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A tall, gawky young man who brought to mind a heron came into the room. He gave his alpha a quick bob of a bow. “The monarch has granted your request of a parlay,” he said. “She is willing to meet with you and your party tomorrow at noon on the neutralground.”
“Did she say anything else?” Aaronasked.
The heron shifter shook his head. “She didn’t look surprised to be asked,though.”
Because she’d already been expecting us, like West had suggested? My stomach knotted even more. My fingers curled around the fork with the sudden impulse to pocket the silverware, as if that would make the situation more under my control. I hadn’t quite shaken my thieving pastyet.
As the messenger ducked out, I turned back to Aaron. “Is that what youexpected?”
“Delaying by a day isn’t a surprise,” he said. “She wouldn’t want to seem overly accommodating. Other than that, it’s pretty hard to read the fae on the best of days. I don’t see any warning signs.” His gaze turned more thoughtful. “Our wolf alpha has been making younervous.”
“He really doesn’t trust the fae. I’d call it paranoia if I didn’t get the feeling he’s got a good reason to. Where is West, anyway?” I figured Marco was sleeping in like usual, but getting a late start wasn’t likeWest.
Nate motioned to the window. “He was stalking out of here when I came in. He’s probably patrolling the grounds rightnow.”
Aaron shrugged. “If that’s what makes him feel more at ease. The faearedifficult to deal with. But you’ll have all of us with you to support you,Serenity.”
With every time he said it, I got more used to hearing my full name used. It reminded me how much more I was than the teen living on the streets who’d had to resort to stealing to get by. I’d found a real place for myself here. And just like the alphas had with their positions, I was going to hold onto mine with everything I had inme.
I really wasn’t feeling all that hungry anymore though. I forced down a few more bites of toast and stood up. “Is there anything I should know about that’s planned for today? Or can I justexplore?”
“Stay within the estate, unless one of us is with you,” Aaron said. “There’s a formal dinner arranged for tonight where you’ll get to meet representatives from many of the powerful avian families. Until then, enjoy yourself however you’d like. I have a few admin-type concerns to take care of now that I’m back, but I’ll look for youlater.”
The warmth in his gaze made me think of all the ways I’d enjoyed myself with him. I’d been too exhausted last night to think of using my bed for anything other than zonking out on. But there were so many other possibilities... The huge mattress was big enough that it could have held five of useasily.
“I look forward to that,” I said with a twitch of my eyebrows. The warmth in his eyes went from gentle to smoldering in an instant. Oh yes, I was looking forward to it alot.
Iwasalso looking forward to taking in the rest of the estate. Last night I hadn’t seen anything other than the courtyard and the garden, bydarkness.
I slipped through my rooms and out into one of the mansion’s main halls. The ocean breeze filled the whole place with that refreshingly salty smell and took the edge off the summer heat. The white washed walls, teak floors, and big windows all through the open concept space made me feel like I’d stepped into a massive—and exclusive—beach cottage. The perks of being alphaindeed.
I hadn’t made it very far when Marco emerged into the hall up ahead of me. He gave me his usual sly smirk as he saunteredover.
“Good morning,princess.”
I wanted to smile and say it back, to pretend nothing was wrong. But with his indigo eyes on me and all the questions that had been whirling in my head, I froze up. The jaguar shifter cocked his head at my hesitation. “Is everything all right,Ren?”
This wasn’t the best place for a confrontation. But at the moment there was no one else in sight. And I didn’t really want to go somewhere private with him, not until I had a few answers. I braced myself and raised mychin.
“I don’t know,” I said. “It seemed like maybe things aren’t totally all right with your kin? You didn’t look very happy talking with themyesterday.”
“Oh, that.” Marco waved off my concern with a flick of his lithe hand. “A little vampire trouble, soon to be taken care of. The bloodsuckers just like making a fuss. I sent the delegation off to deal with it before they could get the avians’ feathers tooruffled.”
“Ah,” I said. Well, of course he wasn’t going to come right out and admit to the other things they’d talked about. I paused and then forced myself to keep going. “I’ve been thinking about some of the things you said the other night. About how much I mean to you. How much you want to start our livestogether.”
An eager light lit in Marco’s eyes. He stepped closer, his voice dropping lower. “And where did those thoughts lead younext?”
Part of my body still responded to him the way it always had. My fingers itched to tangle in his dark hair, my lips to feel his against them. But another part of me, tight around my heart, balked at his eagerness. Because what was hereallyeagerfor?
I drew in a breath, keeping my gaze fixed on him. “I was wondering whether you actually meant any of it, or if the only reason being with me matters to you is so you can make a better claim asalpha.”
Marco’s jaw twitched. The light in his eyes went out. He managed a chuckle, but I didn’t need any supernatural sensitivity to tell it sounded stiff. He summoned his familiar jaunty tone. “Princess, if someone’s been telling youstories—”
And here he was, still fucking lying to me. My temper flared, fueled by a burn of betrayal spreading through my chest. “I heard it straight from your mouth last night,” I snapped. “Talking about me like I’m a job you need to finish, a prize you’re going to grab before the others. So don’t pretend you have no idea what I’m talkingabout.”
For once, Marco seemed to have nothing at all to say. His lips parted and just stayed that way as he stared at me. I could read the panic and guilt in him as clearly as if it’d been written in capital letters on hisface.
I clenched my teeth against the pain swelling inside me. So it was all true. He couldn’t even start to explainhimself.
