"But you will," Donna cuts in, rolling her eyes.
He glares at her but pushes on. "It's not lies. Heisoffering this. Sage, you know if it's real."
I sigh. "It's real. For Briar Hollow, it is a good deal."
"It will bring death and destruction. That is the cost," Eira says suddenly, her voice calm, certain. When we all turn to her, she smiles faintly. "However, death is always around the corner. In the long run, it serves a purpose."
"Yeah, tell that to the people dyingnow," Kayden snaps, fangs close to flashing.
"Seriously, is this all we came here for? Listening to pompous speeches and arguing?" Astrid mutters, balancing yet another canapé on her plate.
"And eating half the catering," Jace shoots back with a grin.
Her glare could cut steel. "The food's tiny. And I'm starving. At least I'm getting something out of this circus."
"Oh, come on, don't leave me alone trying to make this tolerable," Donna pleads, scanning our group for backup.
Astrid shrugs. "Looks like you're doing fine."
Asher cuts through the chatter, voice clipped. "We'll linger, gather what intel we can, then move out. Stay tight."
But before we can, they find us.
A small knot of women sweeps toward us, silk, pearls, and polite smiles honed sharp as blades. Leading them is a stately figure I recognize from the stage—tasteful gown, tasteful makeup, everything perfectly appropriate. The kind of woman who doesn't need to sneer out loud, since it's baked into the way she says hello.
"Here you are, Donna, dear," she says, her voice carrying just enough impatience to sting if you know how to listen for it. "And these must be your…friends." That last word drips with disdain dressed up as civility.
Even if I hadn't guessed, the way Donna's shoulders dip for a heartbeat before she steels herself would have told me that this is Lydia Bright. The mayor's wife.
"Mother." Donna's voice is smooth, every inch the well-bred daughter. "I didn't know you were looking for me." She nods at the women flocked around her mother. "Ladies."
"The photoshoot will be happening soon, and we'd love to have you included with Mr. Hawthorn." An order dressed as a suggestion.
Her eyes skim over the rest of us, polite on the surface, but tight and wary beneath. Maybe she knows specifics, maybe not, but she's aware enough to place us asother. Not human and definitely not welcome.
"If you don't mind me stealing my daughter from your company, Mr. Darrow," Lydia adds, turning her full attention to Asher.
Donna's glance toward him is all plea. Asher's jaw tenses, trapped between refusing and offending.
Then a voice from behind saves him. Sort of.
"Mrs. Bright. Ladies. Colonel Darrow." That deep, confident timbre of Darius.
Lydia Bright perks up instantly, as do her ladies. "Oh, Mr. Hawthorn. You're here. And you're acquainted with Mr. Darrow?"
"Indeed." His smile is carved perfection. "We share a… common acquaintance. A former employee of mine." He turns to me. "It is a pleasure to see you again, Miss Quinn."
"Mrs. Darrow, actually," Kayden cuts in before I can speak. He steps forward, looping an arm firmly around my waist. "Kayden Darrow. Asher's younger and, let's be honest, more charming brother." He flashes a grin and a wink that earns a few involuntary blushes from Lydia's entourage.
Asher doesn't correct him. The wholetwo husbands, nature-bound polygamything would only add another, even more awkward layer to this socialite circus. Not to mention it's not exactly legal. Not under human law, anyway. So he watches in silence, a wall of restraint.
I can only hope Lydia and her flock don't look too closely at my hand. Two rings, plain as day. Another secret balanced on the edge of polite conversation.
"Ah, yes. The recent nuptials. My apologies." Darius inclines his head smoothly, apology in tone but not in truth.
Every word sounds flawless. Not a hint of falseness slips through, except I can feel it. That smile isn't for them. It's for me.
For the first time, Lydia Bright's eyes settle on me, sharp and appraising. "You used to work for Mr. Hawthorn?"
