Chapter 7

"So, we are allowed to go up to the stage as guards if we feel the connection?" Allan asked his partner as the first girl was helped off the stage by one of the gentlemen in the crowd.

"Oh yea," the man said, picking his teeth with his middle finger then flicking what he got onto the jacket of an aristo male that walked past. "We have several Queen's here, and the men sometimes can't help themselves. It is actually an advantage to being here because most of the men who are guards can't afford the fees anyway. It gives them a chance to knock out two birds with one stone."

"Uh-huh," Allan replied. He didn't like what he saw of the man who was his partner for guard duty. His psychic scent was repugnant and his manners weren't much better. Allan just hoped that he could get through the Presentation and get back to court in time for his contract dissolving. Uncle Andrew said the Mirana was probably going to set up a Court somewhere after this, and the Queen that he was currently serving said that she didn't mind letting him out of his contract early to serve a family member. He just had to do this one thing before he left.

"So, your cousin is in the Presentation huh?" the man asked.

"Yea," he told the man. He hoped the man didn't ask to be introduced to Mirana. The man's name totally escaped him, and Allan didn't want to remember it. He planned on never speaking to the man again. The few times he ventured out of his rooms for meals were enough to tell him that most of the guards in the event were the type of men he would never want to have around his cousin in any capacity. The women weren't much better. The blatant lust in the eyes of the women he passed on the way to his quarters that had nothing to do with sex told him everything he needed to know about what type of women were recruited for this event. He wanted to believe that all of them were like his cousin, a woman any man would be proud to serve because of her devotion to The Old Ways and strong personality. His hopes were dashed when the first aristo bitch licked her lips at him.

"I never liked this event myself," the man sighed. "My sister was in it a few years back. Haven't heard from her since. I blame that Prince of hers."

"Oh?"

"He insisted that she move to his Territory to live," the man grumbled. "He was financially well off and could have given us some sort of help, but he won't even let our mother visit. We are getting by as it is, but with her being bonded with someone so wealthy the family could have lived in the style we are meant to." Allan ground his teeth and looked back to the stage at the young woman up there now. The man was telling him what he suspected happened here more often than the officials wanted to admit. There were many kinds of families for the women who participated in this event, and the man was one of the few Allan hated. They thought that their daughter or sister were tickets to power they never could get on their own merits. It was pleasing to think that some of the males were smart enough to get the women out of the family's clutches and into somewhere safe.

"Lady Coren," the official said. Allan's spine straightened in shock as he saw a young woman with fiery red curls all the way down her back take the stage. As the officials read off her information, Allan slowly made his way to the front of the crowd. She looked so different, so much older. I couldn't be his little Coren. She was only a child, or was only a child half a century ago. And her eyes weren't that shocking green color this woman's wide eyes held. His Coren had brown eyes. It could just be a fluke. A horrible strange fluke that the woman on stage had red hair and was named Coren. If only her psychic scent wasn't…

When the rock came down on the pendant, it took every part of his training not to go to the stage before the allotted time. Her scent, that wonderful heady scent that he loved and searched for all these years enveloped him. When she stepped forward to ask is any males were willing to serve, he ignored all of the protocols and climbed up onto the stage. He pulled her to him, burying his face in her neck while murmuring her name over and over. She may not look like his Coren, but he could never forget the scent of her even though it was more mature than the last time he was around her. Her body was stiff with what he assumed was shock and pulled back when he realized she was probably wondering who he was since he didn't give her much of a chance to see him before he leapt upon her. He pulled back, barely, and looked into her wide fear filled eyes. His violet eyes met hers, and watched as they went from fear to confusion. She placed her hand on his cheek, studying his face for a moment before smiling up at him. Her eyes became bright with unshed tears as she placed her other hand on his face. "Have you been kissing all the pretty ladies at Court?" she asked shakily. A familiar question, a ritual question for them. She asked him that all the time when he would come home from Court, flinging herself into his arms with giggles that only a young female could elicit. His heart leapt in his chest before his scooped her up and moved with her as fast as he could out of the room, ignoring the protests from officials and guards. He shoved her into the first open coach and let her give the driver directions to…somewhere. It wasn't here was all that mattered to him.

