Page 155 of Night's Fall
I knew the powerIheld wasn’t much, but when it was important,Ihad to do whatIcould.
“Does that upset you?”
“I’ll admit to being unnerved by it,” he shared. “Thestands you take will transfer to me.”
“Not necessarily.”
“In all things,” he refuted. “We’rea unit.Whetherwe were mates or not, we would be a unit.Aunited front.Aunited message.Unitedin all things.Ifyou do this, it’s the same as me doing it.Andif she should accept, and win the post, she’ll be working even closer toErrol.Theaides have their offices in the administrative wing of thePalace.”
“That would be her choice too.”
“I understand why you’d want to make this statement,Laura.However?—”
“Honey,”Isaid quietly, “Idon’t think you do.Younever could.Yes, you were born with certain duties you can’t escape, but even so, you had the power to find a way to build a life you enjoyed.Thisfemale’s whole life is changing because she made a bad decision and trusted the wrong person.Atthe same time, the male who made that decision with her, and duped her into making hers by lying to her, gets to go on his merry way.IknowI’mputting you on the spot, especially since your father is involved, but is that the message you wish to send…to anyone?”
Aleksei made a frustrated noise.
I knewIwas getting to him, butIdidn’t gloat.
“She might hold bitterness and be a danger,” he warned.
“I would reply thatI’dhopeAllainorIwould sense that, but asImentioned, he’s told me it’s required anyone who works that closely to thePalace, and definitely a royal, has to take truth serum before they’re offered the post, with the understanding this is administered randomly after they accept, so we’d find that out before she could get up to anything.Andit isn’t a given she’ll get the job.That’snot her field.Theother applicants are very qualified.Butif the opportunity is offered,Ithink she’ll get our point.”
“Yes, very unexpected,” he muttered.
“Sorry?”
“WhenIfirst met you, you were a bundle of contradictions.Spirited, yet shy.Composed, yet awkward.Amusing, yet serious.Someof this was explained whenIlearned you’d lost your connection to your creature.ButI’mbeing reminded of it now.”
I was getting annoyed.
“Because you’re surprisedIgive a shit about stuff?”
“No.Becausethe female who likes to cuddle in front of the screen with a tub of blobs, seemingly willing…no, actually determined to live in her own world and ignore the fact that everyone in four realms, or perhaps all twenty of them, is speculating about her, many of them sharpening their knives while they do so, is not the female who stands before me.Thisfemale is willing to hand them the whetstone as she sallies forth to do what she thinks is right.”
“I’m not a crusader,Aleksei.ButIstill think you shouldn’t hesitate to do what’s right.”
“I’m not a crusader either,Laura, butIam theTrueHeir.Rightnow, my mate is reminding me of that and showing me it’s time to take it seriously.Ihave yet to start defining what will be my reign.Andnow is the timeIshould, and shall, start.Withmy mate at my side.”
Gods!
He was justthe best.
“The ritual is in forty-five minutes,”Iinformed him. “Wedon’t have time for me to show my appreciation for you being so danged awesome.”
His lips curved. “I’llcall that marker later.”
“Deal.”
He bent and touched his lips to mine.
Keeping them there, he said, “I’llgo change.”
His suit today was navy.
You wore black to a passing ritual.
“I’ll pour myself another coffee.”
