Lena narrowed her eyes at Kaden. With his head held high and those ice-blue eyes full of determination, she knew there would be no changing his mind. It didn't mean she agreed with him. Not in the slightest. She looked at Thorn, his broad forehead knitted as he turned over the options. "Are you really sure about this?"

Kaden nodded. "It's the only way, Lena. I can't guarantee everyone's safety with things the way they are."

"Thorn and I will be there, Kaden. There'll be enough of us."

Kaden rolled his eyes. "You can't very well provide security for your own handfasting, Lena. It' not right."

She swallowed hard. She looked over at Thorn again, her heart constricting. Handfasting. Bloody hell.

"I don't like this either, Kaden," Thorn said, pulling her attention back to the problem at hand. "The Order doesn't do recruitment drives."

"It's unprecedented, I'll admit," Kaden replied.

"I really don't see the problem," Lena butted in. "We're having the ceremony here. This place is like Fort Knox. It's not like all and sundry are going to be traipsing through the place."

Thorn gave sharp inhale while Kaden looked like someone had smacked him in the face.

"What?" she asked.

Kaden just stared at Thorn, his brilliant aqua-marine eyes narrowed, top lip threatening to turn into a full snarl. Her anxiety ratcheted up a notch as paranoia washed over her. Thorn shifted on his feet but wouldn't meet her intense gaze. She tugged hard on their mating bonds, demanding he give her the attention she required. Thorn snapped his attention to her, golden eyes ablaze, and she knew there was something he wasn't telling her.

"What?" she demanded again.

She saw Kaden cross his arms over his chest as he continued to stare at his King.

Thorn shifted, seemingly struggling to find the words. Lena swallowed again, knowing full-well she wasn't going to like whatever he had to say. Anger and hurt swirled in her mind in equal measures as she waited for him to find his voice.

"Listen, Lena." Thorn said. "This handfasting is important."

"I know that, Thorn. What aren't you telling me?"

He grimaced. "Everyone is invited."

"Yeah, so?" She didn't see what the problem was. It wasn't like they really knew that many people. "There'll still only be a handful of us at most."

"He means everyone," Kaden said, his expression stoic.

"What do you mean everyone?" she whispered, realisation dawning.

Thorn ran a hand through his unruly locks. "I mean the entire race, Lena."

Her jaw dropped as she stared at him. Surely she must have misheard. He couldn't really have invited the entire race to her wedding without consulting her. Could he?

The way he looked away and refused to meet her gaze again told her she was wrong. She hadn't misheard. "Are you fucking joking?"

Thorn just shook his head.

* * *

Kaden winced as he saw the midnight blue of Lena's eyes darken. Her anger was palpable as she stared at Thorn. Not that he could blame her. He couldn't believe she didn't already know this. When Soraya had said Lena hadn't been exactly helpful with the decisions, he assumed she meant all the girly stuff like colour schemes and whatnot. He didn't realise she hadn't been involved at all.

"You didn't tell her?" Kaden asked.

"Now's not the time, Keeper," Thorn replied with a thinly veiled growl.

Lena spun around and jabbed a finger at her mate. "Don't you dare take this out on him, Thorn Blackwood. You should have discussed this with me."

Kaden took a step back. No way in hell he was gonna get caught in this crossfire, thank you very much.

"I would have told you," Thorn snapped.

"Oh really? And when would that have been? Today? Next week? When I walked down the fucking aisle?" Lena retorted as she stomped across the room and headed for the door.

Thorn blocked her way, holding his hands up in surrender. "Let's just talk about this," he said quietly.

Lena pushed past him. "I don't want to talk to you right now," she spat back at him.

And then she was gone.

Kaden shifted awkwardly on his feet. He really didn't need to be part of their domestic, but he was still pissed at Thorn. "You really didn't tell her?"

Thorn's shoulders slumped. "I didn't think it was important."

"Are you insane?" Kaden asked, his eyes widening. "You do know who you're mated to, right?"

"Of course I fucking know."

"Well act like it then!"

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Jesus, you're clueless sometimes," Kaden said shaking his head. "Lena, our Lena. Woman who likes to do things her own way, woman who fights her own battles, Lena who hates being the centre of attention unless it means she's winning a fight to the death. You thought she'd be okay with the entire race coming to her handfasting? A handfasting she doesn't see as necessary anyway?"

Thorn plonked down on the sofa. "Shit."

Kaden joined him on the opposite sofa. "You got that right. What you gonna do?"

"I honestly don't know."

"It's not like you can un-invite people."

"Yes, thank you."

Kaden couldn't help but chuckle. "Sorry."

