Page 53 of Night’s Fall (The Four Realms #1)

“This is because Arnaud is keeping it very quiet, and Tanyn has learned to caution his supporters to be covert. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t planning for the eventuality that Arnaud will refuse to abdicate, and that will mean he’ll need to be forcibly removed.

Which could mean he’d call on his supporters, and Tanyn will absolutely call his, and there’ll be civil war. ”

This was not good news.

But I still didn’t know why he was talking about it.

“And you’re sharing this because…?”

“Because, if there was an alliance between Night’s Fall and Dawn’s Break , both the realms at Sky’s Edge southern border would be of one mind, that being in support of Tanyn’s claim to the throne.

And if this was the case, even Arnaud might hesitate to do something stupid when he lost in the courts. ”

“Aren’t Night’s Fall and Dawn’s Break already allied in this notion?”

“We are, darling, but royal marriage is a bond that does not break. With Anna and I married, there would be more discussion between realms about votes in the Center . We wouldn’t be united, officially.

But for the most part, there would be a united front.

It is a subtle nuance of a shift, or in this case, consolidation of power.

Subtle or not, it’s there, and Arnaud wouldn’t miss it. ”

“And this brings me to the more difficult question. You agreed to marriage with Anna because of these terms?”

He shook his head, but said, “ It was put to me, and I considered it along with the knowledge we shared history, we shared an understanding of each other and the lives we live, and we were friends and enjoyed each other’s company.

She’s amusing, carefree. Before things turned sour, she was almost always in a good mood.

This is nice to be around. Someone who could find the good in everything or bounce back from something shitty happening and do it quickly.

She’s also beautiful. I was attracted to her before we became lovers.

” He gave me a squeeze. “ And I’ve since learned that sex can be transcendent, but she was an excellent lover. ”

My beast trembled at that, and something else twisted, but he wasn’t my first, I knew I wasn’t his, I also knew we both understood on a primitive level we would be each other’s last, so I had to get over it.

“I’m sorry. That was abrupt,” he said low. “ However , I’m putting this matter-of-factly, bissi , because I’m struggling here.”

He felt my response.

And I knew he was struggling.

This woman had been his lifelong friend. I couldn’t imagine Catla ever turning on me. Not ever.

I cuddled closer to him and urged, “ Go on. And say it however you have to in order to get it out.”

He nodded, sipped his drink and returned his attention to the fire.

“I was also of an age where it was time to marry, and she seemed a good match. But I can’t deny that the political alliance didn’t hold some sway.

We’ve had an unprecedented period of peace.

The only time this lasted longer was the Great Peace that began nearly eight hundred years ago.

I’ve only experienced war in simulations at Red Lair .

Even if those were only simulations, they were far from fun.

The biggest lesson they taught me is that war is to be avoided at all costs.

But the bottom line is, I’m True Heir , and it’s my destiny to do what’s right for Night’s Fall . ”

“Of course.”

“However, the more time I spent with her, the more it became clear that Anna is an elitist, like her mother. Since our break, I’ve come to suspect that Anna , or her mother, were behind my mother discovering our affair.

They did this with the purpose of making it more than an affair, because Anna has few choices for a husband who matches her in status.

Arnaud is out, he’s a pervert, but even if he wasn’t, he’s a pretender.

Tanyn has always disliked Anna . He’s a broody, intense male who was deeply affected by his father’s desertion of his mother, and the subsequent stripping of their status, which meant life changed for them greatly.

Even so, he’s highly intelligent, and I should have read his aversion to her as what it was.

And Prince Cormac of Land’s End is a throwback.

He’s more male than any male I’ve met. No chance Anna could lead him around by his dick. ”

“And she thought she could do that to you?” I asked in shock.

He turned to me. “ When we spoke of her before, I mentioned the long con. Part of what I’m struggling with is she’s given me reason to believe that even our decades of friendship were something she cultivated for the ultimate end of marrying me.”

I gasped. “ That’s diabolical.”

“So is sending assassins to murder the creature of a male’s true mate.”

Very true.

“Thus, you think she’s behind it,” I deduced.

“It was messy, ending things with her. However , once I explained the situation to Mom and Dad , they understood why I made it. Flurries of every form of diplomacy were dispatched, and things were smoothed over. Most of the mess was because Anna was livid. Without me on her leash, she’ll have to turn to the Six Realms , Three Realms or Seven Realms to find what she considers an appropriate match, and she’d have to move there, for her husband would one day be king.

It also might mean her husband would be a vampire, and she would not do well with her days turning to nights. ”

“Okay, Aleksei , but what could she possibly get out of harming you or me?”

“Revenge for being cast aside, something she is definitely not used to. Or a misguided notion that if you were not in the picture, I’d pull her back into mine. Remember , in the second attack, no one knew you and I had found each other yet.”

“But that doesn’t explain why the assassin turned his weapon on you.”

His lips twitched with vague amusement. “ I’m uncertain of the assassin’s creed, but there could be dozens of reasons why he shifted targets. Bragging rights alone would be one.”

I hated to admit it, but this was true.

