32. Aurelia

Chapter 32

Aurelia

" T ime to seize the day, Captive Lady," Vemar said a few days later, standing just outside Weston's door. He wore a sunny disposition and plain gray attire.

"You look fresh-faced," I said, closing the door behind me. "Why the drab attire?"

"These are my new work clothes." He smoothed the fabric down his large torso. "If I accidentally blow something up and ruin my clothes, new ones will be quick and easy to make."

"Makes sense."

"So, I hear you're the quickest wolf in the pack." He kept pace as I started walking.

I glanced at him. "Where'd you hear that?"

"A little wolfie told me. Apparently, it is a big secret."

"That you will keep, hopefully."

"Of course." He put his hand on his heart. "I am very discreet. Everyone says so."

I laughed, shaking my head. "Is that why you are so sunny this morning? Did you get properly laid last night?"

"Getting properly laid yesterday was more of an afternoon delight. No, I tested your new sleep product last night."

I frowned at him. "You know the rules. I'm supposed to test that first."

"You did test it first. You did it last night, right? I'm sure you popped it before I did."

I gave him a flat stare.

"Anyway, it worked like a charm. I slipped softly into z-land and didn't wake up until the usual time. No sleep hangover, no grogginess, nothing. I wouldn't make a habit of it because I don't like sleeping that soundly in case something happens, but for a one-off, I think you nailed it."

I nodded as we walked. I thought I'd nailed it too. The first change had made it so it took too long to get to sleep, but this time it had seemed natural and just right.

"I think I'll make one that doesn't pull you so deeply under?—"

"Hello." Farther up the hall, Calia, dressed in a beautiful sort of shimmering robe with tassels down the front, pushed off the wall. Her hair was done up in blonde braids with little wisps of hair falling around her face. She smiled, always a beautiful sight. "Good morning."

"Good morning." Her presence confused me, and I slowed as we reached her. "You're up early."

"Yes. I wanted to catch you first thing. Word came in late last night from my king. I wondered if you had a minute?"

Vemar pointed at me, stepping away. "I'll catch you later, Captive Lady."

He walked off down the hall.

"Yeah, sure." I entwined my fingers as nervousness simmered within me, the conversation with the queen the other night coming to the forefront of my mind.

"Fantastic." She turned, holding out her hand in the direction we'd just come from. "Please, this way. I have a lovely pastry setup in my chambers."

"Oh. Sure." I let her escort me down the hall, turning a few corners and winding toward the backside of the castle. Near the end of the corridor, she unlocked then opened a door and stepped aside, allowing me to enter the lavish space with a large sitting room and decorated walls.

A table displayed various pastries, like she'd said, with tea laid out in a delicate porcelain pot with cute little teacups.

"Please, help yourself." She gestured at it, stopping behind the teapot. "Would you like tea?"

"Yes, please." I took a pastry out of politeness, setting it on a little plate that matched the tea set that I was worried I would inadvertently break.

Once the tea was poured, she crossed the room, her robe swishing around her legs. She sat on the couch, and I took a seat opposite her. The furniture was white and easy to stain. I leaned forward and set the plate down on the polished coffee table.

"I'm so sorry I haven't had time to speak with you properly," she said before sipping her tea. She set the cup on the saucer and the saucer on the coffee table. "I've had some pressing business to attend to. Every time I come here, it is always a working holiday."

I nodded politely, wondering what this was all about.

"As I said, I got some interesting news from my king last night." Her smile was friendly. "First, would you be so kind as to humor me?" She looked to the side, where a shelf held a little red box with a very cool design stenciled on the side. "I have the kit to determine how much of your heritage is directly connected to fairy lineage."

Butterflies swarmed my belly. "Sure."

The test required a sample of blood mixed with a potion made by fairies. After using a needle to prick my finger, she squeezed out a drop into a waiting glass vial. Lights danced in a little orb and then a single color illuminated the sphere: cherry red.

"An exact quarter." Her smile was jubilant as she tucked the test back into the box.

