The limo ride home was quiet, except for Jack and Nikki’s soft murmurs as they got to know one another. It was automatically assumed she was coming with us and would be attending King Hall for the remainder of the year. Her parents were ecstatic about the news, Nikki having called them from the limo during her alone time at the White House.
The Kings waited until we arrived at King Kincaid’s house, then for Nikki to be taken to another room. That was when they attempted to make Jack, Pearl, and Ezra leave the study. The Kings seemed honestly shocked when they didn’t obey.
Antonio had joined our group by now, and he raised his hands, asking calmly, “Whatever you want to discuss with Lily, what’s the harm in letting them stay?” He gestured toward me while I sat with a clenched jaw, surrounded by my friends. “She obviously wants them here. And they,” a gesture to my furious friends, “want to stay, too.”
“This is not their concern,” King Nelson ground out. “This has to do specifically with Lily. Not them.”
“They don’t have to do everything together,” King Fergus specified slowly.
King Kincaid had been sitting mute for some time, but glanced from me to my friends, lingering on their faces. “Let them stay. This is a political decision.”
My friends snorted.
Antonio shut the door and the discussion ended on who was staying or going.
King Venclaire cocked his head and crossed his arms, resting a shoulder against the wall. “You don’t believe Philip Masterson wants to marry Lily for political reasons?”
Jack and Pearl laughed sardonically.
Ezra muttered brusquely, “No.”
King Nelson didn’t appear pleased they were still in here, but asked, “The President seems to think so, and it’s essentially not too far-fetched an idea. What do you four know that we don’t?” He was giving us that adult look meant for slow kids. “And the President doesn’t?”
Ezra gave his own glance of disdain. “He wants to f**k her.” Blunt, to the point.
“He was hitting on her the day we met,” Jack added.
Pearl was still laughing. “We saw him in the White House today. You should have seen the way he looked at her.” She fanned her hand in front of her face. “You could have lit the place up with that gaze.”
Each King blinked ever so gradually.
King Venclaire asked evenly, “And this is relevant how?” He pushed off the wall. “If he wants to marry her, there would obviously be sexual relations, so it wouldn’t be horrible if he finds her attractive. That doesn’t mean it’s not a sound political decision.”
Pearl probed, “Why wouldn’t he just call her like a normal person does? Why go through the back channels first?”
I could answer that one. “Because he knows that Coms killed my mate, and he knows that Coms have attacked us recently.” I shook my head. “He knew I would turn him down without a push to say yes. He’s smart.” Too smart.
King Kincaid reclined on his massive, brown leather chair and steepled his fingers, asking pointblank, “Honey, would you be opposed to a relationship with him for political aims between our communities?” He paused. “I don’t think I have to state the benefits which would come from this union.”
“No, you don’t,” I answered softly, even though it wasn’t a question. Standing from the couch, I moved to stare out a window at the tree line surrounding my home. The view was peaceful, and allowed me to really think while everyone was silent, waiting patiently as I debated this horrible decision.
Ezra wasn’t in the patient category. “You cannot be seriously considering this!”
“Lily, he’s a Com!” Pearl exploded in a chain reaction.
“Maybe she needs something to eat to clear the cobwebs from her head,” Jack mumbled.
“This is why they should not be in here,” King Nelson argued.
“Enough,” I murmured, placing my palm on the glass, feeling the wind push against the pane. Taking a fortifying breath, I turned to face my friends. “I never wanted this position. But, I have it nonetheless. I’m going to be responsible for the entirety of Shifters worldwide and this, a marriage to someone who, obviously, has the President — the most powerful Com in the world — in his back pocket,” I paused, “and could possibly become the most powerful Com in the world…I have to think about it.”
Pearl and Jack glared. Mute.
Ezra spewed, “I can hear your heart rate. You don’t want to marry him. Just because you lost Dominic does not mean you have to sacrifice yourself for the greater good by marrying someone you don’t love. There are many ways to go about forging alliances. This is only one of them. One that a horny man is taking advantage of—”
King Venclaire interjected. “Ezra, that’s enough. This is her—”
“No, that’s not enough.” Ezra returned the favor, pointing at his King as he stood. He slammed his finger my way, his voice rising as he really let it fly. “You think I don’t know what it’s like to have that f**king hole in your chest where your mate used to be?”
“I know you do,” I answered softly, my own hole pressing like a void of despair.
“That’s right. I do. And, I know what you’re doing right now. You’re on the verge of losing yourself because you think that hole can’t ever be filled again.” He threw his hands out to his sides, his dress shirt straining over his vast, tense muscles. “Who’s to say it can’t be? Who’s to say you can’t actually find love with someone else? Meet a nice Shifter, and fall madly in love, where magic hasn’t preordained it?”
Pointing again, he stalked right to me. “I will say it again. There are many ways to form alliances. Ones which don’t require you tying yourself down to a man who doesn’t even bother with a smart strategy, only manipulates the situation.” He jabbed my collarbone. “You say he’s smart, but all I see is idiocy. He took the ignorant, back way in, hiding behind power instead of facing you full on and giving it a real shot. And, not only is he unwise, he’s a coward to do it that way, and a weakling will never have immense power in America.” He jabbed me once again, then crossed his huge arms right in front of my face, glowering down at me.
Quiet.
I stared at Ezra’s chest instead of his green gaze. He had spoken of my heart rate and, now, I listened to his thunder like mad in his conviction. Sadly, he knew why I was considering this, had thrown it all back in my face, and he was right on all counts.