“What?”
“Cyn, you can't expect my entire clan to change for you just because I'm your mate.”
“This isn't about them changing for me. It's me helping them live a better life.”
“I don't think they'll see it that way.”
“So, I just turn a blind eye to their criminal activity?”
I stiffened. In my head, I kept telling myself that this came from a good place, that Cyn cared about me and my people. I also told myself that he wasn't wrong. A lot of my people were criminals. All right, most of them. It's what we were born into and we were damn good at it. Still, he annoyed the fuck out of me with all this reformed criminal talk.
Literally annoyed the word out of me. “Fuck!” I swore and stood up.
“Ru!” Cyn grabbed my arm.
I pulled it free. “Let me walk away.”
“The fuck I will.” He stood up and moved into my path. “What have I said that's so wrong? Have I offended you with the truth again?”
“Fuck you, Cyn.” I tried to walk around him, but again, he blocked me.
“All right. I'm sorry I said that. I'm sorry I offered to help them.” He threw his hands up. “I just can't leave them there! Kimu, Huso, and sweet Neb. Thinking about their futures upsets me. I want them to be safe and happy. I want them to have homes they don't have to lay traps around. And I'm able to help them have that.”
I sighed and laid a hand on his chest. “They are safe and happy. But I know how you feel.”
“There's got to be something I can do for them.”
“Well, you promised a bag of gold to whoever found the person trying to kill you. Huso and Neb found the Shanba priests. And Kimu helped me look after you. You could split the gold among the boys, give Kimu some gold for his service, and then offer them all positions in the castle. Say that they impressed you with their skills or something like that. That way, they earn it.”
“And what about the rest of the clan?”
“I don't know. You can't offer all of them work.”
“Why not? That's what I originally suggested.”
“I thought you were going to get them jobs with other people?”
“Yes, and at the castle. Wherever they want. I could get them opportunities, Ru. They could become whoever they want to be, not just who they think they have to be.”
I melted right into his arms. “I love you so damn much.”
“I love you too. Does that mean you agree?”
“I agree.”
“Should I send for them?”
“The whole Midnight Clan?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“I think it will be better if we go to them.”
Cyn nodded. “Very well. Tomorrow then. By then, I should have a date for your presentation ceremony, and we'll be able to invite them.”
“You're going to invite my clan to my presentation ceremony?”
“Ourclan. And yes. Why wouldn't we invite them?”
