“His name is Tommy. And I’m going to the library while you do your alpha thing.” I wave him away, partially annoyed at his antics. But truthfully, I just don’t want to be seen as part of it. When all of this is over, I don’t want to be the girl that sent her boyfriend to pick on the other supernaturals. I really don’t need an entire caste to hate me.
“Come with me to the main hall, then you can go to the library with Laithe. I’m not leaving you alone here.”
I purse my lips but abandon my barely touched cider and follow him up the stairs.
“Laithe,” Jarron calls once we reach the main hall. A moment later, a demon boy with thin, sharp features rounds the corner. His skin is a dark red, eyes pitch black, and he has two short horns on the side of his head. I haven’t talked much with Laithe, so this’ll be a first.
“Stay with her. I’ll be back in an hour or so.”
Great. A demon bodyguard.
Without a word, Laithe follows me to the library. A crash reverberates down the hall once we reach the stairs to the massive library. I ignore it. I don’t want to hear the yelling or snarling as Jarron takes part in his pissing match.
“Does it ever bother you?” I ask as we descend the stairs toward the section of the library I intend to search.
“What?” Laithe asks.
“Doing his bidding?”
“Not usually,” he answers in his quiet tone. “I’m not a fan of leaving him to fight while I play guardian angel.”
I snort. “Guardian angel, huh?”
He shrugs. “Not that I mind guarding you. I don’t. You’re important to him, so you’re important to me.”
“Did it bother you when you were bumped down on the list?” I ask. I’ve never had the chance to ask that question to either him or Stassi. Or Manuela, for that matter.
“No. Stassi was annoyed at first but then immediately started planning your wedding when he learned the reason.”
I chuckle.
“We’ve always known a lover would take the first place eventually. You were simply a surprise. Or at least, the timing was a surprise.”
“Hmm.”
“I’m sure Jarron would have liked to take a slower approach to your relationship—I’m aware you were as surprised as anyone—but royals don’t always have that opportunity.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, the questions around your relationship put you at an increased risk. The moment it’s clear there’s interest, most royals slap a label on it immediately—usually involving a mark.”
I groan. Not more talk about marks.
“It labels you as untouchable. That in-between time can be dangerous. Jarron has had to do a bit more work to make it clear you’re his since you’re opposed to it.”
I grimace but ignore the comment. “But doesn’t it bother you that your whole life has to revolve around him?”
“I don’t see it that way, to be honest. We are linked but I am not a slave. I could choose to leave, if I wanted but I don’t think you realize what my life would be like without him. Without this honor of being his second.”
My lips part. “You don’t have to tell me,” I say slowly. “But if you’re willing, I wouldn’t mind hearing it.”
He swallows. “I’ll give you the truncated version. Two of my brothers starved the summer before I was chosen. The mountain range my family is native to had become barren after a conflict broke out between us and another family, destroying the land. So, we struggled. I would still be there, scrounging for scraps and killing for even a mouthful of food, if not for Jarron.”
“Couldn’t you leave that mountain range in search for something else?”
“We could, but it would have significantly weakened us. We are bound to the magic of the soil we were born to. We require an anchor. We can only thrive outside of our homeland if we find a replacement bond, but that is tricky business. Anyone with royal blood can become that source. There are thousands with royal blood but millions that desire the bond. It’s an absolute miracle that I happened to catch the eye of the heir. The strongest in all my world. My family is doted upon now. My honor is high.”
“How did he find you?”