"So, one of my grandparents was full fairy? Or maybe two of them were half? Or three?—"

"It is very likely one was full fairy, yes. It will take some time in the archives, but we should be able to establish who was traveling or living near your grandparents at the time of your mother or father's conception. Likely your mother's, since the wolf court of Flamma prefers its higher-level positions be occupied only by wolves, though I suppose the mixed blood could be hidden if the magic wasn't obvious. We'll look, at any rate. I'm sure you'd like to know."

My teacup rattled on the saucer, and I set it down. The idea of family ties to the fairies spiked my adrenaline. It was like living in a dream.

"Yes, please," I said softly, clasping my hands in my lap.

Her smile was genuine, and I felt a rush of warmth that she seemed happy I wanted into her society.

But really, who wouldn't? The fairies were such pretty, ethereal, magical beings. Anyone would want a family tree reaching back into their history.

"Now." She sat back down, clasping her hands like mine. "Let's discuss your magic. You are what is known as an Emoter. The effects of this magic are just what it sounds like: you emote your feelings into the space around you. Those feelings can affect people in whatever way you desire. I thought you might also have some empathic traits, but I believe you have developed a sort of sixth sense to danger based on your troubled life. That is commendable, but not a trainable magic. The emoting portion of your magic, however, is highly trainable."

"That's the mind-fucking Vemar talks about."

She inclined her head. "It is. A very powerful mind-fuck. We have a great many Emoters in our kingdom; it is not an uncommon form of magic. Through intense training and study, most Emoters only reach a passable level of service. They can change a person's mood, mostly, turning a happy man sad, for example. They can make an enemy more willing to give up their secrets, things like that. We do not have anyone with the level of power you possess, able to turn dragons against their king. Able to send people fleeing out of the castle. We have historical records of Emoters that strong, but there have been none in recent years. Until you."

I massaged my temples, starting to shake. It was hard to process what she was saying. I hadn't grown up sensing my animal, but I'd grown up amongst shifters. I'd had a frame of reference for their kind. I had nothing for this. It wasn't even making sense. Sure, I now had proof that I had fairy blood, but a strong magic as well? I simply couldn't comprehend it.

"Are you s-sure? My mother didn't have any magic at all."

"First, we aren't exactly sure about that, are we?"

I remembered what Hadriel had said, that maybe my mom's ability to influence people—they'd hated her one moment and fawned over her the next—might've been magic. She had been looking for shifter magic all that time, not fairy magic.

"For argument's sake, let's assume she didn't," Calia continued. "Mixing fairy magic and that of shifters can sometimes be... unpredictable. Usually, one of the magics will be at the forefront, whichever is stronger. That is the most common result. That is why it could very well be your father who has the fairy magic, hiding it from his court. And then sometimes the magics compete and essentially cancel each other out. If your mother truly didn't have magic, this is likely what happened. Rarely, sometimes the magics boost each other, making each stronger. This is what I think happened with you. Your shifter magic is as strong as it comes, as evidenced by your true mate. Your Emoter magic is incredibly powerful, something we haven't seen in a long time. The emberflies clinched it for me. You have created for yourself an advanced warning system, unconsciously drawing to you the elements that would best display danger. Through training, this can be achieved in a multitude of ways, not to mention the other uses of the magic. You are a gem, Aurelia. A fairy gem. And my court would love to have you."

I froze at the last line as she once again got up, moving to a little alcove with a desk.

"What do you mean?" Explosions of excitement and nervousness went off inside me.

Her indigo eyes twinkled as she handed me a folder, placing a wrapped present on the coffee table in front of me with the other hand.

"Just what I said." She resumed her seat. "We would love to have you. You will have a spacious apartment in the fairy castle and servants at your disposal. We have carriages at the ready for our castle residents, so you will be able to leave whenever you wish. No more being caged for you, Aurelia. Your life as a captive will end immediately. Our tailors are the best in the world, and our cooks just as fine. Your yearly income is noted in that folder and is negotiable, though I think you will be pleased. The situation with Granny will be a thing of the past. Our guards will hunt her upon your acceptance and end her threat to you forever."

