Crimson Truth (Onyx Assassins 4)

“If her loyalties are to the witches, then it’s a little hard to have her mated to an Assassin under this roof,” Talon noted, crossing his ankle over his knee and settling into the oversized arm chair like he was Eric-fucking-Northman.

I moved closer to Jocelyn and shoved my white dress-shirt sleeves up my arms. There were no new lies inked on my arms, which meant they believed everything they said or insinuated.

“Saint and Samuel are the very reason Jocelyn is here in the first place!” Hawke seethed, pushing off the wall.

Lachlan moved into his path. “Don’t let your emotions turn you into an arse.”

“They took Avianna!” Hawke roared.

Alek’s eyes stayed on Jocelyn, and I sure as hell noticed. He was deciding our fate, even with the utter madness in the room.

“And apparently gave her back,” Dagon countered. “Or is that some other vampire upstairs in her chamber?”

Hawke palmed a dagger.

“For being eight hundred years old, you sure as hell never learned when to shut the fuck up,” Ransom interjected, shaking his head at Dagon.

“He has a point,” Ajax added, lifting his brows at Dagon. “Like you can’t pick up on the energy there. Come on.”

“Stop it, now,” Zachariah shot a look at Dagon that I never wanted to see again. That fucker could be scary when he wanted.

“Everybody shut up!” Jocelyn shouted.

The room fell silent and every head turned her direction. She reached out her hand toward me and I took it, lacing our fingers as I stepped back to stand beside her instead of in front of her.

Like she needs a protector. She’s the fucking nuclear weapon in this room.

“You have every right to ask about my loyalties,” she continued, her voice steady even as her pulse skipped. “I might actually be the first vampire-witch hybrid, and it’s pretty logical to jump to the assumption that I’m going to skew someone’s balance.”

Alek walked forward and folded his arms across his chest. “You’re a variable in an equation that’s been solved for hundreds of years.”

“She’s not a variable,” I countered. “She’s mine.”

Alek’s gaze flicked toward me and he nodded. “That’s why she’s alive, brother.” He sighed and glanced over his shoulder at Lyric, who offered a reassuring smile. “No one in this room denies that she’s your mate. The bond is pretty fucking obvious.”

There was a murmur of assent.

“I don’t have to stay—” I started.

“You belong here,” he interrupted, shaking his head. “And so does your mate.” He turned his attention to Jocelyn. “But as wondrous as your existence is, and as much as Benedict loves you, you are the heiress to the covens. So, before we go any further in this discussion, I need to know where your loyalty lies, so I’ll ask you one more time: are you a witch or a vampire?”

Jocelyn swallowed, and I squeezed her hand.

“In biology, I’m both,” she answered.

Alek’s jaw ticked.

“But if you’re asking if I’ll stand with the witches, then you should know that it was my mother who tried to kill me.” Her chin rose. “She’s the one who has been negotiating with the Sons of Honor.”

Alek’s eyes flared with surprise, and there was a collective murmur of shock in the ones gathered behind him. He looked at me, his eyes questioning, seeking out his lie detector.

“She’s telling the truth.” Now would have been the perfect time to tell him that I apparently malfunctioned when it came to Jocelyn. That we all did. But I trusted my mate, and if they knew the truth, they’d see her as an even bigger threat.

“I stand with the vampires,” Jocelyn announced, her spine straight as she stared down our king. “With one caveat.”

Alek arched a single brow.

“That you support my sister should she be installed as heir,” Jocelyn finished. “She’s kind and smart, and compassionate. She’s everything our mother should be and is not. If you swear to me that Luna will have the protection of the Conclave, that the witches who were innocent in this plot will not be punished for the actions of others, then I’ll gladly consider you my king.”

Alek blinked once. Twice. “You are the rightful queen, and yet you’d subjugate yourself?”

She took a shaky breath and leaned into me slightly. “The covens will never accept me with these fangs, and they’d never accept Benedict as my mate. I’m not choosing you. I’m choosing him.” She squeezed my hand.

Alek looked long and hard at my mate and finally nodded. “Then let me be first to welcome you to the family.”

“I already did that!” Lyric called out.

Alek smiled and shook his head.

Jocelyn relaxed, her shoulders dropping and her pulse steadying as I pressed a kiss to her temple.

“Thank you,” I said to Alek, knowing how easily this could have gone the other direction. “I’ve never been wrong to place my faith in you.”