"Where have you been?" he asked when they were a few minutes into the ride and could find his voice again. "I looked everywhere. I searched every Territory for you. Where did you go?" The last bit was a choked sob as he finally broke down. His girl held him, rocking him and murmuring to him reassurances. The answer didn't matter anymore. He had her back, and would find out who he would have to kill later. All that mattered right now was her.

"That was amusing," Mirana snickered as she watched the shocked official struggle to regain her composure.

"That was your cousin?" Marilyn asked.

"Oh yea," Mirana said as they clapped politely for the next woman that was going up to the stage. "Imagine being around him for long periods of time."

"Warlord Princes are a pain in the ass," Marilyn grumbled.

"I am so glad I don't have to know about that particular joy," Paulina sighed, fanning herself with a program.

"Oh, you will if you continue to associate with me," Mirana told Paulina with a grin. "My uncle has already decided that since you don't have a father in your life that he would more than happily see that you are properly looked after."

"I have a brother!" she squeaked.

"Who has said on more than one occasion he was happy to have a male with a high social standing interested in your life," Marilyn chirped as she straightened out her skirts.

"When did my life start to no longer be my own to do with what I want?" Paulina grumbled while slumping back into her seat and crossing her arms over her chest.

"The minute you became our friend," Marilyn grinned. Paulina muttered something indistinct as the woman on stage left with the male that came up.

"Lady Paulina," the official said. Paulina put on her best smile and went to stand where everyone else had. Mirana watched as the woman read off all of Paulina's information, feeling nervous for Paulina as she saw some of the men in the room start looking at her with lust gleaming their eyes. It was a relief when Paulina broke her pendant and almost every male in that was eyeing her with lust recoiled once they realized her caste from her psychic scent. Mirana thought it might have effected Paulina in some way, but the brief look of her face when she took Yarek's offered hand told Mirana that Paulina found it amusing more than hurtful that the other males were repulsed by her.

"I am kind of glad that we are going after the break," Marilyn murmured in Mirana's ear over the applause as another female was called to the stage. "It is amusing to see how the males react to what caste women really are and if we weren't on the stage we could be bored out of our skulls."

"Do you honestly think the boyos wouldn't keep us entertained?" Mirana chuckled. Even with the restrictions that the officials had on them the last week, the boyos still found a way to spend time with her and the others. Uncle Alec was not pleased with the new schedule not giving any of the Ladies a free moment, but the officials had a point when they explained that because of how all of them had hidden from the others that she and her Sisters had to spend time with the gentlemen who have shown interest from afar. It helped that Prothvar insisted on being in all of her outings, and considering who his father was Mirana highly doubted the officials argued with him. He kept her in tears with the hilarious stories of his family and the gentlemen who chose to speak with her kept the conversations respectful without innuendos of any kind. She learned from the other girls that the effect of the boyos being their groups weren't as strong, but an Eyrien whose father was basically a living legend probably had something to do with the males in her group being respectful.

"Mirana, do you think that the boyos will belong to you?" Marilyn asked, her eyes filled with doubt. Mirana just gave Marilyn a shrug before looking at the stage to watch as the males came up to offer to serve the woman standing there. Mirana tried not to think about what would happen when she stepped up to the stage for her turn. Last night she confided to her father through her sobs that she shouldn't have allowed herself to become so close to the boyos. She already thought of them as hers, even though she knew that it was a strong possibility that they would bond with someone else. It hurt her in more ways than one that Luc might bond with another female before her. Prothvar teased her mercilessly when she asked questions about whom he might have back home, but he understood that she didn't want to intrude on someone else's Territory.

Mirana knew how Courts worked. Even if the male was married he was expected to provide the bedroom services and the wife was supposed to understand. One of the Courts that she served had swap nights, which disgusted her to no end and had her contract terminated immediately when she found out. She saw how that type of requirement effected the wives of the men whose bedroom services were required and vowed to herself that she wouldn't do that to any male that served her. From the stories the boyos told all of them, they felt the same way about that particular issue. She was especially happy when Luc told her there was no way in Hell he would let anyone but the woman he loved into his bed. Luc treated her with respect, and looked at her like she was actually attractive in some cases. Most of all, she loved how they danced. Uncle Alec taught her all of the court dances when they started to go back in vogue, even the ones that were not performed in most circles because of the emotions they usually evoked. Luc knew every dance she put to him. She didn't know why, but the way they moved together seemed as natural as breathing. It made her wonder how he would feel in bed with her, how his hands would move across her skin and his lips on hers.