"What...?" I opened the folder and scanned the contents, seeing a description of the apartment, drawn pictures, and a yearly sum so extravagant that it seemed like a joke. This whole thing seemed like a joke, actually. A prank, maybe, someone having a little fun at my expense. I closed the folder and looked at the present. "What will I do there?"

"You'll train your magic, of course. You won't just learn how to work magic—you'll also have access to tutors, a large library, and other professionals to help you on your intellectual journey. I know how much you love to learn. You'll assist the king and court but will still have ample time to roam the grounds and gardens, savoring each beautiful day. It is a wonderful area with pleasant, giving sorts of people." She tilted her head a little. "You will be welcome there, Aurelia. You will be a treasured member of the community. You'll be one of us. A fairy."

I let out a shaky breath, looking at the present, still unable to comprehend it all.

"Please." She gestured toward the present, indicating I should take it.

I did, pulling the ribbon and letting it fall to my lap before peeling away the paper. Inside the little box was a fairy knife. It immediately started to glow when I picked it up, the hilt a gorgeous moonstone—a clever nod to my dual magic. It was touching. I watched the blade spring out, slicing the air.

"A gift," she said.

Remembering how she'd put the blade away, I did the same, setting it back into the box and closing the lid. My whole body was shaking now, not just my hands. Adrenaline and longing pumped through my veins. I felt incredulous but excited—and so horribly confused about the sudden turn my life was taking.

"You'll want to think about it, I imagine." She reached for her tea as I sat with my hands on the box, looking down at a surreal situation. "But remember, we are the only ones who can train you in your fairy magic, Aurelia. Any shifter can teach you how to run and fight—and we can employ a whole pack to do just that—but the dragon kingdom doesn't have the means to train you any other way. You need to get a handle on that magic, and we are the only ones who can help you do it."

I didn't look up. "What about working with plants and making my product?"

"A wonderful hobby. The dragons have fashioned their gardens after what they saw in our kingdom. We can purchase anything you require and would just ask that you make whatever is safe and throw away anything that is not. We would not dream of asking you to stop an art you so dearly love."

I looked up at her then. "And Weston?"

She smiled at me warmly. "Has an open invite to join you. Your apartment has plenty of space for you both, and a family if you choose it. It would be a dream to have such a powerful alpha represented in our court. There, he would get to reclaim his true right—the title of alpha."

I nodded slowly and gathered up my things, putting the ribbon and wrapping on the coffee table. She stood as I did, her hands clasped in front of her and her smile so pretty.

"We could be friends, Aurelia," she said, and I could tell she meant it. Longed for it, even. "I don't have many because of my position. I can't be open with the people here because of it, either. My relationships are always strained, and with my sister gone, I don't have anyone to confide in. You'd be entering the court at a status similar to me. Your magic is that attractive to the king. We could be like sisters, open with each other in a way we couldn't be here. In a way the royals here can't be with anyone below them. In a way Weston can't be with the people below him—your fate should you become a beta at his side." She stepped toward me and put a hand on mine. "Think about it, will you?"

"Yes," I whispered. I couldn't believe I was getting this offer. I couldn't believe I'd have any sort of status in a fairy court.

In a fucking fairy court !

I'd dreamt of this. This was one of my wildest fantasies, and it had the potential to actually come true.

Was I dreaming? I had to be dreaming.

I didn't remember leaving. I didn't even remember the walk from her room back to mine to deposit the folder. The guards could've been gone and Granny herself could be following me and I wouldn't have noticed. I did remember taking the knife out of the box. I still held it as I walked out to the work shed, everything around me floating with a strange sort of surreal quality.

"Welcome back, Captive Lady." Vemar was working on making more of the sleeping product. Finley had yet to try it or approve of it, but it seemed Vemar was so sure it would pass that he was going ahead with it.