Thorn heaved a heavy sigh. "So, you're putting out the call then?"

Kaden shrugged. "Don't see as I have much choice. We just can't do it with the number we have."

Thorn nodded. "I imagine Lena will be armed, even on her wedding day, but I guess you're right."

"I don't do this lightly, Thorn. It's not really in my nature to admit defeat, but I'd rather this than have some Fallen agent sneak in and cause havoc."

"True enough."

"So that's settled then. I'll send out to the Houses. The boys and I will sift through the replies and Ryver will help with the interviews."

"He's okay with that?"

Kaden shook his head. "Not really."

"Jesus. This is a fucking mess."

Kaden smirked. "With all due respect...I've got a minor irritation compared to what's waiting for you."

"Thanks."

"Oh, you're welcome."

* * *

Lena stormed into Soraya's suite without bothering to knock. "Your brother has a lot to answer for!"

The Princess blinked as she set aside an industrial sized ring binder. "Good evening to you too, Lena."

Lena paced the room, fury riding her hard. Who the hell did Thorn think he was? Making such a huge decision without even asking her. She stopped in front of the other woman. "Did you know about this?"

Soraya smoothed the front of her cerise skirt. "That all depends on what this is."

Lena looked at her, trying to decide if she was mocking her.

"Why don't you take a seat?" Soraya offered.

Fine. She flung herself into the easy chair adjacent to the plush sofa Soraya occupied.

"Now. What seems to be the trouble?"

Lena huffed. "Did you know that the entire race is coming to this damned handfasting?"

Soraya's golden eyes sparkled with excitement. "Of course! It's going to be splendid!"

Lena stared at her.

"Oh! You didn't know?"

"Does it look like I knew?" She rose and paced some more.

"I'm not sure I understand the problem, Lena. This handfasting is important."

"So everyone keeps saying."

Soraya breathed a gentle sigh. "Do you remember me telling you that your mating with Thorn was about more than the two of you?"

How could she forget?

The Princess was a Seer. She often had visions of what would be years, if not centuries before it happened. She’d known Lena and Thorn would mate hundreds of years before Lena was even born. When they had finally got their act together, Soraya had explained why their mating was important. According to the Princess, Lena and Thorn were the key to the race's survival. Before them, there had been no new matings for over five hundred years. As the youngest, Lena and Ryver were the last of them. The race was dying and without Thorn and Lena, there would be no new matings for anyone.

Shit.

"Yes, I remember," she replied as she retook her seat.

"I don't just mean the effect on our magic."

There's more? Her brow knitted, and she wondered what other little gems of knowledge Soraya had in store for her.

"The war against the Fallen has taken its toll, Lena. Morale is not what it once was and House Blackwood needs to show those that remain that there is something still worth fighting for."

"What do you mean?"

"Whether you like it or not, everyone is looking to you and Thorn to show us the way. Your handfasting is just the first step and it is vital for our supporters that they take that step with you."

Lena's eyes widened. "So my wedding is just some sort of pep rally?"

Soraya's forehead crumpled. "I don't know what one of those is, but if you mean it is designed to inspire and promote unity, then yes."

Lena's shoulders slumped. She was being selfish and she knew it. "Is it always like this for you?"

The frown on Soraya's face deepened. "Like what?"

"Putting everyone else before yourself."

"It comes with the job, Lena."

All of her previous anger disappeared. "I'm not sure I'm ever going to get used to it. I didn't even see why we had to have a stupid ceremony anyway. Thorn and I are blood mated. There is no need for anything else."

Soraya smiled at her. "You've been a part of this House for so long, I often forget you weren't born to it."

Technically, that wasn't actually true. Lena was born to nobility. In fact she was the daughter of a Shield Bearer, the highest rank available save that of the King himself. Thanks to the damned Fallen though, she missed out on the upbringing a young lady should have had. Destiny had still seen fit to throw her into Thorn's path as Kaden's ward and she did grow up at court, but she was never part of it. She was a warrior, not a lady, and she didn't have the first clue what she was supposed to do, how she was supposed to do it, or when she was supposed to do it.

"It will get easier, Lena. Blackwood blood flows through my veins. I was born to this—to be the King's sister, to live in the public eye, to serve our race. It's all I've ever known."

"It seems so easy for you," Lena replied, fully aware she was pouting.

Soraya laughed. "It's only because it's what I'm used to. You have other skills that I know nothing about. I wouldn't know one end of a sword from the other!"

An unexpected idea formed in Lena's mind and a smile spread across her face.

Soraya caught her expression and shifted in her seat. "I know that face, Lena. You're up to something."

Lena couldn't help but laugh. "How well you know me."