Her eyes drifted over to the table her boys, hopefully her boys, and Paulina sat. They were laughing with each other and she could see them pointing to various members of the male audience with amusement. Luc's eyes locked with her for a moment, filled with fear and anticipation, and gave her a wink. She smiled, winking back. His relaxation should have given her some reassurance as well, but when he turned his face away to listen to something Jared was saying it just made her fear worse.

"Are you all right Mirana?" Marilyn asked, concern all over her face as she leaned forward to look at Mirana's face.

"Just wanting this to be over and done with," Mirana replied with what she hoped was a reassuring smile.

"You and I both," Marilyn sighed as she flopped back. "I am starving." Mirana just nodded in agreement as Marilyn started talking about something that happened this morning that prevented her from eating a decent meal for breakfast. Once this day was over and done, Mirana wanted to go home and deal with her pain in private from being rejected by the only male who she could follow as easily as a Queen should lead in Court.

Lord Harlis watched the Shalador bastard fawn over Paulina from his table near the back, wishing that this stupid event had never invited the woman and ruined his plans. He knew what Paulina was from the moment he went with his former lover to her talentless mother's shop. The psychic scent of a Black Widow was hard to miss in an area of town that was filled with working class nobodies and light Jeweled witches. It was that moment he realized that he had to have her, because she could help him rise into the social circles he deserved to be allowed instead of lurking on the outskirts of aristo society.

Being rich wasn't enough, as his father had found out when the profits from the selling of the lands he inherited when all of his relatives died in the Purge. The wealth brought from that money being invested still did nothing to break the family into the social circles Blood considered prestigious. Harlis knew that with her Black Widow caste and Jewel rank being one of the dark Jewels that she would be his ticket into all the parties of the season. Once there, he would convince her to use her craft to fool all the people into investing their aristo cash into his companies, building up the value long enough for him to make some cash and get out before the companies value deflated. His savvy business decisions would help his status in society, helping him rise even higher in social circles. Then, he could convince Paulina once again to use her craft, but not for money purposes. There were many Ladies who he saw out at parties he wanted to see in the sheets, but they never would look twice at him giving his age and looks. With Paulina's help, he would be able to not only get in the Ladies beds, but perhaps even help him get into Queen Jordyn's bed once word of his skills reached her ears.

It was unfortunate that the little bitch rejected his advances all these years, and he was slightly pissed that he had to spend some of his money getting into this event. He knew from her reactions to him that it would have take some convincing to get her to go along with his plans if she had just accepted his advances. A working class girl that had a caste such as hers should have been grateful that someone of his social status and wealth was showing an interest in her. He thought that if he attended this stupid event and offered his services that she would accept them since every male he associated with told him they wouldn't be caught dead with a Black Widow. Her body was attractive enough for a good romp, but he doubted that anyone could look past her caste to consider bedding her. He knew that if he acted like she was his world that it wouldn't take much convincing to have her use her Craft for him.

The official dismissed them for the short break, the guards ushering the remaining women backstage so they wouldn't see the males Jewels on display and make their decisions before their time on stage. Harlis watched the Shalador bastards escort Paulina to the terrace. He would have followed them to offer his "congratulation" if the Eyrien wasn't with them. Harlis couldn't risk being noticed by Lucivar Yaslana's son, not if he was going to put his plans into motion soon. Instead, he made his way over to the bar where he saw Lord Unther and the young woman he was escorting around. The man was in a slightly higher social standing than he was, but the older gentlemen had been respectful to him at the few parties that they had attended together. If Harlis was lucky, Lord Unther might introduce him to a few of the members of the event who seemed to not have noticed him otherwise.

