Everyone froze at that.
“HMC?” Rage growled.
“Probably stands for High Mage Council,” Justice said.
All four boys cursed at the same time.
“Could we get by without it?” Rage asked.
Noble grimaced. “Not now that we’ve taken on all the other shifter races. We’d have to cut back on a lot of spending, including what we spend on our guards and weaponry. The HMC payments account for fifty percent of our yearly earnings.”
Rage’s eyes grew so wide I thought his eyeballs might pop out. “Fifty percent! And you’re just now telling me this?”
Noble growled at his brother. “We’ve had other things on our plates, what with Nai’s disappearance, the blood mage attacks, and Justice nearly dying. I was going to investigate once things settled down.”
Rage rubbed his temples. “You’re right. I’m sorry. So what do we do? How do we get out of having to take care of people that aren’t even ours!”
“Or…” I put up a finger. “You just go along and take care of Mageville. I know it’s not ideal, but … you did inherit a contract … and you’re spending the money they pay you—”
“Oh. My. Mage!” Rage snarled, turning toward me. “Whose side are you on?”
Wait.
“What?” I asked.
“Are you really trying to convince me to go along with the high mage’s exploitation of our people? To honor a contract that my crooked uncle signed?”
“No! That is not what I said.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m just saying pick your battles—and I don’t think this is one of them.” I had yet to tell him about the portal threat they’d made.
Rage stood up so fast his throne fell back onto the stone with a loud crash. “I can’t believe this, Nai.” He shook his head, his eyes narrowed with anger. “It actually happened. You took their side. You’re one of us, but you’re siding withthem.”
Them?
“I’m not takingtheirside, Rage,” I snapped, heat creeping into my cheeks. “And I’m not just an alpha heir; I’m half high mage too. Iamone of them!” I sucked in a deep breath and tried to control my tone. “I’m not trying to favor anyone here. I’m saying we should compromise, work together to achieve a common goal. Right now, you guys need the money, and they need the mages protected.”
Rage looked down at me, his chest heaving. Through our bond, I could feel this simmering frustration, but I wasn’t about to back down from what I believed.
“I hear you say you’re not taking a side, but that’s not what this feels like, Nai. Compromise involves both sides giving and both sides getting. We give ourlivesso the high mages can stay safe on their protected island. It seems to me like the wolves take all the risks. And you’re telling us we should take these risks for money. That seems an awful lot like taking a side. I don’t care about money. I care about not losing one more man.”
“That is not true.” I shot out of my chair, hands balled into fists. “What I’m saying is … well, Kian said … they threatened—”
“I don’t want to argue with you anymore,” Rage said, looking down at me with disappointment. “I need some sleep. We can talk later.” He turned and was halfway down the stairs before I could even process what was happening. ‘Good night, Nai.’ His words in my head were clipped, and my heart sank in my chest.
And then he left the room.
Big fat tears welled in my eyes, and Honor nuzzled his head into my thigh as Justice stepped closer to me, awkwardly running his hands through his hair.
“Nai, he’s just really stressed—” Justice started.
“Goodnight, guys.” I said a hasty goodbye to the other Midnight brothers and then left the throne room with tears in my eyes. Rage and I had fought plenty of times before we’d sealed the bond, but somehow, this time hurt the most. I didn’t want to be here anymore, I wanted to be as far away from all things Midnight as possible. I needed my bestie. A little visit to the Harvest girls was in order.
Chapter Ten
I wipedmy tears and then knocked softly on the Harvest girls’ dorm room door. The second it opened, I came face to face with my redheaded bestie, and then she screamed like a dolphin being attacked. Throwing herself at me, she pulled me in for the most suffocating and best hug of my life.
“Nai! Dammit, girl, I missed you.”
Fiona, Nell, Rue, and Mele popped into view behind Kaja, and more screeching commenced—some of it was even mine. Everything Rage and I had talked about was forgotten for now. I was in my Harvest girl bubble, and all was right with the world.
