“WELL, our plan seems to be going well,” I said conversationally.
“She is usually pretty agreeable after a good fucking,” Titus agreed, his hand slipping into the pocket of his dress pants. He’d chosen to wear black slacks and a button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows. No tie. It was the Fire Fae’s definition of professional attire.
Mine differed from his, my wardrobe containing over a dozen suits for occasions just like this. Exos maintained a similar style. Which was why we both stood in three-piece suits.
“Is everything in place for tonight?” my half brother asked, his sapphire gaze a much-darker shade of blue than my own icy irises. But we had the same blond hair, courtesy of our Spirit Fae mother.
“Yep,” Titus replied, the picture of ease with his windswept auburn locks and easygoing smile. “I have the keys to the cabin, River helped me stock the fridge with popular human food, and we moved the two king beds out of the bedrooms to push them together in the living area. Everything’s a go.”
I nodded. “Excellent. Now we just have to convince our little queen to accept the trials.”
“Let’s hope this meeting goes well,” Exos replied, his expression sharpening. “We need her to be happy and agreeable.”
“A few orgasms can help with that,” Titus drawled.
“Not if she’s unwilling to accept them,” Exos tossed back. “This idea means a great deal to her. It’s also important to us and our potential offspring.”
“We’re all aware of what’s at stake,” I murmured. “So let’s see who we can schmooze to pave the way for our mate’s success.”
Titus grimaced. “I’d rather just light the opposition on fire.”
“Let’s call that our backup plan, hmm?” I suggested.
The Fire Fae heaved a long-suffering sigh. “Fine. I’ll try the diplomatic route first. But if anyone so much as speaks out against Claire today, I’m setting them on fire.”
I considered pointing out how that could lead to a battle of fae powers in the Human Realm—which would be very bad—but decided not to comment.
Titus would do whatever the fuck he wanted, with or without our consent.
Trying to convince him otherwise was a futile task.
So I just shrugged and went back to surveying the crowd.
We were meeting on neutral ground in Greenland, where the Interrealm Fae Council maintained a territory shrouded in protection. The mortals had no idea this civilization existed; it was all hidden through a variety of fae magic.
To the mortal eye, this territory resembled an uninhabitable glacier. But once a fae traversed through the enchanted boundary, a city of warmth and color was revealed.
Not all fae chose to remain in their own kingdoms—a recent development encouraged through a variety of events—and several of those fae had chosen to reside here.
I wasn’t sure of the current population numbers, but it continued to rise.
We stood in the center of the city, near the main hall, where the Interrealm Fae Council chose to convene annually. Our mate wanted to start a school here for those with cross-species abilities, otherwise known as abominations.
Many fae were anti cross-species breeding because of the events of our past, but Claire was determined to fix the perception. She had several powerful allies on her side, including support from the Midnight Fae and Fortune Fae.
Claire felt that if abominations and Halflings had been more accepted as a society, her path to queendom would have been easier because she would have been welcomed and provided with the training she’d needed.
Her allies from the Midnight Fae and Fortune Fae kingdoms were also driven by personal reasons, most of which stemmed from their own trials in life.
Claire had presented her idea to their respective leadership first and had used their feedback for her presentation today. And I really could not wait to see my mate in action.
Speaking of my mate, I thought, smiling as she entered the grand hall with Sol and Vox on either side of her.
She headed right for me, her blue eyes holding a touch of the panic I felt radiating around her spirit. I immediately sent a reassuring squeeze through our bond, doing my best to calm her nerves.
“Do you have the letter?” she asked by way of greeting.
“You think I would forget it?” I countered, arching a brow.