“But I don’t understand. If you’re mated, why wouldn’t he want you there now? Mated couples never want to spend time apart.”
By the Mountain, Lemetria was a dog with a bone.
“Marius has some things he needs to take care of. We’re going to give it time.”
Now her mother’s face grew worried. “That dragon always did seem a little strange.”
“He’s not strange. He’s perfect. I’m perfect. We’re perfect. And you just have to keep your mouth shut about it until we can adjust to this. It was very unexpected.”
Her mom shrugged. “Fine. Although it’s going to kill me, you know that.”
“I’m going to go take a bath.” Harlow stood.
“Oh, I suppose you’ll want to turn down the offer from the Silver Sunset, then.”
“What offer?”
Her mother stood and retrieved a small roll of parchment from the kitchen. “This came for you by falcon last night.”
Harlow unrolled the tiny scroll. The Silver Sunset thanks you for your application and would like to offer you the job of server. Please stop in for your schedule and to discuss pay.
“Great news! I’ll stop over there as soon as I’m bathed and dressed.”
“But—” Her mother gaped as if she wasn’t sure what to say. “Surely you’re not going to work as a server when you’re mated to Marius.”
“Yes. Yes, I am. Until something else comes along, I need the job, and until Marius marries me, we need the money. I’m not going to use our mating as my own personal piggy bank. I’m going to work.”
“But—”
“Mom, it’s going to be okay. Besides, this is the first offer any of us has gotten. I have to take it. After someone blacklisted us, showing people we’re good employees is the only way to rebuild trust in the community.”
Her mom draped an arm over the back of her chair. “You know, there is one thing I can say about you, my girl.”
“What’s that?”
“You never take the easy way out.”
“Never.”
Hours later, Harlow found herself at the Silver Sunset with an apron tied around her waist, trying her best to keep up with the dinner crowd. She’d come in as directed. Not only was she hired on the spot, but she was given an immediate shift. Thankfully, she was a fast learner. And her natural hustle had paid off. Her pockets were full of tips. Her being female and cute might have had something to do with it. In any case, she’d have plenty of money to keep her parents afloat while she worked out what was going on with Marius.
Once the dinner rush had cleared out, Roosevelt asked her to wipe down the tables in the mostly empty bar. It was while she was doing so that she came across a flyer.
Tired of laws that benefit every kingdom but Paragon? Want things to return to the way they were before the revolution? The New Order is working for you. If you’re an interested party, make it known. History is on our side. We’ll find you.
Roosevelt came up behind her and tore it from her hands. “Another one! Mountain help us, these assholes just won’t quit.”
She shook her head. “Who would want to return to how it was under Eleanor?”
He looked at her strangely. “Honey, until you started working here, I assumed your parents were behind this.”
“What? We would never!”
“Oh, I believe you. No one of your previous station would work as hard as you if they thought they could go back to how it used to be. But your mom, she was always in here…”
“My mom doesn’t want this either. Believe me. It’s not her. She’s not smart enough.” It was out of her mouth before she could think to correct herself. Her mother was smart, but not in the organized, devious way it would take to run something like this.
Roosevelt laughed. “Maybe.”
