I shrugged. “I don’t either, like I’m just going to roll over and show my belly or stop fighting. I’ve accepted it will probably be the outcome. We all die. I’m going to keep fighting, but I’m at peace with giving my life for this fight, like a soldier who goes to war. This war is worth it.”
He shook his head as we walked towards the cafeteria. “It’s just not right. You’ve been part of this world for twenty seconds and had one of the roughest hands dealt to you of almost anyone I’ve ever met. You’re the one who deserves the happy ending most.”
“Maybe.” I waved off what he was going to say next. “Do you have some good news for me?”
“Yes, I do. All three councilmen accepted your invitation and, like excitable wolves, asked if there was any way you could bump up the meeting to Friday instead of a few weeks from now.”
“Well…” I frowned. “That’s good news?”
He paused before answering. “Yes.”
“Are you sure on that? You hesitated.”
“I’m ninety percent sure.”
“I’ll take ninety percent as pretty damn sure, but walk me through both sides just in case.”
“They’re wanting to introduce you to people—men.” He sighed when I flinched. “People talk and have long decided you will be a comitessa with how powerful you are. I know you see it as disrespectful when you’re with Darby—and I don’t actually disagree with you—but it’s not like that from their eyes. Please, please believe us when we say that.”
“I do, but I still find it distasteful.”
He was quiet a few moments. “People do it to men too. They bring their daughters and granddaughters to—”
“I know, and I find that gross and extra sick because a lot of times, they parade them around like docile mares instead of studs. But they do offer them up as studs for me, and with the implication of taking over for whatever the poor, poor little female would need. It’s insulting and disgusting.”
“The dragons haven’t treated you like that.”
“Some. Not many, but some of them are fairly sexist. Their thoughts more than you would guess.”
He was quiet again. “Yeah, I couldn’t have your telepathy. I would have landed in prison long, long ago, punching faces in.”
“Sure you would have, Captain.”
“You’re not gonna let that one go, are you?”
No, and not to tease him. I had hurt me a bit to learn he’d had an illustrious career with the supe police and hadn’t told me when I’d felt we’d become true friends. Ray had told me it was because of how painful it had been for them to leave, but… They saw my pain all the time. I trusted them with my pain, and it had been something I should have known.
So, he got picked on for a while longer. He’d live.
“What are the other reasons?” I asked, bringing the conversation back around.
“They could be up to something, but I doubt it. I can’t rule it out as I’m not tight with them. I trust them, respect them, but I’m not in their heads or confidence.”
“Fair. Your gut?”
“Wolves are excitable. Yes, we’re people too, and both of our sides are cautious, so that cancels out somewhat. You are a hot topic everyone wants to learn more about, and you came to them. My gut says they want it sooner so you don’t cancel, or new drama that follows you around doesn’t ruin their chances to meet with you. Wolves don’t like things hanging over their heads and not knowing.”
I snorted. “That’s everyone.”
“Yes, but that whole stereotype of ass sniffing is accurate. They have the rare chance to sniff yours, and they want it. You’re powerful, and there are undoubtedly ways you could help them like you did the dragons. Or, getting in good with you is smart if they ever do need that. It is more for wolves than most people. It’s like an itchy, anxiety feeling to not know what’s going on.”
So, like my fairy spidey senses going off and having no clue why. That would suck more often. Hell, I couldn’t get mine to go off when they should or have any real control over them. I was young and had only unlocked my powers a year ago.
Or so Dean White kept telling me.
“All right, let’s see if everyone can get it all ready, and if so, I’m fine with the party being Friday.”
“No Darby?”
“No Darby,” I sighed, rolling my eyes when Zack snorted. My boyfriend wouldn’t like that he wasn’t going because the wolves might offer me other options of men, but he would not bemoan getting to skip a formal event for schmoozing.
I wished I could.
3
“That one,” I told Darby Friday morning in the cafeteria, pointing out the eighth woman who wanted him.
“Now you’re just—”
“I’m not,” I snapped. I cleared my throat when he, Izzy, Lucca, and Hudson—who were all sitting with us—gave me a range of surprised looks. “I deal with this all the time, okay? And their thoughts when they know I’m a telepath. Some purposefully think of how intimate times would be with you to piss me off so I’ll look like a bitch and drama so you might dump me.”
Izzy snorted. “So they’d have a chance. Yeah, I’ve heard that a lot, and how you’ve trained him to behave, and now he’s, like, perfect, so get you out of the way, and how many would want him. Funny how he only acts perfect towards you, and they just miss that part. Funny how I bet none took him seriously because he was a scholarship student, but now that Geiger likes him, and that’s gotten around, he’s got value.”
“I only know him through Tamsin,” Darby muttered, blinking at her in shock. “Are you serious?”
“Dude,
