“It’s better to keep an eye on those who were allied with Lorenzo, don’t you think?” I ask. I’m also surprised Lobo is here. His name is on the list of territory leaders who both have fae gate access and a history of not caring much about the rarer kinds of paranormal individuals. His predecessor’s bias toward wolf shifters was obvious, and Lobo has done nothing to remedy that.

“It’s his uncle on the Council who is running the current shadow campaign against me,” Kalos says with a careless gesture.

“McConnell?” I ask. There are multiple wolf shifters on the Council, but McConnell has been the most adamant that Kalos is a loose cannon who needs to be put down. I tilt my head. “They’ve kept their connection quiet.”

Kalos nods. “The better to appear impartial. I imagine that if the Council finds your ownership of the territory invalid, then McConnell would find a way to have his nephew take over.”

I try not to grit my teeth at the suggestion that such a thing would happen. The insult would be galling and would put Stella in danger.

“There are those who fear they would give the territory to Frank Leonid,” I add. My people have kept their ears open to the whispers here. I may not allow myself to be influenced by the masses, but fear bears watching. It distorts one’s morals, makes them unpredictable.

Kalos snorts. “All Lobo has to do is make sure Frank is unavailable, and he could make his petition. For the good of stability.”

I roll my eyes, my tone as wry as his. “For the good of stability.”

I’m starting to get annoyed by these buzzing insects of opponents. I’d much rather focus on entrapping my wife and demon, but the territory must be secured.

Protection is my role, and I will not fail it.

A man sidles up to where Ben is in front of the refreshments and brushes against his body as if on accident, flashing my demon a smile when Ben turns toward him with a frown.

I trap the growl in my chest but stand up straighter.

“I must bid my farewell, as I am missing my mate, and you are needed elsewhere,” Kalos says, his eyes alight with amusement. “I won’t keep you from staking your claim.”

The crafty dragon sees too much. He won’t fight for Ben’s loyalty and will deserve when the demon chooses me over him in the end.

I’m across the room before Silas can hiss for me to control myself, and Ben turns away from the man who was obviously trying to proposition him.

I glare at the man, and his smile drops before he stumbles away and back into the crowd.

My demon.My instincts crow at beating back a challenger. Stella places a hand on my arm, smiling but ending the conversation with who I recognize now as being the mayor.

He bends his head in respect. His obvious relief that Stella and I appear for all intents and purposes to be a happily newlywedded couple cools my ire at him making my wife laugh.

“I find I need some fresh air, wife. Shall we take a stroll?” I ask.

22

BEN

Stoneheart is testy tonight.It’s not like he’s usually sunshine and daisies, but the way he’d glared down the man who’d tried to strike up a conversation with me puts him much closer to broken glass and feral dogs than his usual storm clouds and thunder.

Which doesn’t bode well for me.

Stella easily agrees to be led out of the overcrowded room. I move to follow them on instinct but halt. There’s no reason for me, Stella’s “bodyguard,” to go with them. The farce of my position became apparent with the addition of Connors as a bodyguard, but we’ve been too busy troubleshooting the fae issue for me to be offended.

Stoneheart’s gaze narrows as if daring me to stay back, and I find my feet moving with them.

My ears burn as whispers rumble from the surrounding people. I can’t imagine what they are saying, that’s incorrect, the more salacious of them are wondering about my inclusion with the couple. Is my presence for Stoneheart or Stella? A few will guess for both.

I don’t know how to feel about how open he’s being about the arrangement. The ability to not leave my scent or take on either of theirs has been an unexpected boon. I can only imagine how awkward it would be to walk around a room of shifters with his scent stamped over me like Stella does.

Where the scent mark on her is a relief to them, it would be scandalous on me.

Stoneheart doesn’t lead Stella outside and instead moves down the cheery hallways of Ariel’s home. The house is a grand place passed down through the generations. It had been where her parents had lived before their deaths.

The décor is traditional and stately with a few framed portraits that Stella would be surprised to discover are her ancestors.