Chapter 53
Slade
Secrets. She undoubtedly had many. Was it a risk I was willing to take? I took another bite as everyone watched me, but Brianna dug into her grits before taking a swig of coffee and peered at me from over the mug. The two men of her inner court sat back and turned their attention to her, their brows furrowed. The look she gave them said ‘don’t question me.’
So, only Brianna knew what she was going for this morning. Neither her advisor, nor her ambassadors, had a clue what she was planning on doing. The human girl bit her lip. She knew.
Brianna set her cup down and took another bite as she found her food more interesting than my long hesitation. I mulled it over, what would I gain spreading the High Priestess' secrets? Probably death. Better I not tell, or I tell, and she rips me limb from limb, or her enemies would kill me anyway.
“I agree,” was all I said, going back to my food. That's when a presence took over me. It was inky and bright all at once, as it filtered past every wall and barrier I had created for protection. I met her eyes, which were focused on me, with my shocked ones.
“You are not to speak of anything in my personal life, of my family, of my court, or of any issues you become privy to in this house. Only superficial comments may be made, and you will die before you reveal any more about me without my blessing. The presence retreated, and she took another sip of coffee.
“The other allies I have gained are smaller sects and covens who have been liberated. They are not close to me. The type of alliance I am going to suggest may have you get to know me on a more personal level, and no, I’m not going to fuck you. The truth is, I have bonded with my soulmates, so a marriage of any kind is out of the question. What I propose is an illusion and a distraction. You will spend some time here during the weeks I am in New Orleans, not every time, but often enough to make people talk. We will be close allies, and nothing more, but people will see what they want when they see us together. This does, however, mean that my enemies will become yours. I will offer you my protection, to the best of my ability, from my place here. You will alert me of any harm threatened to your coven or person, and I will handle it. You will gain the status as my ally, and we will work to eradicate or educate other covens, as necessary, to aid our cause.
“Reform is on the horizon. I won't stand by any longer and watch the human witches come into their power in silence. At the end of the day, they are our brethren. I have seen first hand what they are capable of, and they deserve to learn to use it for the betterment of this world. Furthermore, you must keep your intimate relationships under wraps for the time being, as I will do with my own. You do not get a free pass to share my business”
“You found your soul bonded?” was the loudest question in my mind.
“Yes, and I'm very protective of them, so nobody can know. Andrew will stand in as regent when I am not in New Orleans and will also be your point of contact when I am not available.”
“That's unheard of…a soul bond, wow.” I sat back in my seat, stunned. I wasn’t going to get the marriage I wanted; however, this meant I was free to covertly live my life as my own. No wonder she seemed different.
“I do not intend for this to be a permanent thing. You will eventually want out; however, we can agree to adjust the terms, on an as needed basis, for now. If you find someone you want to be with, someone on a permanent level, we will amicably call it off, and continue the alliance as we see fit. I need you to give me the distraction for now. This farce isn’t meant to be a permanent fixture in our agreement.
“So I get to be your ally, I don’t have to marry you, and it is now impossible for me to betray you?”
“Correct. You also gain my protection and the status of being allied with me; however, if you do something insanely stupid, I’m not saving you. I expect you to show respect to this agreement and manage yourself accordingly; any fallout you create would be trouble for us both. If you choose not to agree, I will understand, but I will not release my hold on you from speaking of me. I think you understand why. I will give you until dinner time to come up with any concessions and questions you have for me. Try the grits, Slade. I promise you won’t be disappointed,” she said warmly, before tucking back into her meal.
This wasn’t what I had expected out of this meeting. She wanted a shield for her bonded family. I found that admirable. She was a queen surrounded in a hornet’s nest. I understood her need to keep me leashed. She had more riding on this alliance than I did. I sank my spoon into the grits and took a taste. She was right, it was good. I didn’t realize a groan of approval had left my throat. She just smirked, saluted her spoon at me, and went back to her breakfast. She murmured to the human throughout the meal as she held a tablet between them, and without words, pointed to things on it, the Priestess nodding or grimacing at whatever her pet showed her. The pet said something snarky to her, then Brianna laughed, and I realized she wasn’t just a pet; she was a friend. Andrew shot back joining the conversation, and Brianna rolled her eyes. The blonde ambassador chuckled. The topic had gone over my head as my mind rambled with what I should do or how I could mold this alliance into something more.
I realized Brianna was a real person, doing an exceptionally hard job. All she asked from me was to help her protect her loved ones. I nodded to myself. If for nothing else but principle, I would do it. I would achieve what I wanted, maybe to a slightly lesser degree than I had initially intended; however, this way, I wasn’t shackled. I could live my life. I may have to be cautious about it for now, but in the end, there was nothing stopping me from building something more in the long run. If anything, I felt relieved as I scraped the bottom of my bowl of grits. I scowled and reached for a second portion, this time with shrimp. Brianna smiled at me but continued her animated conversation with her inner court. Sitting back and watching her joke and take jabs at them left me humbled. I had already made my decision. Soul bonds were a sacred thing, and I understood why she needed to ensure their safety. She was inviting me to be a part of that sacred protection. The idea of linking with someone on such a high level while in the precarious position she was in. If I weren’t a Priest of my own coven, I would have done it without the alliances or protection offered, after observing her with her friends. I had royally fucked up the first time. I’d make sure I never crossed her again.
Brianna Le Blanc was the future of us all. She wasn’t bound by greed or power. Though it surely coursed within her, she wanted to end the political bullshit of the power-hungry individuals who stop our society from evolving.