Kols ignored Sir Black and pulled out his wand, his expression radiating the intent to do damage. A spell graced his lips just as a loud ring came from the device he held aloft in his hand.
The murderous intent fled from his features, replaced by a grimace as he answered the magical call with a flick of his wrist. “Hello, Father,” he greeted in an admirably calm voice. He flashed me a look that told me not to say anything. I idly considered disobeying him on principle but decided it was in Aflora’s best interest not to announce my presence. The less we did to draw attention to ourselves, the better.
Because this whole quad-bond thing? Yeah, it wouldn’t end well when the Midnight Fae found out.
Part of me couldn’t fucking wait. I almost dared them to do something about it. Our collective power as a unit had the potential to overpower the entire damn Council.
But our strongest asset didn’t have a clue how to use her Quandary powers yet.
Which brought me to the practical part of myself who knew we were nowhere near ready yet. Hence, I leaned against the wall and shamelessly listened to Kols’s side of the conversation. His familial magic allowed his father to talk directly into his ear while the wand was engaged. Similar to answering a human phone but without the necessary device.
Personally, I preferred the physical mobiles and carried one with me to talk to my own father. The less that asshole could get in my head, the better.
Kols and Malik, however, had a very different bond than me and my father.
“Yeah, Shade and I got into it,” the Midnight Prince said, causing me to arch a brow. “That’s the disturbance you probably felt.”
Ah. Clever. Blame the rivalry instead of our Aflora. Not a bad tactic. His father would believe Kols won the battle with ease, disregarding the significance of my power as most Elite Bloods did. That was how I ran under the radar so fluidly. They all sat on their high and mighty thrones assuming themselves to be the rightful heirs to the kingdom while the true royals hid in the shadows.
Royals like me.
One day, I’d make a point of demonstrating how wrong they’d been about me and mine.
But not today.
Instead, I gave Kols a nod, accepting his story and listening while he detailed our makeshift duel to his father. To his credit, he awarded me a few positive hits but then boasted about my eventual takedown at the end. It took considerable effort not to snort at the ridiculous conclusion.
As if I would ever go down that easily.
However, to protect Aflora, I’d allow the outlandish tale to exist. I’d even go as far as to thank Kols for crafting it because it meant he’d decided to protect our mate rather than turn her in. At least for now.
That decision could change in a second.
Yet something told me it wouldn’t. I’d witnessed his concern for the Royal Earth Fae on more than one occasion. And tonight, he’d taken that concern to a whole new level of need. Suggesting the three of us bite her all at once had required a fair bit of sacrifice on his part, something he’d given without thought. He’d renounced his entire kingdom to ensure her survival.
Because there was no question now that everything would change.
He couldn’t properly ascend with Aflora as a mate. Not because the source would reject him, but because the precious Council would deny his candidacy and demand he step down. As he had a twin with a mostly proper mate, it’d be an easy solution for them. There would be a handful who frowned upon Ella being a Halfling, but knowing Tray, he’d tell them to kiss his royal ass.
Then he’d be faced with punishing his twin for saving an abomination instead of killing her.
Kols’s shoulders were tight with annoyance, his golden eyes glowing as he accepted whatever his father had just said with a contrite “I apologize for my behavior. It won’t happen again.”
I nearly said, “Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” but I wasn’t in the business of offering advice. Instead, I wandered into my kitchen to fix myself a drink.
Kols met me a moment later, his wand carefully stowed. “If anyone asks—”
“You kicked my ass in an unsanctioned duel,” I finished for him as I dropped three ice cubes into a glass. “Got it.”
He studied me for a long moment, his expression wary. “How the hell am I supposed to trust you not to fuck this up for us all?”
“Hmm.” I found my favorite liquor, took it from the cabinet, and poured myself a healthy amount.
“That’s all you have to say? Hmm?” He appeared ready to retrieve his wand again.
“You can start by letting me keep Aflora for the night,” I replied, giving my glass a little swirl to chill the contents. “We’ll regroup tomorrow when you bring her something to wear.”
He regarded me with a violent glint in his gaze. “If you touch her—”