Page 109 of B Negative

He gave me a nearly imperceptible head nod, and I refocused on ol’ Barty boy.

“By a show of hands, who is for ending the incursions and dismantling the border between the cities on either side of this river?”

Every hand around the table went up. Even Titus’s, and it wasn’t even reluctantly.

“Good. And what should this mean in practice?”

Claudia raised a gloved hand, and Bart called on her. “Yes, Ms. St. James?”

“In practice, taking the ward down shouldn’t mean anything different except free travel and trade between the two cities.”

A witch from the Cypress City side bared her teeth at Claudia. “You would say that. You have it made over there with only one coven to share resources with.”

“What do you propose then, Ms. Dysin?” Bart asked with a flat, even tone.

“I think anyone who wants to move to the other city and become a part of the community should be allowed to. Taking down the ward is one thing, but actually being allowed to leave and find your happiness elsewhere is something entirely different.”

Titus’s sharp grunt drew my attention. I couldn’t be certain, but I was pretty sure—despite her serene smile—Sunny had kicked him under the table.

“I’ve been remiss in my duties to your people, Ms. Dysin. I pitted your kind against one another for my own benefit and amusement, and I daresay, I don’t wish that to go on another moment.” Titus stood and strode around the table to the Dysin witch. “From this moment forward, I’m abolishing all laws that prevent witches from forming covens larger than twelve. You are free to form your own mega coven as they have in Laurel Cove.”

Ms. Dysin’s eyes grew wide, lips parting as her gaze bounced from Titus’s face to the other witches from her city. “I think I speak for all of us when I say, we do not want to work with each other. The other covens have undercut and underbid mine at every opportunity. They’re hardly trustworthy. Hardly worth the sharpened teeth in their skulls.”

Titus shrugged and aimed for his seat once more. “Well, I offered,” he said, as if that was all he could do for the situation.

I almost said something

Almost.

But I didn’t have to.

Sunny cleared her throat delicately. A small, discreet noise that nudged a king.

Titus sighed, turning back to face Dysic. “Your fellow witches were only doing what they needed to survive in the inhospitable environment I created. I insisted the covens bid for work, and it’s come to my attention that you’ve suffered as a result. So, moving forward, reparations will be paid to each of the thirteen covens residing in Cypress City. Consider it arrears for the income you could have earned had I been a more reasonable king.”

Dysin glanced at the other coven leaders, all of whom gave her small head nods. She cleared her throat. “The covens and I will convene to discuss the details of such an arrangement.”

“Take your time,” Titus drawled, as if he were doing the witches a favor and not making right what he’d so severely fucked up.

I rolled my eyes. What a dick.

“And what of the wolves you enslaved for years? What reparations are you prepared to make to our packs?” Jaxson asked, drawing everyone’s gaze.

He was all the way on the other side of the table, so I’d missed it before, but his eyes were subtly rimmed with smokey brown liner.

I beamed at him.

It wasn’t a neon wig and false lashes, but it was a start. And soon enough, we’ll start on our renegotiations with the pack concerning his conditions for being alpha.

Titus bowed his head. “Honestly, wolf, I haven’t given any thought to the matter.”

“Clearly an indicator of just how highly he thinks of us,” said the wolf who’d caught Nikita’s eye.

Jaxson stood. “Any packs who were stuck on Titus’s side of the ward all these years are free to come across the river. There’s plenty of land for all, but if any wolf wishes to join one of our packs, the offer is open.”

“And as for reparations,” I said, standing as well. “I think Titus’s lawyers can draw up a contract stating that he will never try to buy the land you’ve made your home on. Never use witches to try to control you.”

“Again,” Jaxson added.

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