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It was an hour and a half before we all showered enough to feel some semblance of cleanliness, and then the food arrived. I’d never felt less welcome, or more on the outside of anything than I did sitting in room 6A with Omaera, the bear, and the mage.

They were all angry with me.

However, nobody was angrier with me than myself.

Life as I knew it was entirely wrong. I’d been raised to act a certain way. To serve the Realm, and to serve my king, a certain way. Emotions were gaps in one’s armor and to be concealed at all costs. They were vulnerabilities that someone like me couldn’t afford to reveal, not to anybody. Not even my Fated Mate.

I could not have been more wrong.

Maybe it was the difference between vampires and humans. Humans were emotionally driven creatures, whereas vampires were taught from infancy to be stoic and push our emotions down and as far from the surface as possible. Emotions were a weakness.

Nobody ever prepared me for the possibility of having a mate that wasn’t a vampire. So I was handling this all wrong, and with zero education or training. And I was never one to walk into a war, negotiation, or even a relationshipwithout extensive preparation beforehand.

Zandren ordered so much food that the table, side table, and dresser were covered with takeout boxes. I zeroed in on the steak sandwich with spinach salad and grabbed that as we filled Omaera in on my call with Howar.

“Fuck him,” Omaera said, chewing on a slice of pizza. “Fuck Howar. Fuck Lerris, and if this is how Anysa thinks too, then fuck her as well. Fuck them all with a rusty fork. They can sit on the prongs and spin counterclockwise for all I care.”

Maxar’s lip twitched. “While I like your fire, babe, I’m inclined to advise that wenotassume Anysa is going to side with Howar and Lerris. We go in cautiously, but optimistically. She may be supportive of a female leader. It’s been a while since we’ve had—”

“There’s never been a ruling queen,” I cut in. “Only ever a consort.”

Maxar’s dark-red brows lifted. “All the more reason for Anysa to support a shift in power to the fairer sex—even if it’s not her.”

I wasn’t entirely in agreement with the mage. Anysa was old school. She may very well side with those who preached pure blood or nothing, and turn her nose up at the idea of a queen with half-human blood.

“Where is a good place to meet? A neutral place?” Omaera asked. “Somewhere they can’t set a trap, or lay an ambush.”

I glanced at the bear, then the mage.

“And away from people. We can’t risk casualties,” she added.

“I may know of a place,” I said quietly.

All eyes turned to me.

“Gonna keep it a secret, bro? Or might you share something with us for once?” Maxar reached for a potsticker with his chopsticks, dipped it into the sauce, then shoved the whole thing in his mouth, but not without staring me down like a disappointed headmaster.

“In the Rocky Mountains in Colorado there is a cave. It’s been used for various rituals and meetings over the centuries. It’s removed from civilization, but it’s also quite open. It’s at the base of a mountain with no dense forest immediately surrounding it. It’s unique and known by all the Realm leaders.”

“Why is this somewhere you think would be a good spot for a meeting?” Omaera asked.

“Because everyone will have to travel to it. It will be nobody’s home turf. We can go early and scope it out. So you’re not the only person without prior knowledge of the space.”

“I’ve been there before with my father,” Zandren said, slowly nodding. “I agree. It’s a good spot.”

Nodding once at the bear, then focusing back on Omaera, desperate to get back into her good graces, I continued on. “We should suggest a different place first, then change it last minute so they can’t prepare in advance.Oryou let Howar set the location, then switch it last minute. He is your subordinate. He cannot refuse you.”

A slow, calculating smile pulled at Omaera’s lips. “The more we can fuck with Howar, the better.”

Maxar chuckled. “That’s my queen.”

“Let’s make the call,” she said, jerking her chin at my phone. “Call yourkingand agree to the meeting on my behalf.” She scooped some chicken tikka masala onto her plate, then used some naan bread to scoop it up and into her mouth. “But put it on speakerphone.” Excitement lit up her green eyes. “That’s an order.”

Maxar nearly choked on his spring roll as he started laughing.

Zandren called his dad and told him the proper plan, and apparently, KingRyden approved.

Next up, it was my turn. My stomach roiled when I dialed Howar’s number, knowing that when he saw it was a call from me, he’d pick up no matter what.