Chapter 57: Your Trojan Horse Is Showing, Thunderfang

Maverick looked at Derek the way you look at a good hand of cards right before you lay down a better one.

"Great speech, Thunderfang," he said. "Compelling stuff. But let’s take a breath and acknowledge the obvious, which is that you’re doing all of this to get the girl. That slave ecosystem pitch is a Trojan horse and every wolf here with a pulse can see the horse."

It was at this point that Kai surfaced from his screen for the first time. He scanned the crowd, located Nova in the Emberclaw section, and his face went through the five stages of "what the fuck," starting with surprise that she was standing in the front, confusion on why the Emberclaw Alpha was touching her, offense that the conversation was about the slave, irritation that the slave was the only reason he was still trapped in this circus, and ending on a squint of mild intrigue because something was different about her. He just couldn’t put his finger on it.

He gave a knowing nod after a minute. She was still glowing. Then he went back to his holo-feed like if he ignored it hard enough it would become someone else’s slave.

"But let’s play it out," Maverick continued. "You want her assigned to Celeste as a personal slave. You think a newly mated Luna wants the woman her husband tried to buy standing in her kitchen every morning? She doesn’t. Has anyone asked her? I’m sure the princess would agree that a fresh start in Thunderfang would be better than sharing a house with the girl her new mate tried to buy. She’s the future Luna of your pack. Give her the dignity of clean air."

Derek’s smile widened, slow and dangerous, the kind that started at one corner of his mouth and took its time reaching the other because the journey was part of the performance.

"She’s an Alpha’s daughter raised in a ranked household, and if she can’t share a home with a girl in silver cuffs without having a crisis, that’s a her problem, Emberclaw. That argument died on arrival. And if I were the princess, I’d want a refund on the insult. It also doesn’t change the fact that her other option is coming to Emberclaw to ensure a slave isn’t crowned."

Celeste’s face went on a journey that should have required a passport. She agreed with Maverick first, her chin dipping a fraction as the words ’fresh start’ and ’clean air’ landed in the part of her brain that never wanted to see Nova again. Then Derek’s rebuttal hit and she agreed with that too, her jaw setting with the pride of a woman who was absolutely capable of coexisting with a slave and how dare anyone suggest otherwise.

Then Maverick’s point circled back and she realized agreeing with Derek meant agreeing to have Nova in her household permanently, and her expression performed a U-turn. She settled on a tight, diplomatic smile that said absolutely nothing because it was a coin flip between two futures she wanted to set on fire.

Maverick took the opening that Celeste’s face had accidentally created.

"I respect the Starborne princess," he stated. "This is not about capability. The princess deserves a household that doesn’t come preloaded with a complication. I wouldn’t put her or any woman in that position."

"Enough," Landon boomed. "One hundred and twenty million. I take both. The princess comes as my Luna and gets the crown. The slave comes with her as my property. The thirty-year exclusive trade corridor on the eastern hovergrid lanes stays on the table." He paused. "Take that offer Starborne."

"Tiny wrinkle in the master plan, brother." Derek raised his hand. "She’s an unmated woman. That’s this whole Mandate. The elders will notice the difference in approximately three minutes after their tablets tell them to. Hence why she comes to me."

Landon didn’t spare him a glance.

"Offer stands, Starborne," he repeated. "I take 7709. The princess can come to Thunderfang as our Luna. Or if she prefers Emberclaw, I will honor that. Her choice."

Derek dragged his hand down his face. "So we’re back to square one. A slave can’t be crowned. Remember?"

He turned to the princess.

"I doubt you’ll get a voice here. But let’s pretend they are going to give you one. What sounds better? Door number one. You go to Emberclaw with your slave."

He gestured at the Emberclaw section where Maverick had Nova crushed against his chest, nuzzling her hair like a man who had found religion and did not care who watched. "That’s your breakfast table for the next sixty years."

Derek gave her one clean second to stare, the kind that says yes, that’s real, swallow it.

"Or, door number two," he continued, before waving at Landon, whose eyes were locked on Nova. "Thunderfang Alpha and slave. Different restaurant. Same menu."

Celeste stared at Landon hard enough to give him a nosebleed by telepathy. Landon continued to eye-fuck her slave without noticing. Her face hardened into an expression that said over my dead body.

"Or, door number three." Derek spread his arms wide, presenting himself. "Give your slave to this guy, right here. Available. Charming. Willing to absorb one slave girl into my life so that you can take the Thunderfang crown and have your fairy tale ending."

Starborne looked at the crowd. Then at all three men. Then at his daughter, who was standing in the rain looking like a woman whose fairy tale had been hijacked by an annoying, selfish slave who rigged this entire thing.

He was weighing variables behind a face that gave away nothing. Even though Lucian Starborne was a prick, he was an Alpha with alliances, and he knew this move would make at least one of these two packs want him dead. Fine.

"Gentlemen, I appreciate the generosity. Truly. But this is not fully up to me. My answer will depend on my daughter’s assigned mate."

He turned to the elder panel with both palms open.

"Assign my daughter to an Alpha. Once she has her match, I’ll be able to respond to these offers accordingly."

The easy button. Pass the decision to the elders. The smartest play because it meant he couldn’t be blamed by whichever Alpha got stiffed.

Celeste shot Nova a look that communicated exactly how she felt about Nova as a person, as a visual, and spiritually.

Nova ignored it. It wasn’t the first. It wouldn’t be the last. Hopefully, wherever she went, Celeste would go to the other pack. Amen.