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“Lord Dumont—” Cass began.
“LordDavante?” I interrupted Cass.
Cass tilted his head at the same time he raised his eyebrows in acknowledgment.
I grabbed Cass’s hand, squeezing it in my excitement.
“Congrats, Cass!”
“Mandy, this isHigh LordDumont,” Cass continued, stressing Lord Dumont’s newly minted title.
“AlarieArmand,” I gently corrected Cass, holding my hand out to the short but muscled lesser fae.
High Lord Dumont surprised me by taking my hand and pulling me into a hug.
“Alarie, good to finally put a face to your name. I’ve heard a lot about you,” Lord Dumont said.
And with this comment, his eyes briefly cut toward Cass.
“For instance, I hear I have you to thank for the change of tides here at the High Court. I hear you’ve always been an advocate,” Lord Dumont said.
I wondered what version of events had made it to High Lord Dumont. Surely, Jay would not have shared all the details regarding what happened with Cole. Several things had happened in quick succession. With House Tragon’s opposition gone and the truth regarding who was culpable for the Lord Garaud incident out in the open, Jay and the others were able to reach a resolution with the lesser fae. Lord Dumont was sworn in as a high lord and the Golden Court was decreed by the King. I gave him a humble smirk.
“Lord Dumont—”
“Drake,” he insisted.
“Drake…”
I didn’t know what to say. Jay had warned me about sticking my neck out for the lesser fae, but I had done it, anyway.
“I thought it was the right thing to do,” I said simply with a shrug.
“And that is exactly why I have come to seek you out, Alarie. Now, I know that there is probably no chance you will accept this offer seeing as how you are already set up with House Vitruvian. But if I can ever convince you to jump ships, you just say the word. You’d make a great senior counselor for my House.”
Cass beamed at me. Senior counselor would be a big step up for me even if I was leaving an established House like House Vitruvian for a smaller, less established House like House Dumont. Lord Dumont was on the High Council. I could do much worse. Drake interpreted my contemplation as polite rejection.
“Can’t blame me for trying. The offer’s there, Alarie. Enjoy the party. Cass, we have to go. But I’ll give you a minute,” he said, clapping Cass on the back, then departing.
“You have to go? You’re not staying for the Ball tomorrow?” I asked, disappointed.
“That was the plan originally, Mand. But with Lord Dumont’s coronation out of the way and, well, after the meeting we just got out of, we have to head back as soon as we can,” he replied nebulously.
“What are you getting into now, Lord Davante, now thatyourrebellion is over with?” I teased.
“War most likely, Mandy,” he said somberly. “My new title came with another promotion—Commander of the Northern Forces of Valencia,” he said.
My heart dropped to my stomach at the thought of Cass leading a war effort. Just a couple of years ago, we had been at school together, studying things like war in books. But I knew that this had always been what he wanted—Cass had always wanted to fight for what he thought was right. He’d always been a warrior at heart. I took a deep breath, swallowing my concern for my friend, and tried to don a convincing enough smile.
“Impressive, Cass,” I replied sincerely. “But you come back to me in one piece, ok, Commander?” I said sweetly, nudging his shoulder with my own.
Cass encircled me in a hug, and despite his large size it was gentle, like he was holding something precious and fragile. His hug made me feel small and safe and reminded me of home, but only the good parts.
“You stay safe too, ok, Mandy? Not all of war is fought on a battlefield,” he cautioned.
I stood in place, watching Cass’s large figure work his way through the crowd and over to High Lord Dumont. With a sigh, I turned andmade my way back to Luke. He took my hand, pulling me to him and immediately entwining his arm with mine.
“That was Cass,” I explained, a smile still on my lips. “You know, Don Davante? Well, Lord Davante now,” I corrected myself, still blown away at how much my childhood friend had changed since I last saw him.