Mirana shook as she watched Marilyn get escorted off the stage. There were only two other women before it was her turn. On the break, some of the girls were telling her horror stories of some of the women they knew who were in the Presentations. One of the girls told her about how her cousin got a male from a Court in the mountain regions of Hayll and broke her the first night they were in bed together. He never let her speak to her family again and kept the poor girl in seclusion in a cave in the mountains doing Darkness knows what. Another girl said that she hadn't heard from a friend of hers since she was taken to a seaside Territory after her Presentation. Marilyn told her not to worry about what the other girls were saying, that they were trying to scare her into not picking a male that they were possibly eyeing, but it still niggled away at her. Would a male bond with her, then take her away from her family? Being Ebon-Gray meant that it would be difficult for a male to keep her from her family, especially since Uncle Alec was a Green Jeweled Warlord Prince. However, if a group of males decided they wanted to keep her away from those she loved…

She wished she could have talked to her father or uncle on the break, but they had an aural shield around the room preventing any of the women contacting the males outside the room. She would have felt easier if she heard from them that they would never let a male do anything to harm her. Most of the women in the room were from a high aristo standing, so if they went missing or damaged in any way it would be noticed. The working class females rarely were reported missing or complaints made against males who damaged girls from her area of town. It made her learn the hard lesson that even Queens couldn't keep and eye on everyone in her Territory without the help of dedicated males. It also made her wonder exactly what type of males the Queen that ruled over her home District had in her service.

"Lady Mirana," the official called out, snapping Mirana out of her thoughts. She walked to the place where all of the other women stood before her, and looked out at the crowd as the official read off her information. Her eyes briefly met Luc's, whose face was a blank mask, before flitting over to Marilyn's reassuring smile and Paulina's determined stare as the official listed all of the Courts she had trained in and what her parents did for a living. After what felt like a lifetime, the official said that she could break her pendant. Her hands could barely hold the rock as she smashed her pendant, releasing the spells wrapped around her and exposing what she was to a room full of Blood. She made her eyes lock on a chandelier near the back as she waited the full two minutes for all of the spells to wear off. It was almost physically painful to not look at the table filled with people she came to care for over the last couple weeks when the titters and murmurs started.

"Is there anyone willing to serve?" she asked, using Craft to carry her voice of the rising volume of people talking in the room. She kept her eyes locked on the chandelier as the murmurs and titters turned into outright protest of outrage with each passing moment. When the official on the stage came out from behind her podium, shouting over the crowds' growing volume, Mirana finally looked down to see who was standing in front of her. Tears fell down her cheeks she didn't know she was holding back as her eyes scanned the group of men in front of her.

All of the boyos were standing in front of her. Prothvar, Yarek, Jared, and quite a few other men were there, but front and center was Luc. He was looking up at her, his eyes locked on her with his hand raised up to her. She gave him a smile and took his hand, feeling his uncertainty and fear mixed with the hope she saw in his eyes as she airwalked off the stage to stand in front of him. As soon as her feet were firmly on the floor the rest of the boyos surrounded them, for her protection no doubt since the crowd was becoming more unruly by the minute. Prothvar turned his head slightly and gave the two of them a cocky smile. "For our Ladies safety, I say we remove her from the room before this escalates further."

"Agreed," Luc said, pulling Mirana as close to him as possible. The other men from the floor helped drive a wedge through the crowd that was quickly turning into a riot. Through the bodies of the men surrounding her she could see the anger in the faces of the women and the men as well as the desperate need in some of the other men's' eyes as the crowd. As the circle around her drew closer to the door, some of the men in the crowd started to reach for her through the men encircling her. A skintight Black shield surrounded her and a Red bubble shield went up between her the boyos surrounding her, effectively cutting her off from the crowd. She watched as the crowd stilled around her, the strength of the shields around her showing them exactly what kind of male they would have to go up against. The room was silent when the walked through the doors and out of the Presentation and her uncle and father shut them behind her. Mirana let out the breath she didn't know she was holding and gave them all a wobbly smile.

"That was different," she shakily laughed to them as she stepped back from Luc with a grin. "Anyone else think that would happen?" All of the boyos, her uncle, and father just stared at her. She blinked, her grin diminishing a bit. "Come on. It isn't every day that a Triple Gift announces publicly she is all grown up and ready for people to know she is around. I am surprised there wasn't fires!"

"Not funny Mirana," Alec growled.

"Oh I was expecting fires and some blood," Prothvar said.

"I was thinking that the women were going to start a catfight," Jared chuckled.

"No, the best would have been the chandelier coming down on Mirana's head mysteriously," Yarek said.

"This isn't funny," Andrew said, clearly fighting the urge to laugh.

"If the chandelier did come down on the Lady's head," a young blond man said, "I would blame it on my sister."

"Your sister?" Mirana said, turning slight to face the man whom looked slightly familiar. "Your sister is here?"

