Page 131 of Nine-Tenths

"You mean roasting the coffee beans? No," Laura says, sweeping aside all cautious tip-toeing around the topic. "It was you."

"Me?"

"Part of his punishment for Charlotte's death was that Alva was forbidden from taking another Favorite for a century. Yet, here you are, a decade too early."

"But… but that's not fair!Ikissedhim—"

"It doesn't matter, Mr. Levesque. He shouldn't have put himself in the position where it was possible."

"But… but you can'tpunishlove! That's ridiculous!"

"It's already happened," Laura says. "Frank was furious. But the Draconic Parliament conceded when Alva pleaded his heart.He swore you were in love, swore that despite not being of titled family or without the proper education in a coterie, you were loyal, and clever, and devoted to him. That it would be cruel to deny you."

"We'd only dated for like, a month," I warble.

My god.The promises he's made. And there's no way he could have been sure. I wasn't even sure myself, not then.

"But you looked for him," Laura says. "Calling. Sending letters. Posting on the Internet. You looked for him, and that was what changed Parliament's mind. You appeared to be equally invested."

Holy shit.

What I did actually made a difference.

Itmattered.

"That's why I was being followed? Because they were checking to see if I was in love enough for them to stoptorturing my boyfriend?"

"And to protect you from the worst of the gossip mongers."

Fuck.

"You're new to this world," Laura says, taking my shoulders in her hands, trying to soothe. "You can't understand—"

I don't want to be soothed. I shrug her off and she lets go, thankfully. Good. I didn't want to have to punch a war hero. "This is allcompletelyfucked up."

"And yet," a voice by the door sneers, and Laura and I both whip around to find Simcoe leaning against the closed door, smirking. Just how long has that jackass been there, listening in on a private conversation? I hadn’t even heard him come in. Asshole. "You accepted Alva’s token."

"I didn’tknow," I snarl at him.

"That’s hardly my problem," Simcoe jeers.

"Frank," Laura tuts. "There’s no need toscarethe boy."

"Colin!" I hear Dav shout from the other side of the door. There’s a thump, and I realize it's locked. I’m trapped with people who are trying to convince me that my lover is amurderer."Let me in, or I swear I'll—"

"You'll do nothing but stand there and wait!" Simcoe hollers back. "Know your place!"

Dav doesn't reply, doesn't thump on the door again, or break the lock, or any of the things he's strong enough to do. Simcoe waits a few seconds, to confirm he's cowed Dav, and then turns back to me with a smirk.

"Will you give us the room, Mine Own?"

Laura cuts a glance at me—no, don't leave me alone with him!—but curtsies and heads for the door. I want to beg her to stay, because I can't… I'm scared.

"I'll soothe the Marquess," she tells him as she passes Simcoe. "And assure him of his Favorite's safety?" She says it like a challenge, and when he doesn't answer, she cocks an eyebrow at him. "Frank?"

"Of course, my pet," Simcoe simpers. "More than assured."

"See that it is," she bites out politely.

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