However, I did elbow Asa for not warning me about the use of the title.
I was not a princess.
“Forgive me, sire, but your orders confuse me.” She linked her hands at her spine. “The missive led me to believe you wish for us to protect this town.” She waited a beat. “Full of humans.”
“Those are your orders, yes.” He gave her a moment to digest that. “However, if you’re unable to fulfill that simple task, then I’m more than happy to appoint a new centurion.” He gestured to a male behind her with orange spikes jutting down his sides. “Tiago would serve in your place with honor.”
“Yes, sire.” Tiago jogged over. “It would be my pleasure.”
Moran whipped a blade from her belt, pivoted toward Tiago, and sank it in his gut then kicked him over to groan and bleed on the moldering hay.
“That won’t be necessary, sire.” A line furrowed her brow. “I merely wished to ensure our first mission for you is a successful one. If you desire these humans be protected, then we will guard them with our lives to our last man.”
Sympathy for Moran’s plight won out over caution. Here she was, called into service for the first time, and rather than a battleground, she found herself assigned to a quiet town full of mortals. I could see why she would be confused, maybe a little offended too.
“I assume we have your discretion.” I waited for her nod. “Then I will tell you this. I’m planning a coup against my grandfather.” Her blank expression told me word hadn’t reached them, but it would soon. “The director of the Black Hat Bureau.”
The slight widening of her eyes was all the surprise she betrayed, but an eager glint quickly replaced it.
“You have chosen your mate well,” she congratulated Asa. “She is a fiercer creature than I had heard.”
“Yes, well, this town is my home. These people—these humans—are my family. I’m giving you the most important task I will ever assign.” I read her doubt and was quick to allay her worries. “Enemies have already attacked my chosen family, and that was before I picked a side. The director, and all his enemies and allies, will target this place. It’s your job to ensure I don’t lose the war by coming home to fight every battle for myself.”
“Yes, my lady.” She bowed lower than before. “It is our honor to serve and protect.”
“My cousin will be our liaison.” I couldn’t think of a better go-between than Aedan. He had a personal stake in the outcome of any fight. And, as much as I hated to admit it, her name was Arden. “He’s Aquatae. I assume that won’t be an issue for you?”
“We have several in our number,” she assured me. “Our legion is comprised of many different species.”
“Good.” I shook her hand. “It was a pleasure to meet you.”
Leaving Asa to finalize our plans, I stepped out for some air to find Clay wearing an odd little smile.
“You made a boo-boo.” He tweaked my nose. “You told her your cousin would play liaison.”
“And?” It hit me a minute later. “I admitted my cousin is a daemon.”
If she dug into my family history, she might realize I was Haelian Sea royalty, and that would not do.
“Don’t beat yourself up over it.” He shrugged. “Now that you’re mated to a daemon, people will feel validated for suspecting your dad wasn’t pure black witch.” He watched me sag on my bones. “Moran is sworn into Asa’s service. Hand down an order not to spread the gossip, if that’s a yowling cat you want to wrap in a straitjacket and then shove back into the bag before you toss it in a river.”
“I’m glad you caught it.” I turned to go back but bumped into Asa halfway. “I need a word with Moran.”
“She won’t tell anyone about Aedan’s relationship to you. Neither will the others.”
“Did everyone catch that but me?” I slumped where I stood. “I’m slipping.”
“You’re exhausted, and you’re stressed about your father. And your mother. And your grandfather.”
“I’m the deputy director.” I heard myself say it, but it didn’t sound real. “Me.” The person who, a year ago, would have cheered Dad on while he burned down the establishment. “I can’t brain right now.”
“That’s why you have me.” Asa gripped my shoulders, steadied me. “And Colby. And Clay. And Aedan.”
The way he broke it up made it easier for me to balance the scales in my mind. I had a lot on my plate, but I had even more going for me. I could do this. I could make this work until I decided which team to ultimately choose. Either way, Dad wouldn’t survive, and that gutted me.
Almost as much as him ditching me for the ghost of my mother.
“I couldn’t do this without you.” I pressed my face into his shirt. “Even if you did let them call me princess.”