"Lady Jolin took it upon herself to accept the invitation for the first batch of Presentees to observe their Sister's Presentation Ceremony," the man said with a grin.

"Lady Jolin is your sister?" Zachary asked. "And you are standing here with us?" He gave Mirana a look with latter question, and Mirana nodded. She could already feel the pull and connection with this man, even with the shields between them. This man would crawl over hot coals naked if she asked it of him.

"So you are telling me that you are Lady Jolin's brother?" Jared asked.

"Yes."

"She saw you step up to offer your service to Mirana," Yarek said.

"You should have heard what she was saying to me," the man said. "I think the phrase 'Get your head out of your ass' was said."

"I can't…oh Hell's Fire," Mirana started to cackle. She plopped down in the middle of the public area and began to howl as the rest of them finally joined her. She could just see Lady Jolin's face as her brother came to the floor as well as the male she was trying to get her claws into for the week she was here. The fact Jolin didn't scream down the rafters was a shock to her. Her laughter may also have come from the relief that she made it through the Presentation and it was all over. "That was the best laugh I have had in ages." Mirana sighed as she tried to wipe her nose and failed miserably because of the Black shield around her. "Prothvar, you can drop the shield now."

"It isn't mine," Prothvar said.

"Oh come on," Mirana said. "It has to be."

"Nope," Prothvar said, tapping the Opal Jewel on his neck. Mirana looked at Jolin's brother, who held up his hands.

"Don't look at me I just made my Offering a couple weeks ago and walked away with the Red a couple weeks ago," he said.

"We need to get you out of the floor and to your room before anyone gets any bright ideas," Luc said softly as he held out he hand to her.

"Right," she said, taking it without a second thought. He pulled her up, not letting go of her hand as he then lead her toward the stairs and up them. No one followed them. "What is their problem?"

"They know when to yield to the dominant male," Luc said.

"Dominant?" Mirana asked. She looked at his hand and swallowed hard at the sight of a Black Jewel glittering in a modest setting on his finger. Her heart thumped in her chest as they climbed the stairs, putting them further and further away from her father and uncle. Her Ebon-Gray was the only Jewel close enough to even try to touch his power if he decided to hurt her. As soon as they reached the door of her rooms, he dropped the shield and let go of her hand before stepping back.

"I hope that you and I will become good friends my Lady," he told her. She watched him bow and walk away while feeling as if she had been slapped in the face. Good friends? He wanted to just be good friends? She quickly unlocked her rooms and shut herself off from any prying eyes before she started sobbing. Her blurry vision made it hard for her to make it to her bed, but after few moments of stumbling she curled up on top of all her covers. She always thought the reason why the men she trained with didn't want her was because it was their shallowness at her looks and that her father's profession couldn't bring the money most people desired. Now, with Luc knowing what she looked like and her father's profession before knowing her Jewel strength, she realized that it was all her caste and Jewel strength. His leash was hers to hold, there was no doubt about that, but the man she started to trust as more than a friend made her learn the hard lesson that males still didn't want or trust a strong witch like herself with their hearts.

"My Lady, My Queen," Luc murmured softly to himself in his rooms, pacing back and forth. He was still shaking with the shock of the strong connection he had for Lady Mirana, the violet eyed sweet shop girl that ended up being the first Triple Gift in centuries and the first Ebon-Gray Queen in a few millenniums. For the first time since he was a young buck he lusted after a woman, Mirana's scent standing out from the crowd of women like a fresh batch of flowers among the old. The strong need to take her into bed and show her how much he wanted her almost overwhelmed him when he walked her to her rooms. Her shock at his Jewel strength was probably just never having been around someone stronger than herself in her lifetime. He was sure that she would come around after time. He just hoped that the others agreed with him when he suggested that he bring her home to rule Shalador Nehele.

He knew that he would have to read the reports from all the Courts she trained in before making a formal offer. Her personality told him that she would fit into the community with no problem, but he knew that the elders would want him to go through with all the formalities since she was a Queen raised outside of the borders of Shalador Nehele. The Territory needed a Queen that followed the Old Ways and many of the Queens were still being trained in the New Ways, the ones that Dorothea used to help take control of Terrielle. The way things are now, the New Ways wouldn't give the women total power like before since the males and good Queens knew what was going on, but they were still not the way Protocol was supposed to work for good honorable Courts, the way he hoped that Mirana's Court would work. The way that their Court would work. The Court he has always wanted.

