The thought had occurred to me, right after I used the baby for leverage against Ares, which was a new low for me. The truth might tear open old wounds, but it was better for us to know than to be surprised. Especially if the fetus’s emerging powers, assuming it had any, put the pregnancy at risk.
“We caught the bad guys—gals?—and have a potential insider source on the coven and on their archive. Those are all good things.” I was trying for upbeat when I asked, “Why the long face?”
“There’s another problem that maybe you haven’t noticed yet.”
“I’m sure there are dozens.”
“Liz cut Ares off from the pack for a multitude of reasons, but this one…” He hesitated. “This one was done out of spite.”
Spite was nothing new, motivation-wise, for the coven either. “I don’t follow.”
“Tisdale isn’t judge and jury on this one.”
The truth struck me with an unwelcome flash of clarity. “I am.”
For anyone else, the punishment would have already equaled an automatic death sentence.
Liz’s deviousness might have impressed me, if it hadn’t hurt so frakking much to grasp her endgame.
“Goddess, what a mess.”
I attempted to sink into the cushions, never to be seen or heard from again.
I didn’t get far.
Damn it.
“Shelve it for tonight,” Bishop advised. “Nothing has to be decided right now.”
Determination carved deep grooves into Midas’s forehead, and I could almost hear the wheels spinning as he searched for ways to get me off the hook. With Linus in town, I could pass the buck easily, but that was a coward’s solution.
Midas’s phone vibrated again, and he answered it this time. “We’re on our way.”
“What’s wrong?” Adrenaline flooded my system, and my fingertips tingled. “What happened?”
“Mom has requested our presence at the den.”
I surprised myself, and him, if his expression was to be believed, by agreeing. “Let’s go.”
Ares was a delicate subject, and I welcomed all the advice I could get before making a ruling.
The three of us walked out together and rode the elevator down in silence.
“HQ at dusk,” I reminded Bishop when we hit the lobby. “Do your best to get the whole team there.”
“Will do.” He snapped out a salute. “Be careful out there.”
“You too.”
Bishop was adept at maneuvering the treacherous depths of fae bargains, but that didn’t mean I didn’t worry about what pieces of himself he gave away. I hoped the cost of Vasco’s cooperation hadn’t been too high.
Déjà vu struck me when Ford guided his truck against the curb as we exited the building.
Waving a limp hello, I glanced over at Midas. “He got called to the den too?”
“Yes.”
Ford was an enforcer, and Midas’s right-hand man, so it made sense, but I didn’t trust his megawatt grin.
Midas and I piled in, me in the middle, and Ford began singing an old country song under his breath.
The peculiar vibe continued the whole trip, which set my teeth on edge, and Midas was no help.
He rested his forehead against the window…and took a nap.
Resting my head on his shoulder, I shut my eyes, breathed him in, and tried not to think too hard about the fact a Faerie portal throbbed on the outskirts of my city like an abscess only I could lance.
Nineteen
The timing couldn’t be worse for what Midas had planned, but he was beginning to think there was never a right time when it came to him and Hadley. They had to fight and scrape to carve out space in their lives for one another, and tonight was no exception.
Ford parked in front of the ostentatious glass house his mother built to host outsiders and formal events away from the den, and they all climbed out of the truck.
“I think I hear my momma calling me.” Ford cupped his ear. “See y’all later.”
“His momma is in Texas, isn’t she?” Hadley stared after him, but her confusion melted as a scent caught her attention. “Whatever that is, it smells crazy good.” She smiled at him. “Do you guys cook out often?”
“Every weekend and holiday.” He shrugged. “And any time Kroger has a sale on beef.”
Linking their fingers, he guided her toward the front door and tried to ignore the sweat on his palms.
“Looks like the smoke is coming from the backyard.” A frown knitted her brow. “Are we interrupting?”
“No.” He led her up the walkway, and his mother greeted them before they could knock. “Hi, Mom.”
“Two of my favorite people.” She rushed out to hug him. “How are you?”
“Good,” he said, voice low and tight. “How about you?”
“I’ve never been better.” She embraced Hadley next. “Well? How are you holding up?”
“I’m good.” Stiffness pinched Hadley’s shoulders, but she relaxed into the hug. “It’s been a long night.” She withdrew. “Is everything okay here?”
“Better than okay.” She rocked forward and kissed Hadley’s forehead. “Come on, sweetheart.”
Hadley shot him a nervous glance but linked her arm with his mom’s and entered the house.
He stood close enough to catch her indrawn breath when she spotted the massive gathering in the entry and recognized the closest faces. Boaz and Addie. Grier and Linus. Bishop and Remy. Ford and Lisbeth. Abbott and Lethe.
“What is this?” She whirled toward him, and his mother slipped away like a wolf into mists. “Midas?”
“I made my share of mistakes during our courtship,” he said, loud enough his voice carried through the room. “Most of them stemmed from fear. Of losing you, of losing control.”
Her mouth fell open, her eyes rounded, and she rocked back a step. All signs pointed toward her bolting. It was then he realized he had done it again, let his cultural needs supersede her personal preferences. It made the knot in his gut pull tight with certainty that he had no idea what he was doing, but he was sure he was doing it all wrong.
“I made my fair share of mistakes too.” Exhaling slowly, she slid her warm hand