“And now…what?” I asked. “ What if you find proof it was her?”

He took another sip of his drink. “ This is part of my struggle. I’m hurt I lost a lifelong friend.

I’m angry at her along with myself that I didn’t see through her and allowed it to go as far as it went.

I’m stunned she may be behind this, because that puts her self-absorption and cossetted behavior in a bald and grim new light.

And the last part is, this will be a diplomatic nightmare.

We have one realm embroiled in an alarming internal struggle.

Two more cannot be at each other’s throats because the Princess Royal is a spoiled bitch. ”

He was so right.

And this was so messed up.

“I see why this is weighing heavily on you,” I mumbled my understatement.

That brought me a fully amused smile. “ Indeed . And this means, unless we discover all that is behind it beforehand, which we might not, this will make the Midnight Masque very interesting.”

By the gods.

How had I forgotten?

The Midnight Masque , which happened at midnight on the first full moon of autumn, a night that was only a few weeks away, was a huge deal at the Palace . Everyone of consequence was invited, and they didn’t miss it.

This included all the royals, not only of the Four Realms , but of the realms across the seas.

Which meant Anna would be there.

And this year, I would too.

“It’s good Nata accepted the position as your aide,” Aleksei remarked while studying my face. “ Allain will have her up to speed soon, and I won’t have to watch you freeze in shock at something someone will be attending to for you.”

Latest news: when offered the choice, Nata surprised both Aleksei and me by choosing me.

Her reasons were that she had given the Catalogues six years of her life, her work had been exemplary, and her director had rolled right over and demoted her projects, if he didn’t demote her role.

Worse , he was prepared to let her go when a transfer position was offered to her, rather than fighting for her.

“It’ll be nice to have a boss who right away demonstrates she believes in me and is willing to fight for me,” she’d said.

Although I still worried that she’d miss it, I could see her reasoning.

Even if he done her wrong, the director had spluttered mild outrage that she left without notice.

He stopped doing that when Aleksei himself swung by the Catalogues to explain how things were going to be.

In other words, the True Heir had accepted his destiny not only “in chambers” but also at the Catalogues , which I assumed (and asked, and Aleksei confirmed) meant that “in chambers” consisted not only that he was the patriarch of the royal family, but that he was the big dragon of everything that had anything to do with the Palace .

“You’ll need to get her on that,” Aleksei warned. “ It’s my understanding it takes so long to create gowns, females decide on designers in the spring.”

Dang it.

“I’ll comm her tomorrow,” I muttered.

He gave me another squeeze that was more akin to a reassuring shake.

“You needn’t worry, love. If Anna is the instigator of this, Dagsbrun will be embarrassed, and therefore, he’ll puff and prance.

His ambassador will scurry and make demands and do her best to pick apart our evidence.

But we won’t go to them unless it’s ironclad.

So in the end, to avoid a massive PR disaster that might mean tensions between our realms, they’ll have no choice but to privately apologize for Anna’s actions. ”

I made a face, got another smile from Aleksei , and he carried on talking.

“That’s not all. Night’s Fall will leave the situation holding a very big marker from Dawn’s Break .

And Anna will be brought to heel, undoubtedly by marrying her off to a lesser aristocrat who will nevertheless be strong enough to keep her controlled.

And this will be the height of punishment for Anna , I assure you.

He could have masses of power and credit, and he still wouldn’t be good enough for Princess Anna of Dawn’s Break , according to her.

But onward from this, I’ll continue to have to put up with her in those rare times we’re at the same events, which will not be easy, but I could do it.

However , you’ll have to do the same, and that will prove most difficult, but I have no choice but to best the endeavor. ”

“So this is a massive headache for you, but mostly, you’re upset the female you knew and cared about might turn out to be one serious asshole, and you can’t tell her to go fuck herself and be done with her.”

That brought me a glamorous white grin. “ Exactly .”

I was not smiling when I said, “ I’m sorry, honey.”

He shook his head, took a sip of his drink, and replied, “ Don’t be.

We’re getting closer to the threat being neutralized, if, indeed, they intend to carry it through now that we’ve found each other.

Your beast will emerge very soon. I’ve done that bloody interview, and both of our approval ratings are up, something neither of us care about, but it’s making Mom and Germaine stay off our backs.

We’ll get through the engagement photo op and interview, we’ll deal with your bloody parents, and then we can fucking relax for a while. At least until the Masque .”

He might be able to.

I was way behind on work.

I didn’t mention that.

I said, “ Do you want to finish that?” I tipped my head to his drink. “ Or do you want to go to bed?”

He leaned forward and set his glass on the table in front of the couch. He then took mine and did the same.

But he replied, “ I don’t want to go to bed.”

I fought pouting.

Aleksei twisted into me, taking me to my back on the couch.

My belly dropped and my sex flooded.

“We’re going to fuck right here,” he murmured, his eyes lazy with banked purple fire.

“That’s good for me,” I wheezed.

That earned me another grin.

Then I got a kiss.

After that, I got well and truly fucked on the couch.

Mixed bag evening with the Anna news.

But for the most part, our couch action put the cherry on top of an awesome night.