"You're late this morning," Delaney said, glancing over at me. She did a double take. I had no idea what sort of expression was on my face, but it was enough to make her study me for a moment. She then looked at Arleth, who had stopped to study me as well. They shared a look, and it was clear they knew what had happened. They'd known an offer like this was going to come, one with all sorts of perks attached, with promises of training and tutors and the sort of fairytale life that was not meant for people like me.

I started laughing as I got to work. A quarter of me was fairy.

I was a full quarter fairy, with fairy blood and fairy magic. Someone was playing a joke on me.

My day felt slow, but it was over in a blink. My mind just kept replaying the things Calia had said. Freedom to go where I chose. Room for Weston and a family. A promise of friendship.

I'd have a fairy bestie.

I laughed again as I was leaving the work shed, intending to head to my room and finish the last journal. I had all my notes, I had all my ideas, and now I just needed to put it on a map to see if it yielded any results. I didn't know much of the world, not even my home kingdom. I had names, a few repeated over and over throughout the years, but no real idea what those names meant.

Instead of heading that way, though, I found myself sitting on a bench, looking out at the wood.

Vemar sat down next to me. He crossed an ankle over a knee and laid his arm across the back of the bench, content with silence. The guy could really read a room.

"She said she'd take care of my Granny problem," I told him, assuming he knew the situation. He hadn't seemed overly surprised about seeing Calia earlier. "She said that if I agreed to her offer, she'd send guards to hunt Granny."

"I recall that we tried that, too. We found you instead."

"No, you guys found her—you just weren't quick enough to grab her. You were plenty quick to grab me."

"Ah. Well then, maybe they are quicker."

I shook my head, looking away. "They aren't. I know that they aren't. Weston and the dragons are having a hard time with her. I've spotted two of her people following me, but who knows how many of them I haven't."

"This is true, but Weston is on the case."

"I know. I trust him. He's the best, isn't he? Everyone seems to think he is."

"I don't know, but he is definitely one of them."

I nodded slowly, tears in my eyes. "I don't want Granny killed. I don't want her hurt. I know I should for what she's done to me, but tearing down her livelihood feels like enough. My act of war is enough. I don't want more."

"I don't know that you'll have that choice."

"I know," I said softly.

I closed my eyes as the breeze slid across my face. We fell into silence for a while as the afternoon waned. Butterflies fluttered across the greens, and I wondered if I could somehow gather them like I seemed to do with the emberflies.

"I'm an Emoter," I told him. "I'm a powerful Emoter. That's the mind-fucking. I don't know when I'm doing it. She said she'd train me. Well, someone would train me, I guess."

"An Emoter, huh? That's pretty cool. You get to be two things. I'm just a dragon. Of course, being a dragon is a privilege, so I would say I come out on top."

I chuckled even as I rolled my eyes. "If you were Hadriel I'd say, ‘No, you're two things as well. You're also an asshole.'"

He laughed. "Good one. How does it feel to know you have powerful, in-demand fairy magic?"

I bit my lip. "Really fucking good."

"Fucking A." He bumped my shoulder with his.

"I want to be trained."

"I would, too."

"It sounded like I'd have to go there to get trained, though. I'd be high status and have a bunch of gold and be in their court."

"Sounds like a dream come true."

"It does." I chewed my fingernail. "My job would be to emote. Making drugs would become a hobby."

"Fun hobby."

I squinted as I looked off to the right, to the sun blaring through the tops of trees. "She didn't say it outright, but she did give an example of an Emoter encouraging an enemy to divulge information."

"That would be useful."

I continued to chew my nail, not really liking the sound of messing with people in that way. "She said she'd bring in a pack to train me as a shifter."

This time he didn't respond immediately. When he did, I could only describe it as careful. "I don't know if that setup would fit your needs for a pack, but I could be wrong."

"I don't even know what my needs for a pack are. I still haven't experienced one."

"Maybe you should."

"I don't want to step on any toes or mess up what's already established."

He looked at me. "I get that, Aurelia. I really do. But you need to make an informed decision. You've been solitary all your life. You've existed without a pack bond. You know what that is like. Now you need to know what it is like to have one. If the desire to live with the fairies is more appealing than a pack bond, well..."

