“Your mother, Gratia, who has seen many matches like this.”
“Perhaps there is a reason for such matches if they keep happening.”
“I have seen many matches like thisfail,” Athira amended. “And if they exist, then perhaps it is to slowly weaken demonkind.”
Calling a demon weak was about as insulting as it got, but Raes was handling Athira’s attack well.
Her daughter… not so much.
Gratia’s fury pulsed through the room. “We won’t stay where we’re unwelcome. Come, Raes.”
Woof.
Raes bowed at Carmine, then me, and finally Athira. “I am not what you had all hoped for, but I am not frightened of a powerful woman, and I willalwaystreat her well. I hope that our mating will strengthen us both to withstand whatever immortality might serve us.”
The bliss of the outset of mating rituals was blinding in its brightness.Alwayswas a long, long time, as I had discovered.
I couldn’t care less that Gratia was with a purple. Before they reached the doors, I called, “Raes, welcome to the family. The answer of you rose from within her, already decided and set. Your mating with Gratia is preordained. Hold to the trust of your shared destiny as others try to encroach on what is pure and right. And you should both know that Carmine is very relieved he won’t need to kill your twins and the other children you have.”
Athira whipped to look at me.
I smiled at her. “That’s right, twins.And more children too. The children of your daughter, no less.”
Gratia’s voice shook. “Thank you for your support, Syera.”
Raes took her hand, and they left.
Then there were three.
Athira pushed back her chair. “They might have ten children, Syera, but all of them will be weak.”
“And think, Athira,” I said in exasperation. “Their children willlive. Can you think ofnoreason why their mating might be the way it is? Would you have her with a crimson so they could create a son that Carmine would kill at birth or at sixteen? As her mother, you hold dreams of her future, but they are your dreams, not hers. Be grateful that there will be less turmoil and death in your future, if nothing else.”
Carmine’s mother stormed out. Back to Adeuto, I hoped, though I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted her there while in a pissy mood.
Two left.
I peered down the length of the table at Carmine. “What were you thinking?”
He flashed a grin, then wiped it away as quickly. “Not my best idea.”
“Understatement.”
“I thought it might help to smooth over Gratia’s new situation and make amends for the unwanted advice I gave her.”
If the kind sentiment had arisen from any other, I might have thought it sweet. “I guess you missed the smoothing part. Sitting there didn’t do much. Sometimes you need to grunt and say one or two words.”
Carmine unfurled to his full height—which was larger than most supernaturals—then he walked down the length of the table. “You did the smoothing, Syera, as I knew you would. There was no need for my grunts and words.”
Played.“You missed an opportunity to ease tension between yourself and Gratia by doing nothing.”
“I did something. I smoothed you, and you smoothed them.”
I tilted my head back to look at him. “I was already smooth. You should have put that effort into your prickly mother.”
He circled behind my chair and rested his hands on my bare shoulders. I shivered.
“You look beautiful in this dress, Syera, but there will be consequences.”
