"We're not trying to replace her," Raffian replied after cursing under his breath for a moment. "We are trying to make sure Grey House continues with the level of talent that we currently have. Melida is from a strong family of wizards. We have to take this opportunity while we have it."
"Lissa does not ask me to come to her. Or do anything for her. She also does not come to me—for any reason," Karzac sighed. He was regretting his refusal to climb into bed with her when she asked after waking. It was the first time she'd made a request since learning Grace was pregnant. Lissa hadn't asked again, and Karzac had not failed to notice. He'd been the one to make the overture—every time. "If you think this will not drive a wedge between Lissa and Shadow," Karzac continued, "then you need to think again."
"That is not our intention, but we have no control over the emotions of others," Glendes spoke for the first time.
"You think not? Drop this now and Lissa will remain with Shadow. Bring this to her and see how things turn out." Karzac whirled and strode off angrily.
* * *
"Lissa, Glendes and Raffian are here to see you." Kiarra had come into my borrowed bedroom at Gryphon Hall while I was dressing. I'd gotten cleaned up by myself, though Karzac had told me to wait for him to help. I was still shaky and weak, but it was only because my body hadn't done anything while I'd traveled as energy across the universes. I knew that if I dropped my body right then and there, I'd feel strong again. I had to shove that thought aside—there were things out there waiting for me—things that I could deal with only in a solid body.
"Is something wrong? Is Shadow all right?" My heart stuttered into a gallop at the thought.
"Shadow is fine, I believe; they only wish to talk to you," Kiarra replied, ducking her head. Well, if somebody isn't looking you in the eye, that means something is wrong. I was afraid to Look, now, to see what that something might be. "Do you need help getting to the kitchen?" Kiarra asked. "Adam and Merrill are both here, or I can call someone else."
"I'll get myself there," I muttered. I did, although my legs felt like rubber when I arrived in Kiarra's beautiful kitchen. Adam kept it updated for her; I recognized his work.
Glendes and Raffian were already there, having a cup of tea while they waited on me. Neither one was smiling as I entered. Kiarra was walking as close to me as she could without putting hands directly on me. Well, this didn't look good. Not good at all. "Glendes, Raffian," I nodded to them, sliding onto one of the many barstools positioned around the kitchen island. Glendes and Raffian sat adjacent to me as Kiarra offered me something to drink. I declined. She took the stool next to mine and sat down with me.
"What's this about?" I said, right off. "Where is Shadow?"
"Shadow is working," Raffian replied. "We left him in his workshop this morning."
"Lissa, I want to preface our news with this—we do not wish to harm your relationship with Shadow in any way," Glendes said. "But it is in the best interest of Grey House for all our Master Wizards to have children, to ensure that Grey House remains as strong as it is. All our Master Wizards sign a contract with Grey House, when they are elevated to Master Wizard status. They are obligated to provide heirs who will carry on the Grey House tradition at the level of wizardry that is expected. We have received an offer from a neighboring wizard clan—and the match would be a good one for Shadow to have children. That is our goal in all this—for there to be children from this proposed union."
Honestly, I might have taken a direct punch in the face better than this. So many things raced through my brain at that moment, and all of them scattered, much like a flock of crows might before I could get a decent grip on any one of them.
"And how did you think this wouldn't damage our relationship?" I asked as calmly as I could when my breath came back. "And how will the other party react? Does she know that Shadow and I have been together?"
"She knows. She has no expectations," Raffian replied.
"No expectations?" That had to be a bald-faced lie. How could any woman approach a union, arranged or otherwise, with no expectations? "You expect her to play second fiddle in all this? She's the one who'll provide the heirs. Doesn't that imply expectations?" I was standing now, and breathing with difficulty. "And how do you think Shadow's children are going to react, when they see how their mother is treated in all this? You are both fools if you think they won't resent that." I was struggling to pull rings off my right index finger—Shadow's was in the middle. I finally got to it and slapped it down on the island in front of Glendes and Raffian. "There," I snapped, as strongly as I could muster breath to do it. "Shadow is free. He can do whatever he damn well pleases." I misted away.
* * *
"She's right, you know," Kiarra said, standing up. "About the children's feelings and the expectations. I have no idea if you planned this, Raffian Grey, but I have to tell you that I was right, all those years ago, to break the M'Fiyah between us. I wasn't guaranteed children then, either. And let me tell you, I would have kicked your ass before leaving, if you'd dumped this on me." Kiarra folded away.
Raffian reached out and drew the ring toward him with a finger. Shadow had crafted it himself, of gold and Tiralian crystal. It held a protection jewel—tuned to Lissa. No other would be able to wear it. "Dad, we've f**ked this up pretty good," he sighed. "We just destroyed the relationship between Shadow and his mate."
"That wasn't our intention—we told her that at the beginning," Glendes tried to defend himself, although he was now realizing that this might have been handled differently. Lira, his wife, had told him before he left Grey House that Lissa was fragile and he shouldn't be handling this. He should be allowing Shadow to approach Lissa at a more appropriate time. Now, he and Raffian were going to have to explain how they'd managed to destroy Shadow's union with the Queen of Le-Ath Veronis.
Chapter 2
"Lara'Kayan, they did not intend to hurt you. Not like this." Thurlow could find me. Fuck. I was sitting on a rocky outcropping overlooking a river on the northern continent of Harifa Edus. My perch was far from the werewolf settlements—they wouldn't know I was there and sobbing my heart out. Thurlow, well, he didn't know when to leave well enough alone. I was shivering, too, although Harifa Edus was in early summer. Thurlow wasn't touching me—he'd held back, much of the time. We had history, he and I, and he was waiting for forgiveness. I didn't know if it would ever come.