Still nothing. No reaction. He could be judging her. Why had she mentioned that part of her past? Stupid. No respectable politician would hear the word ‘whore’ andnotstart drawing conclusions about her character. Sure, politicians might be willing to pay for their favors—happened all the time—but that didn’t mean they held any respect for those they paid. He might decide he didn’t want a woman of her standard under his roof, too risky to his career if Unity found out he was harboring a former working girl in his guest room. She’d just severed her only chance—
“You are welcome to stay as long as you require,” he said, interrupting her rampaging thoughts.
Sera’s heart skipped a beat. “I… but you just said you want me gone.”
“I want to cease my obligation to keep you alive. As for providing a roof over your head, should you require one, I don’t see how those two things have to be mutually exclusive.”
“But…” She was having trouble following the conversation. She expected outrage. Judgment. Even if he was civil about her revelation, he’d probably want her to never speak of it again andkeep it a secret. “What about what I just said? You can’t be okay with someone like me sharing your home.”
He took a deep breath and Sera shut her mouth.
Now he’d let her have it. Give her his real opinion of her. Disgust? Or maybe worse—interest in the exact range of her services. Sera steeled herself. When his eyes slid to her, she couldn’t detect anything beyond exhaustion. “It makes no difference to me what you do, or did, with your life.”
“Others will talk.”
“They already do.”
“They’ll think you’re employing me for sex if my past is discovered.”
He tilted his head. “And? You’ve thrown yourself at me enough that the nature of our relationship would be called into question regardless.”
“But they’ll say you pay me for it.”
“I’ve endured worse gossip.”
“But I’m a human.”
“I was under the impression this city was renamed ‘Unity’ specifically to cultivate harmony between races.” He shrugged. "Are we not supposed to be 'a united people of the realm?'"
Her lips pursed. “But it’s not done, though, is it? A human has never married a fae.”
“I don’t recall proposing.”
She huffed dramatically, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms. When she side-eyed him, there was the barest flicker of movement at the corner of his mouth. She'd almost think he was fighting a smile. Then, just as imperceptibly, his brow furrowed like the 'almost smile' was wholeheartedly unwelcome. It was probably the biggest mood swing he'd ever experienced. The thought had her grinning despite her exasperation.
"So… this is more kindness, then?” she asked, her tone wavering between annoyed and entertained. Were they sharinga moment? This was the Kieran North version of laughing together, both of them fighting not to smile.
“Hardly. It’s not cruelty, there is a difference. I’d like to think I have a little more honor than tossing a woman to the streets, no matter her circumstances.”
“And what about you?” She stiffened. She hadn’t intended to voice the question. What did his opinion matter? It didn’t. He wouldn’t throw her out, problem over. But the question had been nagging in the back of her head since she had slipped. She swallowed and doubled down, or the question was going to drive her insane. “What is your opinion of me now?”
He studied her, eyes calm and steady. She shifted, looking anywhere but his face as she chewed on her lip.
“I think you undervalue your abilities with an egregious lack of self-worth. And you are far more dangerous than I previously estimated.”
Sera’s heart was aflutter, her stomach flipping in giddy waves. Heat bloomed in her cheeks and she was no longer fidgeting but entirely caught in the gray of his eyes. Even as he looked away, she felt each breath, hard and fast as her pulse.
“We should decide how to proceed with Cole,” he said, burying his words as her mind attempted to sort out his meaning. She was… dangerous? “I think, for expediency, we should go over his head.”
“Over his… but that means Wraith.” Sera let out a breathy laugh, her mind was still rattled and the sudden change in topic was not expected. “No one talks to Thaddeus Wraith. Not without some pretty lofty connections. I’ve only met him once and to say he looks as scary as the stories is…an understatement.”
“I’ll arrange it.”
She balked. “How in the world is a rich politician going to arrange a meeting with the Crime Lord of Demon Row? Youknow his reputation. Connections, pockets, and no wish to play nice with the highbrow. They say he butchered an entire street because one guydisagreedwith him. Not wronged him or killed someone he loved, just… didn’t agree. He’s a monster.”
She had to stop any plan that involved Kieran seeking out Wraith. She was already racking up debt to him left and right. Whatever fallout he incurred from pushing his luck with Wraith would be impossible to repay.
“Well,” North gave her a small shrug, “I stopped fearing monsters when I was ten. And it is our only choice.”