"Yeah," I said softly. "She said Weston could go. That he'd be an alpha there."

"Did you talk to him about it?"

"Not yet." I remembered Finley saying that he would stand beside me. "Calia said that here I would be kind of alone. The royals are a step above and don't really make friends below them, and I know Weston stays removed from the pack socially. She said she and I could be friends, since we'd be of similar status. Is that true about the people here?"

He adjusted in his seat, getting a little more comfortable. "Truthfully, I don't know. I can see your being friends with Finley behind closed doors. She wasn't brought up a royal, and she chooses when to follow those rules. I know Weston has a beer with them on occasion. I think Calia might've been painting a picture that's a little too black and white. But if you were to take a beta position, if that is something you're able to do, I know it'll get a lot more complicated with those below you. Weston stays removed for a reason. Whether you will have to do that as well, I don't know. He was raised and trained for the position he is in. You were not. That might make a difference with how each of you sees things."

He turned his head, meeting my eyes.

"What about you?" I asked quietly. "What about Hadriel?"

His answering smile filled me with relief. "We aren't the type to follow rules or give a shit about status. You don't need to worry about our friendship going to shit, Captive Lady. We're with you to the end."

I returned his smile and then went back to watching the trees sway in the wind. We didn't talk about it anymore, and when the light started to drain from the sky, I made my way to my room only to find Hadriel already there.

"Hey," I said as he and Leala looked up from the table.

"Hello, miss." Leala stood. "We got a note from the royals. They asked if you'd like to dine with them this evening."

More fireworks went off in my belly as I remembered what Finley had said: she wouldn't kill me, but I might need to leave to avoid a political mess. Would the royals of this court make an offer like Calia did? Or would they want to punish me for entertaining Calia's offer behind their backs?

Before I knew it, it was nearly time for dinner. I looked out the sliding glass door at the fading light. The first of the emberflies were making their way closer.

I summoned my courage. Suddenly I wanted to escape right now.

I finished off my daily journal entry in silence and then organized the notes I'd taken that day to make things more concise, noting I'd need to hit the library for a map. Then I made some food. The dish was fairly simple—roasted chicken and vegetables—but I worked with the spices, new and old, to see if I could make it more interesting somehow. Once it was done, I left it in the oven to keep warm for Hadriel or whoever barged in here with an appetite.

A short time later, Leala popped her head in the room and said, "Ready?" I'd put on plain black clothes—no dicks—and put my hair up, then added a touch of makeup.

I felt Weston through the bond, his emotions turbulent, matching mine.

Would he go to the fairy kingdom with me? Standing by me didn't mean he'd want to leave his home and his job and go somewhere without a pack. I wondered if he'd enjoy the chance to be around people of his status, to be able to open up a bit more and join the parties.

Maybe that was wishful thinking.

Was this why he hadn't yet claimed me? It wouldn't make sense to claim each other if I was going to leave and he didn't want to go.

My heart hurt with that thought as Leala led me up the stairs and down a hall, stopping before a set of double doors.

"Good luck," she said, smiling supportively, and turned to leave.

The attendants opened the doors, and I stepped through, finding the king and queen already seated at the table. The queen sat at the head and the king was on her right, leaving an open place setting in front of him.

"Aurelia." The king stood as I entered, then circled around the table to pull out my chair.

"Thank you," I murmured, taking a seat.

Someone came around with wine just as Nyfain sat back down, pouring us each a glass.

Nyfain wasted no time getting to the point. "I heard you had a meeting with Calia." His gaze was hyper-focused.

"This morning, yes." I leaned back so the attendant could put my napkin in my lap for me—a little overkill.

"She identified you as an Emoter, correct?"

"Yes."

"And of course you know that you are also a very powerful wolf."

"Right. I need training for both."

