“I know I’m young, and I’m well aware it’s is a huge decision,” Tess said. “If you can trust me enough to plan on marrying me, you can trust me enough to know my own mind about this too.”

Julian said in Melly’s head, She has a point there.

Despite the obvious tension between the other two, he sounded amused. Melly rubbed her mouth to hide her smile. Don’t make my face do something inappropriate. This is serious stuff, Julian.

Look at him, Julian said. Look underneath all his surface emotions. He’s so stinking happy.

Julian was right, Xavier was. His love for the young human woman came through in every word and gesture. The same could also be said of Tess. Even as Xavier and Tess exchanged a deeply exasperated glance, they both softened toward the other.

“Your argument has become irrelevant,” said Julian. Quickly Xavier and Tess spun toward him. They both opened their mouths. Julian raised his hand. “Stop. As soon as Tess asked me to turn her, it became a conversation between her and me.”

“I am part of that conversation,” Xavier said furiously.

Julian speared him with a glance. “Yes, but you are not in control of it. She has to make decisions for herself. I make decisions for myself.”

“Thank you,” Tess said, sitting up straight.

“And,” Julian added, “Xavier will make his own decisions too. Tess, there are so many reasons why Vampyres use a year as a probation period. As obvious as this might sound, becoming a Vampyre is irrevocable. If you still want this a year from now, I’ll turn you myself whether you’re still with Xavier or not. In the meantime, eat chocolate and steak. Get a suntan. Take the time to relish all the human things you’ll leave behind.” He said to Xavier, “If that affects whether or not you’ll agree to be regent, so be it. Now, I’m finished with this discussion. Melly and I are dog tired, and I have to meet with the council this evening. All I need is your answer.”

Xavier and Tess exchanged another quick glance.

Then Xavier told him firmly, “Yes. If you can talk the council into accepting a regency, I’ll do it.”

Oh, yay.

Melly was pretty sure relief lay on the other side of a great divide. She couldn’t connect to the emotion – or to any emotion, for that matter. Her belly felt lovely and full, all the danger was gone, and suddenly her body demanded she go horizontal as soon as possible.

“I’m cooked,” she said. “I’m out.”

Vaguely she was aware that the other three came to their feet, but it all happened on the other side of that divide. She walked into Julian’s bedroom, kicked off her boots and crawled fully clothed underneath the covers. The world began to spin away on formless clouds.

Suddenly Julian was there.

“Oh, baby.” His voice was very gentle. “Not in your clothes. You deserve so much better than that.”

With an immense effort, she managed to respond. “S’okay. I don’t care.”

“I care.” He pulled back the covers and eased her clothes off.

She let him. “How much time do we have?”

He hesitated. “I’ve set the alarm for four hours. That will allow enough time to shower first and meet with Carling.”

A four-hour nap sounded like heaven.

“You know, I have to say this,” he said as he slid into the bed beside her. He had stripped out of his clothes too. “You don’t have to come with me. You could sleep longer. God only knows you need the rest.”

“Fuck you,” she mumbled into her pillow. “Fuck that.” We’ve already discussed this. “I’m good to go, soldier. Just lemme.” Take the nap first.

“You’re so tired, you’re switching back and forth from telepathy.” He pulled her into his arms, and she curled around his body.

She had been trying to figure out which method of speech took the least effort, but she couldn’t decide. Meanwhile, the long, physical bulk of his presence was so soothing, and her head fit onto his shoulder so perfectly.

Yes, exactly there. That was home.

She plummeted to sleep.

Four and a half hours later, she and Julian walked hand-in-hand into the empty council assembly hall, accompanied by Xavier, Tess and Shane. Three more Light Fae guards stopped outside the doors.

The smaller assembly hall had been designed with classic simplicity, much like the great hall. Although Melly knew that chairs and tables were sometimes added for long meetings, currently it was devoid of furniture.

Melly had slept like the dead until Julian’s alarm had gone off. Coming awake had been painful, but a hot shower had helped, along with gulping a cup of piping-hot coffee and eating a croissant.

Someone had left clothes for her in the living room, along with the food and coffee. They were simple, black trousers and a black sweater, but they fit well enough. After braiding her hair, she wound it into a knot at the nape of her neck again.

Julian had already risen and dressed by the time she got up, and he was meeting with various people. When she walked into the living room, his office door was closed. She had eaten while listening to the muffled sounds of his and Yolanthe’s voices. There had been no more time to talk privately with him.

Now, nerves jumped underneath her skin again. She felt like she was about to go into another battle. Except what came next wasn’t her battle. It was Julian’s.

With a clang, the doors shut behind them. The next time they opened, it would be to let in the council.

She said in his head, I’m okay with whatever you decide. When it comes down to it, if you feel like you need to stay, I’ll support you no matter what. You get to have a real choice, Julian.

He came to a stop. The expression in his eyes was so vulnerable, it made her want to throw her arms around him and never let go.

He said, I don’t deserve you.

Well, that’s true, she told him gently, smiling. The important thing is that you recognize it.

His hand tightened on hers. I had the Harley delivered. It’s waiting for us in the public parking lot, just inside the gate.

It took a moment for his words to sink in. Then she remembered their conversation from earlier in his office, and a burst of pure joy filled her chest.

He pulled out his phone and made a call. He said, “We’re here.”

Almost immediately the whirling Power of a Djinn filled the empty space. Three figures solidified. Melly recognized all of them.