“And the other draman? Do you really think they deserve to lose their powers simply because the full-bloods are so insecure about our position in their lives?”
“I can’t promise that the council won’t vote to cull draman powers, but I can tell you that they’ve set up a scientific study of the coastal cliques in the hope of discovering just what is going on. They’ve also agreed, in principle, to a summit meeting between representatives of the draman and the cliques.”
It wasn’t acceptance, but it was certainly a whole lot more than I’d ever thought I’d see in my lifetime. “You did this?”
“I recommended it. Julio and several other kings backed me.” He shrugged, like it was nothing. Except it was everything, because I had no doubt he’d done it for me, to prove just how much he did care. He reached out and brushed my cheek lightly. “I’ve answered your questions. How about answering mine?”
Love and fear were in his voice, in his expression, and I couldn’t help the urge to tease him. “I can’t say yes. You haven’t promised me a regular supply of chocolate cake.”
A smile twitched his lips. “Oh, I think I can arrange that easily enough.”
“What about children? I want lots of them. Boys and girls—and no favoring the boys, thank you very much.”
“I promise.” He drew me across the table, his breath washing heat across my lips. “Anything else?”
“Yes,” I murmured, my lips brushing his and my gaze on his, losing myself in those dark depths and the love so evident there. “Promise me we’ll fly every single day.”
“Forever and ever,” he murmured, his lips so close I could taste his words.
“Then you’d better come back to my apartment and meet my brother. He needs to approve.”
“He’ll approve. I’m a very lovable sort of fellow when I want to be.”
I laughed at that, and he grinned. Then the amusement twinkling in his bright eyes faded. “Do you promise to be mine, Mercy?”
“Forever and ever,” I murmured, then took his lips with mine and sealed our deal with a kiss.