The soup was put in front of us, and I reached for the salt without tasting it. The castle chef was pretty consistent with the lack of seasoning. Calia had said the fairy cooks were some of the best in the world. I should've asked her what she thought of the food here. I would love to meet with people with a similar culinary passion and trade secrets with one another. Another hobby, perhaps.

Nyfain delicately dipped his spoon into the soup and then ran the bottom of it against the far edge of the bowl. He brought it up to his lips slowly, then sipped from the side of the spoon daintily.

My stomach churned as I picked up my spoon. I'd never looked even remotely that sophisticated when I ate. I wouldn't even know where to start.

I noticed Finley staring at me. When I glanced that way, she winked before unceremoniously dipping her spoon into her soup, letting the drips on the bottom fall back into the bowl, and slurping it into her mouth.

I smiled gratefully and nearly laughed. Nyfain glanced up at me and then noticed Finley.

"Excuse me." He gave me a little smile. "I was forgetting myself."

He dropped the poshness immediately, and my anxiety eased a little.

"I'll just get down to it," he said. "I know what her offer was. We cannot match even half of the yearly gold allotment. This kingdom was ailing for many years. It's tiny in comparison to some of the other kingdoms. We are trying to expand and fortify. Most of what we make is pumped back into those efforts."

"We're looking after the people," Finley added, "making sure those without much have proper housing, medicine, and education. We're expanding communities—training teachers and healers, installing recreational centers and instituting various programs for the youth. We want to make this an amazing place to live, and the steps we are taking have been positive. Because of that, though, we have less discretionary gold. Nearly every coin is put to work."

I finished half of my soup and laid down my spoon. "I understand that."

"Your status here would be similar to what Calia is promising," Nyfain said.

"But as a re-established and therefore new kingdom, one with a common queen and a king without a longstanding royal bloodline, your status across kingdoms wouldn't be as high."

Nyfain's jaw clenched. He did not appreciate his mate shooting down his bartering chip.

"You'd be granted an apartment," Nyfain said. "Something large enough to house the family you so clearly want."

I felt my face redden as a server cleared our bowls.

"What about my status as a captive?" I asked. "What about my freedom? The fairies would let me come and go. Their kingdom doesn't despise me for who I am or what I've done."

"When they find out, and they will find out"—Nyfain gave me a pointed look—"they may very well despise you. You've created a lot of problems there, same as here. They might not say it outright, given your status, but you'll be able to tell that they are thinking it. You can't outrun your past with Granny, Aurelia. Here, we will help you work through it. We'll integrate you into our pack. You already know some of them, and they like and respect you. Weston thinks it would be an easy transition."

Finley added, "Though Weston is not sure how a true mate alpha pair will work."

Nyfain's eyes sparked fire as he looked over at her.

"I will not lie to her, Nyfain, or gloss over the truth." Her eyes sparked right back. "You and Calia are going to go to war over this, and that's fine, but she has a right to know all the facts. This is her life we're dealing with."

I felt a rush of gratitude that Finley was breaking things down for me. That she was trying to give me a fair picture regardless of what it might mean for her kingdom. Nyfain and Calia were focused on what I could give them—just as Granny had done. Finley was trying to help me decide what I wanted for myself. She was trying to look after me, her own interests be damned.

I also realized that this was what Finley had meant about my possibly needing to get away. Calia had been very nice, but she had hit all the hot buttons that could convince me to go. Nyfain clearly knew it and was prepared to play dirty in response. They were fighting over me. I went from a person no one wanted in their community to a person two kingdoms were fighting over.

I started laughing as a server refilled our glasses.

Nyfain turned his attention back to me. "Is something funny?"

"Yes. All of this." I gestured around the extravagant room with the well-dressed servers and all the utensils needed for just one dinner. "Did you know I used to dream that I was a fairy? I used to dream that I would meet a fairy prince and live in his castle with attendants and white horses."

An attendant bent to Nyfain's ear, whispering something. Nyfain nodded, then focused back on me.

"Instead, you've met your true mate," he said. "Something much more desirable than a fairy prince. Trust me."

"Calia mentioned that she would have Granny captured," I said, just to see his reaction.

