“Mirth will need to be down here,” Elias says. “Visible. We’ll keep the children out of camera view. Bolan and Sully, you’ll flank Mirth. She’ll be more comfortable publicly acknowledging you two than Christoph or me right now.”
Sully nods.
Bolan shifts on his feet, looking at me. “It’s Rian’s race … his accomplishment. Even if Perseus doesn’t win.”
Elias side-eyes me for a moment. Then with cool viciousness, he says, “Rian made his choice. Staff members don’t stand at the side of their princess.”
“Slow the fuck down, asshole.” Bolan raises his hands toward the earl. “Mirth was clear that Rian is part of us, that he —”
“I agree,” Sully says, setting down his tea. “With Eli.”
Bolan looks conflicted. Then all three of them turn to Christoph. And I realize what’s happening. What I’ve put myself on the outside of …
They’re protecting Mirth. They’re putting it to some unvoiced vote. Organizing things now, like who sits where, so that Mirth doesn’t have to worry about it later.
Protecting Mirth.
From me.
But … I’m hers. I’m her safe space. “I haven’t …” I say, addressing Christoph. “I have made a choice. I chose Mirth. I choose Mirth.”
Christoph looks at me steadily. His dominance is an actual weight. “Mirth needs balance. We’re already struggling to provide that for her, for ourselves. We’re all sorting out our own personal shit. Losing Armin has destabilized the bond.” He glances over at Elias, as if for confirmation.
“I believe it has, yes,” the earl says. “And not just for Mirth. For both Bolan and Sully as well.”
“It’s not about who is fucking who,” Christoph says. “Or feeling jealous or inferior. It’s that we are stronger together. And together, we can support Mirth. Just as she unequivocally supports us.”
I nod. My heart is pounding.
“You think none of us had better things to do today?” Elias asks caustically. “I’m in the middle of drafting fucking water-conservation legislation that will hopefully impact the fucking world. But I’m here, because you, Rian, are racing Mirth’s horse. And this is what bond groups do for each other.”
Sully touches the back of Elias’s hand. The earl’s fingers twitch. But without lessening his glare on me, he tangles his fingers through Sully’s, taking the comfort offered.
“I, myself, never have anything better to do,” Bolan says. “I totally volunteer to follow Mirth around and attend to her every whim.”
“Mirth doesn’t have whims,” Sully says.
“That’s an issue for another day,” Christoph says. “First we stabilize. Then when she knows we’re devoted to her, the kids, and our life together, Mirth will accept that she can ask for more … personal things.”
I haven’t been this lectured and schooled in my entire life. But I’ve always prided myself on my ability to actually listen, to make corrections when needed.
A sharp knock precedes the door opening behind me. Mirth’s main guard, Roz, pokes her head in, immediately scanning the room for Mirth and frowning deeply when she doesn’t see her.
“In the lookout,” Bolan says.
Roz nods, her tension instantly easing. “Word has gotten around that Her Highness is attending today’s events and has a horse in the fifth race. Will you be issuing any invitations?”
I’m seriously confused by the question.
Elias steps in smoothly. “The royal guard may issue a blanket statement. Her Royal Highness is pleased to attend today’s races in support of her horse Perseus in the memory of her late brother, Prince Armin. But as she doesn’t want to cause any distraction, she will view the race, along with Lord Savoy, Bolan, and her other chosen, from the royal box.”
“Her chosen?” Christoph murmurs. “Is it time for that?”
“Mirth isn’t hiding any of us,” Sully says. He looks at me pointedly. “She made that clear, right?”
My face flames like I’m a fucking child. Like the fucking child I’m being.
“Plus,” the blue-haired mage adds, holding up his phone, “there are already pictures of Christoph hand-feeding Mirthpieces of salmon maki an hour ago. So that isn’t going back behind closed doors.”
