets you a long way, especially if you want it in return. So can we all agree to leave the fucking immature posturing at the door?”
When Morgana spears me with her cold eyes, it finally clicks, and I ask, “You know where she is, don’t you?” I don’t elaborate on who ‘she’ is, I don’t have to. Morgana purses her lips and looks away. “Listen to me. I did not askwhereshe is, I asked if youknow,and I expect an answer.”
She sighs, and her shoulders deflate as she nods. “Yes, Kairos. I know where Acacia is, but I won’t betray her. Not even for you.”