Nyfain huffed humorlessly. "Calia is very good at telling people what they want to hear. We tried to hunt Granny and nearly caught her—I'm sure you remember. She's gone underground. None of our informants have heard a word about her."

"She sent her snacks to other kingdoms, by the way," Finley cut in. "Deaths were reported. It was mayhem. She unloaded a lot of product trying to find you."

"And she has," I replied. "She may not be able to get to me, but she knows where I am."

"You're right, she does." Finley inclined her head. "And though Hadriel is now working within the cities and towns trying to find both these elusive watchers and the people who brought in and released product right under our noses, he's only gotten a couple leads. No solid hits. That woman is incredibly cunning. I've never seen anything like it. Neither have the fairies. You can believe whatever else you want, Aurelia, but do not believe Calia when she says they'll capture Granny. She is being far too optimistic. We were at one time, as well. That is why you are here. We've seen the error of our ways."

Her words sent tingles down my spine; her statement was more poignant because of how truthful she'd been a moment ago.

"Unlike the fairies," Nyfain said, "we have Weston. He has devised a thorough defensive system that we are actively putting in place."

Finley murmured, "I mentioned that to you the other day." I nodded once, indicating I remembered.

"When we hear of trouble, we do not rest until we root it out," he went on, rage seeping into his voice. "It is why you were found. It is why we continue to support you in your quest to end Granny's dangerous products. We will not rest until your safety is guaranteed. We will protect you until you are trained enough to protect yourself."

His vow sent more tingles running across my skin, as did Finley's serious nod. Nyfain might've been playing with my emotions, having had access to my journals and knowing how desperate I'd always been for protection, but his declaration was still such a relief. The threat I faced now was different than it had been when I was young, but it was just as terrifying.

The next dish came out, and I was surprised to see that it was the chicken and potatoes I'd cooked before coming here.

"How'd . . ." I stared down at it. "Why?"

"Hadriel had it brought up. He said it was too good for us to pass up." Nyfain scented the plate in front of him. "Smells delicious."

"It might be a little dried out because it was left in the oven to warm." I cut into it, slipping the bite into my mouth. I had to say, the spices really worked this time.

"Fucking hell," Finley said, chewing with her eyes closed. "This is delicious."

"What would my job here be?" I asked.

Nyfain glanced at Finley.

"We don't know yet," she said. "Obviously, we really hope you can work alongside Weston as a true mate pair. In a perfect world, you'd co-lead the pack with him. We'd like to train you for combat because of your fairy magic?—"

"I don't know how to use it. Calia mentioned that I'd get training for it after accepting her offer."

Nyfain's lips tightened as he cut a piece of chicken. "We'll need to sort something out. The fairy king always has a price."

"What about making my products?"

Finley answered, "That would be one of your duties. Vemar mentioned that the sleep aid was great. I'll try it?—"

Nyfain cut her off. "No you will not."

She gave him an annoyed look before turning back to me. "We'll go slow rolling them out, and some will be available only through our medics just to make sure nothing is being abused, but it seems there is a need for them. I'd like to fulfill that need. Here, and elsewhere."

"Listen, Aurelia, we know Calia's offer is incredibly attractive," Nyfain said. "It is a lot of gold. What her kingdom doesn't have, and what she comes here for, is our unity. Our pack is kingdom-wide. We've had a lot of hardship in this kingdom, and it has brought us together, strengthened by my mate and yours. We collectively understand what it is like being suppressed. Many of us understand the pain and degradation of being trapped and beaten. You wouldn't be an outcast with us—you'd be part of the family. My daughter loves you. My people respond to you. My beta has found his heart within you. I ask that you give us a chance to help you make this kingdom your home."

Hell. That was a good speech.

Finley pointed at her plate with her fork. "One of her duties needs to be teaching the chef how to cook."

"Agreed," Nyfain murmured around a mouthful of chicken.