"You need to do something about those Black Widow charms," Jolin hissed at Lord Unther, trying to look as pleasant as possible while watching one of the last few girls take the stage.

"There is nothing wrong with those charms Lady," Lord Unther chuckled with a good-natured look.

"Yes, there is," she said, leaning in and whispering in his ear with a smile. "My brother wouldn't have went off with that bitch without something going wrong with the charms. I bet there was some residual spell left that confused all of the males."

"Black Widows are an honorable caste and they know what they are doing," Unther told her. He leaned kissed her hand and gave her a warm smile. "If you do not stop complaining I will make our excuses and take you back to our hotel." Jolin gave a pretty pout and slumped back in her chair. Unther sighed and shook his head. "And if you continue to pout I will take you back as well." Her smile she gave him was forced, but it must have been sufficient because he turned his head back to the stage to watch the girl on the stage choose from the next batch of men that came forward. She kept the fake smile plastered on her face and clapped as the girl took the hand that was offered to her. It just wasn't fair. Jolin knew it was all her fault to think that the fat Black Widow was the leader of that group of working class whores. She should have known better from all the games that were played at the courts she served in while she was training. Her own personal favorite was to wear her Birthright Jewel around for a few days, letting the other women believe that they were the powerful ones of the group, then she would put on her Opal and watch everyone's attitudes change. It was like a new experience when she revealed her true strength.

Her eyes drifted over to look at her escort and she let her mind wonder if the men she had choose to serve her were truly hers despite the connection that called to her. Every time she wanted to do something fun Unther would just give her one of his stern looks and tell her no. Once he said no, the other men wouldn't budge. The few times that Unther did approve of what she wanted to do, he always managed to keep her away from the aristos she normally spoke or danced with at the events. He would introduce her to this person or that person, and from what she could tell they were all from the same lower class aristo slums that she had almost crawled away from thanks to her efforts. He insisted that they were good people, which she admitted it was nice to have a good conversation about something besides clothing for once. There was a delightful older woman who had wonderful knowledge of how to grow Jolin's favorite flower out of season thanks to a little trial and error on her own part. Jolin was also grateful not to have to worry about what nasty things the people might be saying about her behind her back.

Of course, she would never admit something like that to Unther. The man must already think she was a push over because she did everything he requested of her, constantly. It was annoying at first, having to yield to him because of this Protocol or that Protocol according to those stupid books that her father insisted on her reading. The Old Ways made it seem like the females were just there as figure heads, but when she made a reasonable request to Unther that he take care of the messy business of all those suitors one afternoon at the normal receiving tea time visiting hours after an overwhelming day spent pouring over the contract terms for her soon to be Court he told her not to worry about it. The suitors were then scheduled to only come at certain hours and numbers every day, which was fine by her since it made more time for her to pack her things. The day she asked the men to take care of the young men who were bothering the neighbors for information regarding her possible status on accepting males into her court, it was done instantly. It was like she was back in the first Court she trained in so long ago that she was told that she wasn't the right fit for their type of training. Her father was extremely upset that she wasn't invited back to the Courts that trained in the Old Ways.

Her father seemed to be really pleased with the men in her soon to be Court. He was constantly asking questions about the District she would be taking over, what she would be over, and exactly how long they planned on having her. It made her feel like he finally did something that he approved of instead of just scolded and complained about the things she did. The fact that he wouldn't pay for he to have a new wardrobe was still a sore spot, but maybe she could convince the people of Stargrove that is was severely important for her to look the part of a Queen in order for others to take her seriously. Living so close to Shalador Nehele, her appearance would be essential to stealing the Territory for that horse-faced bitch.

"My Lady," Unther said quietly, breaking her thoughts and bringing her attention back to the floor to see another woman being led off the floor. "I know that you are upset about not having all of the males you will need to form an official Court, but I assure you that there will be plenty of time to find more members when you return with me to Stargrove."

"Perhaps Lord Harlis would be willing to join us," Jolin said as she clapped politely for the next woman to step up to the stage. The man was a pleasure to speak with, and also very forthcoming about his wealth. She didn't seem to feel the same link that she felt with the other men when he touched her, but it was probably because of the other people at the bar.

