The courtyard was as fastidiously maintained as the gardens outside, and it had clearly been designed to provide ammunition for various magics, from the vines climbing the back wall to the deep pool of water in the corner, surrounded by rocks and metallic objects.

Red splotches marred the gray gravel path running through the space.

It was then he noticed the woman pulling herself along the floor, her right arm not working, her leg mangled. A thick line of crimson trailed in her wake.

No one reacted or moved to help her.

Kieran’s stomach flipped over. The leaders would enjoy their lunches while watching various teams battle for dominance. There was very little chance anyone would die under their watchful eyes, but seeing that badly wounded woman pull herself along did something to him.

“You okay?” Dara sat at one of the tables, three rows from the lip of the balcony.

He hesitated next to the individual table beside her. He might’ve gotten a few nods and a couple of glances from the big dogs, but this was way, way above his position. Dara might be a level five, but she was respected. She had history here. No way should he be allowed to sit next to her. He’d said barely a dozen sentences all morning, choosing instead to try to take in all the incredible nuances of the problems being discussed. He certainly hadn’t given anyone cause to believe in his political future. Nothing so far should’ve elevated him this high. Nothing.

Take the seat, his father’s voice shouted.

“You’re okay there,” Dara said quietly, looking straight ahead.

Kieran’s heart hammered, as though someone might forcefully remove him at any moment. “But…”

Magnus trod down the steps at the side of the room, heading toward the front row. He glanced up as he passed, taking in Kieran’s hesitation. His nod was so slight that Kieran wasn’t sure it was meant for him.

“Sit,” Dara said through clenched teeth.

Not wanting to lose the opportunity, he lowered as quickly as he could, fighting the desire to wipe the nervous sweat from his brow.

“I shouldn’t be here,” he whispered as Demigod Larigold, as regal as they came, made her way to the front row.

“Honestly, Kieran, no one knows where you fit.” Dara took a menu from the waiter who’d stopped in front of her. Kieran took one next. Demigod Phyllis sat at the table next to him, her jowls shaking as she got settled. She smiled in greeting at him and took her own menu. If she thought he didn’t belong, she gave no sign of it.

Below, the woman in the courtyard still pulled herself along, the trail of blood seeming unnaturally bright.

Before Lexi, he would have barely noticed that woman. He wouldn’t have had the urge to send someone to help her, or to lift her up and take her to get care. He would’ve only taken note that she’d lost her battle.

As a young playboy with no thought of a political future, he’d traveled the globe and visited many in the magical community. Battles like this, on a much smaller scale, were used for entertainment. Often the combatants were poor and unimportant, chosen for their desperation and for the fact that no one would miss them if they didn’t make it out alive.

Now all he could think about was how unnecessary this was, leaving that woman to fend for herself. How brutal and twisted. Didn’t her team want to help her? The woman was already beaten, so why demoralize her as well? It wouldn’t make her better—it would only make her bitter, fearful of messing up, and more prone to snap. It would drag the team down as a whole.

He’d never realized the degree to which Lexi had changed him until this moment. He’d never been more thankful.

“Kieran?”

It took him a moment to realize Dara was still talking to him.

“Sorry, excuse me, what was that?” He leaned back, forcing himself to relax.

“I was saying, you’ve already earned your stripes and then some. You haven’t even held your territory for a year and you’ve already improved it. Valens was known as one of the best businessmen around. For you to improve upon a thriving territory is pretty spectacular. That alone is blowing people away. You also turned a sticky situation with Magnus into…whatever is going on now. Did I hear right, he wants to have a father-daughter dinner? What happened to killing all his kids?” She shook her head when he didn’t answer. “You’re not following the norms, and you’re not shy about using your power and might. It’s exhilarating to watch, and so far it’s worked for you, but I think everyone is kinda holding their breath for you to mess up, you know?”

“Basically, I am walking on a dagger’s edge, and if I misstep, I’ll cut my nuts off.”

She laughed and leaned back so a younger guy with a tray of water could place a glass before her. “It won’t be you doing the slicing, but yes, basically.”

“What in the ever-loving fuck?”

It took Kieran a moment to recognize that voice. It took him another moment to clue into Lexi’s proximity. His mind had been spinning from the overload of information this morning, and since he’d only felt mild anxiety through the link, he’d let her drift to the back of his mind.

Now, she came roaring back, front and center.

“What is she doing here?” he asked, sitting up as straight as he could so as to see down onto the battlefield floor.

“Apparently someone thought she’d be good entertainment for us today.” Dara gave him a grim look. “She has a blood offering, right? She will heal?”