Jazz arched a brow. “Kingdom?”
Zane shot his brother a look. “Ignore him.”
Titus’s lips twitched. “Cade enjoys being dramatic.”
Cade lifted his glass in a mock toast. “I enjoy being accurate.” Jazz couldn’t quite tell if he was joking or making a point. His words held a lightness, but beneath them, something harder lurked. Achallenge, maybe. Or a warning. She wasn’t sure which, and that uncertainty sent a flicker of unease throughher.
She folded her arms, tilting her head. “Accurate how?”
Cade took a slow sip of his drink, clearly enjoying the moment. “Think about it, little sister. Adynasty built on family, loyalty, and success. Aleader at the helm.” He gestured toward Titus with his glass. “The king. An enforcer who keeps order.” He inclined his head toward Zane. “And a chief to guide the strategy and keep things running smoothly.” He tapped his own chest with an easygrin.
Jazz glanced at Titus, half-expecting him to dismiss it outright. Instead, he merely held her gaze, his expressionunreadable.
“So what does that make me?” she asked, her voice steady despite the flicker of apprehension creepingin.
Cade’s smile widened. “That’s the real question, isn’t it? Maybe Queen?”
Jazz wasn’t sure how to respond to that, so she settled for a polite smile.
Across the room, Sam poured his second—or was it third?—glass of champagne. His laughter rang out just a little too loudly, his gestures exaggerated, his attempts at casual conversation forced.
Jazz narrowed her eyes, watching him. Something was off. His issues had been resolved—at least, they were supposed to have been. So why did he seem so nervous? Was it just old habits, or was there something more lingering beneath the surface? Apart of her wanted to go over there, press him, make him admit whatever was gnawing at him, but she hesitated. Sam was a gambler in more ways than one. If he was hiding something, would he even tell herthe truth?
Instead, she watched, noting every too-wide grin, every overly eager gesture, filing it away for later.
To her relief, her sisters Poppy and Lily approached, their warmth immediate. Poppy’s elfin features softened into a smile as she took Jazz’s hands. Jazz caught the way her sister studied her, searching, as if making sure she was truly all right.
Then Poppy’s expression eased, relief flickering in her eyes. “It’s good to see you this morning.”
Lily, equally welcoming, but far more outrageous chimed in. “You must be exhausted. Iimagine Titus can be… a lot.”
Jazz let out a soft laugh, warmth blazing in her chest. “That’s one way to putit.”
But beneath her amusement, something deeper stirred. She should feel exposed, maybe even embarrassed at how easily her happiness showed, but she didn’t. Instead, aquiet sense of pridesettled inher.
She had chosen this, chosen him, and for the first time, she realized she wasn’t second-guessing herself. The thought was startling—and maybe a little terrifying. She knew she should temper her reaction, keep things neutral, but it was impossible to hide the lingering glow of last night, the way her body warmed with the memory of Titus’s hands, his mouth, the way he had made her feel cherished and wanted in ways she hadn’t expected.
She met Lily’s gaze and caught the knowing glint in her eyes, as if she could see right through her. Jazz simply took another sip of her mimosa, unwilling to give anything away justyet.
Poppy’s eyes flickered down, catching the delicate gold pendant resting against Jazz’s collarbone. “Oh! That’s beautiful,” she said, reaching out to gently touch the charm. “Titus got this for you?”
Lily leaned in, studying the fine detail of the phoenix. “It’s stunning. And fitting. Aphoenix—rebirth, strength… Ilike it.”
Jazz’s fingers brushed over the pendant, feeling the warmth of the metal against her skin. “He gave it to me this morning. Said it suits me.”
Poppy smiled. “I love that. It’s thoughtful. And definitely more meaningful than just a random gift.”
Jazz wasn’t sure how to respond to that, so she let out a small laugh, brushing a thumb over the charm. “I guess it is.”
Behind Poppy, her husband lingered, Soren’s expression unreadable. He stood close to his wife, his posture protective, his incisive gaze sweeping over Jazz before flicking to Titus. There was tension there.
Jazz knew why. She thought back to everything that had led to this moment—the tangled history between Titus, Soren, and Poppy. Titus had once set his sights on Poppy, believing she was meant to be his wife, but fate had other plans.
Poppy had married Soren, and their history had been complicated from the start. Titus had oncebeen engaged to Poppy, not out of love but because of a premeditated arrangement created by their father, Sam. When she chose Soren instead, Titus had let her go, but turned his attention to Jazz. To this day, she didn’t know why he’d chosen her overLily.
And yet... She’d married him, anyway. That choice had felt inevitable, like a pull she couldn’t resist, yet now it left her questioning everything. Did she make the decision for herself, or had she simply been swept up in the force that was Titus Dante? Did she truly understand him, or had she only scratched the surface of a man who revealed only what he wanted others tosee?
The thought unsettled her. And yet, beneath the uncertainty, there was something else—something warm, something terrifyingly certain. Apart of her didn’t regret it atall.
