***End of release***

Chapter 35

Canto, you and Payal are invited to after-dinner tea. I shall see you at seven this evening.

—Message from Ena Mercant to Canto Mercant

CANTO SAT IN the sleek car the color of darkest smoke that had been designed according to his preferences, complete with hand and voice controls, doors that went straight up in a smooth glide, and a driver’s-seat area with an automatic ramp and a convertible seat that meant he didn’t have to store his chair while driving unless he felt like it.

Payal had just stepped out of the passenger door, beautiful and contained, and already, he could see passersby taking surreptitious photographs that they’d no doubt feed out into the PsyNet—and into the human/changeling media. The makeup of the Ruling Coalition was of interest to a lot of people, and Payal’s ascension especially so; to the vast majority of the world, she’d come out of nowhere.

As he’d predicted, no one paid any attention to her driver—not that they could see him. He’d opaqued all the glass after he parked. He could see out, but they couldn’t see in.

As he sat there, he thought about contacting Arwen, then immediately vetoed the idea. Payal needed to decide to see an empath on her own, without pressure. It was obvious she wasn’t yet ready, but she was tough, his 3K. She’d get there.

Then, as if he’d imagined his cousin up out of thin air, he saw Arwen on the sidewalk, accompanied by his bear. Arwen was in a pristine gray-on-gray suit he’d paired with a charcoal tie, his shoes polished and every strand of hair in place. His lover, in contrast, had tumbled hair of dark brown and was wearing a rough navy shirt with the tails hanging out and torn jeans.

Pavel’s sneakers had seen better days.

But the way he looked at Arwen out of those bright green-blue eyes behind clear spectacles … Yes, the bears knew how to treat their people.

Arwen had never appeared so happy, so at peace.

Canto liked Pavel for how he treated Arwen.

Ena loved him for it.

Silver had been known to kiss him.

Now Arwen’s eyes swiveled toward Canto without warning. Even though his cousin had been out of Canto’s shields for a long time, they still had a strong connection. Of all the people toward whom Canto felt protective, Payal and Arwen were at the top of the list.

His cousin smiled and made an immediate beeline toward him.

Lowering his window, Canto scowled. “I’m trying to be incognito. Go away.”

Instead, Arwen laughed and went around to get in the passenger seat, closing the door behind him, then lowering his own window. Pavel put his head in that window and said, “This car smells like a woman.” He sniffed ostentatiously. “Definitely a woman. A certain specific cardinal-eyed woman.”

Arwen’s eyes widened at the same instant. “Canto, you’re linked to her.” He pretended to punch Canto. “You couldn’t have told me?” The light comment nonetheless held a smidgen of hurt.

And because this was his baby brother for all intents and purposes, Canto said, “It’s new. No one else knows. Not even Grandmother.” Though Ena’s all-seeing antenna was working just fine, if the invite that had appeared on his phone an hour earlier was any indication.

Arwen’s gaze softened at once. “It’s different, too.” He frowned, gaze turning inward. “I can’t see a bond like I could with Silver and Valentin when they mated.”

We’re anchors. That changes everything.

His own words reverberated inside his head. “It might be in the Substrate,” he murmured, because he hadn’t looked there—and it made sense that for two anchors, the bond would show on their home ground.

“So?” Pavel waggled his eyebrows. “Where is she?”

Arwen kissed Pavel on the cheek. “What he said.”

“In the boutique.” Canto nodded toward the store.

Arwen grinned. “I’m going to go spy on her fashion choices.” He got out of the car on that cheerful declaration.

Pavel and Canto both watched Arwen walk into the boutique, a sharply dressed and handsome man who drew eyes from all kinds of people. Canto felt no need to warn Payal. Arwen was a kitten in comparison to her shark.

“How is he?” he said quietly, because he and Pavel had an unspoken understanding about Arwen—the bear knew that Canto had watched over Arwen for a long time, couldn’t just stop.

“Good. Better than good.” His smile was delighted as he slipped into Arwen’s abandoned seat. “He’s still tight with his empath buds Jaya and Ruslan—I’ve met them, like how they are with him. I also nudged him to go on playdates with some local empaths who have no idea he’s a Mercant. He clicked with a few—his circle’s growing.”

“Good. We worry about him becoming isolated.” Arwen had been so fiercely protected by the Mercant family that even Ena had begun to wonder if they’d clipped his wings.

“No, Arwen just likes to take his time with people.” Pavel lifted his shirt away from his body, as if he were fixing the lapels of a suit. “Because he picks the best people.”

Arwen exited the boutique soon afterward, to come over and get into the back seat.

“I want to meet her,” he said, open protectiveness in his voice. “Just to be sure she’s not taking advantage of you.”

Pavel doubled over laughing. When Arwen poked him in the side, the bear said, “It’s like a butterfly trying to protect a Rottweiler. Adorable.”

That got him another poke.

Grabbing Arwen’s hand, Pavel threatened to bite it.

Canto groaned as Arwen went all blushing and happy. “Out,” he muttered.

Of course they didn’t listen to him. Instead, Pavel clambered into the back with Arwen. Sighing, Canto reached out to Payal with his mind. My cousin Arwen and his disreputable bear beloved—who you’ve already met—are in the car, waiting to see you. I’ll get rid of them if you want.

The response came after a few seconds. I would be happy to talk to them. I’ll be there in about ten more minutes.

Arwen told Canto about his new friends as the three of them waited, while Pavel checked his phone for work purposes. He was StoneWater’s tech specialist, and he and Canto had taught each other a few things.

Then there she was, walking out of the shop with a bag in hand, sunglasses covering her eyes. The cameras clicked again as she walked to get into the car. He pulled away as soon as she was safely inside, making the introductions as they drove.