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“Rowan?” Alessandro asked softly.

It made her realize she’d been stuck, staring at the pile, unable to move.

She sat next to her father, who took her hand and held it.

As the rest of the shifters filed in, Rowan’s mind was numb.

How could Rain forgive her? Even if Fae saw death differently, Rain was still Dew’s mother. She still had yet to forgive herself. How could the fairy?

She didn’t realize tears were flowing down her face until Alessandro’s thumb wiped the trail away.

“What do you need?”

She didn’t know. But she couldn’t continue to weep. She was the Dragon Queen! This was her first time in public while holding the title and she was wrecking their reputation more thoroughly than Barros had.

The crinkle of plastic brought her attention to her father, who slid out two packaged rolls from his suit’s breast pocket and two pouches of juice. He set one pair in front of her and handed the other to Alessandro.

She had decided to not confront her parents over Lucifer’s revelation. She didn’t have it in her to hurt her mother by bringing up the woman who’d abandoned her as a child.

The only thing that had changed was her knowledge of her power. Over the last few days with Alessandro by her side, she’d already grown by leaps and bounds now that she had all the puzzle pieces and his inane ability to guide her.

Still, it wasn’t until she witnessed his lack of hesitation in taking the offering that the fact that he was her mate settled in her mind.

The Dragon King punctured both of their juices and began opening his roll while she fumbled with hers. She couldn’t seepast the tears that had fattened up so much they threatened to drown her as they fell.

With a mouth full of strawberry cake already ebbing some of the pain, she slid her chair closer to him, decorum be damned as she leaned against his arm. She was slowly recovering her strength to see this trial through to the end.

Across from their section, Rowan caught sight of the Coven taking their seats.

Dorin Indigo and Eve Tanoch led a group of witches, but Cherry was nowhere to be seen.

Had it been too much? Had her trauma from Antoni Barros been too much to bear?

Rowan didn’t look down on the witch for it, but it gave her a thrill of guilt for trying to use that to the Thunder’s advantage.

“Hey, you didn’t tell me we could bring snacks!” Louisa’s voice slid into Rowan’s mind.

Rowan turned her head to pinpoint where her friend stood. She wore a matcha-green off the shoulder dress that reached her ankles, red hair reached past her shoulders in soft waves, her makeup subtle except for the pop of bright red lipstick.

Rosario the Cruel was a sharp contrast in a no nonsense black three-piece suit. Brown hair pulled back in a tight, slick bun. She was all business. Though she also wore makeup, black lipstick was her crowning statement.

A wave of lust erupted from someone to Rowan’s left.

Having gotten the nosey gene from her mother, she leaned back to glimpse who was sitting there and shock rolled through herat the sight of Harris Knox’s silver eyes firmly locked on the vampiress.

Annabelle, the only other succubus present, had also turned to examine the originator of such uncontained lust and a mischievous glint took hold when Rowan glanced at her to check if she’d sensed the same thing.

“In our dear wolf’s eyes, you might be the snack, Louisa. Exactly what happened there?”

Louisa, who’d been following her mother down the steps, snapped her attention to where Harris Knox was sitting. Either unaware or concerned with the attention he was gathering.

“Don’t let my mom see!” Louisa’s fear set Rowan into action.

Alessandro shot her a questioning look as she stood. “I need to talk to Knox.”

She hoped by using his last name she would ease any jealousy that might flare up in the dragon. She was astonished that he gave a small nod and turned to talk to Stone, who had been whispering something to him.

Taking this golden chance of unhindered decision making, she began walking the length of the row, bringing the wolf’s attention to her since she walked his way.