“Who did this?” I ask, like he hadn’t just shared something very personal and troubling.

Stoneheart cracks an eye open and arches his brow at me. “Are you going to defend my honor?”

“Yes.” I frown. “If it was a Leonid?—”

“Stella.” Stoneheart focuses his full attention on me, and his cajoling almost sounds warm. The tone shift distracts me enough that I don’t comprehend his words. “This is allowed. It’s from pit fighting.”

Until I do.

“You got injured on purpose?” I ask, not controlling my volume.

He snorts. “I won on purpose. Injuries are just the price paid for stability and to get the lay of the land.”

“Explain,” I demand.

His eyes narrow, but I don’t back down. It doesn’t matter that our marriage is political. From his own admission, we’re business partners.

That doesn’t stop me from being surprised when he speaks. “I asked anyone who wished to challenge my role in the territory?—”

I suck in a breath.

“And I won. Many times,” he adds, like it makes it better.

“That was risky,” Ben says with a frown. “What if you lost?”

“If I lost, then I wouldn’t deserve to hold this territory.”

“But Stella would have been put at risk,” Ben grits out.

“Which is why you were here and would have been able to get her out. Silas was prepared to message you in case the worst happened.”

“I want to go with you the next time,” I say.

“Absolutely not,” Stoneheart responds immediately, and from Ben’s expression, he agrees. Sucks for both of them then.

“Are other women there?” I ask. “Is this a social event?”

I suspect it is. Why fight unless there’s an audience?

Stoneheart’s expression isn’t as closed off as usual, and he furrows his brows. “Yes?—”

“Then I want to go and present a united front.”

“There shouldn’t need to be a next time,” Stoneheart grinds out.

“Promise me you’ll take me if there is.” I’m not going to let him slide past on a technicality.

He glares and doesn’t say anything.

“I’m either your partner in this, or I’m not,” I say. “You don’t just get to take me out of the cabinet when you need a prop.”

“Fine,” he hisses. “I promise.”

“Thank you.” I blink to hide away how much his capitulation means to me and clear my throat. “Is there anything I can do to help you feel more comfortable?”

“Tell your demon to finish up quickly. I don’t appreciate his nurse’s touch.” Stoneheart casts a look at Ben, but it’s not nearly as caustic as his words are.

“I’ll do my best,” Ben says drily. There’s a pause where he does seem to focus on working quickly before he speaks again. “I didn’t know you were mixed blood. No one actually has a record of your history either. Which I assume is your intention.”