Ursa leans back and lifts her arm, an invitation to shift closer that I’m only too happy to take. She looks down at me, her red lips curved. “You’ve been talking with Alaric.”
Yes, but not about trade. I’m intensely curious about Sabine Valley because of how different it seems from both Olympus and Carver City. “He does have a connection there, especially now that his cousins have regained some level of power. A trade agreement might benefit both them and us. No one else from Carver City has anything like that set up.”
She smooths my hair back and tucks it behind my ear. “Malone has more than enough connections to that city to have set something up.”
Because she’s an Amazon, a member of one of the other factions. “But even if she has, there’s still opportunity there.” Doubt threatens to creep in. I thought it was a good idea, but now I’m not so sure. “Don’t you think?”
Ursa opens her mouth, seems to reconsider, and finally nods. “You’re not wrong that there’s a chance to use Alaric’s connections to our advantage. We’ll speak with him about setting up a meeting with one of his cousins.”
That perks me up. “We?”
“It was your idea, Zuri. Of course you’ll attend.” She leans down and presses a light kiss to my lips. “I’ve never had anything resembling a partner. It will take some getting used to. Have patience with me.”
“Of course.” My heart feels like it might burst out of pure joy. I still can’t quite believe that this is my life now, that I’m doing things I never dared dream. When I was young and used to imagine what my happily ever after might look like, something like this—in a relationship with the Sea Witch and Alaric. That there would be love and respect. That I would be stronger than I ever dared dream. I look out the window as we turn into the parking garage.
We’re home.
Ursa and I make our way up to the penthouse, and her hand finds mine in the elevator. She gives me a squeeze. “I have half a dozen meetings next week. I’d like you at all of them.”
Surprise and happy pleasure warm my chest. “Really?”
“Yes.” She glances at me, her lips still curved in that small, satisfied smile. “If you want to become my second-in-command, you have to learn the ropes, and that won’t happen if I keep you confined to the penthouse.” For a moment, something like doubt lingers in her eyes. “Unless you don’t want to…”
“I do!” I throw myself into her arms and press a hard kiss to her lips. It smears her lipstick, which means it’s smeared mine, too, but I don’t care. “You really mean it.”
She wraps her arms around me. “I really mean it. You’ve got a good head for this stuff, and you might be sweet with me, but you’re already learning to be hard when it counts.”
“I’ll always be sweet with you,” I whisper.
“I hope so.” She kisses me and I lose myself in her taste, in the softness of her body against mine. The elevator ding as we reach the penthouse floor is an unwelcome interruption.
The smell that wafts through the doors as they open, on the other hand, is incredibly welcome. My stomach growls and Ursa laughs. “Let's get you fed before you expire on the spot.”
“It’s not that bad.”’
“Even so, darling.” She takes my hand and tugs me after her.
The good smells get stronger as we walk through the entrance and down the hall to the kitchen. There we find Alaric monitoring something on the stove. To my delight, he’s wearing the apron I jokingly bought him last week. It’s frilly and pink and has Kiss the Cook written across the chest.
He turns as we enter the room and grins at us. There’s a smear of some kind of sauce on his cheek and flour on both apron and his pants, but he looks downright delighted. “I’ve finally nailed it this time.”
“If it tastes as good as it smells, you definitely have.” Ursa leans in and gives him a quick kiss and then moves past him. “How long until it’s ready?”
“Um.” He gives the pot a dubious look. “Maybe ten minutes?”
“I’m going to change.” She gives my hand one last squeeze and releases me. Then she’s gone, sweeping out the door and down the hall toward our room.
I go up onto my toes and kiss Alaric. “Hey.”
“Hey.” He loops an arm around my waist. “How’d it go?”
It’s impossible to keep my happy smile to myself. I beam up at him. “Really, really well. Ursa mentioned maybe me being her second-in-command.”
He gives me an indulgent look and stirs the pot with a wooden spoon. “You know that was the plan all along. Why are you so surprised?”
“Honestly? I thought she might change her mind once I started shadowing her.” It’s not so easy to shuck off an entire lifetime’s worth of being told how fragile and incompetent I am. Of being shielded from any and all darkness. Even though I know better, I half expect Ursa to decide to toss me into the penthouse and keep me there.