Chapter Ten
The hall was vast. It stretched upward in elegant arches of stone and light, the ceiling alive with slow-moving constellations that shifted as if it was breathing.
Voices layered over one another: some hushed, some fervent, as beings from every faction gathered in loose lines or lingered along the edges, weighing courage against fear.
Some came seeking advice.Some came seeking mediation.Others simply came to look upon her.
Katarina Rothvale. The High Queen
She sat elevated upon the dais, not distant but undeniable, her presence filling the space without effort.
Skin the colour of warm honey caught the light like polished gold, and her eyes, huge, impossibly brown, held a depth that made even the most battle-hardened warriors hesitate. There was kindness there. Steel too.
The mother of all Supernaturals.
The one who kept the Council in line. Her Mates.
And beside her...arrayed like living weapons barely leashed...sat the High Leaders themselves.
Alastair of the Fae, elegant and unreadable. Lennox of the Shifters, broad and watchful.Kael of the Dragons, heat shimmering faintly around him.Ezekiel of the Fallen Angels, sitting straight, expression serene.And Mareken of the Demons, power rolling off him in waves.
Dominik tensed the instant they crossed the threshold. His gaze lifted involuntarily, straight to the dais, and locked with Mareken’s.
Fuck.
The demon High Leader’s eyes narrowed instantly, ancient intelligence sharpening as he assessed. Calculating. Already running through possibilities. Already wondering why his people were standing here instead of hunting a rogue demon across the countryside.
Rian, at Dominik’s left, followed his line of sight and muttered under his breath, “Fuck. I didn’t think they’d be here.”
Joshua scoffed quietly from the other side. “Yeah? Why wouldn’t they be?” His lips curled. “Would you let your mate hold open court surrounded by on-edge supernaturals alone? I sure as fuck wouldn’t.”
Before anyone could respond, Kael’s gaze shifted. It landed on them.
All four of them stilled as if a blade had been drawn across the room. A faint glimmer of amusement touched the Draconis leader’s mouth as he leaned toward the High Queen and whispered something in her ear.
She turned toward them fast. The entire hall seemed to hold its breath.
Then she smiled. The shift was immediate, and devastating. Warmth flooded the room like sunlight after rain, and the tension snapped just enough for lungs to draw breath again. At the same moment, a low, dangerous growl rippled outward from Mareken, shadows pooling instinctively at his feet.
The Queen turned her head slightly, murmured something to him, and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. The demon stilled. The shadows receded.
And all four of them: Dominik, Rian, Joshua, and Cameron, released the breath they hadn’t realized they were holding.
Cameron leaned in and murmured, “Are you sure this is the right call?”
Rian didn’t hesitate. “We don’t have any other choice.”
Their turn came quickly. They stepped forward onto the platform below the dais, passing through a faint shimmer: a bubble of concealment that dulled sound and sight to those outside it. Privacy, sanctioned by the Queen herself.
All four dropped to one knee in perfect unison.
“High Queen,” they echoed. Heads bowed low.
“We thank you for your time,” Dominik said evenly.
“Please rise, protectors,” her voice reached them, soft, warm, threaded with quiet authority.
As they stood, Rian and Joshua made eye contact with their High Leader, Lennox, and received a short nod in acknowledgement. But before any of them could speak again, Mareken’s voice cut through the air, gruff and edged with a growl.
“Dominik. Why is your team here?” His gaze was sharp. “This is not the place for Agency updates.”
Dominik inclined his head. “High Leader Mareken, we are not here as representatives of the Protection Agency. And I am not here as their overseer.” He met the demon’s gaze squarely. “I stand here as their equal.”
Cameron stepped forward then, turning his attention fully to the Queen. “High Queen, we come before you seeking guidance regarding our mate.”
The Queen leaned back slightly, her smile widening into something radiant.
“Oh Congratulations,” she said warmly. “I am so very happy you finally found her.” A beat passed. Then her brows drew together. “Though… if you’re here, something must have gone wrong. What is the problem?”
Joshua swallowed. “High Queen, with the utmost respect… may we speak privately about this matter?”
Five growls erupted instantly. Ezekiel’s was barely restrained, Lennox had a snarl on his face, Alastair reached out immediately and touched Katarina’s shoulder, as if to ground himself. Kael’s growl was sharp and vicious while Mareken’s was dark and territorial.
“You will not request to speak with our mate privately,” Lennox snarled.
Dominik nodded faintly, as if he’d anticipated this response the moment he’d seen them seated beside her.
Then the High Queen spoke. Her voice was still gentle, but it rang with command.
“This is my court, is it not?” she said calmly. “I will be the one to grant or deny any request made here. Is that understood?”
The High Leaders inclined their heads, chastened.
She turned back to the four before her. “That said…” Her gaze sharpened with curiosity. “I don’t see what couldn’t be said in front of the Council...unless…” Her head tilted slightly. “This is an intimate concern?”
Mareken’s demon surged. Horns elongated in a heartbeat, shadows boiling outward in a violent swell of instinctive fury.
The four of them recoiled instantly, horror plain on their faces.
“Gods...no!” Joshua blurted.
“We apologize for the misunderstanding, High Queen, High Leaders,” Cameron said quickly. “This matter is not of that nature.”
The Queen leaned toward Mareken again, whispering something too soft to hear. His demon retreated at once, horns receding, shadows dissolving. For a single moment he looked almost startled, then masked it.
The Queen’s attention returned to them. “Then what is it about?”
Rian opened his mouth. Closed it. Tried again. “It’s… It’s quite a complicated story. We...I—”
“Does it have anything to do with the fact that your case has not yet been resolved?” Mareken interjected, one brow lifting, voice threaded with a low growl.
The Queen shot him a sideways look. “Alright,” she said mildly.
Then she addressed the four again. “How about this. You head back through that door to the conference room.” she pointed to her right. “And once I’ve finished here, we’ll continue this discussion privately.” Her gaze softened. “That will give you time to organize your thoughts. Is that acceptable?”
“Yes, High Queen,” they said together, bowing deeply.
As they turned to leave, Cameron lingered half a step behind. “Thank you for your time,” he said sincerely. “We truly appreciate your help.”
She nodded once in acknowledgment.
And as they exited the court, the weight of what they’d set in motion settled fully upon them.