“I’m principal, that’s what happened!”
“And that’s a bad thing?” She was due to meet with Celestina in one minute. She couldn’t be late.
“It’s a bad thing because everyone knows that Princess Bryce Danaan put in a call and threatened to pull the Autumn King’s donations if CCB didn’t recognize my talent!”
“So what?” Bryce hissed. “Isn’t this the only bit of good that being a princess entails?”
“No! It’s the opposite!” Juniper was absolutely screaming with rage. Bryce started shaking. “I have worked my entire life for this, Bryce! My entire life! And you step in and take that accomplishment away from me! Make yourself—not me, not my talent—into the reason I got this promotion, the reason I made history! You, not me. Not me sticking it out, fighting through it, but my Fae Princess friend, who couldn’t leave well enough alone!”
The clock chimed in the hallway. Bryce had to go. Had to talk to the Archangel.
“Look, I’m about to go into a meeting,” she said as evenly as she could, though she thought she might puke. “But I’ll call you back right after, I promise. I’m so sorry if—”
“Don’t bother,” June snapped.
“Juniper—”
The faun hung up.
Bryce focused on her breathing. She needed one of Kyrah’s dance classes. Immediately. Needed to sweat and breathe and majorly unload and analyze the tornado wreaking havoc inside her. But this meeting … She squared her shoulders, putting away the fight, the fact that she’d fucked everything up, had been so arrogant and stupid and—
She knocked on the door to Celestina’s office. “Enter,” came the sweet female voice.
Bryce smiled at the Governor as if she hadn’t destroyed a friendship moments ago. “Your Grace,” Bryce said, inclining her head.
“Your Highness,” Celestina answered, and Bryce reined in a wince. It was how she’d gotten this meeting, too. She’d asked the Archangel to meet not as Bryce Quinlan, but as a Princess of the Fae. It was an invitation even an Archangel had to agree to.
She wondered how it’d come back to haunt her.
“Just for this meeting,” Bryce said, sitting down. “I’ve come to make a formal request.”
“For the return of Hunt Athalar, I take it.” A tired, sad sort of light gleamed in the Governor’s eyes.
“A temporary return,” Bryce said, and leaned back in her chair. “I know he bailed on you at your party. If I’d been aware he was doing that, I would never have asked him to assist me that night. So—totally feel free to punish him. You have my blessing.”
It was a lie, but Celestina’s lips twitched upward. “How long do you want him for?”
“A night.” To go to the Coronal Islands and back before Pippa Spetsos and her cabal could get there. To convince whoever Command sent not to give Spetsos free rein to unleash those weapons on Valbara. “We figured we’d take the arrow train instead of driving the eight hours each way. I promised my mother I’d bring him home with me. If he doesn’t come, there will be Hel to pay.” Another lie.
But the Governor smiled fully at that. “Your mother is … a fearsome creature?”
“Oh yeah. And if Hunt’s not there, every bad thing she thinks about him will be confirmed.”
“She doesn’t like him?”
“She doesn’t like any male. No one is good enough for me, according to her. You have no idea how hard dating was when I was younger.”
“Try being an Archangel in a small community,” Celestina said, and smiled genuinely.
Bryce grinned. “Everyone was intimidated?”
“Some ran screaming.”
Bryce laughed, and marveled that she did so. Hated that she had to lie to this warm, kind female.
Celestina hooked a curl behind her ear. “So a great deal is riding on Athalar’s visit.”
“Yeah. It’s not like I need her permission to be with him, but it … It’d be nice to have her approval.”
“I’m sure it would.” Celestina’s smile turned sad.
Bryce knew it wasn’t her place, but she asked, “How are you and Ephraim getting along?”
A shadow flickered across Celestina’s face, confirmation that she wasn’t contented. “He’s a thorough lover.”
“But?”
She said deliberately, warning sharpening her voice, “But he has been my friend for many years. I find that I am now getting to know him in a whole new way.”
Celestina deserved so much more than that. Bryce sighed. “I know you’re, like … an Archangel, but if you ever need some girl talk … I’m here.”
The last Governor she’d spoken to had tried to kill her. And she’d put a bullet in his head. This was a nice change.
Celestina smiled again, that warmth—and relief—returning to her features. “I’d like that very much, Your Highness.”
“Bryce in this instance.”
“Bryce.” Her eyes twinkled. “Take Athalar home. And keep him there.”
Bryce’s brows rose. “Permanently?”
“Not at your parents’ house. I mean take him with you to your family, and then he may live with you once more. He’s been moping around so much that he’s bringing down morale. I’ll send him your way tomorrow morning. Let him stew one more night before I tell him at dawn.”
Bryce beamed. “Thank you. I mean it, thank you so much.”
But the Governor waved a hand. “You’re doing me a favor, trust me.”
Bryce made a call on her way to her next stop.
Fury answered right before it went to audiomail. “You fucked up, Bryce.”
Bryce cringed. “I know. I’m really sorry.”
“I get why you did it. I really do. But she is devastated.”
Bryce stepped off the elevator and swallowed the lump in her throat. “Please tell her I’m so sorry. I’m so freaking sorry. I was trying to help, and I didn’t think.”
“I know,” Fury said. “But I’m not getting in the middle of this.”
“You’re her girlfriend.”
“Exactly. And you’re her friend. And mine. I’m not playing the messenger. Give her some time, then try to talk it out.”
Bryce sagged against a worn wall. “Okay. How long?”
“A few weeks.”
“That’s ages!”
“Devastated. Remember?”
Bryce rubbed at her chest, the unlit scar there. “Fuck.”
“Start thinking of big ways to apologize,” Fury said. Then added, “You ever figure that thing out with Danika or the kid?”
“Not yet. Want to help?” It was as much as she’d risk saying on the phone.
“No. I’m not getting in the middle of that shit, either.”
“Why?”
“I have a lot of good things going on right now,” Fury said. “June is one of them. I’m not jeopardizing any of it. Or her safety.”
“But—”
“Big apology. Don’t forget.” Fury hung up.