She deserved more.
She deserved to sit as his side—and she would.
Mary’s sacrifice would draw him back and he’d witness Tilda’s efforts to keep their fae relevant against all odds. He’d remember why they fell in love. Why they were so good together. And she would take her rightful place in the fae realm, leaving the disgusting humans far behind. Perhaps Anton would even forgive Mary’s blindness, her sacrifice allowing her to be brought home in the Exodus. A weakling molded into a hero by a determined mother.
Yes.
These last thirteen years could not be in vain. Tilda’s life could not.
Efforts paid off. Cunning. Decisiveness. That’s what she’d been taught.
Moreover, Anton valued those things above all else. He’d value them from her.
Yes, an alliance earned Anton his worthiness before. It would work for Tilda this time.
“For me and Mary he will come.” Tilda snatched her teacup back up and took a long sip, enjoying the tangy burn in her throat. “You’ve no reason to doubt.”
Leaning against the fireplace, Anton regarded her with a dark smirk. “Love. Ever the enemy, even to immortals despite its stupidly human quality. Nothing but a useless notion that can rip houses apart, sow division. And for what? A bit of fucking?” He spat on the ground. “Nonetheless love is why I need the fae on my side in the battle against the High Order and their followers, isn’t it? I might be more powerful than any of them individually, but because of the new king’s compassion and understanding, they have numerous newly mated vampires among their ranks. They are led by two of them in Jonas and Elias. And that makes them too volatile. Too desperate with their untapped power. Once again, love. Fucking everything up for the rest of us.” He flicked a piece of ash from his shoulder. “I will allow us to proceed.” Hard eyes landed on Tilda, each of her muscles tightening, vibrating like tuning forks. “But I suggest you check in with your daughter and her chauffeur. Impress upon them the importance of a timely arrival.”
Tilda knew when to bow her head and she did so now. “Yes. I’d planned on it.”
As soon as Hadrian strode from the room, he slammed the door shut with a flick of his index finger, leaving the door rattling on its hinges.
Tilda went to the window and smoked a cigarette with a trembling hand before calling the vampire. She could only imagine the challenges he must be facing keeping Mary concealed and even-tempered. Though this change in plans caused Tilda some awkwardness with Hadrian, she couldn’t help but feel unburdened. Lighter without Mary’s well-being to worry about. “Fancy Fangs Driving Service,” Tucker answered. “How many I help you?”
Tilda rolled her eyes. “I’d like to speak to my daughter, please.”
Some muffled words, followed by a beat of silence. “Hello, Mother.”
“Mary.” She put a smile into her voice. “Where are you? How are you?”
“Great,” breathed Mary and somehow Tilda could sense her looking at the vampire fondly. Too fondly. “Tucker bought me a light-up crown. It looks like my radiance is coming from the crown, instead of me. No one has even commented on it.”
A pang of guilt caught Tilda in her breast. Maybe she should have made more of an effort to give Mary some normalcy? To show her the world beyond their small apartment?
As quickly as the guilt intruded, she shooed it away. She’d given everything to her child. Her marriage. Her chance at being taken in the last Exodus. She had nothing to feel bad about. “That’s fantastic. You’ll have to show it to me when you arrive.” Tilda set her teeth. “I expect that to be soon, Mary. Please inform your driver there is no need to stop for toys. Our destiny awaits us—and he is not a part of it. He’s merely a facilitator.” When Mary remained silent, Tilda sighed. “Let me speak to the vampire again.”
Tucker’s voice was in her ear a moment later, sounding far less jovial than before. “Yes?”
“Have my daughter here by Tuesday, please.”
A few seconds passed. “It’s Sunday morning. You said to have her at the manor by ‘this time next week.’ That’s a Saturday, according to calendars.”
“Plans change.”
But hers wouldn’t.
Tilda hung up the phone without waiting for a response.
* * *
Tucker needed sleep.
It was rare for a vampire to give in to such a human condition as tiredness. Over the course of a month, he usually slept twice.
But it wasn’t for the sake of exhaustion that he craved unconsciousness. He just wanted to forget for a while that he’d lied to Mary about something so fucking important. It didn’t matter that he’d lied about the mechanics of matehood for her own good, he’d hurt her feelings. Granted, he’d never expected Mary to be so upset over the news that he’d find a mate someday. Never saw that coming at all. Just like he’d never expected her to want his touch.