"I will have your father and I look over his credentials before you make him a formal offer," Unther murmured as a long line of young men lined up for a young Opal jeweled Healer.

"I suppose that would be a good idea," Jolin reluctantly agreed. The way that all of the males that were now in her life being so damn reasonable when she asked about being around this male or going to a certain party was annoying. She couldn't argue with them over wanting to make sure she was safe after the incident that happened just after the Presentation. There was a young woman in her social circle that was broken while attending a party of one of the Queens she had trained with just a decade earlier. Jolin would have attended that same party if Unther hadn't suggested going to dinner with that lovely older couple instead. The Branstons gave her plenty of ideas of what kind of parties she would have to throw when she was finally settled. Lady Branston was also a delightful conversationalist about dress styles and the latest gossip from the circles that Lady Branston was connected. It wasn't mean gossip, just the general who was doing what with their money and what marriages were taking place in the spring.

"Lady Jolin, the Presentation is over," Lord Unther said as he stood and held out his arm. She took it with a smile as she stood. The other women in the section glared at her as she passed, probably from jealousy at her new gown that Unther had made up for her. It was a rather nice gown even if it was not cut as low as she liked, and the gift of the earrings were unexpected.

"Can we invite Lord Harlis over for afternoon tea tomorrow?" she asked as she saw Lord Harlis making his way toward her.

"I rather you not speak with him until-"

"My father and yourself look over his credentials," she sighed as she saw a couple of her men block him from reaching her as if on cue.

"It is for the best of our community that we know about every male we bring in from the outside my Lady," he told her while they walked through the lobby.

"Jolin," Teral said as he came up to her from that bitch's group of males. "I was wondering if-"

"Of course I forgive you for your moment of misjudgment," she gushed, letting of Unther's arm to grasp her brother's hands. "I won't hold it against you for getting swept up in the emotions of the event and walking away with that woman. After all, a powerful man like yourself can succumb to a Black Widows charms if they are strong enough and-"

"I just wanted you to tell Dad I wasn't coming home," he curtly interrupted, pulling his hands from her grasp. "They want me to help out at their residence and it makes more room at the house for your entourage. Unther can take my room."

"But I need you Teral," she whined, not caring that it was unladylike.

"You are in fully capable hands," Teral said as he gave her a hug before shaking Unther's hand and walking back to the other men that the bitch somehow managed to snag.

"I believe we should leave now," Unther said. Jolin nodded, numbly taking his arm and letting him lead her to the Coach waiting for them. Her composure collapsed as soon as the Coach was out of the drive.

"He abandoned me!" she wailed in Unther's arms as the other men averted their eyes. "He was supposed to serve me!"

"Sometimes it doesn't happen that way my Lady," Warren, a Summer-Sky Warlord, assured her. "My sister is a Queen the rules over a mountain court and I never felt towards her the way I feel towards you."

"Honest?" she sniffled into the handkerchief Unther offered her.

"Same thing with my cousin," Stephen told her.

"And we won't have any problem finding more males to serve you once we get back to our Territory," Unther said. She looked at them, her eyes still watery, with amazement.

"You are serious," she said to them as she looked from one to the other. They all nodded. "You aren't just saying that to me."

"We all think you are a good Queen that just need a little polish, but that happens with every Queen that hasn't had the chance to rule her own area," Unther told her. "It just takes time to learn the specific way some places want to do things."

"You think I will do well?" she asked hopefully, her spirits lifting slightly.

"We think you will do amazing," Warren told her. She settled back into her seat, shocked as she looked at all of her men. The realization hit her that maybe she had the right males after all, and she thought about that the whole way home in silence.

"She won't let anyone in her room, not even Allan," Lord Andrew sighed as Alec, Niall, and himself stood on the terrace to his daughter's rooms that evening. "Paulina said that she wouldn't answer any of them before she put up an aural Ebon-Gray shield around the room."

"There are many reasons that she could have it up," Alec replied. "She could be spinning a web."

"I don't think that is the reason," Andrew said. He didn't tell his brother how his daughter looked when he went upstairs to check on her when she didn't come down for the formal dinner. It was like she was a hundred and ten again, curled up in her bed the evening of her Offering and her heart breaking because she realized that her family would never look at her the same way again. She wouldn't even talk to him when he asked if she was all right, which didn't bode well. He should have known she would shut herself off from the world.

