“Thank you,” I say to both Kieren and Evander as he pulls out my chair.
“Duchess,” Roark says. I place my napkin in my lap and cock my head at him. “The three of us have to head through theThessaritoday.”
“Oh? Why?” I’m trying my best to sound cheerful.
“The king and queen have set up another ball. For tomorrow.” Evander leans forward.
“Six months and a day after the ceremony. That’s?—”
Kieren cuts me off. “Disgusting of them. Manipulative and uncaring.”
“I was going to say resourceful. You got them to delay it before, because of the six months. But they want what they think is best for the citizens of Crest Wing,” I say.
“I don’t give a damn about them,” Kieren spits. “I care about us.”
Evander nods. “You’re the most important person to us.”
I smile and wince. Because I’m breaking my own heart. “And the three of you are the most important people to me. But I can’t have you changing everything for me. You need the magic from theThessari. You...you are other-realm dragons. Not Earthbound dragons. And if we mate, you’ll have to stay here and give up your families, your homeland. Like you said before, Evander. What of your real thunder mate? What if she’s at the ball? We always have choices. I need to go back to New York.” I cross my arms over my chest.
“Exactly, Raine. We have choices. I choose you. We can live here. Be Earthbound,” Kieren says.
“And then what happens to your sister? Who will bethere to protect her? Who will lead Crest Wing? Protect them?”
“We can still protect them; we have the portal,” Evander says.
“No. The portals aren’t working correctly. What if they stop altogether? You can’t be both places, protecting the portal and Crest Wing. And you can’t reign. No, you won’t be happy.” I cup Kieren’s cheek. “None of you will be happy if you are Earthbound. You need the power from your homeland.”
Roark clenches his eyes shut, and when he opens them, a tear rolls down his cheek. “I don’t want to lose you, Duchess.”
“You won’t lose me. I will keep you all in my heart. I’ll keep loving the three of you enough for all of us. But you need to take a mate at the ball. Forget me. Find a witch and erase me from your consciousness if you need to.”
“There’s not enough power in the world to erase you from my heart, Raine,” Evander says. He pulls me into his chest. His arms wrap around me. It’s the tightest hug I’ve ever had. I breathe in his musky almond scent. I need to memorize it. I should find a perfumery before I leave Europe and bottle them.
I want to cry. I want to cry so badly, but if I do, I won’t stop. I won’t stop and they won’t go. And they have to go.
Kieren glares at Roark, and they are clearly having a fight. It’s silent, but their faces twitch and the coffee cup in Roark’s hand groans under the pressure he’s putting on it.
“You have something to say, say it out loud.” It comes out like I’m a kindergarten teacher, like I’m going to ask them to catch a bubble next.
“We have to go to the realm together today. I’m begging you to change your mind.”
“I’m sorry, no. I want the three of you more than anything. But I can’t. We tried. I’ve never tried to make something happen as much as I tried to make the lightning happen.”
“No.” Roark’s blue eyes glare at me. “No.” The cup shatters on the table.
“Roark? Please try and see this from... No, you don’t have to. You don’t have to see this from my point of view. You don’t have to do anything, but I’m going to ask you to respect my decision. I’m not going to change my mind. I’m not taking you away from your people.”
“That’s really what you want?” Kieren asks.
“It’s what I need, not what I want. I need to go back to New York City.”
“You’re a lot tougher than I ever imagined.” Kieren stands and pulls me to his chest. “I love you, Raine. That’s not going to change.” He shakes his head and leaves the room.
Roark’s face is red, his lips in full scowl. He pulls me into his chest and hugs me tightly enough that I might break in two. But I’m hugging him just as tight. I let go first, and when he does, there are tears in his eyes. He pivots away without a word.
“I want you to change your mind. Please have mercy on us, Raine. We’re grown males. Nothing has ever felt this right for me. Nothing. There’s a reason the lightning didn’t hit you, and I will find it,” Evander says.
“You need to think of Aisling. If you find a mate and take over for the queen and king, you can stop another clan war. End the fighting, make things better. Do that for me.”