"Now for the third option." Finley dabbed at her mouth with her napkin. "Your biological father. We have a pretty good idea of who it is. He holds a high status, and you are his blood relation. Despite not being one hundred percent wolf, they'd respect your lineage and your level of power. I'm sure they would welcome you into their court, though I have no idea if that would come with a job or annual gold. I will mention that your biological father has a mate and two kids. One of those kids is older than you. One is younger. You can do the math."

The reality of what it meant sank in.

"Fucking hell," I said, pushing my half-eaten plate of food away. "Did any of my family keep it in their pants? I've got fairy blood from a random addition to my family tree, and now it turns out my mom was a mistress?" I wiped my mouth and leaned back. "Clearly, that is why she was sent away. How the hell did she not know?"

"Trust me, I get where you're coming from," Nyfain grumbled, which made me incredibly inquisitive. "Just asking, how much would I mess up my chances of enticing you to stay in my kingdom if I ate the other half of your chicken? Would that be a serious faux pas ?"

"Yes," Finley told him. "Eating off an almost-stranger's plate in a professional meeting is a faux pas . Your mother would freak out."

"Not if she tasted this chicken." He lifted his eyebrows at me.

I laughed and pushed the plate a little more. "Knock yourself out."

"There, see?" He half stood and speared the chicken with his fork. "Everything is fine."

"She probably thinks less of you now," Finley told him. "Hell, I think less of you, and I'm your mate. You take the food from her room and then off her plate? Disgraceful."

"I didn't take it from her room, I just let it be served." He sighed happily as he chewed and swallowed another bite. "No regrets."

"Disgraceful," she said again, her eyes sparkling. She turned her focus back to me, and my heart melted with the residual love I saw warming her eyes. "I'm telling you about your father merely to be open about the situation. I don't recommend trying to make that connection."

"I had no intention, even when I just thought he'd sent us away. Now I definitely don't want that connection."

"I don't blame you." Finley leaned back so her plate could be cleared. "You need to think about this, I assume."

"Yes," I said.

"You need to talk it over with Weston, as well. He knows about both offers. We wanted to be the ones to speak with you directly, though, so we told him to keep it to himself. I'm sure that couldn't have been easy for him."

I inhaled sharply. I'd had no clue he was keeping something else from me. But I realized I was glad he had. I was glad they'd told him to. I wouldn't have believed him or taken it seriously if he'd tried to relay all of this. I still didn't fully believe it, and I'd heard it from everyone's mouths. I was just having a hard time accepting it.

At least he'd already know the details when I sat down with him. I wouldn't have to try to recount all I'd heard and was having a hard time coming to grips with.

"What about my freedom?" I asked.

"What about it?" Nyfain, now finished with the dinner, leaned back and put his hand on his stomach. "Gods I'm full."

Finley scoffed. "You're a pig, is what you are." I couldn't help laughing. This wasn't at all the sort of regal behavior I'd been expecting. I appreciated it.

"I don't mind being punished," I said. "I'm okay with being whipped or whatever else you need to do. But eventually, once the situation with Granny is resolved, I would like my freedom. I don't want to be trapped again. I don't want the borders of my home to be closed to me. If I want to travel, I would like that option."

"You devised your own punishment," Finley told me. "Well, you and Cecil. Hadriel is pissed that the dick clothes helped you. As far as the people are concerned, you are making amends by working for free to try to help them. The word is spreading fast about your visits. It was a genius story you told throughout the villages, and when you deliver the product by hand, speaking with people about it and walking them through it, it will be further evidence of your atonement. After what I've seen and how hard you've worked to right any past wrongs, I'm content."

"But as you know," Nyfain said, "until we know Granny's intentions, you are not safe. You need training, you need to integrate into the pack, and you need to sort out your life. You're not out of the woods yet. But once you are, then yes, you can come and go as you please. As any of us can."

A silent moment passed between us.

"You have a lot to think about," Finley finally said.

"I need to choose a path," I said, alluding to our conversation the other night.

"Exactly."

"Do you have any questions about the kingdom?" Nyfain asked. "Any questions for us?"

I didn't. My questions were all for Weston.