Every muscle in my body cringes with loathing. Adair taking my place? No freaking way. “You know I won’t let her do that. Ever.” Even as the words leave my mouth, a little voice in the back of my head says that I may be giving a knee-jerk answer.
I pause, grip the edge of the wooden bench, and force myself to think past my first reaction. If Adair gets my powers, she’ll threaten every last thrax with Hell until she has what she wants, and what she wants is Lincoln.
Suddenly, I feel very small, alone and powerless, a tiny fly caught in a complex web of forces out to destroy everything I have and cherish. “What if Adair succeeds? I can’t stand the thought of us being forced apart.”
Lincoln shifts to face me, cupping my face in his hands. “Listen to me, Myla. You will be my Queen one day, mark my words. Adair will never come between us.”
His eyes are fierce with resolve. However, I can’t ignore the nagging doubts at the back of my mind. “I want to believe you, but let’s be honest. Our sting operation has a fifty-fifty chance at best. Adair may not take the bait and go to the warehouse. And even if she does, she may not confess to her crimes.”
“Then, if the sting operation fails, we’ll try something else.” He rests his forehead against mine. “I’m never giving up on you. Believe that.”
The force of his determination coils around me, warm and strong. I’ve never felt more loved and protected. “I believe you, Lincoln.”
When he speaks again, his voice is rough with emotion. “Good.”
Leaning back, I carefully inspect Lincoln’s face. Something is definitely still bothering him. If Adair isn’t the problem, then his father is. I’m certain of it.
“So, what did you talk to Connor about?”
“This all wrong. I wanted this to be special, Myla.”
“What?”
“I asked my father for the royal betrothal jewels.” He takes my hands in his. “I want to make our engagement official.”
My heart lightens. “That’s awesome.” I picture Lincoln and I married, spending all our time together. Killing demons, cuddling, fooling around, killing some more demons.
The idea is so amazing, I can’t even think straight.
I bob a little on the park bench. “I mean, we talked about it the other day over pizza, but I didn’t realize you were really going for the jewels.” My tail musses Lincoln’s hair. “Knowing this is something you’re really thinking about? You’ve made me super-happy.”
“Still, the first time we seriously discuss an engagement, it shouldn’t be on a random park bench in Purgatory.”
So, that’s what he’s worried about? I don’t need champagne and roses to make the moment special. Okay, that honestly wouldn’t suck, but hey. Getting married will be the bomb, and I’m happy to have it happen, end of story.
“Look, in my mind, our engagement happened when we fell in love and became Angelbound.”
Lincoln keeps looking away, which is totally inconsistent with the typical upbeat ‘we’re getting engaged soon’ vibe. I set my fingers on his cheek and slowly guide him to meet my gaze. His eyes are filled with grief and doubt. The lighthearted feeling that hit me at the start of our engagement-chat turns into something leaden.
“This is supposed to be awesome stuff and you look so sad. What’s going on?”
“Father can’t find the jewels. Lost in the Royal Vaults.”
“Okay, that doesn’t sound too believable. How do you lose betrothal jewels?”
“You don’t. Father won’t give me them until things are sorted out with Adair, one way or another.”
My chest tightens. Now, I can see the problem. Betrothal jewels are a super-old thrax tradition, dating from their earliest times. Before there were written marriage contracts, there were betrothal jewels. There’s only one set per House, no copies. Once you give them to another House, you marry someone from there, or else. But that tradition’s thousands of years old. Certainly, they’ve moved on from it by now.
“Sure, I heard about betrothal jewels, but I figured you wouldn’t really…”
“Oh, we really.”
I tilt my head to one side, still trying to wrap my head around this. “So until you get the jewels, we can’t get engaged.”
“I will find them, Myla. Make no mistake.” He rubs his neck with his hand. “This situation with my father and Acca is frustrating in the extreme, that’s all.”
A spark of inspiration appears in my mind. I know exactly what to do. Someone here needs a little pep talk, and I know just the one to give.
I pull Lincoln to his feet. “Remember when we were in the gym with my father, and I was all freaky because I’d just lost my igni?”
“Sure.”
“You said I needed to tell Dad what happened. Keep things moving forward. Well, that’s exactly what we need to do now. Focus on putting together the finest sting operation in the history of the after-realms. Let’s take care of Adair, and I’m sure your father will find those jewels.”