By the time dessert arrives, the mood at the table has shifted from evaluation to acceptance. Even Cross seems to have concluded whatever assessment he was conducting.
Abraham is the one who finally makes it official. He stands, raising his wine glass, and the table falls silent.
"A vote, then," he says formally. "All in favor of granting Eve Sinclair provisional membership in the Order, with full membership pending one year of service and continued evaluation?"
Hands raise. All of them. Including Cross's, though his is the last to lift, deliberate and measured.
My chest tightens with emotion. This is more than I hoped for. More than I dared expect.
"Welcome to the Order, Miss Sinclair," Abraham says, his smile genuine. "May your reign be long and prosperous."
Eve stands, raising her own glass. "Thank you. I promise to honor this trust. And to push this Council to be better, to do more good with the power you wield. I won't be a passive member. I hope you're all prepared for that."
Catherine laughs. "Oh, I like you even more now. This Council could use some disruption."
"Agreed," Victoria says. "Welcome, Eve. I think you're going to shake things up in the best possible way."
Cross raises his glass silently, his dark eyes meeting Eve's across the table. "To disruption," he says, his voice carrying just enough edge to make it unclear whether it's a toast or a warning. "And to queens who refuse to be pawns."
***
The drive home is quiet at first. Eve stares out the window at the city lights, processing everything that just happened.
"You were magnificent," I finally say, unable to contain my pride any longer. "Absolutely magnificent. You had them eating out of your hand within twenty minutes."
She turns to me, a tired but genuine smile on her face. "I was terrified."
"You didn't show it."
"That's the point, isn't it? Never let them see you sweat." She reaches for my hand. "Thank you for being there. For believing I could do this."
"I never doubted you," I say honestly. "Not for a second."
She's quiet for a moment, then: "It's strange. Six months ago, if someone had told me I'd willingly join a secret society, I'd have thought they were insane. And now here I am, provisionalmember of an organization that terrifies and fascinates me in equal measure."
"Do you regret it?"
"No," she says without hesitation. "I regret a lot of things about how we got here. But being here, with you, building something together? I don't regret that at all."
Relief floods through me. "Good. Because I have plans for us, my queen. Big plans."
"Oh?" She raises an eyebrow. "Do tell."
"The foundation is just the beginning. I want us to reshape what the Order does. Use its power for more than just protecting wealth and privilege. Catherine was right—you're going to shake things up. And I'm going to help you do it."
The penthouse is quiet when we arrive. Eve kicks off her heels with a grateful sigh, and I watch her move through our home—our home, not just mine anymore—with comfortable familiarity.
"I'm exhausted," she admits, heading toward the bedroom. "That was more intense than any business meeting I've ever attended."
"Because the stakes were higher." I follow her, loosening my tie. "You weren't just negotiating a contract. You were negotiating your place in a power structure that's existed for centuries."
"And apparently I'm going to 'shake things up.'" She laughs as she unzips her dress. "No pressure."
I come up behind her, sliding my hands around her waist, pressing a kiss to her shoulder. "You'll do brilliantly. You already are."
She turns in my arms, her eyes soft. "I couldn't do any of this without you, you know. The foundation, the Order, rebuilding my company—none of it would work if we weren't truly partners."
"We are," I promise. "In everything. No more secrets. No more controlling you. Just us, building something together."