"We have to check out tomorrow," Niall said with a puff of his pipe. "She has to come out then."

"And are we going to watch her room to make sure she doesn't run off in the middle of the night?" Alec asked as he dipped his head back to the night sky. "My niece has plenty of closed Territories she can run to if she needs to escape for a while, one of which that I can't go to."

"I am sure she won't run," Andrew told them, but he really said it to assure himself she wouldn't run. He knew she wanted to after her Offering and just didn't because she wasn't sure how others would react to her strength. Her own family helped with that belief. Now, the other Queens would gladly hide her if she wanted.

"The others are wondering if they should go to the townhouse or stay here with her," Allan said as he came to the terrace doors. "Jared wants to get Coren to back to Eyota as soon as possible since her acquaintances won't leave stop coming to the townhouse and it is starting to upset the children."

"I thought Prothvar took care of them," Alec said.

"Well, Lord Kelvin won't take no for an answer," Allan replied. "He keeps standing outside of the house and watching to see if the girls leave with a group of males. The guards the Queen sent keep sending them away, but Lord Kelvin just calmly explains that he is on the public walk and refuses to leave."

"We can't do anything about public property," Niall said. "Not in another Queen's jurisdiction anyway."

"Which is why I agree with trying to get her to move to Eyota as soon as possible," Allan told him. "Coren is still trying to remember everything, and I don't want the stress of remembering her past to be combined with anything else."

"Luc and I are supposed to go to Eyota tomorrow to start creating the contract terms with the Elders," Alec told the men as he took the pipe Niall offered with a nod. He took a draw off of it and made perfect circles with the smoke when he blew out. "I suppose that we can take Coren with us as a potential member of the Queen's First Circle to scout out the area for her, giving the Queen a woman's opinion as well as a man's."

"Take Hallidoria with you," Mirana said, walking out on the terrace.

Mirana…" Andrew said while taking a step toward her. She held up her hand and looked directly at her uncle.

"Prince Millstone, you will accompany Coren and Hallidoria to Eyota to make the arrangements I will need to take over the Court, as well as set up the official ceremony for my forming," she said to Alec. His back immediately straightened, recognizing an order from his Queen and not his niece. "I want to make sure that they know I am serious about ruling whatever they choose for me. You will find out where the Elders need me to rule and discuss the terms with them. Once the terms are agreeable, you will send Yarek back with the contracts for me to look over and finalize. I am sure that whatever you deem acceptable will be fine. Have the boyos sign the contracts as well if they wish." Andrew heard the change of tone in his daughter's voice in those last words. She had to know they would all sign with her, and the sun would shine in Hell before Luc would let her go if he understood the young man's intentions when Luc approached him during dinner to ask him if he objected to his daughter being served by a stronger male than her.

"Lord Millstone," she said, now facing him, her father. "The trip to Eyota takes a half a day's travel on the Black Wind, and close to a whole day on the Sapphire. In nine days' time I want you to make arrangements for Lord Kelvin and the other members of her old life for afternoon tea. It is then I will inform them that as a member of my court they will have to go through me to get to her."

"Yes my Lady," he and his brother both said.

"I have sent the Ladies back to their rooms for the rest of the evening," she told them. "Prince Allan will go back to the townhouse and stay until they are all ready to leave for Eyota. I will reside there until it is time for me to go there as well to form my court. Now, I am going to go to bed and sleep. Prince Niall, I will need you to inform Lady Jordyn of my intentions."

"Lady-"

"That is all I need from you," she said firmly, pointing to the doors of her room. The men all filed out, Niall giving her a bow before leaving, and then it was only Andrew left with her. She took in a deep breath, and let it out slowly before giving him a watery smile. "Oh Papa, what have I gotten myself into?" Andrew just opened his arms and let her fall into them as she collapsed in sobs. He may not know exactly how to serve a Queen, but as he rocked his girl and murmured to her assurances, he took solace in the fact he would always know how to be a Queen's father.

Author's Note: I hate this chapter. This has been sitting in my hard drive for weeks. I am not really sure what else to put though. It was really hard for me to finish this because I could not get it up to where I wanted it. Please be kind. I am so sorry it is not up to what I usually want but it fits. That is the problem is this chapter fits really well. So yea, sorry. I will try to update soon