Page 42 of Married to the Devil

“I find I’m without an appetite,” I grit out as I move to push Ben out of the booth so I can get out of here without incident.

I don’t think of myself as a violent person, but I was already struggling with this meeting, knowing I’d be conversing withsomeone who could have been involved in my mother’s exile before Ariel’s own slight toward me became known.

“That’s a shame. I was hoping we could set up a weekly date here.” Her tone is polite, face expressionless.

The audacity of this woman has me freezing. “Excuse me?”

Ariel sighs and sets the menu down. The waiter approaches, but she waves him away. “Stella, please understand that if I wasn’t the one who reported your claiming to the Council, they would have resorted to different tactics that would have left us more vulnerable.”

“Us?” I ask, my eyes narrowing.

“The territory. I don’t expect you to like me, but I care about the well-being of our people.”

The reminder of those who are suddenly relying on me is a slap, but I’m not ready to cede any ground to this woman.

“Is that why my mother was thrown out?”

Ariel doesn’t react to that how I’d expect. “How is Elena?”

“Keep her name out of your mouth.” Fuck, I need to leave before I cause worse gossip than what will already exist. I thought I could be calm about this, refined, but the anger that was supposed to vanish when I accomplished my revenge is just below the surface, ready for a new target.

Ariel clears her throat and sadness flickers over her face. “I see that this will not be the meeting I hoped for.”

“And what did you hope for?” Ben asks. There’s an undercurrent of something forbidding in his tone that reassures me. He’ll stand by whatever I decide.

The woman’s eyes are sad but determined. “I wanted to meet my niece and to confide in the lady of the territory.”

Shame threatens to suffocate me. I have responsibilities that demand I suppress the anger that has picked up to fury in my chest, but I don’t know how to put my personal feelings aside. As if sensing my need, Ben takes my hand below the tablecloth.

The steady pulse of his palm against mine has me closing my eyes, my breathing starts out shaky but soon calms now that the eyes of the people surrounding us are hidden from my sight.

“What did you want to confide?” I ask.

Ariel is a little older than my mother, but when she leans back into the booth cushions the lines of her face deepen with weariness. “There are things that you don’t know about the history of this territory. I wish to help you.”

My personal affront dims. “Because you care about the people here?”

“I would not have risked alienating my niece otherwise.” Her brows furrow in sincerity. “There were whispers that if your wedding were a sham, a portion of the Council would petition it be disbanded and the territory restored to others who were closer to my brother. Like Frank,” she spits. “I couldn’t risk that.”

“You could have lied,” Ben says. “Said you interrupted?—”

Ariel tuts. “Not without witnesses attesting that I saw what I did.”

“And if you hadn’t seen what you did. What would you have done then?” I ask.

Ariel takes a sip of her water, her eyes casting around the dining room. “I’m happy it didn’t come to that.”

Because she had seen that Stoneheart claimed me. Witnessed that it was done in a passionate embrace.

And if she hadn’t, she would have lied to the Council. She’s right. I don’t especially like her right now but being loyal to the people you care about is an admirable trait.

“How do you wish to help?” I ask.

“If you would be willing, I mentioned I’d like to have a weekly meeting with you to discuss the business of the territory. The gossip, the situations, and give you my understanding and counsel.”

This could very well be a way to try and remain relevant. I don’t know how involved Ariel was with the running of the territory under my father, but it’s not too much of a stretch for her actions to be to retain influence.

But more information is better than none, even if it’s delivered on biased lips.

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